Darlene Williams is a historical fiction blogger and writer from Canada's West Coast. Her passion for the genre is undeniable and recently she finished in 1st Place in an online vote by Underground Book Blogs in their 2012 "Battle of the Book Review Blogs". She is a passionate advocate of independently published novels and is challenging readers perceptions by showcasing indie writers who are serious about their craft. Welcome to my Court of Historical Fiction, Darlene!
Firstly, Stuart, I want to thank you for inviting me to be a
guest on your blog. I’m doubly excited
to be here. One, because this is my
first interview ever! Second, because I highly respect you and your opinions.
During the development of our virtual friendship I have come to rely on
your advice when I am in need and realized we have much in common when it comes
to assessment of historical fiction. (Awww stop it, you are making me blush!) I
so look forward to our cup of tea when I travel to England, my dream trip.
1. How
did you discover historical fiction and what makes it so fascinating for you?
My mother used to come home from
the library loaded with books when I was a child. She chose my books, which in the beginning
were Nancy Drew mysteries and the like.
Then, one day, she brought home
“Little Women”. A departure from the
usual, I wasn’t too sure about it. That
is, until I began reading. The March
girls became alive and I grew attached to them as if I knew them
personally. I loved reading about how
they lived; the typical lifestyle details of a world so different from mine
intrigued me.
When my beloved Beth passed away,
I cried. I didn’t cry just once, I
reread the scene numerous times and fresh tears flowed anew each time. It was the first time I read a novel in which
one of the characters died. It so
touched my heart I spent the better part of Grade 4 insisting I be known as
Beth, a derivative of my middle name.
After Little Women, I didn’t read
a contemporary novel for many years. In
fact, as an adult, I have probably read less than a dozen contemporary
novels. Historical fiction is complete
escapism into worlds I will never experience, except through the pages of a
novel. Whatever my troubles, I know I
will be soothed by slipping into another era, where the angst of today does not
exist.
What is especially intriguing is
how authors treat an event in history.
For example, Anne Boleyn. I have
read many, many Tudor novels and each author has imbued Anne with unique
qualities and character flaws. Will we
ever know the true nature of Anne? Not
likely, but it is interesting how each author has their own take on her. Some have portrayed her as a selfish,
grasping woman, while others have painted her as an innocent victim of Henry’s every-changing
lusts. I, too, have my opinion, which
has not been written (or at least read by me).
However, we are inundated with Anne Boleyn novels so it will remain in
my mind.
2. Your
blog is a favourite of mine and you provide a great platform for anyone who is
interested in discovering historical fiction.
What made you decide to begin publishing reviews on the Web?
Thank so much for the compliment,
Stuart. I have been striving in the last
months to make my reviews more than just my appraisal of a historical fiction
novel. A historical fiction novel often
prompts me to research the subject matter, to further understand the events of
the novel, educate myself about the political lay of the land and to judge
whether the author was presenting a novel based on commonly accepted historical
facts or deviating with an alternative version.
I have been including some of my research in my reviews so readers have
a fuller understanding of the novel as well.
I was a legal assistant for 20
years and attending school at night to become a claims adjuster. Unfortunately, health issues forced me to
retire from both my job and educational endeavours. I was only 40. It was a devastating
blow. I could either pull the covers
over my head and give up or build myself a new life. I chose the latter. I took a creative writing course
and earned a diploma. For a number of
years I wrote flash and short fiction. I
was fortunate enough to have some of my work published. I also facilitated a writers’ group.
Eventually, I decided to open up
shop as a professional freelance writer.
I built up a clientele, focussed on niches to become an “expert” and wrote
mostly web content in the education, legal and medical fields. I also ghost wrote two books about cats
(which I am not fond of) and dogs (which I own and adore). However, health issues once again shut that
career door. I had been writing in one fashion
or another for a solid 7 years. I have
two great passions in my life: writing
and singing. I cannot exist without
either and have quality of life. So, I
began writing historical fiction reviews.
I felt qualified by my almost 40 years (dating myself!) reading
historical fiction and my knowledge base of history, especially British.
I am not a fan of
“bodice-rippers” or fluff. I want my
historical fiction to be intelligent, thought-provoking and an intricate
relating of a historical event. The
author’s in-depth research must be evident.
When I’m excited about a historical fiction novel, I share with my
mother, who also reads historical fiction.
So, why not share with everyone?
Thus began Darlene Williams HF Reviews.
3. What
boxes does a HF novel have to tick in order to be worthy of a review on your
blog?
What I expect from an excellent
historical fiction novel is:
·
Intelligent, tight writing.
·
Excellent pacing from the beginning to the end,
without sags in the middle (a common problem) or elsewhere.
·
Please illuminate me without educating me
through long explanatory passages. Teach
me through the characters’ words and actions.
·
Fleshed-out characters who feel so real a person
can fall in love with them, want to be friends, mourn them or despise them. I need to feel they fully exist in their
world.
·
Appropriate euphemisms of the day.
·
A plausible premise if you’re presenting an
alternative to commonly accepted historical facts.
·
Life doesn’t always have a happy ending. Historical fiction novels don’t always need a
happy ending. Tie up all the loose
strands, but don’t feel they have to be bound up in a bow. Sometimes, life ends in knots. Stay true to your story, whether it
culminates in a bow or knot.
I am a self-admitted tough
reviewer. I have high expectations but,
when a novel merits praise, I will wax poetic.
Although I rarely award 5 stars (I think I’ve only awarded 3 this year),
which means a novel is outstanding or exceptional beyond compare, I frequently
award 4 stars, which, in my books, is an excellent novel well worth the read.
4. You
are also an author; can you tell me about your current work in progress?
I have several projects on the go
right now. My feature novel is Princess
Charlotte Augusta, the granddaughter of “mad” King George III and daughter of
King George IV (also known as the Prince Regent or Prinny). I chose Charlotte as she has been largely ignored by
historical authors and, although, her life was short, it was so full of
promise.
Before, Charlotte is written, I have plans for either
1 or 2 short novellas about her parents.
I have not yet decided whether to incorporate the two or give each their
own viewpoint. It might be interesting
to have both viewpoints in one novella, seeing as they never saw eye-to-eye on
anything during their marriage. Once I
have completed more research, I will decide.
My final project is actually
non-fiction. I have started a guidebook
for the novice freelance copywriter.
It’s a steep learning curve and there are many pitfalls. I hope to help reduce the immense amount of
time spent in locating credible income sources and avoid falling prey to
disreputable employers. The research was
conducted via personal experience!
5. What
advice would you give to someone who wishes to write a HF novel?
You’ve probably heard it before,
but I’m going to say it again. Read,
read, read. Extensive reading in the
genre is necessary to understand what it takes to write a good historical
fiction novel. Consume everything your
favourite authors write. That said, you must find your own
voice. There is only one Margaret
George, Sharon Kay Penman, Edward Rutherford.
The objective is not to intimate. Aspire to write at the same
level. Set the bar high and endeavour to
clear it. This might not happen on the
first attempt. Keep at it until you
achieve your goal.
A writer is much the same as an
athlete in training; you don’t run a marathon on the first day. You train for a solid year before you attempt
your marathon. Get your feet wet. Write a few novellas. Learn from them before you write a
full-length novel. Novellas are great
training tools with the bonus of hopefully gaining readership prior to release
of your novel.
Research your era in-depth. Immerse yourself in that time. A novel that barely skims the surface of the
historical era rapidly pales. Historical accuracy is paramount. Please don’t write a pre-Christianity novel
and include Christian euphemisms.
Do not quote verbatim from
sources and add footnotes. Heavy
emphasis is on the word “fiction” in these cases. You can explain in your author’s notes what
is factual or not. Author’s notes are
eagerly anticipated by many readers.
Write your novel from a unique
slant or angle. If it’s been done
before, readers might not give it a chance.
Controversy can be good, as long as you can solidly back it up
For goodness sake, pay for a
professional edit. The “I can’t afford
it” excuse doesn’t wash. If you spent
year(s) on your novel, skimp on whatever you need to pay for the edit to
complete your investment in your story.
One novel with substandard writing loses you readership forever.
6. Fun
Question – which three historical figures would you invite to a dinner party?
Eleanor of Aquitaine, Elizabeth I and Samuel
Pepys. I admire strong women in eras
when women were considered the lesser and treated accordingly. It would be fascinating to listen to Eleanor,
who, while she did rule during Henry’s absences, ultimately desired the throne
for her son, Richard, to achieve glory through her children, converse with
Elizabeth who went to great lengths and against considerable odds to rule England in her
own right. It would be outright
delightful to listen to them recount their escapades. I imagine gaiety as wines glasses are
refilled. Samuel Pepys is the
counterfoil. His horrified expressions
as he contemplated these women who did not “remain in their place” would be
comic. He who dallied with women, but was consumed with jealous when he thought
his wife might be tarrying with
another man. He who firmly believed his
wife should not rise above herself.
Eleanor and Elizabeth would make short work of him.
7. Fun
Question – which event in history would you like to have been a fly on the wall
at?
This is a thread I have been
involved in lately on Goodreads – what mystery would you like solved? My discussion has been whether Catherine of
Aragon and Arthur consummated their marriage.
That single night had an incredible effect on England. However, I wouldn’t exactly want to be a fly
on the wall – I believe that’s called voyeurism.
I’d much rather not be a fly but
smack in the middle of the Fields of Gold, dressed in the most bejewelled, gorgeous
gown. Although there are many
descriptions of the sumptuousness of that event, I believe it would have to be
seen to be fully appreciated.
I can certainly agree with many of Darlene's views on how reviewers have a responsibility to the genre as a whole to promote quality and identify books that deserve exposure. Take a look at Darlene's blog, I am sure you will want to be a regular follower once you see how much work she puts into giving readers of historical fiction unbiased, articulate and honest reviews of books she feels are deserving of promotion.
