One of the strangest things about writing Abraham Lincoln as a character is that everyone already knows what he looks like. Or at least they think they do. The beard. The black suit. The stovepipe hat. The deeply lined face staring out from Civil War photographs. That’s not the Abraham Lincoln I’m writing. In LincolnContinue reading “How Do You Turn Abraham Lincoln Back into a 28-Year-Old Man?”
Tag Archives: creative-writing
Three Doctors Wanted Elijah Lovejoy Silenced. A Fourth Regretted His Silence.
One of the things that surprises people most when I talk about my research for Lincoln Seeks Justice for Elijah Lovejoy is the role played by some of Alton’s doctors. We tend to think of a physician as someone who protects life. Three doctors in the Lovejoy controversy became involved in something very different. DoctorsContinue reading “Three Doctors Wanted Elijah Lovejoy Silenced. A Fourth Regretted His Silence.”
Bringing Abraham Lincoln’s World to Life: When History Isn’t Enough
Have you ever wondered why some history stays with you while other history is quickly forgotten? When I began researching Lincoln Seeks Justice for Elijah Lovejoy, I immersed myself in newspapers, speeches, letters, memoirs, and court records. The facts were fascinating, but something was missing. I discovered that history alone doesn’t always help us understandContinue reading “Bringing Abraham Lincoln’s World to Life: When History Isn’t Enough”
Who Was Elijah Lovejoy?
I doubt very much that most of my audience is familiar with Elijah Lovejoy. Outside of Illinois, many people have never heard of him. Even here in the Midwest, his name is often only briefly mentioned in history books. Yet in 1837, Elija Lovejoy was one of the most controversial men in America. So, whoContinue reading “Who Was Elijah Lovejoy?”
When History Isn’t Enough
One of the biggest surprises I encountered while writing Lincoln Seeks Justice for Elijah Lovejoy was learning that good history doesn’t automatically become a good novel. I spent years reading court transcripts, newspaper accounts, speeches, letters, and memoirs. I wanted to understand not only what happened, but how the people involved thought and felt. AtContinue reading “When History Isn’t Enough”
Meet One of the Most Powerful Men in Lincoln’s Illinois
When we think about Abraham Lincoln’s early career, we often picture him surrounded by thoughtful lawyers debating great questions of law and politics. The reality was far more complicated. One of the most influential men in Illinois during Lincoln’s first years as a lawyer was Usher F. Linder, the state’s Attorney General from 1837-1839. LincolnContinue reading “Meet One of the Most Powerful Men in Lincoln’s Illinois”
The Quality Lincoln Valued Most
As I finished watching a documentary on Abraham Lincoln and began one on Ulysses S. Grant, I found myself thinking about Lincoln’s judgement and the harsh criticism received in quarters for not replacing Grant. Today, Grant is remembered as one of the Union’s most successful generals. During the war, however, many people wanted him removed.Continue reading “The Quality Lincoln Valued Most”
How Family and Community Shaped Abraham Lincoln’s World
This week I spent time researching through a section of family history, tracing connections between the Pelton, Warren and Mayhew families. What stands out is not a single event but the pattern. These families are connected through marriage, shared Quaker roots, and a migration path from New England into Ohio, Indiana, and the broader Midwest.Continue reading “How Family and Community Shaped Abraham Lincoln’s World”
Writing Historical Fiction When Voices Are Not Recorded
This week I’ve begun revising Chapter 9 of my Lincoln novel, where the tension continues to escalate and the danger surrounding Lovejoy becomes more direct. As the threats gather and those around him begin to organize for defense, I realized that something important was still missing from the chapter. I need to write a sceneContinue reading “Writing Historical Fiction When Voices Are Not Recorded”
How Quakers Helped the Underground Railroad
In tracing my family genealogy, I’ve come across a connection that leads into the quiet work of the Underground Railroad. I was surprised and delighted to find a document that Mary Louisa John’s family had signed supporting that network. This is a branch of my family that were Quakers in Pennsylvania. Quakers were among theContinue reading “How Quakers Helped the Underground Railroad”
