Ask the Author: Sara Whitford
Answered Questions (8)
Sara Whitford
Hello, Don! To answer your question, no, I've never heard of Kenneth Roberts or his book, Rabble in Arms. I'll definitely look into it, though.
I'm delighted to know you enjoyed The Smuggler's Gambit. I'm pleased to let you know that book two, Captured in the Caribbean, launched this past week. I hope you enjoy it as much, if not more than, the first.
I'm delighted to know you enjoyed The Smuggler's Gambit. I'm pleased to let you know that book two, Captured in the Caribbean, launched this past week. I hope you enjoy it as much, if not more than, the first.
Sara Whitford
I have done a lot of studying about not only smuggling in the colonial era, but what prompted otherwise law-abiding men to do it. It happened in all sorts of ways and by men you might otherwise not expect.
One thing that I had not known about until I started studying that decade between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution was the informal policy known as "Salutary Neglect." That basically meant that throughout the early 1700s, England looked the other way at most American colonial trade violations. They didn't force the colonies to play by the rules because they knew the fledgling economy would grow much more quickly if it were unhampered by oppressive trade regulations.
By the end of the Seven Years' War, however, King George and Parliament decided it was time for Americans to start doing their part to refill Great Britain's coffers so the period of Salutary Neglect came to an end—especially, with the the passage of the Sugar Act in 1764. A conversation about this very thing takes place in The Smuggler's Gambit between Adam and Boaz.
As to sources for researching smuggling, I would recommend these to start:
Americans with Attitudes: Smuggling in Colonial America (A research article)
Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America (Goodreads listing for book by Peter Andreas)
Colonial Records - The Colonial Records of North Carolina has various entries about smuggling and smugglers, at least relating to how various legislators were responding to the issue, as well as particularly interesting items such as this one about the pirate Blackbeard and his dealings with Governor Charles Eden. I would imagine virtually any of the states that were the original 13 colonies would have similar information in their records.
One has to think outside the box when it comes to smuggling. While many might have a knee-jerk reaction to the concept as one only performed by rogues and reprobates, the truth is smuggling is rampant even to this day. Here in North Carolina, for instance, many kinds of fireworks are illegal to possess without a license. Does that stop North Carolinians from buying said fireworks? Goodness, no! I know of people who make it a point to travel to the South Carolina border every year before Independence Day to stock up on what they would call patriotic contraband. And what about folks from California who will purchase items from out of state because California manufacturing and environmental regulations would otherwise ban them? And then there are those in other countries who smuggle in Bibles or other books or movies that are otherwise banned?
One thing that I had not known about until I started studying that decade between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution was the informal policy known as "Salutary Neglect." That basically meant that throughout the early 1700s, England looked the other way at most American colonial trade violations. They didn't force the colonies to play by the rules because they knew the fledgling economy would grow much more quickly if it were unhampered by oppressive trade regulations.
By the end of the Seven Years' War, however, King George and Parliament decided it was time for Americans to start doing their part to refill Great Britain's coffers so the period of Salutary Neglect came to an end—especially, with the the passage of the Sugar Act in 1764. A conversation about this very thing takes place in The Smuggler's Gambit between Adam and Boaz.
As to sources for researching smuggling, I would recommend these to start:
Americans with Attitudes: Smuggling in Colonial America (A research article)
Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America (Goodreads listing for book by Peter Andreas)
Colonial Records - The Colonial Records of North Carolina has various entries about smuggling and smugglers, at least relating to how various legislators were responding to the issue, as well as particularly interesting items such as this one about the pirate Blackbeard and his dealings with Governor Charles Eden. I would imagine virtually any of the states that were the original 13 colonies would have similar information in their records.
One has to think outside the box when it comes to smuggling. While many might have a knee-jerk reaction to the concept as one only performed by rogues and reprobates, the truth is smuggling is rampant even to this day. Here in North Carolina, for instance, many kinds of fireworks are illegal to possess without a license. Does that stop North Carolinians from buying said fireworks? Goodness, no! I know of people who make it a point to travel to the South Carolina border every year before Independence Day to stock up on what they would call patriotic contraband. And what about folks from California who will purchase items from out of state because California manufacturing and environmental regulations would otherwise ban them? And then there are those in other countries who smuggle in Bibles or other books or movies that are otherwise banned?
Sara Whitford
I live on the Crystal Coast, which is about an hour and a half north of Wilmington. The Smuggler's Gambit and the Adam Fletcher adventure series are based primarily right here in Carteret County. Historically, Beaufort, NC was a British customs port so that worked perfectly with the colonial-era smuggling theme.
Added to the mix is someone in the novel who turns out to have a past connection to the pirate Blackbeard. I think it makes for some very interesting characters and a riveting series of adventures.
The coastal life absolutely inspires my writing! You know, ever since I can remember, I've been fascinated by our local history. With stories of intrepid explorers, Indian kings, and ordinary Bath town boys-turned-pirates, how could I not be? I try to weave together colonial-era adventures that incorporate true life (but often little known) historical facts with stories inspired by my years of research.
Added to the mix is someone in the novel who turns out to have a past connection to the pirate Blackbeard. I think it makes for some very interesting characters and a riveting series of adventures.
The coastal life absolutely inspires my writing! You know, ever since I can remember, I've been fascinated by our local history. With stories of intrepid explorers, Indian kings, and ordinary Bath town boys-turned-pirates, how could I not be? I try to weave together colonial-era adventures that incorporate true life (but often little known) historical facts with stories inspired by my years of research.
Sara Whitford
Thank you, Charles! I take that as high praise. :)
Actually, I do homeschool my son, so in that respect I am a teacher. I've also done a great deal of speaking in public schools over the years on regional history. One of my goals in writing the Adam Fletcher series is to make them both entertaining and educational, but not in any sort of beat-you-over-the-head-with-history kind of way.
I especially love writing about little known, or often misunderstood, things in history. One example in "The Smuggler's Gambit" is the candid presentation of apprenticeships in the colonial era, which unfortunately were often little more than a means to cheap labor. When Adam gets forced into his apprenticeship, the concerns his mother had would have been all too real at the time.
Another example would be the history that gets revealed to Adam about the pirate Blackbeard. Other than the fact that the person who tells that story is a fictional character, everything he tells Adam in that conversation is true—and yet vastly different from the commonly held legends surrounding that notorious sea rogue.
Actually, I do homeschool my son, so in that respect I am a teacher. I've also done a great deal of speaking in public schools over the years on regional history. One of my goals in writing the Adam Fletcher series is to make them both entertaining and educational, but not in any sort of beat-you-over-the-head-with-history kind of way.
I especially love writing about little known, or often misunderstood, things in history. One example in "The Smuggler's Gambit" is the candid presentation of apprenticeships in the colonial era, which unfortunately were often little more than a means to cheap labor. When Adam gets forced into his apprenticeship, the concerns his mother had would have been all too real at the time.
Another example would be the history that gets revealed to Adam about the pirate Blackbeard. Other than the fact that the person who tells that story is a fictional character, everything he tells Adam in that conversation is true—and yet vastly different from the commonly held legends surrounding that notorious sea rogue.
Sara Whitford
The Smuggler's Gambit was actually inspired by history and stories I learned while doing genealogical research. My fifth-great-grandfather was born in the same year as the book's hero, Adam, and he was also apprenticed—although circumstances were quite a bit different for my ancestor.
The novel takes place in Beaufort (pronounced BO-fort, not BYU-fort), which is a little coastal town here in North Carolina. I live not too far from there and I think the salt water must be in my blood, because I can't imagine writing stories that don't take place near the ocean. My ancestors have been in eastern North Carolina for centuries, so I'm steeped in the history and traditions of the region. I believe that gives me an endless fountain from which I can draw stories to tell.
Thanks to my genealogical investigations, I did a ton of research on the period between the end of the French and Indian War and the start of the American Revolution before I ever even started working on The Smuggler's Gambit. A lot of people don't realize that the sparks that eventually ignited the War for Independence were first lit in the 1760s, not on July 4, 1776.
Oh... and one more thing... there is also something in the book about Blackbeard, a pirate who had close relationships in eastern North Carolina. I'm not going to say too much about that here—you can read the book—but if you're interested in learning more about that notorious sea rogue, you might want to visit this article on my website called "Five Things You Didn't Know About Blackbeard": http://sarawhitford.com/five-things-y...
The novel takes place in Beaufort (pronounced BO-fort, not BYU-fort), which is a little coastal town here in North Carolina. I live not too far from there and I think the salt water must be in my blood, because I can't imagine writing stories that don't take place near the ocean. My ancestors have been in eastern North Carolina for centuries, so I'm steeped in the history and traditions of the region. I believe that gives me an endless fountain from which I can draw stories to tell.
Thanks to my genealogical investigations, I did a ton of research on the period between the end of the French and Indian War and the start of the American Revolution before I ever even started working on The Smuggler's Gambit. A lot of people don't realize that the sparks that eventually ignited the War for Independence were first lit in the 1760s, not on July 4, 1776.
Oh... and one more thing... there is also something in the book about Blackbeard, a pirate who had close relationships in eastern North Carolina. I'm not going to say too much about that here—you can read the book—but if you're interested in learning more about that notorious sea rogue, you might want to visit this article on my website called "Five Things You Didn't Know About Blackbeard": http://sarawhitford.com/five-things-y...
Sara Whitford
I would say that I became inspired to write as a little girl. Can't remember what it was, exactly. In fact, I can't remember there ever being a time when I didn't want to be a writer... and since way back then, I've never stopped wanting to write.
But day to day? Well, that's a different story. I wouldn't say I wait for inspiration to start writing. I make myself write each day, or work on story-planning, marketing, or other aspects of being an author.
It's my goal to keep creating great, new stories for my readers. That might not happen if I just always leave it to "inspiration" before I put my behind in a chair and start writing.
But day to day? Well, that's a different story. I wouldn't say I wait for inspiration to start writing. I make myself write each day, or work on story-planning, marketing, or other aspects of being an author.
It's my goal to keep creating great, new stories for my readers. That might not happen if I just always leave it to "inspiration" before I put my behind in a chair and start writing.
Sara Whitford
As of this writing, I'm working on book two in my Adam Fletcher Series,
"Captured in the Caribbean."
I'm also working on compiling tons of information that I learned in the process of independently publishing my first novel, "The Smuggler's Gambit", into a book tentatively called "Indie Author Tips: Skills, Tricks, and Hacks I Learned While Writing and Publishing My First Novel."
I will be making the e-book version of "Indie Author Tips" available for free to subscribers of my website. If you're interested in learning more, go here: http://sarawhitford.com/indie-author-...
"Captured in the Caribbean."
I'm also working on compiling tons of information that I learned in the process of independently publishing my first novel, "The Smuggler's Gambit", into a book tentatively called "Indie Author Tips: Skills, Tricks, and Hacks I Learned While Writing and Publishing My First Novel."
I will be making the e-book version of "Indie Author Tips" available for free to subscribers of my website. If you're interested in learning more, go here: http://sarawhitford.com/indie-author-...
Sara Whitford
When I'm stuck, I like to switch things up.
There's just something about sitting there with that relentless little cursor blinking in front of me that can put the brakes on my creativity. When that happens, I know that it's time to move away from the computer.
Sometimes, I just need to take a break from writing for a little while. Maybe take a walk or watch an episode of "Magnum P.I." or "Murder, She Wrote" on Netflix.
I keep a composition book, a pen, and a stack of index cards in the end table next to my chair so that I can toy around with my ideas and try to get the creative juices flowing again. Sometimes, it seems like all it takes is a little change in perspective—moving away from the computer screen to using a pen and paper—to get unblocked.
When that doesn't work, I know it's time to just give it a day or two and work on a different part of the manuscript, or another project altogether.
There's more if you're interested. In fact, I've actually written an entire blog post about this. You can read it here: http://sarawhitford.com/favorite-writ...
There's just something about sitting there with that relentless little cursor blinking in front of me that can put the brakes on my creativity. When that happens, I know that it's time to move away from the computer.
Sometimes, I just need to take a break from writing for a little while. Maybe take a walk or watch an episode of "Magnum P.I." or "Murder, She Wrote" on Netflix.
I keep a composition book, a pen, and a stack of index cards in the end table next to my chair so that I can toy around with my ideas and try to get the creative juices flowing again. Sometimes, it seems like all it takes is a little change in perspective—moving away from the computer screen to using a pen and paper—to get unblocked.
When that doesn't work, I know it's time to just give it a day or two and work on a different part of the manuscript, or another project altogether.
There's more if you're interested. In fact, I've actually written an entire blog post about this. You can read it here: http://sarawhitford.com/favorite-writ...
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