Right now, if I were in Pennsylvania, I’d be first in line at the 150th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg from the Civil War. I am a huge Civil War buff and in recent years, have become enthralled by history.
Writing a historical western—The Lady And The Lawman—was a great way to go back in time, even an extremely fictional version. I lived in Montana for five years and was able to visit museums and other historical venues to learn about how life REALLY was for women back in the 1800’s. It wasn’t as remotely pleasant, especially in the Montana territory, back then.
Mean spouses, easy death, drudgery, hunger, childbirth—not including lots of babies! It would have been a hard life and I didn’t depict that in my story. It wouldn’t be romantic!!
I watched some 75th anniversary movies of Gettysburg on YouTube. Many men who fought in that battle were shown, very, very old, shaking hands and talking. If you do your math, they either had to be around 14 when they fought, making them 89, or they were extremely old at the reunion. The fact they had real movie footage of actual Civil War veterans is, to me, amazing. Even if the footage is 75 years old, it pulls the Civil War to more modern times, proves REAL people actually did fight and that it wasn’t just something out of a book. The footage itself is very patriotic and scrubbed, and depicts the ‘romance’ of war, not the realities.
My latest (and work-in-progress) Gnome Novel—Gnome, Alaska—has a Civil War re-enactor in it. I’m living vicariously through this character in my new book because deep down, I want to be a re-enactor.
But, I wouldn’t have made it to the battlefield because I would have dropped dead of heat stroke before I made it in all that wool. Pennsylvania, in July, is HOT!
I’d love to hear from you!
Contact info:
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The Lady And The Lawman on Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Lawman-ebook/dp/B00D3CIKXQ/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1372517641&sr=8-1&keywords=the+lady+and+the+lawman
On All Romance Ebooks-
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theladyandthelawman-1222712-158.html
It is now. I have to say, it wasn’t as hot when I was growing up. Fun post. I tweeted.
I just started reading Gnome On The Range Yes, I’ve had it on my Kindle for a while, but darn it, I was doing research and reading YA’s for the past several months. Anyway, loving it! I’ll have to pick up The Lady And the Lawman, too! Hopefully, I won’t have it several months before I read it. 🙂
Good points about life in the past, no matter in Civil War period, the West, or in the medieval era of my upcoming book. But you’re right–dwelling on the realities of day-to-day life in any of those times wouldn’t be particularly romantic. Good luck with The Lady and the Lawman. Great cover 🙂
PA in the summer wearing wool? I’d be wiped out. I love history, also, and am always interestd in the Civil War and the American West in the 1800’s. But absolutely, no way would I want to have lived during those times — especially as a woman. Your books sound interesting. Much success to you.
I’m in awe of the women of the past. We have it easy in comparison. It’s also hard to even imagine being 14 and on a battlefield!
My older son is 10 and I can’t imagine letting him go off alone like that–with strangers–to such horror! Makes you want to cry thinking about it!