Historical Fiction
I was one of those kids who watched Masterpiece Theatre in junior high. I read Jane Eyre about the same time. I don’t know why I like the past so much; maybe because it’s done and gone, and we can package it up, unlike that unruly present or future. As I steadily worked on my first novel for the last 10 years or so, I discovered writing historical fiction is hard. Really hard. And getting it published is harder still. But it’s also really fun, so regardless of the outcome, I’m going to keep doing it.
Here’s what’s simmering:
While earning my Ph.D. in English, I learned about Lady Mary Wroth, niece of acclaimed English poet Sir Philip Sidney, and I thought, “Someone should write a novel about her.” NOW SOMEONE HAS. An early draft was awarded third prize in the Historical Novel Society’s Unpublished Novel contest. Stay tuned …
Wilton House
I don’t want to say too much about this one. It’s still young and tender and unformed. But I will say it’s set in the same exact time period as Wilton House, but in a completely different context. And on a different continent … but I’ve said too much.