Posted By J.C. Martin on January 16, 2013

Victoria King-Voreadi is a mystery writer who co-authored a novel set in the run-up to World War II. As such, I asked her if she could guest on the Fighter Writer with a post on combining fact with fiction when writing about true historical events.

Historical Fiction: Combining Fact and Fantasy

by Victoria King-Voreadi

In trying to trace the origins of resource materials regarding our anti-hero Georg Elser for our manuscript Interrogation Tango, Donald Schwarz and I often asked the question "Who actually wrote this stuff?" There were sinister circumstances surrounding the Elser case, such a startling array of contradictory accounts, all claiming to be drawn from "authentic" sources. It appeared that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to muddy the waters.

We must respect fact when working with historic events or personages within a fictional context. The challenge lies in separating fact from erroneous interpretation. In our story's case the only solid point of reference was the act itself: yes, Georg Elser planted a device that blew up the Burger Brau Keller and people were killed – although the primary target, Adolph Hitler, left only minutes before the explosion and thus escaped harm. The possible "hows" and "whys" that propelled Elser to carry out his attempt are numerous and subject to rampant speculation – luckily for us that is where the fiction comes in, even for historians!

The new generation of history academics has revolutionized the lay approach to history by becoming skilled story tellers. This revelation allows their work to be appreciated by and thus reach a far broader audience. It is a heady feeling to address a lecture hall brimming with eager eyed students hanging on your every word, but royalty checks from "retail readers" have an equally powerful appeal. If this popularization of history gets more people reading I'm all for it! It is sort of like what Carl Sagan did for astrophysics in the 1970's with Cosmos.

History is full of amazing events, and embroiled in every amazing event are fascinating characters. Barring the existence of an authenticated personal journal spelling out the motives behind any historic figure's actions, the best any of us can do is to apply intelligent speculation. That is the "artistic license" we as writers have: by applying our common sense and igniting our imagination, we can invest even historic characters with interesting motives that will engage the reader and provide the character's actions with a realistic context.

Coming back to our story, Interrogation Tango, some accounts of the event portrayed Georg Elser as a people's hero, others as a cold blooded assassin. For our purposes that non-descript carpenter was a man, the man next door, with a bundle of complex factors driving him toward a rendezvous with history. Why was it that his story was swept under the rug? It is an interesting question to ask: why are we usually so content to accept the "authorities" accounts of historic events with little if any skepticism?

If you plan to write historical fiction you'll need to do a lot of research. But in the end it is human nature which dictates any character's choices and actions – their secret list of personal desires and fears. Think about the men and women, the passionate souls behind the events and let them guide your pen.

I just love the title of J.C.'s blog. Being a writer demands many skills on many levels as well as an incredible amount of self-discipline. In that respect writing might well be the ultimate martial art! We can only wonder at how many empires, fortunes, reputations, myths and legends have been built or broken by wily wielding of the quill!

About the Author

Victoria lives in the city of Herákleionon on the island of Crete, Greece with her husband and two beautiful daughters. A freelance writer and translator in Greece since 1992 she has received two screenwriting grants from the EEU Media Programme for both original and commissioned feature scripts, has worked on local and foreign productions. Victoria met her co-author Donald E. Schwarz in 1994 while visiting New York and the two instantly struck up a creative partnership

Contact: Iguana Books | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Here is more information about Victoria's book:

Interrogation Tango

Interrogation Tango is an anti-detective story, based on real events and people, about an assassin who drove the Gestapo crazy because they could not explain him away.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters/Indigo | Iguana Books

Posted By J.C. Martin on January 13, 2013

Susanna Hill is a blogger/writer buddy of mine who writes something miles removed from gritty crimes and dark thrillers: picture books for children. Her guest post today is dedicated to J.C. Jr. It's such a sweet post, I just couldn't wait to share it!

Something for the Young 'Uns

by Susanna Leonard Hill

Yes, I know this is the blog of a butt-kicking ninja crime writer.

I also know it is frequented by other butt-kicking ninja crime writers.

The thing is? In my little corner of the writing world, this is what passes for ninja butt-kicking:

The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another his mother called him "WILD THING!" and Max said "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" so he was sent to bed without eating anything.*

collective gasp

Yes, it's true. I'm a picture book writer. Please don't run away!

If you're wondering how I ended up so far from the playground, it's because even though I write picture books, I love reading butt-kicking ninja crime thrillers.

When J.C. mentioned she was looking for guest posters to help keep her blog going while she was on maternity leave I thought, alas, not really my area. But then I thought, hey! Fighter Writer Junior won't be ready for Oracle for a while yet. Maybe there's a little something I can contribute…

Shhh … come on down the hall to the nursery.

It is bedtime (That's why we're whispering). Fighter Writer Junior is clean from his bath, smelling sweetly of Johnson's baby shampoo, all cozy and warm in blue footie pajamas (all the ninjas are wearing them this season!).

J.C. settles in the rocking chair with FWJ in her lap where he fits as if he had been made to go just there. A little push with her feet and the chair rocks gently, back and forth … back and forth…

"Now then, little man," says J.C. "What shall we read tonight?" and the whole world opens up before them.

Perhaps they will go to once upon a time in Spain, where a little bull likes to sit just quietly and smell the flowers. Or maybe to an old house in Paris that was covered with vines where twelve little girls live in two straight lines and the smallest one is Madeline. Or to the house, the house on East 88th Street where, splish splash swoosh, Lyle the crocodile is taking a bath.

They could scamper after a white dog with black spots who loves everything except … getting a bath! They could eat chocolate cake with Betty Bunny, who is a handful! They could go to school with Lilly and jingle her purple plastic purse, or spend the day with Fireman Small — quickly out of bed he scoots, jumps into his hat and boots! — or romp with the hippos while they go berserk.

They could hop aboard the Dinotrain, laugh their way through the ridiculous alphabet where Z Is For Moose, search for the perfect pet in Dear Zoo, or play I spy in Each Peach Pear Plum.

They can choose stories about camels or castles or construction vehicles; about holidays, school days, or vacation days; about coping with bad days or bad dreams, trying new things, conquering fear of the dark, learning to stand up for yourself, or understanding something of the world around us.

If it matters to a child, it can be found in a picture book.

No matter what they choose, they will find wonderful characters, beautiful illustrations, and all the delight and wonder of story, the more magical because it is shared.

But now,

The big hand of the clock is at 12.

The little hand is at 7.

It is 7 o'clock.

It is bedtime for Fighter Writer Junior.**

Tuck him in with his blanket and his bear. Give him a kiss and turn out the light (but leave the nightlight glowing to keep the shadows away). And as he drifts into dreams, be happy in the thought of all the many times in the days and months and years ahead you will sit together, just quietly, in the wonderful world of picture books.

Sleep tight

Sources:

*Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

** Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban (except the last line says "Frances", not "Fighter Writer Junior")

Other favorite highly recommended books include and/or quoted nearly word for word, in order of mention: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber, Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, Fireman Small by Wong Herbert Yee, Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton, All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund, Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, and Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan & Janet Ahlberg.

(And since I can't possibly list all my favorite picture books here, J.C., please visit the Perfect Picture Books tab on my blog any time you're looking for something to read)

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Aww…! I can't wait to start reading FWJ bedtime stories! Just have to wait for him to start sleeping through the night first! Thank you Susanna for this lovely post, and for the wonderful picture book recommendations! Little FWJ is already starting to accumulate a TBR pile!

About the Author

Susanna Leonard Hill is the award winning author of nearly a dozen books for children, including Punxsutawney Phyllis (a Book List Children's Pick and Amelia Bloomer Project choice), No Sword Fighting In The House (a Junior Library Guild selection), Can't Sleep Without Sheep (a Children's Book of the Month), and Not Yet, Rose (a Gold Mom's Choice Award Winner.) Her books have been translated into French, Dutch, German, and Japanese, with one hopefully forthcoming in Korean. She lives in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley with her husband, children, and two rescue dogs.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Check out Susanna's books here, all great bedtime reads for the little people in your life! I would personally recommend the delightful Can't Sleep Without Sheep, which I got for my little sister-in-law, and she loved it!