Sara Donati's Blog, page 8

The historical novelist’s nightmare

If you’ve followed my ramblings at all you’re aware that I take research really seriously. Most historical novelists have this quirk, in my experience. Most of us have at least a dollop of ocd, would be my guess.

When I’m working out themes or major plot lines I am especially careful with my background research. So for example, I read widely about the development of sterile techniques in medicine after Lister’s work began to be accepted. Something that really jumped out at me early in my rese...

The historical novelist’s nightmare: sloppy researchers

If you’ve followed my ramblings at all you’re aware that I take research really seriously. Most historical novelists have this quirk, in my experience. Most of us have at least a dollop of ocd, would be my guess.

When I’m working out themes or major plot lines I am especially careful with my background research. So for example, I read widely about the development of sterile techniques in medicine after Lister’s work began to be accepted. Something that really jumped out at me early in my rese...

Techno Fail: Missing FAQ

I had a very long and detailed FAQ page at one point not so long ago, but as sometimes happens with a weblog this old and cantankerous, it seems to have crawled away to die in a hidey-hole somewhere.

Before you ask: yes, I have backups. But there are technological complications with plugins you really don’t care to hear about. The bottom line: in time I should be able to reconstruct most of the faq page — I did a little of that today. But it also occurs to me that I get a lot of questions and...

Toni Morrison at 85, and life goals

In February Toni Morrison turned 85. I did mean to post about it back then, and just yesterday realized that I had missed the date by something close to a year. Luckily she’s still out there writing things that need to be read. So for example, an essay about the election called Mourning for Whiteness. Toni Morrisonhas never shied away from difficult topics.

I would love to come and help out wherever MsMorrison is having Thanksgiving, because I think it would be an education of a very rare and...

Elgin Literary Festival: See you there.

I’ll be speaking at the 2017 Elgin Literary Festival, January 26-27. Elgin is way out of the city (as you can see) but it’s still close enough to Chicago to count as home. After the festival I’ll be hanging out in the city with cousins and old friends. And Jimmy Dean will be my traveling companion.

If you’re in the area please have a look at the festival information. Maybe something will catch your eye. Be sure to stop and say hey, if that’s the case.

Visualizing Poverty

An impoverished woman in St Giles, looking after the baby of a friend who has been lucky enough to find a day’s work. Picture: Museum of London

I depend a lot on images from museums when I’m trying to get a scene down that’s evading me. This particular photo has always worked to remind me what it means to be poor.

Aspiring Writers Ask Questions

When I have a few minutes and I come across an ad for a conference marketed to self-publishing writers, I go have a look. I admit I am cynical, but I am also willing to be convinced that these are legitimate offerings.

For example: the San Francisco Writers Conferencehas got me wondering. It runs for three days, costs $750 plus hotel, travel and $60 if you want to do the speed dating for agents thing. One part of what they list on the website front page:

Launch your writing career–or take it...

Homestead and the Orange Prize

PEN/Hemingway Award; Short-listed for Britain’s Orange Prize and available as a Kindle edition at Amazon.

When Homestead was shortlisted for Britain’s Orange Prize thisposter (below) was seen in bookshop windows all over England, something I completely forgot. I do remember the whole Orange Prize extravaganza, which was very mardi-gras like, rightin the middle of London. There were men in peacock costumes on stilts, and acrobats overhead, and very nice canapés. And a50,000 prize, which appare...

25 years ago just before Halloween

There’s a story on the Huffington Post today focusing on miscarriage: Six Women Remember the Babies They Lost.The timing on this story is particularly relevant to me, and the topic is personal.

Twenty-five years ago this weekend I had the first of four miscarriages. At that time there was even less support than there is today for women suffering such losses. I remember trying to talk to people — friends, family members — and being gently told to put it behind me. You’ll have another baby. Foc...

Story Prompt: Newes from the Dead

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Anne Greene

Whores of Yore (yes, a catchy title) at Twitter is stuffed to the gills with crazy interesting historical tidbits having to do withwomen’s lives and sexuality. The description on Twitter:‘A catalogue of jilts, cracks, prostitutes, night-walkers, whores, she-friends, kind women & others of the linnen-lifting tribe.’ (18+)’

Often the bits posted there are just too good for a storyteller to ignore, as is the case with the life of Anne Greene. If you have been looking for material for...