Comments for A Writer of History

Comment on The blurring of truth and fiction by morongoblondblog

morongoblondblog — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:14:03 +0000

Interesting –I have a memory of going to the train station in central Cleveland Ohio with my parents and my mother’s best friend Ann to deliver Ann’sboyfriend Bud to the train that would take him to his point of debarkaction during WWII. I was give and I was insanly jealous of Ann, because Bud was my hero. I remember the event so clearly and that Bud promised to write me. The terminal was crowded with troops, coming home and some leaving. Some were on crutches, missing legs. That was1943. And yes, Bud came home. By then, Ann had moved on.

Comment on The blurring of truth and fiction by Pat Mizell

Pat Mizell — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:57:20 +0000

WWII tales like this are especially interesting to me; they put into perspective my own parents untold tales of those times. In a cemetery where they are buried is a plot of land that belongs to the people of Holland. During the war, with England crammed full of the governments of Europe, the Royal Dutch Air Force established their fighter pilot training school in Jackson, Mississippi. A lot of Dutch boys died in training, a lot more died over Europe, and many met local girls, married them, and came back.

Many of those boys wanted to be buried in Dutch soil, and the city of Jackson gave Holland that place for them to lie. Every Memorial Day the Dutch government sends an envoy to that little patch of Holland, and a full ceremony is held with a color guard and the reading of the names of the men.

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by awriterofhistory

awriterofhistory — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:01 +0000

You’re right, Pat. As my grandmother used to say, even famous people put their pants on one leg at a time

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by awriterofhistory

awriterofhistory — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:28:39 +0000

Sounds like an excellent plan, Carol. Although I too love getting lost in research.

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by historywithatwist

historywithatwist — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:39:01 +0000

‘Don’t worry if your wonderful idea/prose/poetic description falls flat the first, second or twenty-fifth time. Just rewrite it better, rewrite it differently or cut it.’

I like this advice. Thanks, Helen

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by awriterofhistory

awriterofhistory — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:15:43 +0000

What an interesting insight into your writing, Helen. Having spent hours immersed in WWI, I know what you mean about the ‘real’ world intruding.

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by Helen Bryan

Helen Bryan — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:11:54 +0000

Dear Rachel,

Thanks for your questions.

In answer to the first, it’s less a case of publishers finding long novels problematic, more a case of tighter editing producing a shorter but better book. “War Brides” was considerably longer in the first draft and the editor suggested- without insisting- that it would improve the book if I lost one minor character, a nurse, with a good storyline of her own. The editor’s reasoning was that with five brides, yet another character and storyline diluted the book too much. I make it a rule always to try it the editor’s way and when I did, sorry though I was to lose Betty, I saw the editor was right. But I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never been asked to cut any significant elements of a book.

The other point about length is that a few years ago publishers were more hesitant about taking on long books, because they assumed length put readers off. But judging by the many successful novels out there now that are as long as, if not longer, than mine, I don’t think that’s the case any longer.

To answer your second question about switching historical periods, this is never a problem because research has the effect of switching the mind onto another track. Oddly, what is disconcerting is returning from the past, any past, to the present. Having spent the day with sixteenth century nuns, down a smugglers’ tunnel or reliving the Blitz, what is a shock is suddenly realizing it’s past time for supper, everyone’s starving and I need to transport myself smartly into the period and culture of my kitchen and concentrate on spaghetti.

Best wishes,

Helen Bryan

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by RachelB.

RachelB. — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:18:31 +0000

This is the first interview I’ve ever read with Helen Bryan, so thank you Mary! It’s great to read her perspectives on researching and writing. One question I would ask is this, Was the length of “War Brides” (496 pages) ever an issue? Were you ever told by editors or beta readers to cut out certain parts of the story, such as back story or description?

Another question is, since she spent years in the 1940′s while working on “War Brides”, was it difficult to transport yourself to a totally different period and culture for “The Sisterhood”?

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by Just Walking This Earth

Just Walking This Earth — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:48:22 +0000

“Another good thing about research is that it’s possible to do it almost indefinitely without actually writing anything, while looking impressively busy.” This made me laugh because the research is my favorite part. In writing my novel, I finally had to set the research aside and get the story down. I’ve taken to doing what I call “Just in time” research. If the story calls for some historical detail, I dig it out when I came to that point – or during rewrites. Otherwise, I’d still be doing research, most of which would be interesting to me but without purpose in my story. Thanks!

Comment on An Interview with Historical Fiction Author – Helen Bryan by Pat Mizell

Pat Mizell — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:48:01 +0000

Helen Bryan’s interview was a good way to start off what is usually the Frantic Day of the week; despite all the coffee, she seems to have a calming approach to the morass of the writing process. I liked two things she said. First, historical fiction writers are story tellers. Without the story it would be yet another boring history book. The other point she makes is that though times, mores, and circumstances change the basic human element is timeless. It’s important to remember that history’s characters were just people also.