“History is written by the Victors.”
Winston
Churchill (1874-1965)
Welcome to my blog everyone! I hope
each and every one of you will find it helpful, useful or just a fun read. If
you are a writer, a reader or a lover of history, please join me for the
journey. I plan to speak about the process of writing, publishing, visiting and
commenting on history museums and cemeteries, interviewing historians and
authors, review a book here and there, include bits and pieces of my writing and anything strange and
wonderful that may speak to me.
Trials and Tribulations of Historical Fiction.
How does one decide to write historical
fiction? Are we history nerds wanting to know how people lived their lives in
another time, another place? Are we
addicted to asking Google question, after question, after question? Maybe it’s
the thrill of the search (and the smell of ancient book glue) at libraries, old
newspaper archives and museums. For me it’s all of the above and toss in a
nosy personality.
My first historical novel “Deserter, Rebel, Renegade” is
set in North America in the early 1860's. The story begins in Manassas, Virginia. Confederate soldier, Temple Hamilton, tries to escape the nightmares of his past.
He travels to Council Bluffs by foot and by train, thence by wagon train and stagecoach to the wild & extraordinary city of San Francisco. Along the way he will meet some fascinating people, both historical figures and figments of my imagination. You, the reader, can cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and share a wagon train with early settlers and gold seekers, meet scoundrels, receive a chilling fortune teller's prediction, befriend a Zen Monk, assist a pompous Italian tenor, help a group of circus performers, engage in mind-games with a Chinatown madam, prevent a murder, etc., etc. A lively adventure set in a time that no longer exists.
He travels to Council Bluffs by foot and by train, thence by wagon train and stagecoach to the wild & extraordinary city of San Francisco. Along the way he will meet some fascinating people, both historical figures and figments of my imagination. You, the reader, can cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and share a wagon train with early settlers and gold seekers, meet scoundrels, receive a chilling fortune teller's prediction, befriend a Zen Monk, assist a pompous Italian tenor, help a group of circus performers, engage in mind-games with a Chinatown madam, prevent a murder, etc., etc. A lively adventure set in a time that no longer exists.
My second historical novel (murder mystery
and work-in-progress) is set in 1915 San Diego, California during the
Panama-California Exposition.
My murder victim, Dr. Asa Wolf, is found dead, sprawled among the giant ferns in Balboa Park’s Lath House. Dr. Wolf was a noted practitioner at San Diego’s Agnew Sanitarium, and while people may say otherwise, he was not a nice man. Who did the dirty deed and why? I’ll also be tossing in a missing logbook and map (purportedly written by Sir Francis Drake) into the mix.
My murder victim, Dr. Asa Wolf, is found dead, sprawled among the giant ferns in Balboa Park’s Lath House. Dr. Wolf was a noted practitioner at San Diego’s Agnew Sanitarium, and while people may say otherwise, he was not a nice man. Who did the dirty deed and why? I’ll also be tossing in a missing logbook and map (purportedly written by Sir Francis Drake) into the mix.
As to why authors write historical fiction in the
first place? For me personally, my first
novel wanted to be written. In fact, it nagged me until I cried “Uncle.” Some
years ago, I was told the story of a young Confederate soldier who deserted
(like thousands of others) and joined, under duress, a gang of fugitives. Sadly,
he accidentally shot and killed a young child while searching for food and
supplies in a barn. There the story ended. My mind kept returning to that story
and wondering what happened to that soldier. Was he able to escape the gang he
hated and feared? Did he make it home to his family? Was he haunted by the
killing of a child? Was he able to come to terms with his part in a devastating
war that continues to cast shadows?
So I decided to write my own version of events,
about a young man determined to escape and leave his past behind. But, as
always, we drag our past with us until we eventually come to grips with it.
When we learn to forgive others and ourselves, we are then able to accept and
heal.
Ideas for the second novel came easy. A murder
mystery was at the top of my next-to-write list.
a. The
place? Second after Disneyland, San Diego’s Balboa Park is my favorite place to
visit.
b. The
time? 1915 was a time of competing Expositions (San Francisco and San Diego wanted to host a Panama
Expo in honor of the completion of the Panama Canal. Both cities dug in their
heels. Neither backed down. And so, there were two.) It was also an exciting
time for flight. Glenn Curtiss’ early aeroplanes and his San Diego Flying
School was making history. Rainman, Charlie Hatfield created (or maybe not) an epic
flood in San Diego. Photos and advertising for San Diego’s Agnew Sanitarium
made the hair on my arms stand up from the creepiness. All together: perfect
place, perfect time.
So what do you think? Do you have a
favorite time in history? A favorite location? Please share in the comments. I
would love to read what you think.
My plan is to post a blog on the 1st and 15th of each month. So see you on the 15th with thoughts about
the Most Popular Selling Historical Fiction of 2017. And, thank you many times
over for taking time to read my blog.
Email: https://paustinheaton@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paustinheaton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PAustinHeaton1
Novel - Deserter, Rebel, Renegade / Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070510645
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