Tag: historical

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Bestsellers

Award-Winning Author Interview with J’Nell Ciesielski

award-winning author

Can you share a little about your recent book?

The idea for The Songbird and the Spy came to me after watching a movie with a British soldier who posed as a Nazi to spy for the Allies. One of his rendezvous happened in this little French bar, and I though aha! Now that would be interesting. Could a woman fall in love with the enemy and what would that look like? The story would be ripe for drama!

Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I write because I have to write. It’s really that simple. Writing is how I express myself, and if I keep it all inside I’ll explode. I love telling stories and bringing to life characters in situations that I find fascinating and will continue to do just that for as long as I can.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t start out with an intended message. I wanted to tell a fairly common story of falling for the wrong person with a twist of secret identities. Along the way, threads of not judging at first glance and finding unlikely bonds of love wove together in surprising ways. But it is the small deeds of courage in the face of evil that are the soul to this story. Every day people striving to do what’s right, taking risks no matter the fallout or danger to themselves because there is a rightness that goes above personal gain. I hope it gives people courage, no matter how small or significant they believe their role in life to be.

How long have you been writing?

My very first award winning story was written in fifth grade. A romance between an apple core and a trash can. However, I didn’t get serious until I was a junior in college where I put everything but the kitchen sink into that first novel. Riddled with beginner mistakes, it’ll probably never see the light of day, but sixteen years later and I’m still plodding away with all new stories.

And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?

Let’s see, my serious writing didn’t start until around 2003 and it wasn’t until 2013 when I landed my agent. After a year of querying agents, she was the very last one I sent to haha. I finally got The Call from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas on Palm Sunday 2017. In between all those years I kept writing and writing, and learning, and entering contests, and joining writers’ groups, and writing some more. I never kept idle.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I’ve been clocking about one year per book. From the time I start research to the end of the final draft. Once my daughter starts kindergarten later this year I anticipate my writing productivity to significantly increase.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

I’m a stay at home mom so most of my day revolves around keeping a little person alive. Around 1 pm she heads into her room for quiet time and that’s when my writing begins. I get about 2 ½ hours to put words on paper before she comes breezing out again. At night time I’ll try to go over the pages I wrote earlier or do some reading.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?

I wouldn’t classify this as a quirk, but I like silence when I write. Or very soft instrumental music at the least. Too much movement and sound takes me out of the head space I need to be in while unfolding the story.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

It’s pretty hard to top publication. Years of work and perseverance and it finally pays off when you hold that creation in your hand for the first time. It’s absolutely amazing, but the thing that has and continues to bring me the most joy is getting that story of my heart onto paper. Even if no one else reads it, the story burning inside me comes out. It’s cathartic.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

The days of self-doubt. For a writer they come often and swift. One minute you’re glowing in the perfection of loquacious prose, and the next banging your head on the keyboard crying whut r werds? It’s a rollercoaster, I tell ya. Nothing kills creativity faster than thinking you’re not good enough. Your story and your words aren’t good enough. That no one will ever read this dribble you dare to call an attempt of writing. I can’t tell you the number of times I cried myself into a pint of ice cream/pan of brownies/wedge of cake wishing I had the talent of so-and-so. But, from the very beginning I’ve said that I write for me, even if no one else ever reads my stories, I’ll keep writing for me and hopefully, with a bit of stardust, someday I’ll be someone’s favorite author.

Which of your books is your favorite?

You realize this is one of the most difficult questions asked of a writer, right? But that’s why you do it. My absolute favorite hasn’t been published yet. It’s the story of my heart, but it’s time has not come yet to share. Sooo, out of the two published novels I’d have to say Among the Poppies is my favorite. It holds a special place in my heart because it was my first published book, and even while writing it I knew there was something special about it. It began my love affair with WWI.

Who is your favorite author to read?

Tolkien. The gift of story that man gave to the world is nothing short of astounding. He gave me the bravery to dig deep inside myself for possibilities I didn’t realize could exist.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?

Never give up! If this is truly a passion and you can’t imagine doing anything else, read, read, read. Reading expands your use of language and imagination. Learn everything you can about the craft and industry, enter contests, join writer’s groups, but most importantly, write. Write every day because that is how you become a writer instead of someone wishing they could write.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

Hahaha! Too many times to count. No one likes rejections. They’re defeating to the soul. Whenever I get a rejection, I take one day to mope about it. Get all that anger/sadness/frustration out in one big swoop then I’m back to work the next day. You can’t dwell on the negative because it will cripple anything positive you’re trying to produce.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?

Hoffenberg from The Songbird and the Spy is one of my favorite characters. He’s brash, eager, and loyal. I just love the lines he has because they’re completely unfiltered.

Where do you get your ideas?

Most of the time, if not always, my inspiration comes from a trifecta of resources: movies, music, or books. A single song lyric, or secondary character, or novel setting can trigger a whole world of possibilities that has to be explored.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?

Not taking the time to learn their craft. There’s so much more than simply putting words on paper and then sending it off expecting that an agent or publisher will snap it up. Like anything you want to achieve, you have to learn skills and then practice those skills again and again.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

This is a toughie even for me! Learn everything you can about writing, implement it into your stories to write the best book you can, network with other writers, attend conferences, and enter contests. Eventually, all that hard work will pay off.

Author bio:

Believing she was born in the wrong era, J’nell Ciesielski spends her days writing heart-stopping heroes, brave heroines, and adventurous exploits in times gone by. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages contest and Maggie Award, J’nell can often be found dreaming of a second home in Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Born a Florida girl, she now calls Virginia home, along with her very understanding husband, young daughter, and one lazy beagle.

Social Media links:

Website: Jnellciesielski.com
Facebook: Jnellciesielski
Twitter: twitter.com/JnellCiesielski
Goodreads: goodreads.com/jnellciesielski
Pinterest: Jnellciesielski

Her Books:

Among the Poppies

The Songbird and the Spy

Categories
History in the Making

Seeing His Words in Print Baffles Mark Twain

by Sandra Merville Hart

Mark Twain’s life was at a pivotal moment in the 1860s.

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He was out of the States and in Nevada Territory where fortunes were made and lost while mining for silver. He ought to know; his part-ownership in a silver mine had made him a millionaire. Through the worst of misfortunes, Twain lost his interest in the mine after ten days.

What was next for him? He had held a variety of positions: grocery clerk, blacksmithing, bookseller’s clerk, drug store clerk, St. Louis and New Orleans pilot, a printer, private secretary, and silver mill miner. He felt that he had mastered none of these professions. What does one do after losing a million dollars?

[bctt tweet=”Mark Twain was at a pivotal moment. What does one do after losing a million dollars? #writing #inspiration” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

He gave in to misery. He had written letters to Virginia’s Daily Territorial Enterprise, the territory’s main newspaper in earlier days; it always surprised him when the letters were published. It made him question the editors’ judgment. His high opinion of them declined because they couldn’t find something better than his literature to print.

A letter came from that same newspaper offering Twain a job as city editor even as he wondered what his future held. Though he had so recently been a millionaire, the job offer with a twenty-five-dollar salary seemed like a fortune. The offer thrilled him.

mark-twain-391112_960_720Then doubts set in. What did he know of editing? He felt unfit for the position. Yet refusing the job meant that he’d soon have to rely on the kindness of others for a meal, and that he had never done.

So necessity forced Twain into taking an editor’s job though he felt ill-equipped. He arrived in Virginia, Nevada Territory, dressed more as a miner than an editor in a blue woolen shirt, pantaloons stuffed into the top of his boots, slouch hat, and a “universal navy revolver slung to his belt.”

The chief editor, Mr. Goodman, took Twain under his wing and trained him to be a reporter. The young man had finally found something he excelled in.

As writers, many of us can relate to Twain’s doubts. A myriad of talented authors have come before us. What do we have to offer?

It is comforting to realize that a young man destined to become one of America’s best-loved authors began with humility. A seasoned and kindly editor taught him the trade; Twain’s talent took him the rest of the way.

What would have happened if Mark Twain hadn’t lost a million dollars? His words may have been lost to us. Such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Prince and the Pauper might never have been written.

When we ponder our failures, our rejected works, and lost opportunities, we should remember that situations change. We won’t always feel as we do today. God has the ability to put us in the right place at the right time with the right attitude.

Just like He did with Samuel Clemens, America’s beloved Mark Twain.

 

Sources

Twain, Mark. Roughing It, Penguin Books, 1981.

 

 

 

 

Categories
History in the Making

What Historical Authors Glean from Old Photos

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Free Images

Historical authors can glean a wealth of information from old photos. They give an unintentional glimpse into everyday life of the time period. Authors stumble across these gems as a natural part of research. It’s important not to overlook the value of these snapshots.

Before we dive into some examples, let’s discuss ways to find photographs.

Research leads us to libraries lavishly filled with nonfiction books. Many of these contain photos, sketches, and illustrations. Another source is the Internet, which has an abundance of research sites. Local museums are also excellent sources for these visual aids.

[bctt tweet=”Old photos capture unintentional glimpses of everyday living for #Historical authors. #writing ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

For instance, while writing novels set during the Civil War, 1861-1865, I found sketches, paintings, and photographs of soldiers, battlefields, and weapons in books and on websites that added depth to my understanding of battles.

Regardless of where the photos are found, they present valuable clues that enrich our stories. Let’s look at some examples.

The main picture on this post is a painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It shows a group of mostly seated men suitably dressed for the 1776 event. A patterned rug covers only that part of the wooden floor where the most important persons in the room sit. A bordered cloth covers the two tables of what is presumably the president and the secretary. Elaborate ceiling molding and curtains indicate the meeting’s likely location is a town�����s public office or a wealthy man’s residence. It would be interesting to research the flags on the wall — colonial or British? What we don’t know from a careful perusal is the year of the work or if the artist witnessed the event. If not, who supplied the descriptions for the artist? If many years passed between the event and the painting, authors may desire to dig through period writings if they intend to use the painting for novel descriptions.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Free Images
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Free Images

The second example appears to be a school photo. Churches also snapped similar poses. The children are around the same age, sitting/standing for a group photo in a way that most of us have posed at school. Studying the hairstyles and clothing offers ways to approximate the year this was taken. For example, most girls are wearing anklets or knee socks. When were these worn? All girls wear a dress or skirt but the boys don’t wear suits, at least at this school. This also helps date the picture.

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Authors love to find old Montgomery Ward or Sears, Roebuck catalogs because they show available products for a particular year. Though not from a catalog, the third example is an advertisement. In March 1896, “The Black Cat” cost five cents. The Shortstory Publishing Company in Boston ran the ad so does this mean “The Black Cat” was a book or magazine? It seems likely since the publisher has “shortstory” in its name and the ad references The Marchburn Mystery. Or is it a play? A rabbit and a black cat each play a banjo on the cover to entice customers.

I resisted the urge to research any of these pictures; I wanted to show what can be discovered by studying old pictures, paintings, and advertisements. Were I to use any of these in my story, I’d research further, but notice how much we learned from a photograph.

Photographers have a focal point such as a person or a landmark. Learn to look beyond the main focus of picture when researching. Notice the lantern hanging next to the door or the tire swing on an oak tree in the background. These everyday articles paint the picture we hope to portray to transport our readers back in time.

 

 

 

 

Categories
History in the Making

Don’t Say

I watched a movie set in the 1800s recently where a child said, “Cool!” He didn’t refer to the temperature; something good happened. The comment jolted me out of the scene because it didn’t belong.

I’m currently reading a novel set in the 1600s. I’ve enjoyed learning about everyday living in that time period. However, the novel contains modern phrases that don’t fit the time period, such as read me like a book. This didn’t fit my perception of the vernacular from three hundred years ago and temporarily took me out of the story.

It’s probably a given that all historical authors will sometimes choose familiar words that don’t belong in the setting, but how can we limit these mistakes?

[bctt tweet=”Avoid a common mistake made by #historical #authors by immersing yourself in books set around your novel’s era.” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

The first way is by immersing yourself in books set near the time period of your novel. For example, when researching the American Civil War, I started by reading soldier accounts. These informative transported me to battlefields. Diaries written by slaves, Southern wives, and Northern abolitionists demonstrated beliefs and opinions as well as words used to express themselves. These gave the civilian perspective. Novels such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Little Women, and A Man Without a Country are just a few of the books that taught me the faith and values that people held dear.

Become a detective while enjoying novels written during the time period. Read between the lines. For example, contemporary writers rarely describe phones because we all know what one looks like and its function. The same thing is true of books written two hundred years ago; everyday objects such as oil lamps are rarely described so read as if you are a detective searching for clues.

Another great tool at an author’s fingertips is the Online Etymology Dictionary. This dictionary shows the meaning, origin, and the approximate year a particular word began to be used.

For instance, some probably imagine the word cool started to refer to something other than temperature in the 1970s. The link above shows the word started to mean general approval in the 1940s, possibly earlier than expected.

We often say sure in our contemporary novels. This word has actually been in use for a long time. Charles Dickens used the word in A Christmas Carol, making it safe for me to write it in my Civil War novels. Checking the Etymology Dictionary shows that sure as the affirmative yes began around 1803. Sure thing is another term often used in historical novels – this is correct if your novel is set in 1836 or later.

An online source for the origin and meaning of phrases if a great writing tool. This link contains lists for Phrases coined by William Shakespeare, Phrases first found in the Bible, and Famous Last Words – to name a few. These are interesting and fun. While searching for a particular phrase, you may find a different one that fits even better.

I didn’t find the date that read me like a book came into usage. Well-read is surprisingly from the 1590s and reread as a verb began in 1782. This site is such a gift to authors.

When writing a word or phrase in your historical novel that an editor or critique partner questions, click on these links and dig deeper.

Chances are you and your critiquer will both learn something.

 

 

 

Categories
History in the Making

What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte's Web – Part 3

by Sandra Merville Hart

 

Two months ago we talked about the author of Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White, and the influence of his writing professor, William Strunk Jr.

Last month we dug into three of the White’s twenty-two Elementary Rules of Usage.

This article focuses on commonly misused words. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, lists twenty-six pages of them; we will mention only a sampling.

Some speakers or writers use certainly or very to intensify statements. Used often, these words become a mannerism.

The authors considered using contact as a verb as self-important and unclear. Phone, email, or meet someone; don’t contact them.

If you are disinterested in something, you are impartial; being uninterested means indifferent or not interested.    

A three-day battle started in Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 is a fact because it is verifiable information. An opinion such as the greatest president or the worst restaurant shouldn’t be confused with facts.

Folk is the same as people. Folks refer to family or those gathered. Use the singular form of the word in formal writing.

Beginning a sentence with however gives it the meaning ‘in whatever way.’ However doesn’t mean the same as nevertheless.

Rephrase a sentence to avoid using the word importantly.

The authors label interesting an unconvincing word. There is no need to announce something will be interesting; grab the reader’s attention with the writing.

Less (denoting quantity) is sometimes mistakenly used for fewer (a number.)

There is an important difference between nauseous (causing nausea) and nauseated (upset stomach.) Saying I feel nauseous actually means we create that feeling in others. Whoops! Don’t we often say this when sick to our stomachs?  

Writers should avoid split infinitives (placing an adverb between to and the infinitive) unless desiring to stress the adverb. To tirelessly search or to search tirelessly is an example.

[bctt tweet=”Write with the reader’s enjoyment and understanding in mind. #Historical #Writing” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]When choosing whether to write that or which, remember that defines the one spoken of and which is nonrestrictive.

When writing of customary actions, would can usually be omitted. Every month she would volunteer at the soup kitchen. Remove would and make volunteer an action verb: every month she volunteered at the soup kitchen.

White dubbed his writing professor “Sergeant Strunk” in the introduction. He taught with authority and assurance of being right and that is the tone of this book that he wrote and White lovingly revised.

One of the greatest gifts of studying The Elements of Style was the emphasis on the reader. An author’s job is to communicate clearly so the reader understands exactly what’s happening.

So writing with readers in mind – people who can’t see what’s going on inside our head – should realign our focus to their enjoyment and understanding. It’s hard work that is worth the effort.

Categories
History in the Making

What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte’s Web – Part 1

by Sandra Merville Hart

 

I wanted to instill a love of reading in my daughter from a young age so we read at bedtime. One novel we both enjoyed during her elementary school years was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

When beginning my writing journey, I found a wonderful book originally self-published by one of White’s professors. An editor asked him to expand and revise it. Studying the end product, The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, inspired me.

The learning began in the introduction where White recalled his teacher omitting needless words eagerly from students’ papers as a demonstration to the class. Every writer cringes in sympathy to imagine being the one used as an example.

[bctt tweet=”#Write concisely but don’t avoid details. Instead make every word count. #Author” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

Strunk taught his students to write vigorously. Such concise writing contains no unnecessary words. This doesn’t mean authors avoid details. Instead, make every word count.

The professor worried that readers flounder in murky waters. Authors must write in a way to “drain the swamp” and enable the reader to reach dry land. His main concern was the confusion the reader felt upon encountering unclear sentences and paragraphs.

This compassion for the reader struck me. Surely our most important job is to communicate a clear message. We fail when our audience puckers their brow and reads a sentence a second or third time.

I am a work-in-progress. If you write, you probably feel the same way. Rejections abound in our profession as in other creative careers. Silently listening while an editor or critique partner scratch out phrases or suggest a better way to portray an action challenges us. Like Strunk, some are very positive they’re right.

We owe it to future success to listen and mull over the suggestions after the sting of rejection wears off. Applying their suggestion may affect a later scene.  You know your story. Evaluate their comments and learn from them.

There are more gems to share from this writing book. This article is the first of a three-part series. Join me next month for part 2.

As much as White squirmed under his professor’s editing, he benefited from the wisdom.

May we do the same.