History

Many people might be surprised to learn that one of the most rewarding aspects of writing a novel is the prerequisite research. I estimate that around 30 to 35 percent of my time in creating and publishing a book is comprised of researching the various aspects of the story’s subject matter. Most of it is interesting, but many topics are also enlightening, sometimes shocking, and often motivating.

Every book I write is filled with facts about people, places, events, and social perspectives. Although my books are fiction, readers expect historical, scientific, geographical, and technical references to be plausible in the context of the story. I take great care to ensure that my stories are well-researched.

The focus that continues to demand most of my time is history. Whether I’m writing about the past, present, or future, there are historical details that must be grounded in genuine historical context. I’ve been writing over the past 10 years and have taken some deep dives into the histories of native-Americans, slavery, politics, immigration, medicine, and technology. I’ve also studied Western expansion, including our country’s wars and geopolitical involvement.

I’m currently reading (listening, actually) an interesting book that has brought the issue of history to the forefront of my thoughts. The book is Black AF History, by Michael Harriot. If you happen to be a white supremacist, you would probably not like this book.

Most of you probably realize that recorded history is almost always a reflection of the author’s point of view. History involves specific events, dates, and the people involved. That material is usually accurate, but the implications, context, and omissions create a false narrative in many, if not most, historical tomes.

The history we are taught in school, K through 12, is typically all the history Americans are exposed to. When I engage in historical research, I search for material of a more esoteric nature, such as personal letters, alternative literature, historical records, old maps, and accounts of oral history passed down through generations.

You’ve probably heard the saying attributed to George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I suppose most people don’t want to be bothered to remember the past. However, if you are comfortable with what you currently know and remember about history, you are likely ignorant of alternative perspectives on that same history.

I don’t mean that as a disparagement. I am frequently surprised by how much I didn’t know after completing my research for a book. Uncovering all the events and perspectives of a time and place is typically startling. It can also be humiliating and embarrassing. Sometimes the new knowledge makes me angry.

Whatever the reaction, I believe that knowledge is preferable to ignorance. I try to incorporate a more comprehensive understanding of the topic into my story. I hope this approach makes my books more interesting as well as more accurate. Maybe the next time you read one of my novels, you might discover a bit of historical information you didn’t know that you didn’t know.