Sara asked Sherry Jones:

Hi! I have read three of your books (because only those three are translated in my language). Well, you are one of my favorite authors, so it will be great if i have some advice from you about a novel that i'm writing. I have fiction characters in a real historical time(American civil war). What are your advice? What is more in important in such as this kind of novels and what is not?

Sherry Jones Sara, the emotional lives of your characters is the most important aspect of any novel. Go as deeply as you can into their inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations to reveal their true selves to your readers. This, more than anything else you do, will create a rich experience that allows your readers to connect with your characters, your novel, and you. As far as historical research and how much you should use of it, include those details that add to the story -- sensual detail for the setting, historical accuracy for believability -- but not more than that. John Gardner wrote that reading our books should be like dreaming. You want to immerse your reader in the dream you create and keep them there -- not to bore them by overloading your story with all those wonderful facts you have in your head. Thank you for your question!

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