WW1 & Red Cross Research for the Next Sadie Brown Murder Mystery

 Even though it’s the holidays, I’m spending time on my PC writing the next Sadie Brown mystery. The storyline involves two different times and places: WW1 on a French farm and a murder in 1921 La Jolla, California. After the war, retribution for a wartime event finds it’s way to the small community of La Jolla and shakes Sadie Brown and her new husband’s quiet lives to the core. Due out October 2022.

In my WW1 research, I’ve read much about the American Red Cross and its humanitarian efforts during the 1^st World War. The Army and Navy requested thousands of surgical dressings and comfort items, i.e., handknitted socks, sweaters, caps, soaps, razors, and sewing kits. Lost buttons and ripped uniforms could mean extra suffering during the bitter winters. Your great-grandmothers may have been part of the millions of women who produced over 370 million relief articles for the Allied armed forces and civilians in Europe. Now add the British Red Cross and others, and you can begin to see the enormous humanitarian effort that was put in place that helped men, women, and children during WW1 and after.

 

Please email me at paustinheaton@gmail.com and request to be put on my mailing list so you'll know as soon as "Murder in La Jolla" is available.

Wishing you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY and the very best for 2022.

Check out my previous books on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/P-Austin-Heaton/e/B07JLQ9P56

Naming Your Characters

 

Hi All -

When you're writing your novel, it's the little, mundane things that can improve your reader's experience. Little things that your reader won't notice — like the names of the characters. But they will notice if they can't remember who's who. 

For as long as I can remember, being introduced to new people was fraught with worry. It seemed that within five seconds of meeting someone the name(s) had escaped my sieve of a brain. But if a person's name was Zack or Herky or Thea, the name stuck.

I'm reading a lovely novel that's set in London in the 1800s. There is one big problem as a reader. All the many characters have common, every day, forgettable names. William, John, George, etc. No offense if your name is William, John, or George. I keep scrolling back to the beginning to remind myself who's who. I could write a cheat sheet or more probably, I'll delete it from my tablet. Curious, I Googled "Popular English men's names in 1850 England." This website popped up. 

https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2017/05/top-200-most-popular-names-in-england-and-wales-in-1850.html

Sure enough, William, John, and George were at the top of the list. But take a moment to Scroll down the English and Welsh Birth Index for 1850. I see some great names — Frederick, Alfred, Herbert, Isaac. All excellent names a reader could easily remember. This lists female names also. 

Even if your novel takes place in 2021, it's good to take an extra minute to look for names that will stand out. Obviously, your reader won't thank you for memorable names, but then again, they won't feel frustrated trying to remember who is who. 

With the popularity of genealogy, there are numerous online sites listing census, birth, and death records by year. Old newspapers, yearbooks, and city directories also are great sources. 

This is the government website for the 1940 US Census. https://1940census.archives.gov/

So take that extra research step. It will make the reader's experience 100% better. 

Photos by Andrea Piacquadio (woman with binoculars) and Anete Lusiano (man reading) from Pexels.com

Other places to find me:

Website: www.paustinheaton.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paustinheaton

Email: https://paustinheaton@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PAustinHeaton1

My Historical Adventure Novel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070510645

My Historical Murder Mystery Novel (1^st in a series) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/169609738X