Writing Historical Fiction - podcast

Even though, I write creative nonfiction, historical fiction is my favorite genre to read. You're so right, there is a fine balance between facts and fiction in this genre. For me too, it's the characters that pull me in.

Your advice on historical fiction is of great value and it is true that even the issues that you think are minor like the type of rose that grew in England at that time of year are very important. Thank you for making me know that nothing should be taken for granted and how important it is to pick characters

I followed your advice and I enjoyed writing my historical ficion novel The Great Enclosure. Thanks.

so glad you liked this interview Jacqueline. Thanks for the positive feedback.

Thank you for reminding me about the importance of accurate detail. What is challenging is the translation of modern terms and names for things into the historical language of the characters. For example, the Meso-American people of the Pre-Columbian era, which is the setting for my book "In the Days of Lachoneus", would certainly not know the Latin names for the genus and species that I find in the encyclopedia today. They knew about monkeys and toucans and frogs and snakes and oak trees and fan palms and mahogany trees. Living close to nature, they surely would have had distinguishing names for all of the varieties. But I have no way of knowing what they would have called them. So I am choosing to use generic descriptions - red monkeys, orange toucans, poison tree frogs, striped snakes, etc. Readers who know Central America will hopefully recognize the things I am describing without the anachronisms of modern terminology.