Tag: historical-fiction

From History Class Hater to Historical Fiction Author

~ Jacquie Bosma ~ 1 Comment

Today, we welcome author Karina Bartow to the blog! Karina hails from Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her works include a mix of mysteries and love stories. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!

Like Jacquie, I’ve now written a couple of historical romance novels. When I was an aspiring author, though, I never would’ve believed that I’d touch the genre. History was never my favorite subject in school. While I usually managed to net a good grade in the class from doing the homework and memorizing the facts, I didn’t get too invested in it. On the occasions when we stepped out of the classroom and into a historical venue like the Gettysburg battlegrounds or a presidential home, however, the facts came to life for me, sparking my fascination. 

It was the same way when I decided to dip my toes into writing in the genre. I didn’t really set out to fashion a story around history in general, but I had concepts that piqued my interest and enjoyed immersing myself in those periods once I dug in my feet. Granted, both novels cover events in 1964, which doesn’t seem very historical to me. With how fast the world and its advancements have evolved in the proceeding decades, I suppose it fits in the category.  My 2022 release, Wrong Line, Right Connection, revolved around a switchboard operator, and my latest one, Undeveloped Memories, is centered on a roll of undeveloped film.

In the case of both plots, I had a personal attachment to the outdated elements. My honorary grandmother was a switchboard operator, and in fact, I interviewed her for a history project in middle school. I can’t say I had the reverence for it back then that I do today, but it always held a special place in my heart due to her experience. When I started the book, I researched its history and the way it functioned, but I didn’t bury myself in study material to the point that I grew bored as I used to in school. I also researched surrounding aspects of the story, but I did so in a similar step-by-step manner as I made it to certain stages of the plot. 

I did likewise with Undeveloped Memories. The film concept wasn’t too foreign to me, since my mom used a film camera for my entire childhood and actually inspired the book by losing a roll back in the day. Because the novel delves a great deal into the Good Friday Earthquake in Alaska, I had to devote much time to exploring the event. Thankfully, a friend who lived through it as a child provided me with an invaluable eyewitness account, and the Internet offered loads of information, too. Again, though, I spaced out my research to look into each component as I came to it, both so that I didn’t get overwhelmed and so I had the pertinent facts fresh in mind. 

The gradual approach fostered the immersive feel those historical field trips did in my school days. It gave me the sensation of going through the developments along with the characters, and I hope it translated that way to readers. More than that, the process has made me view history differently. While customs and methods have transformed throughout generations, we’re all humans, with many of the same emotions and pursuits as those before and after us.

I don’t expect to compose a six-hundred-page biography on the Industrial Revolution or anything, but I have enjoyed giving my not-so-favorite subject another chance. As you age, I think you cultivate a better appreciation for history due to your vantage point in the stream of time and how history seems to repeat itself more than you realized as a kid. Whether you’re a writer or not, it’s beneficial to revisit those subjects that were once a pain in your side and see if you discern their value now.

All this said, don’t anticipate a science-based novel from me! I have yet to make such a transition on that class!

Learn more about Karina (including all about her fabulous books!) here:

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Along The Trail

~ Jacquie Bosma ~ Leave a comment

Joining me at the blog today is author Kaci Curtis. Kaci is a military spouse, and mom of two. She was raised in Kansas City, MO, only minutes away from the town of Independence, where the Westward Trails began. She loves hiking, camping, reading while sipping coffee, all things National Parks, thunderstorms, gardening, and book club.

If we traveled about 180 years back in time to Independence, MO (not far from where I grew up), the safest traveling season would just be kicking off. In the 1840s, April was the magical month that the grass turned green. Grass was the key to success – it supported the livestock that hauled wagons, and the migrant families that depended on them, along the westward trails.

The outfitter’s town of Independence was a busy place in mid-April and early May. It was the starting point for the three main migrant trails of the era: the Oregon, Sante Fe, and California Trails. Families camped by their wagons on the outskirts of town, gathering supplies & tools, making repairs, and finalizing preparations for a journey that would take them over 2,000 miles. 

Packing enough food for the trip was a particular challenge, especially in the early years of the trails, when there were fewer places to resupply. Each family was encouraged to bring: 600 lbs of flour, 400 lbs of bacon, 200 lbs of lard, 120 lbs of biscuits, 100 lbs of sugar, 60 lbs of coffee. And those were just the basic staples! Most also brought dried fruit, rice, beans, tea, and bacon. 

In addition to that, they had to pack their clothing, tools, cookware, spare parts for the wagon, guns and ammunition, farming tools, seeds, and other essentials. The travelers had to squeeze family heirlooms and items of sentimental value in whatever tiny free space remained. Imagine trying to fit all of that into a wagon that was only 4 feet wide and 10 feet long!

If the thought of an adventure along the Oregon Trail seems interesting, and you enjoy books with historical tidbits sprinkled throughout (like those I mentioned above), please check out my historical fiction novel, Along the Trail, available wherever you get your books online!

For Winnie, my heroine, the trail isn’t just about survival – it’s also about self-discovery, freedom, and the bonds forged along the way. 

Happy Reading! 

Source: oregontrailcenter.org          

Kaci’s book, Along the Trail, is available now by The Wild Rose Press. To order her book, and to view what else she’s working on, visit her at kacicurtisauthor.com.