Where Historical Fiction Comes From This is a flânerie across dozens of research topics, and the process of writing historical fiction. A colleague said to me, of historical fiction writers, “We owe allegiance to the truth, not the facts.” It’s history, but it’s not. We bend the facts, when necessary,… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – October 5, 2025 Laveaux: Dancer is effectively done, like any novel is ever done until it’s published. I am still running chapters by my critique group (wonderful, highly-skilled writer people) and making tweaks, but I’m done. I am off hunting for an agent, about… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – August 21, 2025 From 1820s firefighting to hair gel. Yep. I go down a lot of ratholes. It’s 1822. Marie Laveaux was a hairdresser. In early 19th century New Orleans, that meant house calls. Historically we have zero details, but from period sources we… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – August 15, 2025 This isn’t about the story, it’s about barriers to writing. Over many years and many chapters, I have discovered two that remain constant: getting started, and perfection. I really am almost never seriously blocked. But that’s because I am way too… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – August 14, 2025 I’m reworking the end of the novel, for good plot/narrative cause. There are several new chapters to fill in some rather massive blanks. I need you dear reader, to have better insight into what makes Santiago Paris (Marie’s first/only legal husband)… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – June 28, 2025 My colleague writers make fun of me when I say I have this strange devotion to facts in my fiction. 🙂 I’ll take that as a badge of honor. I’m restructuring the end of this novel. I had a serious narrative… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – June 18, 2025 This should be fun. A bit distracted because of “other” stuff, but I am still getting a little writing done. Finishing up a chapter that involves Voudou mind control. Seriously. I’m stepping way outside my comfort zone, but given my nature,… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – May 19, 2025 I’m researching early Mississippi River steamboats. We are circa 1820. They have been around for less than 10 years, but they are way better. So already there are dozens landing in New Orleans, probably about one hundred or so. The photo… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – May 14, 2025 A funny thing happened at writers’ critique. I’m cranking away on the plot for Part 2 of this story about Marie Laveaux. The process has its ups and downs, and in fact to a degree I’m struggling. It is what it… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – May 10, 2025 The Catholic church picked a new Pope the other day. It turns out, he has roots in Creole New Orleans. Friends who know what I’m writing immediately asked if I’d seen this news. Yes indeed. I’m writing 50-100 years before his… Continue reading
