Greetings from Decatur, Ga., where thousands of folks have been enjoying the gorgeous weather and taking in all-things-books! Between shifts at our SCBWI PAL booth near the Children's Stage, I was able to listen to some fabulous authors speak about writing historical fiction. Here's a gem or two from several participating in a couple of different sessions:
M. L. Malcolm (adult market - HEART OF LIES; HEART OF DECEPTION) -
"My books are not just historically accurate; they're historically driven."
"I love librarians - God bless librarians!"
"The biggest problem when doing historical research is knowing when to stop!"
Lynn Cullen (children's and adult markets - THE CREATION OF EVE; I AM REMBRANDT'S DAUGHTER) -
"Research is a joy."
"It's a game for those of us who do that kind of thing to find the holes - the little gaps - where you can use your imagination."
Vicky Alvear Shecter (children's, author of forthcoming CLEOPATRA'S MOON) -
"I struggled with having to kill off a character because that was a historical fact!"
Shelia P. Moses (I, DRED SCOTT; THE RETURN OF BUDDY BUSH; JOSEPH) -
"I speak for those who can't speak for themselves."
"I want people to smell the dirt on Rehobeth Road where I grew up."
Deborah Wiles (LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER and rest of AURORA COUNTY series; COUNTDOWN)-
As a child of nine living near the nation's capital in 1962, she thought: "If you will just invite me to the White House, I will explain to you why you shouldn't blow up the whole world."
(Do you ever really finish a book?)
"It can always be better,[but after one is finished] I'm really focused on the next one."
And I'm thankful for that, so that we can all look forward to the "next ones" from these fine, gracious, history-making authors!
M. L. Malcolm (adult market - HEART OF LIES; HEART OF DECEPTION) -
"My books are not just historically accurate; they're historically driven."
"I love librarians - God bless librarians!"
"The biggest problem when doing historical research is knowing when to stop!"
Lynn Cullen (children's and adult markets - THE CREATION OF EVE; I AM REMBRANDT'S DAUGHTER) -
"Research is a joy."
"It's a game for those of us who do that kind of thing to find the holes - the little gaps - where you can use your imagination."
Vicky Alvear Shecter (children's, author of forthcoming CLEOPATRA'S MOON) -
"I struggled with having to kill off a character because that was a historical fact!"
Shelia P. Moses (I, DRED SCOTT; THE RETURN OF BUDDY BUSH; JOSEPH) -
"I speak for those who can't speak for themselves."
"I want people to smell the dirt on Rehobeth Road where I grew up."
Deborah Wiles (LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER and rest of AURORA COUNTY series; COUNTDOWN)-
As a child of nine living near the nation's capital in 1962, she thought: "If you will just invite me to the White House, I will explain to you why you shouldn't blow up the whole world."
(Do you ever really finish a book?)
"It can always be better,[but after one is finished] I'm really focused on the next one."
And I'm thankful for that, so that we can all look forward to the "next ones" from these fine, gracious, history-making authors!