historical-fiction – The View From The Imaginarium

How Do You Write a Novel About Abolition Without Black Characters?

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?”

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?”