As I’m revising Chapter 9 of my Lincoln novel, I’m emersed in the life of Elijah Lovejoy and the position he occupies in the story at this point. The danger surrounding him is no longer uncertain. Those who oppose him are gathering openly and speaking of what they intend to do. There is no realContinue reading “Elijah Lovejoy Standing Against the Mob, the Cost of Speaking Out”
Tag Archives: fiction
Owen Lovejoy and the Underground Railroad
Owen Lovejoy plays a significant role in my Lincoln novel. He appears in several scenes, but in the chapters I’ve been working on recently, he becomes more intimately involved in what is happening. While tensions rise and the trheat to his brother grows more intense, Owen moves among those gathering against them, watching, listening, spying.Continue reading “Owen Lovejoy and the Underground Railroad”
Owen Lovejoy in a Lincoln-Era Novel
At writers group this week I read a chapter from my Lincoln novel that features Owen Lovejoy more prominently. He has appeared earlier in the story, but in this chapter he has two scenes of his own. While others gather and tensions rise around the arrival of Elijah’s fourth press, Owen moves stealthily among thoseContinue reading “Owen Lovejoy in a Lincoln-Era Novel”
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”
Choosing the Next Edward Bryant Story for Publication
I received a wonderful response in the Friends of Ed Facebook group to question I had asked about which of Ed’s stories to publish next. Instead of selecting just one, the author suggested several for different reasons. While She Was Out was mentioned as a strong hard-boiled crime story. giAnts was suggested as one ofContinue reading “Choosing the Next Edward Bryant Story for Publication”
Writing Historical Fiction When the Record is Silent
Tonight I was thinking about a different kind of difficulty in historical fiction. As I move toward the revision of Chapter 8 of my Lincoln novel, I need to add a scene that does not exist in the historical record==the reaction of the Black community to the arrival of the press and the growing tensionsContinue reading “Writing Historical Fiction When the Record is Silent”
Researching Genealogy While Writing a Lincoln-Era Novel
This week I worked in several different realms of writing that all involved history. Chapter 7 of my Lincoln mystery is now prepared to the next reading at Scribes (tomorrow). Its an action chapter, and the tension between Lovejoy and those who oppose him is sharpening. Reading these scenes aloud to the group is theContinue reading “Researching Genealogy While Writing a Lincoln-Era Novel”
A Good Afternoon at Writers Group
Today’s writers’ group was larger than usual–eight of us gathered, which increased the energy in the room. It lifted everyone’s spirits after the long winter. I read my work and received some good comments to help me in my revision. So I’m feeling energized to get a lot more done. Several members, including myself broughContinue reading “A Good Afternoon at Writers Group”
Choosing the Next Story
Soon I will be doing this for both Ed and I’s work, but today I’m talking about Ed. This week I’ll begin rereading several of Ed’s stories to decide which one should be next for publication. I asked the Friends of Ed group for suggestions, but in the end, the decision rests with me. That’sContinue reading “Choosing the Next Story”
The Work of Refinement
It’s a quiet week in my world. A relief after the hustle of my week off work. Traveling There are no announcements, no finished chapters, no visible milestones. What there is, instead, is refinement. Tomorrow I’ll be revising Chapter 7 in preparation for reading at Scribes. Reading aloud is an important tool. It clarifies rhythm,Continue reading “The Work of Refinement”
The View From The Imaginarium 