tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post759888180315642666..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: From the Sands of Africa to a Hidden Frontier in Roman BritainDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-25614422212718299142014-03-03T20:27:16.508-08:002014-03-03T20:27:16.508-08:00That sounds adventurous, Adam! Glad you got to go....That sounds adventurous, Adam! Glad you got to go.Debra Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-47920805578421453892014-03-03T17:01:42.347-08:002014-03-03T17:01:42.347-08:00I agree, Isabelle. There is absolutely no substitu...I agree, Isabelle. There is absolutely no substitute for a site visit. I'm actually guest posting on my friend Roberto Calas' site about just that later this week. <br /><br />All it takes is one trip and those memories, the stimuli of that experience, will stick with you for years and years, and feed your fiction in ways that you just cannot experience on the internet - that is until someone can create a real holodek. Now that could be the best friend of many an historical fiction writer!<br /><br />I wouldn't trade my safari of Roman sites in the Sahara for anything, despite some desperate haggling in French, a bout of food poisoning and fever, and almost being trampled by some Berber horsemen in Douz wielding some very large rifles. <br /><br />It was all fodder for fiction!<br /><br />Cheers!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-8931651198264874662014-03-03T16:54:39.532-08:002014-03-03T16:54:39.532-08:00That sounds about right, Danny! I'm also a fir...That sounds about right, Danny! I'm also a firm believer in using popular history such as fiction, movies, and living history, to lure people in so that they can get interested. Once they are hooked, they pursue their own research and the rest is, well… erm, history :)<br /><br />I've learned as much from good historical fiction as I have from courses at university. The two certainly are, in my opinion, complimentary. I've always thought that historical fiction should be a part of the curriculum or reading list in high school and undergraduate university courses. Thanks for your comment!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-35376310202774120842014-03-03T16:49:15.550-08:002014-03-03T16:49:15.550-08:00Cheers, Esgaroth! I hope you enjoy Children of Apo...Cheers, Esgaroth! I hope you enjoy Children of Apollo. Book II is coming out this Friday, so that's good timing. <br /><br />I find that there is always, always more to learn, to discover - and that makes history a life-long love of mine, so to speak. The Silk Road cultures are fascinating and enigmatic too. I only know of the Sogdians from their fighting against the Greeks on Alexander's campaigns there. If you have a book recommendation for that, I'd love to hear it. <br /><br />It is very difficult to get to places with the price of airfare now, to be sure. Add to that the fact that many ancient sites lie in war zones, and, well, Google does become a good friend. <br /><br />One thing that I have done for some of my research for an Alexander the Great trilogy I'm writing is to connect with some troops who have been on tours of duty in Afghanistan (or similar areas) and asked them about the environment (sight lines, smells, winds, vegetation etc.) to get a better sense of things. Some are willing to share their experiences, others are understandably reticent. But any extra input can add to your online research if you can't get to those places. Documentaries are also great. <br /><br />Good luck with your research, and thanks for reading!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-81645744762043318372014-03-03T08:50:28.299-08:002014-03-03T08:50:28.299-08:00'One of the great pleasures of writing histori...'One of the great pleasures of writing historical fiction is the research that goes into it.' Absolutely! And you have to get it right, even if you're writing the most commercial of fiction. <br />If you can visit, I think you do it even better. The internet is amazing but it simply can't compete with seeing the history for yourself. My current trilogy is based in India and though I've only visited once, that trip gave me a sense of the country and the way it negotiates its past, that I couldn't have got any other way. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02228650723117830185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-53598296015785430322014-03-03T08:48:18.795-08:002014-03-03T08:48:18.795-08:00"I’ve trained for years as an historian, but ..."I’ve trained for years as an historian, but I’m a firm believer that historical fiction is often the best way for readers to learn about history. " I agree. And more still, I've met a lot of folks who didn't think they were interested in history until they read historical fiction. Danny Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05886995452122864418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-34893792279366430662014-03-03T06:58:29.392-08:002014-03-03T06:58:29.392-08:00Dittos to what Helena wrote - I have discovered pe...Dittos to what Helena wrote - I have discovered periods of history that were not only exciting and new to me, but enhanced what (limited) knowledge I already possess...in ways I never would have thought. I am currently fascinated by a part of the history of the Silk Road that predates Marco Polo's excursion and a culture that is just beginning to 'reveal' itself - the Sogdians...all because I wanted to put some characters on the Silk Road. Unfortunately I do not have the finances or ability to travel to some of these places, so I have to rely heavily on the internet, (there's always Google Earth!) but even that has been wonderful. 30 years ago, I would have concluded it would be impossible for me to find what I wanted. <br /><br />Ive downloaded Children of Apollo to my Kindle, so I look forward to reading your book(s)!Esgarothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16809214396450257475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-6810441004857699482014-03-02T07:08:11.533-08:002014-03-02T07:08:11.533-08:00Cheers Helena! It does really help to get all the ...Cheers Helena! It does really help to get all the stimuli in a place you are writing about. And yes, Sparta was definitely an eye-opener for me too. So lush - another world! The Balian story is a fantastic one and I envy you your trip to that part of the world. Do enjoy and be sure to share some pictures!<br />Balancing the historical detail and story is a fine art, to be sure. It took a while to strike a balance in the early days, but it was also a lot of fun getting there. Cheers and bon voyage! So glad you enjoyed the post :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-13957461484468445892014-03-02T00:34:25.258-08:002014-03-02T00:34:25.258-08:00Adam,
Parts of this post were like reading my t...Adam, <br /><br />Parts of this post were like reading my thoughts out-loud! <br /><br />I couldn't agree with you more that one of the delights of writing historical fiction is being able to do research "on location." I'm absolutely thrilled to think that a week from today I'll be in Jerusalem to do research for my book on Balian d'Ibelin, who defended Jerusalem against Saladin in 1187. I've found research on location can be mind-bending. My understanding of Ancient Sparta, for example, was transformed after discovering that Lacedaemon, far from being an austere and barren place, is a blooming, fertile valley of incomparable beauty. (For more on my views about Sparta, see my blog: http://SpartaReconsidered.blogspot.com) <br /><br />Like you, I am a trained historian with a PhD and I am fanatical about historical accuracy. That sometimes makes it difficult to put the story first, as you rightly recommend, but I hope I'm learning how to balance the demands of history and literature. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for a great entry that I will certanly be sharing!Helena P. Schraderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06535398166485310212noreply@blogger.com