Of Shipwrecks and Romance by Pegg Thomas

Who would start a historical romance with a shipwreck? Oh … that would be me. I love starting my stories with true historical events and using real historical characters if I can. Besides the ship, my story also includes Captain John and Celia Persons, who ran the lifesaving station on Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron near Alpena, MI. Thanks to the Persons and their crew at the station, all hands were safely brought to shore after the wreck.

 Anna’s Tower, part of The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection, begins with the wreck of the James Davidson. That wreck—rather conveniently if I do say so myself—allowed me to add a fictional stowaway who becomes the hero of Anna’s Tower. I also employ fictional characters to inhabit the lighthouse on Thunder Bay Island, but the tugboats that bring supplies to the island were named after the actual tugboats that worked in that area at that time.

Knitting together real history with my fictional stories is what I love to do. It brings the reader deeper into the story, knowing that some of the characters, places, and even boats once existed. While they were entertained and engrossed in the fictional story, they were also enriched with a bit of the culture of that day.

 

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection

 

Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters.

 Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of our nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.

 

Amazon Buy Link

 

And speaking of knitting … I am giving away one of my signature handspun, handknit shawls to celebrate the release of The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides. The only way to enter is to subscribe to my newsletter.  One lucky subscriber will win the Beacon on the Bay Shawl on November 30, 2018.

Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. They raise sheep and chickens, keep a few barn cats, and Murphy the spoiled rotten dog. A life-long history geek, she writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” Pegg is published in the Barbour historical romance collections. Pegg also works as Managing Editor of Smitten Historical Romance, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls.

Social Media Links:

Facebook 
Twitter 
Goodreads
Pinterest
Google+
PeggThomas.com
Amazon
ColonialQuills
Stitches Thru Time

Using Real History in Your Stories by Pegg Thomas

Writing historical and historical romance means using real history in your stories. Sometimes, that history isn’t pleasant. There are many instances of difficult situations—true history—that need to be told, even though they don’t always show humanity at its best.

Such was the case while I was writing Her Redcoat for the Backcountry Brides Romance Collection. This is a collection of stories set in Colonial America on the frontier—the backcountry as it was called then. I wanted to set my story in what is now Northern Michigan. Most people don’t equate Michigan with Colonial America, but the northern reaches of the state were first visited by the French in 1623. By the 1700s, there were several towns along the waterways between the Great Lakes.

Not too far from where I live is Fort Michilimackinac (mish’-ee-lee-mack’-in-naw). I set my story there because of a well-known uprising of the Ojibwe and Sauk tribes against the British at the fort. The British had recently ousted the French following the French and Indian War. The local tribes had been friendly with the French for over a century. They did not like the British who were stingy with their gifts and arrogant in their demeanor. 

How was I to craft a romance amid so much tension? By playing off the tension, of course! My hero is a British soldier, but one who doesn’t want to be there. My heroine is a local Métis (May-tees’), a woman of mixed French and native cultures. He was prejudiced against the “heathens,” and she was prejudiced against the English. 

So what was going to bring them together? There had to be a connection. He was educated, highly educated for the time, and she owned a book she couldn’t read. Bam! 

Now for the biggest challenge of all … they have to survive an uprising that killed almost every soldier save the officers who were kept alive and traded for ransom. How did I do that? You’ll have to read the book!

To celebrate the release of The Backcountry Brides Collection, including my story, Her Redcoat, I’m giving away one of my signature shawls. Today the area around Fort Michilimackinac is known for its beautiful lilacs. One subscriber to my newsletter will win Northern Lilacs, my handspun, handknit wool shawl on May 31, 2018. Subscribe today to be entered!

Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. A life-long history geek, she writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls.

Facebook 

Twitter 
Goodreads
Google+
PeggThomas.com
Amazon
ColonialQuills
StitchesThruTime