Welcome back to the January 2022 edition of the historical fiction round table discussion. We have an interesting and diverse panel of authors, each with their own unique perspective and insight. To learn more about an author and their books click on their name and you will be taken directly to their Amazon author page. And so, without further ado, let me introduce our panel of authors:
Nancy Bilyeau is the author of “The Blue,” “The Crown,”
“The Tapestry,” “Dreamland,” and numerous other historical novels. Her upcoming
novel, “The Fugitive Colours,” due out in May 2022, is a sequel to “The Blue.” A
native of Illinois, she lives in upstate NY with her family.
Zenobia Neil was
named after an ancient warrior queen who fought against the Romans. Her
debut novel “Psyche Unbound” won a publishing contract. Some of her
characters include a cursed Spartan warrior woman, a haunted eunuch in the
Imperial Ottoman Harem, and Greek gods and goddesses causing mischief. She lives with her family in Los Angeles.
Susan Higginbotham is the author of “The First Lady and the Rebel,” “The Stolen Crown,” and “The Traitor’s Wife.” She is known for her meticulously researched historical fiction. Her latest novel, “John Brown’s Women: A Novel,” was released in January, 2022. She lives in Maryland with her family.
Lily Style is a descendant of famed lovers Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton. She writes regularly for Nelson-related publications and is creator and webmaster of the Emma Hamilton Society. Her interest is in piecing together real human stories behind the dry facts. “Horatia's Secret” is her first historical novel.
Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning author, playwright, and poet. She is the author of the Anne Boleyn novels, “Dear Heart, How Like You This?: The Cost of Love,” and “The Light in the Labyrinth.” Her “Falling Pomegranate Seeds” novels were inspired by the life of Katherine of Aragon. She’s currently writing a novel set in 2010 with a Tudor story. She lives in Australia.
Panelists, thanks for joining us! (Heart emoji) Please start by
telling us where you were born:
Steven Veerapen: Glasgow, Scotland
Nancy Bilyeau: Evanston Hospital, Chicago
Zenobia Neil: Los Angeles, California
Susan Higginbotham: United States
Michael Ross: Lubbock, Texas
Lily Style: Brighton, England
Amy Turner: Fort Collins, Colorado
Wendy J. Dunn: Melbourne, Australia
What is the first book you read that took you to another time and place?
Steven Veerapen: “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell and books by Daphne du Maurier and Paul Gallico. These books really brought the past to life - they conjured up different eras and breathed life into the people living in them.
Nancy Bilyeau: “Black Beauty.”
Zenobia Neil: “Go, Dog Go!” by PD Eastman. That dog party in the tree really made me love where reading could take me. After that it was D’Aulaires “Book of Greek Myths.”
Susan Higginbotham: Probably one of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" books. Other childhood favorites were the Betsy-Tacy series and the "All-of-a-Kind-Family" series.
Michael Ross: Probably Walter Farley’s “The Black Stallion.” I was an avid horse book reader, and the period of the 1940s has always interested me.
Lily Style: René Guillot’s “Kpo the Leopard” set in 1950s Africa. I adored the book so much at age seven that I wore out my cardboard library card through repeatedly borrowing it! The opening lines describing Kpo’s mother’s rumbling, deep purrs etched so deeply into my memory that when I recently sourced a second-hand copy, I was delighted to find I’d remembered the wording exactly.
Amy Turner: Undoubtedly the “Little House on the Prairie” books by Laura Ingalls Wilder featured early in my reading life. But “Amy’s Eyes” by Richard Kennedy is the first book set in the past that I remember having a huge impact on me.
Wendy J. Dunn: If it was fiction, I suspect it would have been one of Rosemary Sutcliff’s novels. I discovered her very early in high school, and I still adore her storytelling.
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| "Kpo the Leopard" has all the elements of immersive fiction. |
Who is the first writer that inspired you to become a historical novelist?
Steven Veerapen: Daphne du Maurier, who wrote about the past and present.
Nancy Bilyeau: Norah Lofts
Zenobia Neil: Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicles. She made me want to read and write historical fiction with history, romance, and magic.
Susan Higginbotham: In a roundabout way, it was Christopher Marlowe, because his play “Edward the Second” led me to obsessively research the 14th century English king, which in turn led me to discover his niece, Eleanor de Clare, the heroine of my first historical novel. It was probably reading Sharon Penman's novels, though, that impelled me to write one myself.
Michael Ross: I read widely, so it is difficult to pick a first. “Johnny Tremain” by Esther Forbes, “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped” by Robert Louis Stevenson. “The Three Musketeers,” by Alexandre Dumas, and also “Tai Pan” by James Clavell.
Lily Style: Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels inspired me hugely. Her merging of historical facts with spot on motives and emotions brought historical figures into fresh, fleshed feeling. This kindled a passion in me to find vivid human stories in the husks of dry archival data.
Amy Turner: James Michener was an influence in my teens, but Jacqueline Winspear was the author that inspired me to try my hand at historical fiction.
Wendy J. Dunn: Again, Rosemary Sutcliff. I gather, from talking to other historical fiction writers, that she fired up the desire to write history in many writers.
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| Daphne du Maurier has inspired generations of novelists. |
What are you reading right now?
Steven Veerapen: “Mary Queen of Scots: Romance and Nation” by Jayne Elizabeth Lewis and “Sour Grapes” by Dan Rhodes.
Nancy Bilyeau: “Unnatural Creatures” by Kris Waldherr.
Zenobia Neil: Elisabeth Storrs’ “The Wedding Shroud: A Novel of Ancient Rome.” I know a lot about ancient Greece and a bit about Rome, but this novel is teaching me about the Etruscans and it’s fascinating.
Susan Higginbotham: “Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley,” a biography by Charlotte Gordon.
Michael Ross: Libby Hawker’s “The Prophet’s Wife,” Bernhard Cornwell’s “The Winter King,” a dozen or so non-fiction books on 19th century American railroads, and everything I can find on Vietnam.
Lily Style: Anya Seton’s “The Winthrop Woman” (1958). I’ve recently discovered Seton and adore her vivid writing style, which feels modern despite it being more than a half century old. I’m a bit sad because I think this is the last of her books, so I’ll have to find a new author.
Amy Turner: “Orwell’s Roses” by Rebecca Solnit, “Sonidos Negros” by K. Meira Goldberg, “The Ghost of the Mary Celeste” by Valerie Martin and “A Rake of Hearts” by Emily Windsor.
Wendy J. Dunn: I'm reading “The Elizabethan Tower of London” by Anna Keay and “John Dudley: The Life of Lady Jane Grey’s Father-in-Law” by Christine Hartweg. I am also reading (and enjoying) “The Asparagus Wars,” a memoir by Carol Major.
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| Bernard Cornwell and his Sharpe character are perennial favorites of historical novelists. |
In your opinion, what are the necessary ingredients that make an unforgettable novel?
Steven Veerapen: Good characters. When teaching Creative Writing, I always tell students to know whose story they’re telling and to write character biographies detailing age, personality, and what contributed to their personality, etc. If the characters keep readers engaged, the story can go anywhere.
Nancy Bilyeau: Rich atmosphere, layered characters, surprises, sustained tension, and insight into the human condition.
Zenobia Neil: Something unique as well as a compelling plot, fantastic characters, and realistic motivation.
Susan Higginbotham: Memorable characters and good writing. I can live with a novel that's light on plot, but the other two have to be there.
Michael Ross: Characters that seem to walk off the page, preferably little known, and a series of challenges that transform them.
Lily Style: Cohesive details that transport me into the glorious bare bones of the story, so I feel as if I’m living in the world of the protagonists. I want to know not just what they are feeling, but what they see, taste, smell, and hear. I want to sit on their shoulders and experience their everyday life. I love quirky details: little snippets of surprising originality that startle me. On top of all this, I want narratives to walk me through solid historical facts. Accuracy is very important. I’ve learnt and grasped more of factual history through reading well-researched novels than through any number of documentaries or textbooks. A good historical novel brings history to life in such a way that it lodges in one’s memory.
Amy Turner: A good balance of character development, plot, and setting. A book can be light on setting, but without strong characters and an engaging plot, a reader cannot connect with the book. I think that connection is what makes a novel unforgettable.
Wendy J. Dunn: Three-dimensional characters, a believable, well-told story, realistic dialogue, taking your reader into your story and keeping them there — AND the building of that vital bridge of empathy.
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| Three-dimensional characters and rich settings are crucial in immersive historical fiction. |
In your opinion, what causes a novel to fall flat?
Steven: Flat characters, I think. If people seem too likeable, perfect, or otherwise don’t have any spark of interest, it’s difficult to care and so difficult to keep reading. When we think of novels we love, it tends to be the characters we think of first.
Nancy Bilyeau: A one-dimensional plot.
Zenobia Neil: Boring characters or anything that makes the reader not wonder what’s going to happen next.
Susan Higginbotham: Bad writing, stilted dialogue, cardboard characters. For historical novels in particular, blatant historical errors, characters that read like transplants from our own time, and dull recitations of historical events.
Michael Ross: Characters with little emotional depth, and history dumps. Make me live the history rather than read about it.
Lily Style: Formulaic books really turn me off. This is not the same as following a narrative pattern. It’s like the difference between painting by numbers and composing a song. Pattern and structure are crucial, but I gain no pleasure reading stories that feel like they’ve been churned off a literary conveyor belt. I value depth and author inspiration. I remember a series set in ancient Egypt where the author used “deadpanned” as a verb. This became really irksome. I’m put off by prose that’s incongruent with the time period. I’ve abandoned many historical novels because of this.
Amy Turner: Lazy research and plot development. Nothing has me putting a book down faster than major plot holes and glaring historical anachronisms.
Wendy J. Dunn: For me, I need to connect to the characters in a novel. I also need to hear the beating heart of the work. A book needs to draw me into its fictional world. For a successful story, I believe a writer needs to tap deeply into their psyche for the construction of their story. Novels fail when they offer a dot-by-dot form of storytelling with no heart and soul.
What novels in the past few years have captured your interest
and why?
Steven: Recently, I’ve been reading E. C. Fremantle’s Stuart era novels. Her covers are always beautiful, her writing is wonderfully lyrical, and she tackles an overlooked period so well. Similarly, Nikki Marmery’s “On Wilder Seas” drew me in as it took a well-known story - Drake’s circumnavigation - and told it from a unique perspective.
Nancy Bilyeau: I’m not a typical reader of fiction. I write it, so a lot of what I read is for research. Typically, I avoid books that are close to mine so as not to be influenced. Two novels I found time to read for pleasure stand out: one is Chanel Cleton’s “Next Year in Havana.” It was a superb mix of history and drama. The other is “Mexican Gothic.” I loved the rich, eerie atmosphere and its originality.
Zenobia Neil: I love mythic retellings, such as “Circe” by Madeline Miller and “A Thousand Ships” by Natalie Haynes. I also loved “Whiskey When We’re Dry” by John Larison, which gave a fresh perspective on Westerns. I always enjoy novels that show us a new version of a story we’re already familiar with like Greek Mythology and Sagas.
Susan Higginbotham: One of my favorites this year was “Florence Adler Swims Forever” by Rachel Beanland, set in 1930's Atlantic City. Although it revolves around a family tragedy, the title character's accidental drowning, it's not a depressing read, but a poignant and witty one. The author has a wonderful narrative voice, and even the most deeply flawed character has some redeeming qualities.
Michael Ross: “The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn, the characters and subject (Bletchley Park cryptanalysts) were fascinating. Also, “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner. Others include, “A Knife in the Fog” by Bradley Harper, “What Girls are Good For” by David Blixt, “A Child Lost” by Michelle Cox, “The Face of a Stranger” by Anne Perry, and “Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel.
Lily Style: Uniqueness certainly attracts me. I like to learn things, so I’m drawn to well-researched historical novels that brings dry facts to life. I’ve already mentioned Anya Seton for her marvelously vivid writing. The covers of her books are dull indeed and would put me off reading them. I enjoy novels set in periods I’m unfamiliar with. I recently read a fabulous debut novel, “The Defender's Throne” by Alessandra Woodward about the bronze age Amazons. Another riveting debut author was J. D. Sonne’s Maccabee trilogy. I knew very little of Jewish history under the Syrian-Greeks, and found the series wonderfully engaging.
Amy Turner: “The Duke of Shadows” by Meredith Duran is a book I find myself extolling regularly. Her use of language and setting are so rich, and her characters so well-defined and poignant. Likewise, “The Suffragette Scandal” by Courtney Milan and “The Lady Darby” series by Anna Lee Huber carry the same characteristics. Although not in a genre I normally read in, “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers was one of the best books I read in 2021. I read a lot. A LOT. For a book to stand out for me, I am looking for exceptional writing, fascinating historical events, and believable characters.
Wendy J. Dunn: Novels I have really enjoyed over the past few years are “The Lace Weaver” and “Gulliver’s Wife” by Lauren Chater. “Antonius: Son of Rome” by Brook Allen, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, “No Small Shame” by Christine Bell, “What Time is it There” by Glenice Whitting, “The Orange Grove” by Kate Murdoch, “A Roman Death” and “Jerome’s Women” by Joan O’Hagan. Thanks to this strange COVID world, I have returned to reading beloved novels such as Elizabeth Goudge’s novels with her themes of forgiveness and healing.
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| The Rose Code by Kate Quinn was a hot new release of 2021. |
In your opinion, what are we seeing too much of?
Steven: I’m loath to say we’re seeing too much of anything. Even the most well-known stories can be told anew. It’s easier to say what I’d like to see more of, and that’s the Jacobean period, which outstripped the late-Elizabethan era in terms of glitz, glamour, corruption, and scandal.
Nancy Bilyeau: Domestic suspense. Novels that begin with: “She thought she had the perfect life until one day…” In historical fiction, there are too many dual timelines set during WWII. But you can’t blame these novelists. If you want to be traditionally published, you have to write what the editors will buy.
Zenobia Neil: I’m both tired of WWII novels and excited about the new places they’re taking us. I enjoyed Kate Quinn’s novels “The Huntress” and “The Rose Code,” both of which look at WWII from unique perspectives (Russian female pilots and British female code breakers.) I’m looking forward to reading “The Last Rose of Shanghai” by Weina Dai Randel. The fantastic YA book “Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust” by Planaria Price also took me to a part of WWII I hadn’t seen before.
Susan Higginbotham: I'm not a fan of dual timeline fiction, at least when one timeline is modern. Too often the modern storyline is pedestrian compared to the historical one—"Patience faces persecution for her religious beliefs while Jean struggles to balance work and family"—and there's often a tired plot device such as the modern character finding the historical character’s letters or diary.
Michael Ross: European WWII. There are occasional stories, like “The Rose Code” that are unique enough to merit further books, but if you’re going to do WWII, let’s move beyond Europe to stories set in Asia, Australia, even South America. Or the Nazi women involved in the American space program after the war. And the Tudors have been done to death.
Lily Style: I’m tired of churned out, copycat literature. I have no interest in quickly written, formulaic pulp fiction that follows market trends. There’s so much underwhelming dross flooding the market that the true gems of historical fiction are hard to find.
Amy Turner: I am over the Regency period ‘society’ historicals. There were so many other intriguing people from that period that were not part of high society. I want to hear about them.
Wendy J. Dunn: There is far too much hate in this world, and I believe we need to tread carefully about how we engage with themes of hate in our works of fiction. I believe the best writers of fiction are the lantern bearers for humanity. We grow as humans because of the books they write. They shine a light to help us move forward in this human existence of ours. They combat hate.
If you could go back in history and relive an event, what would it be?
Steven: Definitely the sinking of the Titanic. I’ve spent so many hours reading and watching videos of breakup and sinking theories, and come across so many conflicting survivors’ accounts that I’d love to see how it really went down (from the safety of a lifeboat). I’d also like to see if Ismay jumped as he said, or – as one witness claimed – was pushed into a lifeboat.
Nancy Bilyeau: I would like to be in the Tower of London in 1483 to see who killed the Princes in the Tower!
Zenobia Neil: This is a difficult question for a writer of historical fiction. Other than anything related to the Library of Alexandra, I’d like to listen to Homer recite “The Iliad.” I’ve always been very curious about who “Homer” really was. I read one book that argued that Homer was a woman. I think it would be amazing to hear epic poetry and see how those listening reacted.
Susan Higginbotham: I would enjoy witnessing the 2nd inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.
Lily Style: Seeing Henry VIII in real life and meeting own ancestors. I’m drawn to the stone age. Perhaps a 9,000-year journey back in time to witness daily life in the formative Anatolian city of Çatal Hüyük; or back a further three-thousand-years to observe the mysterious monumental builders of Göbekli Tepe, near the modern Turkish border with Iraq.
Amy Turner: I would like to be with Caroline Herschel when her article appeared in the Royal Society science journal, the first formal article by a woman to be published.
Wendy J. Dunn: The coronation of Elizabeth I. I’ve lived the event through my imagination, but I would have loved to have been there in reality.
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| The coronation of Elizabeth I would be an amazing sight to see! |
In 2019, the New York Times had an article, “Why Are We Living in a Golden Age of Historical Fiction?” That in tumultuous times novels tend to look to a dystopian future, yet nowadays authors are increasingly writing about the past. Why is this so?
Steven: I think when the future is uncertain we are drawn to ideas of the past. Particularly in the UK, I think, there’s a lingering attachment to the idea of a rosy (mythical) past, when we imagine things were easier and life less hectic and more certain. The danger of course is that people become bound up in ideas of past glories and life as if never was. Historical fiction can - and I think should - avoid mythologizing the past. It should let people escape into it but show it warts and all.
Nancy Bilyeau: I wish we were living in such a golden age! I don’t see a lot of it being published. I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and in the Historical Fiction section I saw many books that were ten years old or more. Writers today seem to have more trouble getting a publishing contract for historical fiction than at any time in the last 15 years.
Zenobia Neil: For me there is actually a lot of cross-over between science fiction and historical fiction. Both offer a slightly different lens to look at human nature and society. Reading about different realities that have existed in the past is a bit like traveling to a foreign country—it gives you a new perspective on our own country/ time period. It’s also important to remember during difficult times that other societies have gone through pandemics, plagues, and war.
Michael Ross: I think in uncertain times people look to the past for solutions – what worked (or didn’t). Reading about the past gives a feeling of security – we’ve been here before and survived.
Lily Style: Although the past is separated from us by time, I think it has come to feel just as reachable as Timbuktu and Machu Pichu. I think also that the current popularity of DNA testing and genealogical research has augmented this idea of a ‘reachable past’ because the direct ancestors we discover are linked to us by DNA. They are our family.
Amy Turner: I don’t know that I can speak for other authors, but for me there is something secure about writing about a period that has already happened. We know the ending. Our uncertain times feel too nebulous and terrifying for me to live in and create in.
Wendy J. Dunn: We know how a story from the past ends. There is a certain comfort in that knowledge—as well as the reassurance and comfort in life’s unending circle. The stories of the people of the past show us it is possible to surmount life’s challenges. For me, the last two years have felt like navigating a leaky boat in stormy waters with so many unknowns still before me. We are living what we could have once drawn up as a dystopian story-line—but now is the reality of our lives. More than ever, we are aware of the uncertainty of life. I don’t think it is surprising we are taking refuge in the past.
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| Reading about history gives us a certain comfort when we know the outcome. |
The Tudor period and WWII seem to be perennial favorites for historical novels and film treatments. Do you think this will change? What other periods deserve our attention?
Steven: I can’t see it changing any time soon, mainly because these periods continue to interest people and, of course, both areas can be endlessly mined. The Tudor period is actually lots of periods, from the pre-Reformation to the Renaissance. WWII offers everything from land girls to frigid Eastern European battlegrounds to the fall of Singapore. But I definitely think the Jacobean era deserves more attention. It was crowded with personalities, self-made figures, corrupt politicians, and dyed-yellow ruffs.
Nancy: The Tudor period has not been getting a green light for historical fiction since about 2015, apart from Hillary Mantel and a few mystery authors. Philippa Gregory doesn’t even write in the Tudor period any longer. Editors won’t buy these books; the era is seen as out of style. But yes, World War II and the 20th century dominate traditionally-published historical fiction. These books are finding readers (and publishers need to make money, so they buy more of them). I think other time periods can flourish. I’m hoping the 18th century, which I’m writing in now, can get more support. There are encouraging signs. “The Lost Apothecary,” by Sarah Penner, set in 18th century London, came out earlier this year. It’s a really good read. I also finished Eva Stachniak’s “The School of Mirrors,” set in France, and is a fascinating look at a mother and daughter [relationship] before and during the French Revolution. It comes out in early 2022.
Zenobia Neil: As an ancient world writer, I’m delighted to see more ancient world novels and mythic retellings taking off. I’m also excited about shows like “The Great” and “The Harder We Fall” showing more diversity and giving new life to 17th Century Russia and The American West.
Susan Higginbotham: I think we'll
start seeing more novels set in the latter half of the twentieth century,
especially since this is now "historical" to young readers. I think
all historical periods deserve attention--there's a lot of untold stories out
there. In researching “John Brown's Women,” I came across all sorts of
fascinating characters who are just begging for a novel.
Michael Ross: As time goes on, I think it will change. I doubt those periods will disappear completely from the historical fiction landscape, but other eras will supplant the wild popularity. My guesses for replacement are the roaring 20’s, the Depression, and the Vietnam War/Civil Rights era.
Lily Style: My hunch is that the Tudor period and WWII are trending because mainstream media has lodged them into public consciousness as desirable “time travel tourism” destinations. In a sad kind of way, I think reader interest for historical fiction mirrors capitalistic market forces with established brands (e.g., “Tudor”) selling better than lesser-known ones. While some of us crave novelty, the majority of readers seek time periods that are familiar and fashionable. It may be that the trend will only change if mainstream media shifts its focus to other historical periods.
Amy Turner: I think the late 19th and early 20th century (pre-WWI) is such an amazing period. I am currently researching southern Spain during that time and the change that country was amid and on the cusp of, is staggering. My book will only barely touch the surface of an ocean of material.
Wendy J. Dunn: (laughing) As a writer of Tudor works, I hope it doesn’t change. There has always been an interest in the Tudors, so I think I’m safe to keep writing about them. But all periods of history deserve our attention. I have been revisiting the Roman world lately in my reading. That period is a gold mine that invites more exploration by novelists.
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| The roaring 20's is a fascinating setting for historical novels. |
What is the hardest thing about starting a writing project?
Steven: I think it’s working out a story. Once you have characters, it can be difficult to think “what should happen to them?” At the start, that can feel like a mountain to climb - especially if you have various half-ideas floating around!
Nancy Bilyeau: Finding your comfort with the new world you’ve created.
Zenobia Neil: Since I write about the ancient world, it’s always difficult getting a handle of the details of what people ate, drank, wore, how their carried water and their belief systems. My characters usually come pretty fully formed with lots of backstory and motivation of their own, but how did they light their houses? What did their houses look like? These are all tricky questions.
Susan Higginbotham: Stopping the research and starting to write.
Michael Ross: Getting enough research
together to make a coherent outline.
Lily Style: I find it incredibly difficult to arrange my treasure trove of dry facts into coherent, compelling story lines. I recently abandoned 18 months' worth of work when it dawned on me that the story I'd penned so far wasn't working. So I binned the entire project and started from scratch with the help of an author coach. I'm now excited about how my re-write is going.
Amy Turner: Not getting lost in the research and focusing on the writing!
Wendy J. Dunn: Discovering vast holes in my knowledge. I thought writing my novels about Katherine of Aragon wouldn’t be too difficult—but then realized I had a mountain of research to complete if I wanted to do justice to her story. (laughing) Every time I start a new project, I underestimate the research I need to do.
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| Knowing when to stop researching and start writing is a crucial aspect of historical novel-writing. |
How has writing about history changed your perspective about history?
Steven: I think it’s given me a sense of perspective on the fabric of daily life. You start to think about historical events - famous encounters, or quotes, or arguments - in real terms. Where would they have taken place? How many people would have been in the room? What did observers make of it? Writing about history encourages you to think of it happening live.
Nancy Bilyeau: I don’t think it has.
Zenobia Neil: I think that people often view history as one thing—for example that Victorians were prudes. One thing I love about history is learning about how history is described on the outside, but what it might actually have looked like from the inside. Studying history gives you a much bigger perspective of the world and time and that’s one reason I love to read and write about it.
Susan Higginbotham: It has given me a greater appreciation for our forebears, especially in the case of women. We tend to focus on all the rights they didn't have, but we also tend to overlook their strength of character.
Michael Ross: I’ve learned a great deal from first-person accounts, which are not usually featured in history classes in school. I’ve learned that history is not the static story we are taught, but changes as new details emerge. There are usually several sides to any historical event.
Lily Style: Writing about history has revealed to me the power writers have to shape public consciousness. I’ve realized that, in their own small way, my descriptions of historical events will influence people’s understanding of the past. Perceptions of history are malleable, and readers can and do confuse fiction with fact. With anecdotal examples of soap stars being accosted in the street by people who’ve confused them with the characters they play, it’s inevitable that fictional representations of historical characters are assumed to be real.
Amy Turner: I am even more jaded than before about colonization and the actions justified by colonization. I thought I knew, but there is so much more darkness there. The thing I love about writing historical fiction is that I can tell the story differently.
Wendy J. Dunn: It has solidified my belief in the importance of reclaiming the stories of women in history. The bulk of my work explores female lives through the prism of Tudor history. Reading history books, I often recognize the cause and effect of powerful character pitched against the constraints of their world. For example, history tells us Katherine of Aragon was a stubborn woman, especially when she believed herself in the right. Her refusal to bow off the stage and deny her twenty-plus years of marriage changed England forever. She faced trouble after trouble, mostly of the female kind. Yet, her story a light of inspiration down the centuries. Women’s stories need to be told to remind us how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.
Why did you choose your era?
Steven: I feel like it chose me. I’ve been interested in the Tudor and Stuart eras as long as I can remember. My mum says she loved them when she was young too - so maybe it’s inherited! I was lucky enough to be able to study the English Renaissance in depth at university, so I’ve just kept the flame of interest burning.
Nancy: I’ve written in three different eras. They all appeal to me.
Zenobia: I’ve always been drawn to Greek mythology and the ancient world. Perhaps it’s because my parents named me Zenobia. I’ve always liked looking at the ancient world from different perspectives. The other thing I like about the ancient world is that you can write about people who followed very different rules—or no rules at all. My characters are able to be their true selves in a way that a contemporary character or a character in a different time period couldn’t be.
Susan: I write biographical fiction, so usually it's a character who I'm drawn to rather than an era. But as a writer, I really enjoy the nineteenth century because there's such a wealth of material—newspapers, periodicals, personal letters, etc.—to draw from.
Michael: I
chose my main characters [Will Crump] and that dictated the era. I thought his
story was fascinating. I also saw many parallels between the United States of
1860 and today, which I thought would resonate with readers. I hoped to
influence people today to make different choices from those of 1860.
Lily: The period I chose, the 1870’s, came from an inspirational hunch that my third great-grandmother, Horatia, had not been as prissy and alienated from her mother, Emma Hamilton, as public documents attest. My epiphany was that Lady Hamilton had obligated Horatia to protect her future with a veil of secrecy. Experienced as a writer of historical articles, I realized this scenario needed to be laid out as a story set in Horatia’s final decade (the 1870s).
Amy Turner: I wanted a chance to change the narrative of naturalist exploration in the late 19th century. Women and BIPOC have been left out of the story of the foundations of scientific discovery, and I wanted the opportunity to bring them back into the frame.
Wendy J. Dunn: I didn’t choose it. The Tudors hooked my imagination as a child and have held it hostage ever since.'
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| Greek and Roman mythology continue to inspire historical novelists. |
What would be your ideal writing getaway?
Steven: I’d love to have a little cabin somewhere isolated and wintry, with its own attached gym so I can write and exercise without going out!
Nancy: Baskerville Hall on the moor. But no hound!
Zenobia: A Greek island with a cliffside view of the sea.
Susan Higginbotham: Actually, I'm
probably better off just staying in my office, since if I'm at a scenic place
or an interesting one, shutting myself up and writing is the last thing I'm
going to do.
Michael Ross: An idyllic cabin in the woods with blazing fast internet and a network of cabins about a mile apart so that evening firepits and writing discussions with other authors could take place.
Lily Style: A remote fishing cottage owned by England’s National Trust. The crash of waves and freedom from internet distractions inspire a fresh flow of writing. We’ve booked a weekend in that same tiny port this January. I’m hoping for a major storm to bash at the windows while I cozy by the wood burner and give my imagination space to explore new perspectives and angles for my work in progress.
Amy Turner: Chile or Spain.
Wendy J. Dunn: Varuna, the Writer’s House in the beautiful Blue Mountains in NSW. From 9am to 6pm, the six writers at the house just write. Then they come down to a meal and sit around the fireplace and talk writing. Bliss. Time there is simply divine.
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| A remote cabin in the woods (with Wi-Fi) is a perennial favorite of historical novelists. |
Steven: Definitely coffee – currently white chocolate and coconut lattes!
Nancy Bilyeau: A great cup of coffee.
Zenobia Neil: Coffee in the day, wine at night.
Michael Ross: Coffee in the early morning, water during the day, wine at night.
Lily Style: Red wine is my pal, though I quaff it watered down. I can’t write if tipsy, but red wine mellows my uncertainty. I adore the warm, relaxed flow it brings me.
Amy Turner: Coffee
Wendy J. Dunn: Coffee!
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| *sigh* Where would writers be without coffee? |
What is your favorite “writing snack”?
Steven: I wish I had one! When writing, I tend not to eat very much. I can do without the distraction. 😉
Nancy:
I don’t think about eating while I write. I like to cook a god meal
after I’m done.
Zenobia: Chocolate.
Susan Higginbotham: Ginger Snaps.
Michael Ross: Pretzels.
Lily Style: Pre-cut cheese.
Amy Turner: Popcorn
Wendy J. Dunn: Nuts
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| At least one author on this panel professed a love for ginger snaps. |
Which authors have influenced you the most and why?
Steven: Again, I’d say Daphne du Maurier. I read so many of her short stories and novels when I was young that she had a real impact, and I’m still in awe of her ability to tell a haunting, often gloomy story so well.
Nancy: Daphne du Maurier for suspense, Sarah Waters for atmosphere, Edith Wharton for character.
Zenobia: The most influential writers of my historical fiction have been Anne Rice, Mary Renault, and Diana Gabaldon.
Susan Higginbotham: The nineteenth-century greats--Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, and Elizabeth Gaskell.
Michael Ross: Tom Clancy – because he was a mentor. John Jakes, because I think he’s the master of trilogies – his character development is amazing. Recently, Kate Quinn, because she weaves women together and is willing to explain her thought process.
Lily Style: Tolkien, G. R. R. Martin, and Philip Pullman: fantasy writers the lot of them, but revolutionary in presenting human stories in intertwining, vivid, and unexpected ways.
Amy Turner: My influences are vast and not necessarily historical fiction. My writing style and motivation have been influenced by poets, natural history writers, and mentors I have worked with.
Wendy J. Dunn: In my younger years, I feasted on the works of Mary Renault, Winston Graham, Rosemary Sutcliff, Elizabeth Goudge and Robert Graves. All of them are authors I still read. All of them are amazing and powerful storytellers who create characters that stay with you forever. They are all the writers who set me on my writing road
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| Rosemary Sutcliff has inspired many historical novelists. |
What is your favorite historical movie or TV series?
Steven: The old 70's “Upstairs, Downstairs.” The writers knew people who had lived through the Edwardian era and the 1920s, so they were much more accurate to that period in terms of customs and dialogue. You’ll find characters saying they must “telephone to” someone rather than just telephone them - little things like that capture the period effortlessly.
Nancy Bilyeau: There are so many! For TV, I like “Turn: Washington’s spies,” “The Last Kingdom,” “The Tudors,” “Rome,” “The Borgias,” and “Boardwalk Empire.”
Zenobia Neil: “Last Kingdom has been the most enjoyable and educational historical TV series. I’ve learned so much about Anglo Saxon history and early England.
Susan Higginbotham: I enjoyed the BBC adaptations of "Bleak House" and "Our Mutual Friend." But I'm not much of a TV or movie buff.
Michael Ross: It’s hard to pick a
single favorite. “Pride and Prejudice” with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle,
“Glory,” “Gettysburg,” “Patton,” “Harriet Tubman,” and “We Were Soldiers.”
Lily Style: The BBC’s adaption of Robert Grave’s “I Claudius” (1976). I was desperate to watch it, but only seven years old. I seized the opportunity to watch it when it re-aired in 1985, and then immediately bought the books. Before long, I’d reread the books so many times I knew much of the text by heart. I was heartened in the early 2000s when a UK poll ranked ‘I Claudius’ as one of the best TV series ever, despite its antiquity.
Amy Turner: Master and Commander, embarrassing as there are no women in the film.
Wendy J. Dunn: I confess. I did really enjoy “The Tudors”—and even forgave it for rewriting history.
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| Upstairs, Downstairs was a ground-breaking Edwardian miniseries. |
If you could have dinner with any historical personage, who would it be and why?
Steven: Mary Queen of Scots. I’d like to see what she really looked like and see if I got any sense of whether she was a saint or sinner - or, more likely, neither! Also, she knew how to cook eggs, so we wouldn’t be at a loss for food.
Nancy: Elizabeth I.
Zenobia: Alexander the Great. Hopefully his dear Hephaestion would be there too.
Michael Ross: Well, aside from Jesus, for obvious reasons, I’d have to say Abraham Lincoln because I think he’s absolutely fascinating – a blend of intelligence, wit, social ability, cunning, and courage. And of course, I’d love to dine with my real-life main character, Will Crump.
Lily Style: I think I’d choose my 3rd great-grandfather, Captain Edward Blanckley RN, and ask him to please put me out of my misery and reveal his birthdate!
Amy Turner: Maria Sibylla Merian, she faced prejudice and a lack of recognition of her contributions to natural sciences, but she just got on with her work and her travels. I would love to hear more about her life.
Wendy J. Dunn: I would love to have dinner with Elizabeth I, Mary I, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine of Aragon. That would make for interesting conversations!
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| Many novelists feel that Tudor-era women like Mary Queen of Scots (left) and Elizabeth I (right) would make fascinating dinner companions. |
Where do you go for inspiration? Do you travel?
Steven: I like to run. During the lockdowns, I took long runs through the countryside and found they gave me time to think more than running on a treadmill. I also came across some old ruins, which told their own stories.
Nancy Bilyeau: I often go to nearby museums, gardens, and historic houses for inspiration.
Zenobia Neil: I
look at ancient images and read Hellenistic poetry for inspiration. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Greece to do
some research for my novels.
Susan Higginbotham: I enjoy traveling, not necessarily for inspiration but just to see new places or revisit favorite ones. I do try to travel to places associated with my novels when I can.
Michael Ross: My inspiration comes from reading as I discover new people, incidents, and places. At 67, I’ve been almost everywhere in the United States and over large parts of Mexico, Canada, Central America, Europe, Israel, and China.
Lily Style: Part of my debut novel, “Horatia’s Secret” is set in the south-east Devon seaside resort of Budleigh Salterton, where my 3x great-aunt, Henrietta Blanckley’s former high street residence is now a café. Our winter trip there provided a lot of inspiration, including knowledge that the sea there can turn pink. It also involved lots of treats in the café that was once Henrietta’s front parlor.
Amy Turner: Travel is a major inspiration for me. My first novel is set in Chile on Chiloè Island, because I love Chile and have a deep connection with the place. My second novel is set in Spain for a similar reason, after traveling there I knew I had to write about it. My background is in botany and anthropology, so those topics are also abundant sources of inspiration.
Wendy J. Dunn: I have been to England for research five times and twice to Spain. I found every trip to be an amazing adventure of inspiration. Alas, as an Australian, that kind of travel is difficult and expensive. Not too certain when I will be fortunate enough to do it again.
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| Southern Spain would make a fascinating research destination! |
Have you ever bought a historical novel based on the cover? If so, what was it that drew you in?
Steven: I’m drawn to simple covers,
with silhouettes or black and gold designs. I avoid covers with people walking
away from the camera or locked in an embrace. I think covers are
increasingly starting to have a little less personality than they did in the
1970s and 1980s. Genre covers are all crossing over each other so you can’t
tell a horror from a thriller from an epic based on the cover anymore.
Nancy: I really liked the cover for “Mexican Gothic,” but that’s not the only reason why I bought it.
Zenobia: Such an interesting question!
I don’t think I ever have. The title and the blurb are what get me.
Susan Higginbotham: There are many novels I've picked up for the cover, but I've never bought one solely for the cover. On the other hand, I quite often see novels that might be worth a read but have truly wretched or off-putting covers.
Michael Ross: No, never. Usually, it’s
the blurb, the era, or if I know the author.
Lily Style: I was going to say ‘no’, but then I recalled Diane Setterfield’s “Tales Upon a River” whose cover did hook me in a few years ago when I was browsing for something to read.
Amy Turner: Nope, covers don’t impact my reading choice.
Wendy J. Dunn: Nah. It’s the blurb that sells the book to me—and recommendations from friends.
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| The cover of "Mexican Gothic" is highly evocative. What is your favorite historical fiction cover? Tell us in the comments below. |
What is the
book you would love to see in 2022?
Steven: I’d like to see a novel of the life of James VI and I. We have so many on Elizabeth and I can only think of one – Nigel Tranter’s – on James.
Nancy Bilyeau: I’d like to see more novels set in the 18th century.
Susan Higginbotham: I'm looking forward to “Antoinette’s Sister” by Diana Giovinazzo, about Maria Carolina Charlotte, Queen of Naples. I recently read Nancy Goldstone's multiple biography, “In the Shadow of the Empress,” which in part concerns Charlotte, so this novel has me intrigued.
Michael Ross: Of course, I’d like to complete my own WIP! But aside from that, probably Kate Quinn’s McCarthy-era novel.
Lily Style: The next book in G. R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series (come on, it’s been too many years in the offing!)
Amy Turner: Mine!
Wendy J. Dunn: A new book I have written. (smile emoji) To have a fifth novel released would be so lovely!
Which writing
book helped you the most in your career as a writer?
Steven: I think the only one I’ve ever read was Stephen King’s “On Writing,” and I always remember he said to kill all adjectives. Well intended advice but I think “all” is a bit much!
Nancy Bilyeau: None. I don’t really like them. [Writing] can’t be learned like a recipe.
Zenobia Neil: Matt Bird’s “The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers” was one of the best I’ve read. It’s actually targeted for screenwriters, but it taught me a lot about what makes a good story. I highly recommend it.
Susan Higginbotham: I read writing magazines when I was in my teens and twenties, but haven't read any writing books in particular.
Michael Ross: Steven King’s “On Writing”. I’m still going through Libby Hawker’s “Take Off Your Pants!” book about plotting and evaluating it.
Amy Turner: “The Zen of Creativity” by John Daido Loori
Wendy J. Dunn: I think the Artist way has helped the most. It gave me permission to create.
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| Stephen King's "On Writing" is a perennial favorite of novelists. |
Podcasting and Tik Tok are two recent trends in reaching wider audiences, how do you reach out to the public to drum up interest in your novel?
Steven: I use Twitter and enjoy participating in Facebook groups. I also have taken part in podcasts. TikTok is beyond me, though - I don’t even have Snapchat! It’s definitely the way forward though. We’re in an age where things like YouTube can reach millions quickly.
Nancy Bilyeau: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Zenobia Neil: After my last novel, “Ariadne Unraveled,” was released, I was invited to be on a couple of different podcasts. Just recently I was interviewed by Jessica Cale on her incredible podcast. I also got invited to be on Mythstorie a few months ago.
Susan Higginbotham: So far, I'm pretty much sticking to Facebook, my website, and the occasional Twitter and Instagram post. I probably should expand, but it's difficult because I'm a dinosaur who prefers getting information from reading instead of watching videos or listening to podcasts
Michael Ross: I do interviews whenever possible, blog posts, and podcasts. I haven’t ventured into the world of TikTok. I continue doing my newsletter in addition to my blog, though the pace has slowed to about one post a week.
Lily Style: I frustrate myself by being rubbish at reaching out to people. I’m aware that this would be beneficial to me as an author, but it’s not in my bones. I’m creative, as opposed to business-minded. I’ve learned to work with my strengths (creativity) and accept that there are things I’m not suited to doing (marketing). I don’t write to make money, but because I have a passion to tell stories.
Amy Turner: I moved my newsletters to Substack over the past year and prefer the interactive aspect of that site over an email distribution program. I have a regular presence on Instagram and interact with my audience there, it is a lovely informal platform for me to share images, sources, and updates.
What is a story you accidentally discovered that you decided had to be told?
Steven: I discovered that English Catholics fled to Scotland to escape Henry VIII, so I used one in a novel. I also read some wonderful books like Miranda Kaufman’s, “Black Tudors,” which introduced me to the concept of mixed-race marriages and relationships in the period. This is the subject of my upcoming novel, “Of Blood Descended,” a novel that follows the fictional mixed-raced son of the Tudor court musician John Blanke – due out in May of 2022.
Nancy: The plot behind “The Blue.” A tour guide at the Hillwood Estate in Washington D.C. talked about espionage in the 18th century porcelain world.
Zenobia: The plot behind “The Jinni’s Last Wish” was inspired by a book called, “Harem: The World Behind the Veil” by Alev Lytle Croutier that was about real- life eunuchs in harems. I wanted to write about the harem from a eunuch’s perspective and because the real situation was so awful, I needed to put a jinni in it—which is also another way of exploring the idea of slavery and power. That’s how my second novel was born.
Susan Higginbotham: Most of my ideas for novels arise through happenstance. It was a passing reference to Eleanor de Clare in a biography that intrigued me to find out more about her. Once I did, I decided that her story needed to be told. That became my first novel, “The Traitor's Wife.”
Michael Ross: “Across the Great Divide” came from knowing Will Crump’s daughter (Katy Bell) as a child, and then stumbling onto his story as a Confederate soldier who participated in Morgan’s Raid. “Angels of Shiloh” came about as I learned of the role of nurses in the battle at Pittsburg Landing and the story of Mary Anne Bickerdyke during Civil War research. My as yet untitled Vietnam era book came from batting the idea around with Kate Quinn and interviews with Vietnam era nurses, as well as Sophie Schiller.
Lily Style: As mentioned earlier, it’s the story that Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton’s only daughter denied her own mother to protect her reputation and also her children’s. Victorian society was bigoted, and having a good name was everything. If Horatia had admitted to knowing who her mother was, she and her progeny’s lives would have been ruined.
Amy Turner: Women naturalists! They were there and making as many discoveries as the men, but their stories are rarely told.
Wendy J. Dunn: The Light in the Labyrinth. When I discovered the suggestion from history that Catherine Carey may have been at the Tower with Anne Boleyn and witnessed Anne Boleyn’s execution, it stayed with me until Catherine became very annoying, demanding me to scribe her story. I’m glad I listened to her.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 – 1717) was a German-born
naturalist and scientific illustrator.
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If you could tell your younger self anything about writing, what would it be?
Steven: You can do it!
Nancy: Start writing novels now!
Zenobia: Hold on. Writing is a process. It takes time and things change a lot.
Michael: Keep writing, keep studying other writers. Develop a thick skin – rejection is part of the business.
Lily: It would be that I would be diagnosed dyslexic aged 30 and that my inability to memorize spelling has nothing to do with the quality of writing I can produce.
Amy: Don’t wait so long to go for it.
Wendy: Believe in yourself. Don’t listen to people telling you not to try. Yes - the writing road is hard, but it is also an authentic hero’s journey. Commit to it and your life will become a true adventure.
Readers: thanks for joining us on this latest installment of historical fiction round table. If you have a specific question for any of our panelists, please enter them in the comments section below. To learn more about the authors, please click on their names above and you will be directed to their Amazon author page where all their books are listed. Check back here later in the summer for the next installment!
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