I discovered an uncomfortable problem while writing Lincoln Seeks Justice for Elijah Lovejoy. I was writing a novel about slavery and abolition, and almost all of the people in my story were white. It wasn’t because there were no Black people in Alton. There was a significant Black community in and around the city, includingContinue reading “How Do You Write a Novel About Abolition Without Black Characters?”
Tag Archives: fiction
Abraham Lincoln Almost Married Someone Else
Long before Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, there was another Mary–Mary Owens. Lincoln had known Mary during his New Salem years, and at one point he apparently thought she might make a suitable wife. Her sister encouraged the possibility, and Lincoln agreed that if may returned to Illinois, he would consider marrying her. So MaryContinue reading “Abraham Lincoln Almost Married Someone Else”
How Elijah Lovejoy’s Younger Brother Became Abraham Lincoln’s “Right-Hand Man”
Owen Lovejoy didn’t seem to know exactly what he wanted to do with his life. But his older brother Elijah did. Elijah had become a minister, a newspaper editor, and an outspoken opponent of slavery. Owen admired him. he wasn’t jealous of his brother’s growing fame. He followed Elijah west, studied for the ministry himself,Continue reading “How Elijah Lovejoy’s Younger Brother Became Abraham Lincoln’s “Right-Hand Man””
The Young Father Who Risked His Warehouse for Freedom of the Press
Winthrop Gilman had good reasons to stay out of Elijah Lovejoy’s troubles. He was a successful businessman in Alton. He was married, and his infant son was only a few months old. Gilman and his wife, Abia, had already suffered the death of their first child. He had a family to protect. He also hadContinue reading “The Young Father Who Risked His Warehouse for Freedom of the Press”
When Abraham Lincoln Couldn’t Afford a Bed to Sleep in
Imagine arriving in a new city to begin your career with everything you own packed into your saddlebags. You’re twenty-eight old. You’ve managed to become a lawyer despite having almost no formal education. You’re ambitious. You believe you might be capable of something more. There’s just one problem. You can’t afford a bed…or a room.Continue reading “When Abraham Lincoln Couldn’t Afford a Bed to Sleep in”
The Woman Who Risked Her Life to Save Elijah Lovejoy from a Mob
Imagine several angry men trying to drag your husband out of the house and into the street. You don’t know what they intend to do once they get him outside, but they have threatened before to kill him. You only know that you cannot let them take him. So you wrap yourself around him andContinue reading “The Woman Who Risked Her Life to Save Elijah Lovejoy from a Mob”
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”
How Much of a Historical Novel Is Real?
One of the questions I am asked most often is, “How much of your novel is true?” The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. Every historical novel is different. Some authors use history simply as a backdrop for an entirely fictional story. Others stay very close to the historical record. Neither approach isContinue reading “How Much of a Historical Novel Is Real?”
How Do You Bring a Historical Character to Life
I spend months–and sometimes years–collecting pieces of a person’s life. Newspaper articles. Letters. Court records. Speeches. memoirs. Census records. Even advertisements and legal notices can reveal something about a person’s character. One source rarely tells the whole story. A newspaper might describe a dramatic event. A court record may reveal what actually happened. A letterContinue reading “How Do You Bring a Historical Character to Life”
