Why I Chose to Write Historical Fiction

Historical fiction. It’s a genre of books that can be scary to some. I will admit that in my younger years I considered historical fiction a boring, drab retelling of history. But I just hadn’t read the right story. And once I did, it opened my eyes to a world of fantastic novels.

My understanding of what historical fiction is has changed significantly. I have read quite a few different series — mostly ancient historical fiction: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Conqueror series about Genghis Khan, the Atilla series, and quite a few about the Roman Empire or Julius Caesar.

Historical fiction isn’t something to shy away from. The best books in the genre that I’ve read have recreated dynamic characters, battles, or settings in creative or epic ways. Sometimes all of these combined.

Why I chose to write historical fiction:

For those of you who follow me closely, I know you are probably wondering why I have selected historical fiction after publishing two young adult dystopian novels. Genre-switching can often be a turn-off to readers. I understand that, but my hope is that, after reading the Ordinary series, you will see how deeply I dive into characters. I hope you enjoy my writing enough to try something new and step outside your comfort zone — as I am doing.

I chose to write this particular historical fiction because of one woman. Mandukhai the Wise.

As I mentioned, I like writing strong, character-driven stories. I love reading them as well. In fact, I will choose a book with a strong character over a book with a compelling story every time (and if the book has both, it’s a huge win for me). No one in history has inspired me as much as the true story of Mongol Queen Mandukhai the Wise. She lived in a society where men dominated warfare and politics; where a woman’s role was primarily in childbirth and raising children, as well as maintaining the home. Queens, in particular, faced a lot of pressure to produce multiple male heirs.

But Mandukhai was different. She had the heart of a warrior and the soul of a true leader. She stood up to the men. She fought for what she believed in. When the line of royal heirs seemed extinct and clans began fighting each other for power, she stood up against them all and reigned them in. She restored order to a fractured empire. She pushed the Ming empire to continue building the Great Wall to keep her hordes out. A woman like this deserves to have her story told.

I hope you agree and will find her story worth reading. I will certainly do my best to do justice to her life.

What you can expect from the Fractured Empire series:

I have done a lot of research about this woman and her life, as well as the life of her husband. I have contacted specialists in the field and corresponded with notable experts such as Jack Weatherford. What I want, more than anything, is to tell her story in a way that is as accurate as possible, compelling to readers of all types, and strongly rooted in her own world, feelings, and motivations. But to share a great retelling, I have to take creative liberties.

So here is what you can expect from the series.

Intrigue. And lots of it. Honestly, intrigue will be a bigger part of the story than actual warfare, so for people who enjoy such things, this will be a great fit. In the early years of her reign, the Mongol empire was rife with intrigue, sexual politics, and war. All of these things will create — I hope — an epic tale about a strong, dynastic woman.
Loose historical accuracy. I’m trying to keep her story as true to real life as possible, but keeping track of the comings and goings of Mongolian clans and battles can be overwhelming (more here). My goal is to focus only on the key points that are important to her story and build on them. That means that some factual history could be lost through the cracks in favor of a great book. I hope that doesn’t offend any delicate historical sensibilities.
Actual historical figures. I have an extensive list of people who fought in the empire during her time, and I will be using that list to the best of my ability. However, my representation of those people may not always be historically accurate. Many of them don’t have much written so I will be taking creative liberties. Just as important as their place in history is, for this series, using them to create strong characters with their own clear motivations that will drive the plot forward.
Sex, abuse, and violence. I’ll just get this out of the way now. This is why I cannot produce the series as a young adult series. Mongols were very sexual, and they could be brutal. If I don’t represent this aspect of their daily life, I will not be doing the story justice.

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I am excited about this project. Her story has been in the back of my mind since I first learned about her in 2012. I knew as soon as I read Jack Weatherford’s book, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens, that one day I would have to share her story with the world.

The time has come. I’ve researched. I’ve plotted and planned. And now it’s time to dive right in.

The Fractured Empire series will likely be my only historical fiction series. While I can’t say what the future holds, I can say that no other story has struck me like Mandukhai’s. I hope you will take the journey with me.

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