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Research:
The Internet and General Historical Links
by
Linda Morelli
Historical Editor
One of the best ways I know of to research material for your books is by
reading other books in your time period. That's what Jen Holling did
after she read Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER trilogy and decided she wanted
to write historical romance. (See my online interview with her this
month and, while you're there, don't forget to check out her website.
She has some great historical links! ) Once you have several
books under your reading cap, do your research using non-fiction books
from your local library.
Another way of conducting research is by visiting a site in person.
That's exactly what led me to write my first historical romance,
FIERY SURRENDER. I decided to escape with my young son, hopped in
the car and just drove. We ended up in Yorktown, Virginia, and since
we were there, I decided it was time to expose my son to my favorite
pastime - history. I took him on a tour of Williamsburg and the
Yorktown Battlefield. Little did I know that my attempt to instruct my son
in the "annals of the past" would wind up becoming a passion,
but after I found that few romances were written about that specific time
in America's struggle for Independence, I knew I had to write about it.
Of course, not all of us can travel to our favorite destinations, not that
we wouldn't want to, right? But who has enough money to travel to
Europe or the Far East on the flip of a dime (or rather, several thousand
dollars at today's monetary rates)? Well, there's always the Internet,
just a few keystrokes and a modem away.
If you're a novice at surfing the Internet, here's a great place to learn:
Welcome to the Internet Search FAQ http://www.purefiction.com/pages/res1.htm.
This site has a comprehensive overview on how to do research on the Web.
A great place to start historical research is The Romance Authors' Page
Research Index http://www.nettrends.com/romanceauthors/researchindex.htm.
Though not all-encompassing, you'll find many helpful links arranged in an
alphabetical order, including links pertaining to folklore, regency
costumes, medicine and mythology, to name a few.
The Writers' Resources Internet Sources Writing Links [http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/wrlinks-fiction.htm
] is another good site for beginning your research, and covers just
about everything.
In future columns, I'll concentrate on specific historical research sites
(such as Celtic, Victorian, Regency, etc. If there's a specific era you'd
like to see listed, please feel free to let me know. In the
meantime, here's some general history links, many of them centering on
American history:
The American Revolution Home Page
[ http://www.dell.homestead.com/revwar/files/LINKS.HTM
]
This site has some great links to Revolutionary War related web sites.
American Revolution - Campaigns & Documents http://homepages.go.com/homepages/n/y/m/nymas1/nymas6amerrev.htm
A great site if you need specific information on revolutionary military
campaigns and pertinent documents.
Archiving Early America
[ http://www.earlyamerica.com/ ]
This site has samples of actual 18th century newspapers & other period
information.
Documenting the American South
[ http://sunsite.unc.edu/docsouth
]
100+ volumes of memoirs, diaries, etc. from early 1800's to about 1920.
Eighteenth-Century Resources
[ http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/18th/
]
Includes information on art, architecture, gardening history, literature,
philosophy, etc.
Military History & Museum Links
[ http://www.widowmaker.com/%7Epoirier/Links.htm
]
While heavy on American History, this site also includes links to the
French and Indian War, the Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, World War I and
II, etc. It also provides links to "Tall Ships" as well as
"re-enactor" supplies (so you can view some of those weapons you
write about).
History and Travel - Historical Cheat Sheet from All About Romance.
[ http://www.likesbooks.com/history.html
]
Ellen Micheletti, who is also an AAR Editor/Reviewer, edits the Cheat
Sheet. In addition to writing wonderful reviews, this university librarian
is a lover of history and a terrific source and resource of knowledge.
From what I've seen, this site covers every period in history you'll need,
unless you're really into specifics.
The History Index
[ http://www.ukans.edu/history/
]
This site has a massive number of links, by country, for historical
researchers.
Making of America
[ http://www.umdl.umich.edu/moa/
]
A digital library of American History sources.
US Army Center of Military History
[ http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/ ]
US History
[ http://members.tripod.com/~RWallsTeacher/index-3.html
]
Designed for students, this site has a great list of alphabetical links
regarding history.
And if you can't find what you need above, try searching …
The History Net on About.com: Where History Lives on the Web http://history.about.com/
Next month: Costume Links
See you then!
Linda Morelli
GWN Historical Editor
RomRiter@aol.com
November 1, 2002
A
Trust Betrayed
by Candace Robb
Mysterious Press Hardcover
Historical Mystery
$22.95
Publication Date: April, 2001
ISBN 0-89296-708-0
Setting: 1297, Medieval Scotland
Candace Robb presents the first chapter of Margaret Kerr of Perth in her
novel, "A Trust Betrayed." Margaret is the wife of a shipping
merchant who has been raised to care for a household, but fate navigates
her in another direction.
Five months have passed since her husband, Roger Sinclair, rode off to
Edinburgh. The reason for his departure was not disclosed and Margaret
fears the worse. Equally concerned about his cousin's disappearance, Jack
Sinclair sets out to find him. He returns to Margaret and her goodmother
Katherine, in a burial shroud. The horrid reality of his murder is
uncovered when Margaret severs the stitches of Jack's shroud in the
lykewake hut. Upon examining the corpse she finds that his stomach and
throat are slashed and in his hand lies a small stone. Her only clue in
this dark mystery.
Determined to learn what is delaying her husband's return and who was
responsible for Jack's murder, Margaret leaves her goodmother's home under
the escort of her brother, Father Andrew, and Katherine's maid, Celia. Her
destination is Edinburgh, which is caught in a power struggle between
England and Scotland. Men such as John Balliol, Robert Bruce, Edward
Longshanks and William Wallace battle to rule.
Margaret and her companions journey through the English patrolled city
where death and decay greet them down every street. Her arrival at her
uncle's inn is not welcomed for Murdock fears for his niece's safety. He
provides her and Celia shelter after Andrew returns to the Abby and the
Abbot of Dunfermline but warns her not to question the citizens of
Edinburgh.
When not busily occupied in the upkeep of the inn, Margaret sets into
motion her investigation. With patience and intelligence she not only
finds out who killed Jack but uncovers others crimes as well. Every step
she makes she is followed by either the English or a man named James Comyn,
part owner in her uncle's inn.
With the passing of each day, more bodies are found. Even though it is
against the abbot's wishes, Andrew assists his sister on her mission. She
is befriended by weaver Janet Webster, whose own husband, Davy the smith,
was murdered. Woven into the plot and revealed truth by truth is
Margaret's husband's involvement with a Mistress Grey and his secretive
quest to see the man he believes should be the King of the Scots rise to
power.
A TRUST BETRAYED is a historical adventure well researched by its author.
The reader travels along with Margaret in a place where lives are
extinguished because of allegiance. Every knock at the door and every
shadow could mean the end of her own life. Margaret's courage and
determination place her in uncommon situations for women of her day. And
you stand by her and respect her through it all. The language will slow
you down as the tale unfolds but it's essential to the storytelling. I
anxiously await the second book in this series not so much to see if
Margaret and her husband are reunited, but to see if her mother's prophecy
is fulfilled. Read the book to find out what Christiana MacFarlane of
Elcho Nunnery reveals before Margaret's journey to Edinburgh.
Learn more about Candace Robb by visiting her website at
www.candacerobb.com and visit the Warner Books website at twbookmark.com.
--Denise Fleischer, GWN Online
Netera@aol.com
7/18/2001
Fiery Surrender
by Linda Morelli
Port Town Publishing
ISBN 0-9700544-5-9
$9.95 US
Historical Romance
Time period: 1780
Settings: Paris and America
www.porttownpublishing.bigstep.com
Linda's
Romance Page
The thundering of a highwayman's pistol awakens Monique von Strade as she
rides with her family in an open coach. Her parents, Count Eric von Strade
and Countess Lisle suddenly find themselves at the mercy of devious men.
Knowing Monique's only chance to escape rape and death is to flee, her
mother begs her to run for her life. As she runs through the forest, the
horrid echoes of pistol fire present the vivid possibility of their
deaths. Her own freedom is threatened as the highwayman captures her.
Pierre Marie Louis de Latier, the Marquis du Fonte, joins his grandfather,
Jacques Marchant, as he walks across the deck to the ship's railing and
out into the wharf. In Pierre's breast pocket is his commander's missive.
His orders are to leave tomorrow for Versailles and return to the Colonies
within a month's time with arms for the rebels. The blockade had been
successful, but the lack of provisions, desertion are weighing heavy on
the Continental Army and the new Continental Navy can not possibly survive
the might of the British fleet. Though Pierre's main concern is serving
his King, he longs to be reunited with his only living family member.
Together they ride off to Pierre's estate. Fate intervenes when they hear
the sounds of gunfire. With a soldier's instinct, Pierre cautiously
investigates, kills two of the highwaymen and then searches for Monique.
Her struggles and his determination save her life. Pierre escorts the
weary travelers to his estate that very night. Quentin Lombard, the family
physician attends to Monique and soon Pierre and Quentin learn that
Monique's family traces back to the Hollenzollern Dynasty. This explains
why their destination was Paris. The Count is King Frederick's Ambassador
to France and the Countess is related to the King. The Count is now
indebted to Pierre for saving his family's life and this acquaintance may
be a good alliance for both of them. Unknown to the von Strades is that
Pierre has a secret identity, he is a spy who has pledged his loyalty to
King and Country.
As time passes, Pierre's attraction to Monique is no longer something he
can bury like his past. Though he does not believe in love, he wants her
in his life. But complications arise when Monique's aunt, Josephine,
prepares to introduce her to society in hopes of her finding a husband.
She buys her a new wardrobe, educates her in the use of a fan, provides
flirtation lessons and improves her conversational French. Josephine puts
her strategy in motion by planning a venture to the theatre. Monique is
introduced to a wealthy young man named Andre, but Josephine believes a
better marriage arrangement can be made with Comte Henri Sebastian de
Croix. Monique feels the man's darker side rules over him. When she learns
her father's plans for her to marry de Croix are close at hand, she
navigates toward an escape, that being Pierre. Unable to resist her any
longer, Pierre makes his own arrangements to seduce Monique in an
abandoned estate. They lie together and when her father hears of this
secret meeting he approaches de Croix attempting to back out of the
marriage arrangement. Pierre states that de Croix would use Monique's
money as a way to pay off his gambling debts helps to put an end to the
proposal. Pierre and Monique are married. Shortly after, Pierre departs
for the Colonies leaving Monique with a letter that his money will care
for her and their child and that she is better off without him. Unable to
accept his abandoning her, she rushes off to the wharf hoping to become a
passenger on the ship he is on. After Pierre's anger simmers down they
have but a night together before the British attack their ship. And so
begins an adventure neither wanted, where danger is always a breath away.
FIERY SURRENDER sets out to place the reader in two war zones: one being
the American Revolution, the other being the battlefield of those that
love or are attracted to Monique. Morelli's ability to create a
believable, realistic environment and storyline are on the mark. Only a
few details didn't sit well with me. That would be Monique following
Pierre to America. For one, she was a naïve, beautiful woman who could
have easily been raped, robbed and left for dead. She literally sailed
right into the reality of war. And second, Pierre in denying his love for
Monique hurt her more than if he had just simply never married her. Still,
the book is a unique historical lesson which is worthy of your attention.
Like most romance novels it makes history more dimensional and the
characters alive in your mind and in your heart. Fast-moving plot,
consistently true to history and good character development makes this
book a keeper.
--4 out of 4 roses
Denise Fleischer, GWN Online book reviewer
Netera@aol.com
11/25/2001
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