Yesterday I shared how my Civil War romance, A Rebel
in My House, was born. Today I’d love to tell you a bit about my current
writing adventure with you. You’re welcome to come along, but strap in—it’s
always a bumpy ride.
You see, I spend a lot of time in the Civil War era …
while researching and writing my novels, that is. I have to research for months
until I understand what the citizens and the soldiers endured. Then I’m ready
to write the novel.
I’ve begun writing my next Civil War series. This one
deals with the spying that went on during the war. My research has been a real
eye-opener to these widespread and far-reaching effects of spying.
My three-book series is set in the capital cities of
Washington DC (Union) and Richmond (Confederate). Book 1, Avenue of
Betrayal, is set in Washington DC (commonly still called Washington City
during the Civil War.) The number of Confederate sympathizers living mere
blocks from President Abraham Lincoln shocked me.
Loyalties divided the best of friends—and even loving,
close-knit families. My series will show the harsh realities of a country at
war with its former citizens, igniting strong feelings and sparking tragedy.
Historical figures will pop in here and there in these fictional stories.
I had planned a research trip to Richmond and Washington
DC this spring before the country shut down. This has been postponed until the
museums reopen. Though months of research have already birthed my story, this
trip will add flavor and authenticity.
With a stack of research books nearby, I’ll keep writing Avenue
of Betrayal. In the meantime, I invite you to read my other Civil War books—A
Stranger on My Land, A Rebel in My House, and A Musket in My Hands.
About Sandra:
Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville
Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American
history to include in her stories. A Musket in My Hands, a Civil War romance
where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, is 2019
Serious Writer Medal Fiction Winner and a 2019 Selah Award Finalist. A Rebel in My House, set during the
historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and
second place in 2018 Faith, Hope and Love Readers’ Choice Award. Her debut
Civil War Romance, A Stranger on My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. Her novella Surprised by Love in "From the Lake to the
River" is set during the
1913 flood in Troy, Ohio. Trail’s
End in "Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys" is set in the wild
cattle town of Abilene, Kansas. Not This Year, her nostalgic story in
the "Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path," released in the fall
of 2019.
2 comments:
It's always interesting to see how much research you do for your books. Thanks for the post.
It normally takes months of research to understand what happened in history. Local museums are a great source of information so I try to travel to my story settings. Thanks for commenting, Caroline!
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