Digging Deeper into the Characters of Our Past
As a historical fiction author, the heart of my craft lies not just in recounting tales from the past but in reviving the characters who lived through these times. Whether I’m weaving narratives of honor and deceit in Masque of Honor or exploring themes of murder and mental illness in Veil of Doubt and The Grays of Truth, the process always begins with one simple yet profound word: Why.
Understanding the why behind the decisions and behavior of the real people who
inspire my characters often holds the key to unlocking critical elements of a story.
For example, during my research for Masque of Honor, I learned that Lucinda Lee,
who had no inheritance or dowry, rejected Jack’s first proposal of marriage. Jack
McCarty was handsome, highly intelligent, and one of the wealthiest bachelors in
the county. Why? I asked myself. Why would she do that when economic security
was so important to women of her class? And when I delved into the possible
answers, it made for some pretty awesome story telling.
Likewise, in researching Veil of Doubt, I discovered that Dr. Mott (Dr. Moore in my
story) delivered Emily Lloyd’s last child, Maud. During the trial testimony, it was
reported that Emily’s labor and the child’s birth was “uneventful.” In that time period in Virginia, nearly every delivery was performed by a midwife unless there were
complications. Why would a male doctor deliver the child and not a midwife? Again,
the possible answers led me down a very different path from my planned narrative
and allowed for some very interesting plot twists.
In The Grays of Truth, I had many questions as to why no one investigated the
deaths occurring at Hamilton Place, the Baltimore home of Ellen and Hank
Wharton. And why would folks keep overnighting at that house considering most
who entered didn’t leave alive? To reveal the possible answers here might spoil the
ending. You’ll have to wait until after you read the story (and join one of my book
talks) to find out!
When characters are fully realized, as a reader, you engage more deeply. You begin
to ask your own “why” questions, piecing together the treachery or mystery
alongside the protagonist. This interactive form of reading deepens the story’s
authenticity. It keeps you turning pages and wanting to know what happens next,
and why!
