Historic Novels: Walls or Mirrors to another time.

Living in by-gone times was different. As a writer, you can't ignore the diversity, sense of the unique, or colorful nature of events experienced by our forbearers. It is a writer's job to do proper reasearch and provide his readers with accurate doses of these events. Story lines provide readers with the eposodic stucture of your story. Diligent research fleshes out those structures with unique sensations, emotions and surprises gleaned from the appropriate details gleaned by thorough research. Treating the reader with a unique one off tidbit of information gives him something extra, worth every second spent doing your research.

How do we make details of our stories track with events occuring long ago? As author reseacher, it is your unavoidable duty to document the events and interactions which took place many years in the past. Giving your readers believeable time-sensitive descriptions takes him back, gives him the feeling being there, enhancing his reading experience.

Writer's must use every resource to gain insite into the past. Computers are excellent for ferreting out details such as dates, historic events and physical descriptions. Hard facts are only one part of the story. You must search beyond mere facts if you want to convey the real feeling of a bygone age. While this revelation is not a surprise, authors often don't give it enough attention. There is a caveat. Care must be given choosing to what to leave in and what to leave out. Accurate representations require gleaning every resource for the minute details which will transport the reader to a most important place: your story.

Since the subject of my books and short stories are often about the sea, I read many works by skilled maritime authors. There are thousands of books out there attempting to capture the unique flavor of life at sea. Many contain valuable nuggets of knowledge the author has already researched. Most of the time historic novelists consciously place their story within a certain time frame. Reading multiple accounts of those times provides wider understanding of crossover events. The more an author understands the subject, the better he is able to entertain his reader.

Jack learns it's not all fun and games!

The last time you read about Jack, the 'Martha Jones", a ship he had joined was in the crosshairs of a destructive hurricane. Back in the day, weather forecasting was not the science it is today. The ship, and its port of call, Kingston, Jamaica, were in great peril. A direct hit from a hurricane would be truly bad news. (This was the early 1820's).

Jack learned about the coming hurricane from his boss, Mr. Barber, chief ships cook and head of Jack's workplace, the galley. Barber, described the coming storm in biblical terms. A storm to end all known life and just punishment for our sins. Those threats did little to convince Jack, his optimism was boundless. But, when the big blow arrives, might he consider maybe Barber knows a little bit about hurricanes?

I'm not going to spoil our tale with a blow-by-blow description of what happens; for that you will have to read the book.

A little side note. The Island of Jamaica during the 1600's was a slave driven economy. Its largest and wealthiest city was Port Royal. Port Royal of that time was overrun by every sort of dissolute criminal activity that could be visited on a city. The most famous pirates of the Caribbean dropped anchor there. Every supporting vice from brothels to murder were common, endemic to the life of the city. In June 1692 that all came to an end. An earthquake of huge proportions leveled the city and liquified the ground she was built on. Two thirds of the city slid into the Bay of Kingston and disappeared beneath the sea.

To the north, across the the Bay of Kingston, a small port of Kingston, known to most of us through the "Banana Boat" (Day-O) song by Harry Belafonte, went on to become the largest town and port on the island.

Jack's Back

Jack has signed on to the bark 'Martha Jones" a middling sized cargo ship

plying the Atlantic seaboard in the 1820's. He has it made, or so he thinks.

But, he soon realizes a beginner in a hidebound world of old salts is not the

adventurous life he hoped. Exhausting work assignments, navigating an

unfamiliar environment is more difficult than he thought it would be.

His first wake up call is learning that patience isn't the first response when

he makes mistakes. The ships cook, a old gob named Mr. Barber is his direct

supervisor. Barber is a man used to doing things his way. No exceptions!

Jack is flexible and willing worker, doing whatever is necessary as he

begins life aboard ship . His job description is, "Do what you're told, immediately,

and don't argue". He knows he is at the bottom of the food chain when it comes

to pecking order.

Unfortunately for Jack, he has picked a terrible time to join the ship. The 'Jones'

is in the path of a powerful hurricane. Jack, during his young life on Jamaica, has

experienced hurricanes, in a protected location, on land. He can only guess the

danger posed by this unknown phenomenon listening to the horror stories

told by his fellow crewmen.

He is about to find out, first hand!