A new year, a new genre

Four years ago I discovered an antique leather box in my attic containing Civil War letters written by my great, great grandfather to his wife and children back home in Springfield, Massachusetts. These letters made a profound impact on me; in fact, they were the inspiration to write a historical novel. Back up, was I a writer and did I know how to write historical fiction? Well, no actually, but that didn’t stop me. At the time of the discovery I was busy teaching and taking evening courses to complete my master’s degree in education. I was even on two tennis teams and my Working Women’s tennis team was going to the playoffs. I didn’t have time for a life diversion no matter how compelling the project–especially writing a novel in arguably the most difficult genre.

But somewhere deep in my subconscious a flame had been lit and I felt certain I could do this. I just had to. This will sound absurd, but I kind of felt as if I had been fated to find these letters and now it was my duty to tell their story. I’m serious; this is how obsessed I was. Looking back, I realize I am not “the chosen” one at all. I was feeling this way because I share the same name as my great, great grandmother and I also have two boys and a much younger daughter. Our lives paralleled in many unexpected ways and I could sympathize with her absolute need to keep her children safe and healthy. Oh, and we both had red hair.

What ever the passion behind this project was, it propelled me into putting my life on hold and researching my family, exploring the past, examining records and files, and travelling and meeting historians both in Ireland and here in America. Thank heavens I do have good stamina! I’m also goofy and light- hearted so writing a serious piece wrought with tragedy and misfortune was not always easy or comfortable for me. But there was not a lot of humor surrounding life during the Potato famine so I had to restrain my drollness and present the real, somber tone of the times. That was difficult. Not to mention writing dialogue from Ireland in the 19th century, making every detail and word historically accurate and painting a picture of the many time periods depicted in my novel. But it was all worth it to me. In the end I achieved my goal and also wrote a story with heart. That is what I am most proud of.

So, this brings us to 2016. I had hoped Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke would have been picked up by a literary agent or publisher by now, but it seems this is a very long and drawn out process as the book market gets smaller and more selective in the novels they represent. This is the age of e-book and self-publishing after all, so the competition is nuts. One way or another my book will be in print this year. I hope I get an offer soon. Fingers crossed!

In the meantime I am doing a 180-degree turn and working on my next book–a Young Adult novel called Faculty Brat. This is a great departure from the serious, intense historical novel and it allows me to bring out humorously my inner teenage angst that I’ve been dying to release. Having lived my entire childhood on a prep school campus (my father was teacher, dean of students and eventually the headmaster) in New Hampshire, I have a pretty solid idea of what life is like for the characters. My book takes place in the 80’s, a time that could have been torn straight out of the Preppy Handbook. Faculty Brat will portray the pitfalls of one girl’s life as she treads her way through high school in the heels of her popular, prepped out sister and with her disciplinary Dean father looming over her (and her friend’s) every move. It’s tough enough being a teenager but it’s even more difficult when your neighbors turn into your teachers and when a new teacher falls for your boyfriend. I hope to have an initial draft in a few months. Stay tuned!