While I do not deny that past times hold a certain allure, for me, it is the people who lived then that fascinate me. Who were they? Were they happy? Did they love? What are their stories?
Since we will never know enough to truly paint a picture of who someone was deep inside (what motivated them? what broke their heart? what made them laugh?) historical fiction is a wonderful genre that makes you think about all the many possibilities.
What would happen if...? What would their story be?
Trying to find an answer, our imagination bonds with historical facts, creating a unique variation of times past.
After all, at the end of the day, we all want a great book to settle down with. The 'only' thing we disagree on is what makes a great book.
Since we would probably argue about this until the end of time, let me just tell you what to expect from mine.
What you will NOT find
- are detailed descriptions of clothes, furniture, animals and such unless they have significant importance
- is complete historical accuracy
Basically, I omit in my writing what I do not care for as a reader. I am the kind of reader who is irritated by page-long descriptions. In order to picture the scene in my mind, I usually don't need those, and to me, they merely delay the action. What can I say? It's a pet peeve!
What you WILL find
- are deep and honest emotions (even the ones we rarely admit to)
- are real people, who stand together no matter what, who conquer their greatest fear to save a loved one, who seem as real today as they did then
- is that the story takes precedence over historical accuracy
Let me be clear: I am not saying I completely ignore historical facts. Not at all. I always strive to capture the flair of the times I write about. However, I occasionally bend the rules a little to allow my characters to experience something that would otherwise be denied to them.
For example, if I need my characters to waltz, then does it truly matter if the waltz was only introduced to English society a few years later?
To me, it doesn't. After all, it is about the opportunities it creates. However, if it matters to you, then allow me to offer some friendly advice: do not read my books for you will only be disappointed.
This post is partly meant as a guide to help potential readers decide if my books would suit them, and partly as a means to satisfy my curiosity for I would love to know what you think about this. What makes a great book for you? What do you need to get completely absorbed into a story? What brings the characters to life for you?
