Welcome to the Group! Please read.

[J.A.]

Ah. :)

[Andrea]

Katherine wrote: "Welcome. Don't worry about the scholarly thing. We're not arrogant and like company. My main era is early modern England, 17th century, mostly the 1660's. If you have any questions, just ask. K"

Looks like you and I have a lot in common! Nice to "meet" you!

[Debra]

Hi Paulina, nice to have you here. :) Please join in on the conversations.

[Jerry]

Hi everyone. I have been an author on goodreads for several years, but the books are out-of-print limited-interest business books on knowledge management.

I'm retired now and writing what I want to write — historical fiction. My first work of fiction is "Hellraiser—Mother Jones: An Historical Novel. It will be launched on September 22, 2013.

I will be adding my profile to my page shortly, but briefly I have had an array of titles in my eclectic career from student, journalism professor, editor-publisher of a small mountain weekly newspaper, author of a coffee table book, "West Virginia USA", state senator in West Virginia, vice-president and then president of two hospital associations, executive director of a human organ procurement organization, and expert in the field of knowledge management.

As you can see, I'm a professional writer, although I admit I'm on a learning curve in fiction writing. My book has been professionally edited and a professional book designer has done the cover and layout.


Finally, and most importantly, I believe that successful communication depends on both the sending and the receiving. "Hellraiser" is a powerful book, but it is powerless without the reading. Please help me put the power back in the hands of Mother Jones, iconoclastic champion of the rights of the working class and opponent of child labor.

[Debra]

Great to have you on board, Jerry. We'd love to have you share info from your period in the group.

[Jerry]

While reading everything I could find on Mother Jones, I found myself researching her period (which is more like a long dash). In order to understand her personal experiences, I had to understand her times. And, wow, what I have learned about not just her life, but her times — Civil War to the Great Depression. And that fits with my other quest — to learn more about contemporary history. That is, the history I've missed knowing about during my own lifetime, 1939 to present. That's what I hope to gain in this group.

[Jim]

Joyce (message #13) said:

The Japanese killed (murdered on purpose or by neglect) 9 out of ten POWs.

This brings to mind James Clavell's King Rat.

I knew little about Clavell when I first read it - thought he'd done a good job portraying the difference between striaght-forward Americans and the under-stated British.

Turns out he was not only British but survived Changi the Japanese POW camp where the novel is set.

Given the confined nature of the setting, I suppose one could regard King Rat as representing a "micro-history" subset of Historical Novels.

[Jim]

To Paulina from Poland:

I wonder if you've read Michener's Poland?

[Jeffrey]

Faded Gray wishes everyone an A1 St. Pat's day. St. Pat's day is a reoccurring day in the book and sets the real Am-multicultural scene.

[J.L.]

Thanks for the invitation to join. I'm a historian who writes historical fiction. My novel, TREE SOLDIER, is set in a Civilian Conservation Camp in the Pacific NW in 1935. It's won a few awards and was a community read last November in eastern Washington and Idaho which was great fun and an honor. I've been going around my state talking about the 3 Cs and the work they did in the our state and national parks. I enjoy talking about the CCCs work and helping people located their relatives' camps. Their tree planting, trails and beautiful structures are found 80 years later all over the US.

TIMBER ROSE is its prequel, set in the same area in 1907. Women climbing mountains in skirts, loggers fighting for the 8 hour day. I also have a novel set in WW II in Norway and one in Pacific NW in 1860.

I'm fairly knowledgeable about 19th century folkways as I reenact a schoolmarm and demonstrate cooking, buttermaking, etc. My way of teaching history. I'm working a new novel based on some of my great-grandfather's Civil War journals. He was the 11th PA's assistant surgeon at Gettysburg. So, I'm pretty much all over the place! But have loved digging up history all my life. Tree Soldier

Looks like a lot of different interests here. Very cool.

[Debra]

J.L. wrote: "Thanks for the invitation to join. I'm a historian who writes historical fiction. My novel, TREE SOLDIER, is set in a Civilian Conservation Camp in the Pacific NW in 1935. It's won a few awards and..."

Welcome, J.L. (Janet)!

[Assaph]

Hi All,

I'm a reader (and now a writer) of historical fiction. I like all eras up to the 20th century. My favourite is still ancient Rome, but since my wife introduced me to Boris Akunin's Fandorin series, 19th century Russia is fast becoming an obsession :)

I love accurately researched historical novels (like Colleen McCollough's amazing Masters of Rome series), or mixed in with some fantasy (like Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds: a novel of China that never was). What I don't like is just repetitive, poorly written and inaccurate material... (a trap I try hard not to fall into in my own writing - you'll be the judge!).

I'd be happy to help answer any questions you may have about ancient Rome, particularly the late republic and early empire eras.

Nice to meet you all!

[Debra]

Hi Assaph,

Nice to have you here. Is your book published? Title?

Best!

[Assaph]

Thanks Debra!

Yep, it *just* came off the press :)
The GoodReads page: Murder in-absentia

[Debra]

Congrats! I hope it does well.

[Shannon Elizabeth]

Hello all! My name is Shannon and I am a voracious reader of historical books (fiction and non; everything but bodice rippers or time travel/dual timelines). I am currently working on my first novel. Up until now I've written poetry and short stories, so I've decided it's time to branch out!

I've been writing stories since I learned to read and write, but mostly just to entertain myself and my friends. I wrote my first "novel" at 12. All 188 pages were Xeroxed into booklets for my buddies. I saved up an entire summer's allowance and chore money to pay for the copying process!

I'm so glad to find such a diverse group of fellow readers and writers! I look forward to getting to know you all and maybe even post a little bit of my own work when I feel it's ready for others to critique. Where would we be without constructive criticism? :)

Feel free to message or friend me if you feel so inclined. I welcome friends and conversion!

[J.G.]

Shannon it sounds as if you have a true writer's pedigree. Welcome and keep us posted about your working in progress. Being a 'real' writer can be a wearisome task entirely on your own, especially at re-write time when non-writers cannot fathom why you are moaning.

[Cassandra]

I liked Debra's comment about sheepskin cloaks. Fashions of the past really interest me. In my period fourteenth century, people didn't run around in animal skins, they had highly elaborate and often very beautiful fabrics and designs. On the cloak front they were ahead of us as they pioneered waxed rain coats, essential country wear in England! I don't know whether they smelled bad - animal fat was used. Knowing them they would add lavender or sone other sweet smelling oil. Cassandra Clark

[Terrence]

Hi Everybody,
I hope I'm posting this in the right place, if not, please let me know.
I'm coming out with a historical novel about the life of Joseph Pulitzer, (Who was Joseph Pulitzer?) and I need advice on where to go for a blog tour to promote its publication. Thank you most kindly. www.terrencecrimmins.com
Terrence Crimmins

[Larry]

Creating Historical Fiction

Many writers fail to realize accurate research is the key to writing plausible stories. It’s understandable, so to speak, as many genres set in current times require little research other than an ability to absorb news stories and TV entertainment shows. However, that sort of literary pablum grows ever more tedious as hundreds of thousands of aspiring writers churn out hollow works with little real substance.

As a professional writer and journalist I, subconsciously knew that for years. BUT, only in the last decade have I truly come to realize the differences between many writers of modern novels who create settings out of whole cloth and those with ACCURATE historical backgrounds.

I’ve spent a decade researching Northeastern Woodlands Indians for a planned “Epic” but realized there’s so little valid information about tribes that lived before the European Invasion of the Americas that such a book might as well be listed as a “fantasy.” Only the Jesuit Relations of 1600s Canada contained substantive material and constructing a vibrant story from tedious public relations tracts of that era were virtually counterproductive. How does any author produce a lively, animated story from tedious fund raising texts almost 400 years old?

Then I realized what was needed was to take the available historical facts and intertwine them with a story plot that would appeal to modern readers. The result: Longhouse Homicide, my just published Novella about the first serial murders in North America.

Without police forces, tribal leaders band together to discover the perpetrators of the first murders in North American history and, without a court system, punish the perpetrators.

The criminal pursuit stretches across Ontario and Quebec and discloses an international criminal conspiracy. Longhouse Homicide by Larry Moniz is available as a Kindle Book.

LONGHOUSE HOMICIDE

[Larry]

Creating Historical Fiction

Many writers fail to realize accurate research is the key to writing plausible stories. It’s understandable, so to speak, as many genres set in current times require little research other than an ability to absorb news stories and TV entertainment shows. However, that sort of literary pablum grows ever more tedious as hundreds of thousands of aspiring writers churn out hollow works with little real substance.

As a professional writer and journalist I, subconsciously knew that for years. BUT, only in the last decade have I truly come to realize the differences between many writers of modern novels who create settings out of whole cloth and those with ACCURATE historical backgrounds.

I’ve spent a decade researching Northeastern Woodlands Indians for a planned “Epic” but realized there’s so little valid information about tribes that lived before the European Invasion of the Americas that such a book might as well be listed as a “fantasy.” Only the Jesuit Relations of 1600s Canada contained substantive material and constructing a vibrant story from tedious public relations tracts of that era were virtually counterproductive. How does any author produce a lively, animated story from tedious fund raising texts almost 400 years old?

Then I realized what was needed was to take the available historical facts and intertwine them with a story plot that would appeal to modern readers. The result: Longhouse Homicide, my just published Novella about the first serial murders in North America.

Without police forces, tribal leaders band together to discover the perpetrators of the first murders in North American history and, without a court system, punish the perpetrators.

The criminal pursuit stretches across Ontario and Quebec and discloses an international criminal conspiracy. Longhouse Homicide by Larry Moniz is available as a Kindle Book.

[Rona]

A great premise for the story -- and your research should provide a well rounded and well founded book. I'm a fan of getting the background right, and struggle with "when to say when".
And, the luxury of less research by writing a contemporary piece I found to be far from the truth -- perhaps because I chose a book involving terrorists from the Middle East operating in the US. There I was, back on the internet and the library!

[Paul]

I'm a prehistoric fiction writer, but 2300 BCE (not 23,000 or earlier, as most people who see the term 'prehistoric' would assume). I published first novel Bronze and Stones two years ago, but have been so busy with other stuff, I've only gotten 50 pages or so written on the sequel. 2300 BCE is when Stonehenge's last stage was being completed, when bronze smelting first appeared full force in southern England, and I combined those historical facts and my research on folk tales with the historical/archaeological discovery of a man the British press called the Amesbury Archer. His grave was discovered in approx. 2003 or 4, artifacts and bones carbon dated to 2200-2300 BC. Then radioisotope studies on a bone fragment determined that he had grown to puberty (at least) drinking water from lakes in what is now the Swiss Alps. !!!??? How did a person in that insular society move safely from, say, Lake Geneva's shores to Stonehenge? And further, WHY? Then I discovered that a pre-Celtic culture ranged from Western Spain/Portugal northward through Brittany and Normandy regions of France and across through Southern England. Later these tribal groups were driven westward and northward by the Romans and became the Welsh and Scots with divergent language and culture. Also Irish. So I could see how a common language and culture could allow the Archer a bit more freedom to migrate, but still there must have been a pretty strong reason for making the move(s) he had to make. And what was the reason that his gravesite contained riches that would have only been interred with a man of very high rank, held in great esteem by his contemporaries. My novel takes all of those in, though I don't deal with construction or use of Stonehenge itself by those Celtic/proto-Celtic peoples. Much research has come out after my novel was mostly written, but I did not go back and make revisions since the basic story would not have changed except in a few details. Forgive that if you read it, please.

One basic problem I faced at the beginning is that SO LITTLE is really known about this prehistoric -- read "pre-literate" -- society. Details emerge from scholarly facts and, frankly, guesses and speculations. So I was at once free to invent reasonable people and events within the limits of the facts as I knew them at the time. Fiction based on a few facts and almost unlimited speculation. I know it pleased some folks (4* and 5* reviewers) and discombobulated a few (1* and 2* reviewers). The average rating was 4*s, so I'm pretty happy with that aspect of writing.

[Teresa]

ceeeeg wrote: "hello!...

i am not an author...maybe someday....

but i am an avid reader of historical fiction...

that is my only real qualification for joining this group....i am not sure, given the scholarly ..."

I'm with you there ceeeeg. I'm not at all scholarly myself, I just love historical novels and history. Hoping to learn lots here.

[Paula]

Hi, I haven't been very active on Goodreads in awhile, but i stumbled across this group and thought I would introduce myself, though it seems to be quiet at the moment. My name is Paula Lofting and I am the author of _The Sons of the Wolf _ series set in the 11thc in the years leading up to the Norman Invasion. I'm working on book 3 at the moment. Both books 1&2 are award winning books. Thank you.

[Theo]

Hi, everyone. I'm Theo Faurez. My favourite era is the early Roman Empire, but all ancient history, including prehistory, is what I like to read (and write).

[Carol]

Hi, I'm Carol. Retired teacher, love to travel but now mobility disabled. Have loved reading, especially historical fiction, since I learned to read. My first historical fiction books were written by Lois Lenski and I still remember my favorite book - Strawberry Girl. My favorite time period is the Middle Ages, But I love any period starting with prehistory and ending right before WW II. I'm guessing that I was born during WWII and after that time seems to be current history. Anyway glad to join Goodreads.