Perhaps you've checked out the tab above that concerns "what I'm reading now"?  Here's a picture of Magic reading Ethan Frome with me.  She's a huge Wharton fan, and she especially appreciates the presence of a cat in this novel (she's currently working on a critical piece examining feline normativity and American realism).

Also, I'm putting together a reading list on the topic of dystopian and utopian literature (just finished reading Herland) -- any suggestions?  High school age appropriate... need not feature cats (though that's always a plus).

Earlier, I posted some pictures of where I like to write... and it is true: I prefer to write standing up and I also like to write (to paraphrase Virginia Woolf) in a room of my own.  But I couldn't resist adding in this shot of one of our cats, Magic, "assisting" in the writing process.  (She's especially helpful with revision.)

More on Researching Historical Fiction

For those looking to read more about how I researched (and started to write) my novel, Revolutionary, see the section I just added (or part one of it, anyway): here .

As always, I'd welcome comments.  Others out there who have written/researched for historical fiction?  Any experts (or interested amateurs) on the Revolutionary War?  What has your process been like?  What areas are most interesting or most frustrating to research?

I hope you enjoy the third entry into "Researching Revolutionary" that I just posted.  Check it out here . This time I wrote about when I declared the initial phase of research done, and also how this source gave me (unexpected)insight into Deborah Samson's character.

I just added a post to the "Researching Revolutionary" section concerning how I began my research with a great secondary source that provided an anchor point for both Deborah's life and her historical context. Check it out via the tab above!

Recent Road Trip...
So, in preparing to write about the research process, I went off on a road trip to Middleborough and Sharon Massachusetts, where Deborah lived before and after the term she served in the army.  (I'd been there prior to writing the novel, but hadn't taken pictures.)  Though I won't be writing this "blog entry" in the research section for another couple weeks (I have a schedule!  And an outline!), I couldn't resist sharing these pictures.  Consider them a teaser...

 This building is an outhouse dating from the 1700s... it was on the site of Sproat's Tavern, where Deborah worked before entering the service.  Kudos to the Middleborough Historical Society for preserving it.  I had to resist the temptation to put a sign in front:  Deborah Samson sat here!

 Here I am at my ancestor's street in Sharon Massachusetts. There are actually several Deborah Sampson streets around.

And this is Deborah's statue outside the Sharon Public Library.  She's wearing a dress, but has her regimental uniform jacket over her shoulder, a powder horn in one hand and her tricorn and musket in the other.  Can you see the family resemblance?

Check out my first post in the "Researching Revolutionary" section. In it, I discuss how I first became acquainted with Deborah Samson's story. Check it out by clicking the tab above or the link here.

I've wrapped up a section of posting... check out the "About Me/About Revolutionary" link above or just click here.  You'll find a synopsis of the novel, a brief author biography, and a little bit about where/how I write.  Photos included!

Now, on to blogging about the process of researching and how I used that fact to create historical fiction.  Expect an update within a week.

"This I Believe Archive"

If you missed the live version today, you can listen to my "This I Believe" segment by following this link:

Identity Archived