As romance authors, we sometimes intentionally choose moments of historical hardship to write about, but why?
Are we a bunch of heartless people, looking to pull on reader’s heartstrings? Not really (though maybe…) Most of the time, we choose these moments in history for a few reasons:
It’s a good way to spread awareness of things that happened.
Let’s face it, history, even trying history, can be boring when in textbook form. Reading about floods and hurricanes, dust storms and wars can be easily pushed off as being about “other people” when it’s in the pages of a history book. History books are “just the facts, ma’am” publications and we want them that way. But, if you want people to really think about what people went through, put it in the pages of a fiction novel.
It reminds us of how strong humans really are.
When we write about people, we expect them to be heroes and heroines. Average joes (and janes) come to life on the pages as they rise above and do the impossible. These terrible situations did happen and while there were many bad outcomes for people, good things did happen in the midst of these awful situations. The Lord does provide hope.
When good things happen in the middle of a terrible situation, it make the hardship easier to process (and thus increases our understanding).
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down (or so I’ve heard in a fun little song). That’s why history wrapped within a romance makes learning a little easier. If we only wanted a story about what happened, even fictionalized, we could just watch a docudrama or read regular historical fiction. But when we know there is the hope of a romance within the story, we can open the pages of the book knowing one good thing is going to come out of the book, even if it seems like many bad things could happen to other people.
In my research into the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, I’ve found all of these things to be true. While that particular storm has always fascinated me and I love history books, I haven’t picked up a book dedicated to that storm until recently when I decided to write 2 stories about it. There was so much devastation, so much loss, that I knew I would struggle with it if I couldn’t wrap my own story of hope within all that pain.
These bo
oks won’t be coming out for at least a year, but I’m doing the research now. What situations in history interest you but you wouldn’t want to read about them without adding a little hope to the story?
I haven’t done a giveaway in a while so I’ll choose one commenter to receive an ebook copy of To a Brighter Tomorrow. Winner will be chosen tomorrow evening.
Where western meets happily ever after.
Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn't) South Dakota.
Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one's listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.
The Trail of Tears.
I agree with you. I think I might have trouble picking that one up even with a romance.
bATHORY was a scary woman.
Yikes, I had to look her up. Scary would be just the beginning.
I can’t think of any at the moment.
But I have read stories which take place around/during/or in the aftermath of a real event in historical romance and contemporary romance and have felt they were tasteful and relevant.
The first time I tried it was for the fictionalized story surrounding the building of the Split Rock Lighthouse and yes, being tactful is incredibly important. It’s also difficult because we’re different people than those who grew up before us. As I’m reading through you have to decide where the line is that will allow a reader to feel a little of what your character would’ve felt, without overwhelming them and making them put down the book. But, because this is historical fiction, you can’t gloss over too much because readers of historical fiction demand truth (I’m one of them).
I love reading fiction that has true historical background. There are so many events that could be the backdrop of the story.
I agree! In one of my private writing groups a person starting just posting things off the top of her head and within minutes she had over 25 (and that was limited to just the US). It’s kind of sad that there are so many.
Isacs Storm by Eric Larson is a historical novel about the hurricane. Great book. Paulette Jiles, a Texas author also uses the storm in a few of her books.
Phil, thank you! I’ll check those out.
The Great Charleston earthquake of 1886
Yes! I’ve read a book set there. I hadn’t heard of it until that story. History teachers can only go into so much and then rely on students to take interest and read about these things on their own. Maybe fiction helps with that, too.
Kari, I love your breakdown of why we write about historical disasters. Weaving in romance and offering the reader the anticipation of a happy ending certainly softens the pain of the disaster, yet allows for the drama.
We don’t have hurricanes here in Nebraska, but we have tornadoes and floods and lots of blizzards. All good fodder for conflict and romance!
I’d say we don’t have hurricanes in MN…but we do get hurricane-like storms on the Great Lakes. I’ve only just started exploring real history (other than just people who would’ve been in the area at the time and setting of my books) to frame a story. It gives me a good excuse to buy more books.
The dust bowl in the 1930’s. This had to be so tragic for the farmers, crops, and livestock.
Yes! I’ve read some stories and watched some documentaries. Year after year of draught, bugs, famine conditions… It’s heartbreaking.
welcome today. thanks for sharing this post. I love doing research. Trail of Tears was one I would love to put a happy ending to. The different battles of the civil war are more. there must have been something that was good that came out of all those. I have to believe that God, even thought He wasnt happy about those situations, would make happy somewhere out of it all
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Lori, I have to believe you’re right. Even if the good is that we can look back and see injustice or wrong. Learning shouldn’t have to come by painfully, but often it is.
I could think of two. The San Francisco Earthquake in 1906, the Chicago fire in 1800’s, there are many more but they slip my mind. I truly love to pick up a book based on historical events told from the perspective of human interest with survival uppermost in the narrative. Ending these occurrences with a positive end is very rewarding.
I agree! That heightened thread of hope throughout the story just makes it all the better and more memorable.
can’t think of any
That’s okay. 🙂 Thank you for commenting and I’ll enter you all the same. Have a great day!
I honestly don’t want to read books that have hurricanes in them. I’ve been through too many myself to want to read about them!
I can hear you there. I have trouble reading about people who’ve gone through Cancer. After losing my mother, it’s just too close. I’ve also heard that about parents who have fostered children or have had the blessing of adopting children in the system (and the hardships that can also come with those blessings), those stories are just too close to their own lives for them to enjoy.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn / Custer’s Last Stand
Traveling through this area it just amazes me that a brutal conflict took place in this battlefield.
I agree. I’ve read stories (Karen Witemeyer’s Hanger’s Horseman comes to mind) where it’s handled well.
I was going to comment about the Erik Larson book, but I see someone already mentioned it. Was fascinating. Have visited Galveston and the historic district. I think there are opportunities to explore about the Dust Bowl and perhaps the CCC.
Thank you, I will check out that book. Those would be fascinating to study.
I love reading about real historical situations in fiction. Its fascinating to me, especially when a lot of them are so little known stories. I can’t think of any in particular off the top of my head, but your story sounds really good.
Thank you! And I agree, things that are common knowledge to one may not have ever been heard of by another which means historical fiction gives us lots of opportunities to learn.
The sinking of the Eastland in 1914 or the Pandemic of 1918
Both would be interesting. When I was studying steam travel (and travel in general) to gold-rush California, I learned that steam ships were notorious for not only sinking, but exploding violently. There were so many that there was a public outcry over the lack of safety.
Fascinating post, Kari! I grew up near Galveston.
Oh! I’ve wanted to visit that area so much. It looks so lovely. Thank you!
I love historical stories. I homeschooled my 2 youngest children and of course they hated history so I had them read historical books to learn about history. It worked – igniting their imagination. One of them has made a goal for herself of reading a biography of every president. She also named her oldest daughter, Samantha, after one of her favorite characters from a historical.
Oh wow! I homeschooled 3 of my 4 for a total of 6 years, and it’s so funny how they each have subjects they just don’t want to pick up until you offer them a way they can accept. That’s the definite beauty of homeschooling.
I agree with you that history is a dry and often not very interesting topic to study in school. Learning dates, places, and peoples names is not very interesting and it really doesn’t tell us much about what really happened and why. I have learned so much more about history by reading well researched historical fiction. “Seeing” it from personal perspectives of those involved in events make it much more real and make so much more sense. It gives one a better understanding of why things happened and what the impact was.
There are so many events and situations I would like to find out about. It would be interesting to have stories about those held captive when their countries were invaded. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. The stories those who were alive during WWII and the Japanese occupation, especially those who were young women, were interesting and heart breaking.
Oh, goodness, I’d bet they were. I don’t know that I’ve read any stories like that, only Holocaust stories of camps, which would be similar but not the same.
9/11.
Yes, I make it a point every year to read at least one fiction novel or novella surrounding 9/11. It was such a painful time, but I also don’t want to forget.
Kari, have you read A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner dual time line set in 9/11 and the Triangle Fire of 1911. Also loved A Charmed Life by the same author
I haven’t. I’ll look those up. Thank you!