Saturday, May 25, 2013

Sweet Saturday Samples - May 25, 2013

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. I'm sorry to be late this week. Circumstances combined to keep me occupied elsewhere.

This is an unfinished scene early in my WIP, Gone for a Soldier, where Rulon Owen is sure he's going to miss the war entirely if he can't get enlisted in a cavalry unit. I hope you enjoy the tidbit.
~~~

When Rulon came in from the outdoors before supper, Pa sat near the fireplace, reading the newspaper Rulon had brought from town.

Rulon took a seat on a stool. "Pa, are you about finished with the paper?" he asked, drumming his fingers on his knees.

Pa looked up. "Not quite. What has you all-fired curious to read the news?"

Rulon cleared his throat, not once, but twice. Pa continued looking at him. Rulon glanced at his father's face, then away, and cleared his throat a third time. When he could no longer fail to respond, he said, "I'm seeking a cavalry company to join." He swallowed, avoiding his father's eyes entirely now. "I figured the paper would have word about a company or two being formed."

"Cavalry, you say?"

"I been raised up with horses all my life long, Pa. I reckon it's natural I go to war ridin' one."

Pa nodded. "Good reasoning." He held out the paper. "Take a look, then."

Rulon devoured the columns of print, moving his forefinger down each article. In a few moments, he flicked the paper with his nail in disgust. "There's nothing."

"Nothing in the county?"

"Yes. I can't fathom it."

"There are several infantry companies forming up, one right over in Mount Jackson."

"I don't admire the thought of trudging along on the ground. I prefer to ride."

Pa shifted in his chair. "Did you take notice of the mention of the Harrisonburg Cavalry?"

"They're mustering on the twenty-second next month."

"Would you consider enrolling with them?"

"We're a far piece away from Harrisonburg. I doubt they'd take me, not being from Rockingham County."

"Their captain is Tom Yancey."

Rulon stared at his father, not making a connection between his comments.

"The Yanceys are kin of ours. Not close kin, but cousins, none the less."

Rulon straightened. "I'd forgotten."

"I can write a letter, if you'd like."

"It might go down better if I write."

Pa considered that, and finally nodded. "You have the right of it. Let me tell you the family connection."
~~~

Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.

Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.

Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Sweet Saturday Samples - May 18, 2013

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. Today I'm sharing a short scene from my WIP, wherein Rulon Owen learns his fate, at least in the short term. Enjoy!

Rulon stood on the bottom step outside the church, clasping his hands behind his back. He knew his foot was tapping rapidly against the brick. He simply could not control it as he waited.

"Young man!"

Rulon swung around at the sharp tone he heard in Randolph Hilbrands' voice. It sounded like the man intended to give him ill news. "Sir?" he said, hoping his face bore a conciliatory aspect.

The man descended the steps, a frown bending his thin moustache in a downward curve.

A chill raised the hairs on the back of Rulon's neck. Had he lost Mary? He couldn't feel his hands.

Mr. Hilbrands stopped on the step above where Rulon was standing, and stared down at him. He took a quick breath. "My daughter wants to be your bride," he said, a fierce look on his face. "She says it must be now, before you enlist. I told her that was a fanciful notion."

Rulon didn't dare say a word. He couldn't hear himself breathing.

"She is most persuasive in her reasoning. She is young, but she seems to have a firm grasp of what she is fixing to do. Given the circumstances, I am giving consent."

Rulon felt himself toppling, and slid his left foot back to maintain his balance. His ears rang with the man's words: "I am giving consent."

"Tha-thank you, sir." He struggled to stand upright, instead of sagging as he felt inclined to do. In point of fact, his knees begged to kiss the step, but he conquered the impulse after a long moment, and reached out to seal the bargain.

Mr. Hilbrands solemnly shook his hand, but added, "Her mother is not convinced as yet, but may come around in time. You would do well to spend time in that effort."

"Yes, I will, sir. Thank you again." Rulon left off pumping the man's hand, expecting to take his leave and go to Mary's side to ask her to marry him.

Mr. Hilbrands forestalled him, saying, "I spoke to the minister. It appears there are several weddings taking place due to this war fever. He does not have any open days until May 11th. Will that suit?"

Rulon hoped his mouth wasn't gaping as Mr. Hilbrands' words swirled in his brain. May 11th. That was an age away. He gulped. "Yes, sir. That suits just fine. Give Mr. Moore my thanks."

"He'll want your coin for the service. Two dollars."

Rulon gulped again. Two dollars. That was four days' wage at the pig iron furnace, provided he could hire on for a short term. He'd never thought of any cost involved in getting wed. Two dollars! What would Pa say?

~~~


Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.

Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.

Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

No Sweet Saturday Sample today

Due to the fact that I'm traveling, and didn't get my act together sufficiently to pre-post a sample, I will return with something fresh and new next week. See you then.

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Sweet Saturday Samples - May 4, 2013

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples. I'm posting a short bit of a conversation between Ella Ruth Meem and Ben Owen, from my WIP, Gone for a Soldier. Ella Ruth has been talking about her dream wedding when we come across them below. I hope you enjoy this sample!
~~~


"Once Pappa admits what a wonderful catch you are, we will have that nice wedding, with all our friends and family to witness our happiness," she said, then giggled again. "Ben, you'll look so handsome in a frockcoat, with lovely long tails, just like in the novels."

"I've never seen such a coat," he said, dubious that a piece of raiment like that was to be had in all of the county.

"We can have it specially made in Boston, and shipped here by special coach."

Ben drew a breath and nearly choked at the thought of the expense. He turned aside and coughed. Ella Ruth took such wild fancies into her mind at times.

"Girl, you realize Boston is in another country now."

"Oh, you men say that, but it's not important. Pappa can get anything."
~~~


Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments, so if anything in the sample compels you to speak up, rest assured that I always read what you write and reply. Questions? I'm open to them, too.

Please refer to the Buy Links Page above for locations to purchase any of my work. Also take note of the "Newsletter" tab above. Do consider subscribing to my mailing list so you will receive my quarterly newsletter. It contains news about me, book signings, places I'll be making special appearances, book news, links to original material, and special offers.

Come back next Saturday for another sample. Now, use this list to find other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors participating in our weekly blog hop enjoy comments as much as I do, so please don't be shy. Thank you!

Friday, May 03, 2013

Research, Writing, and Visual Cues

When it comes to writing novels, I don't follow a strict progression of tasks. Let me explain.

  • Some writers do all their research before they write the first creative word.
  • Some writers do quite a bit of research to get a solid overview before they begin writing, then continue to research while they write, as they discover they need specific details.
  • Some writers make it all up, without any need for research.

Because I write historical novels, I need to do research, so I don't fall into the third group of writers.

I don't always know what I need to know when I begin a project, so I can't research everything before I write. Therefore, I don't belong in the first category, either.

I'm among those in the middle category above: I get the background covered, start writing, then fill in the gaps when they come along. I think of this as first, using the shotgun approach, then using a rifle to target the specifics.

Once I've identified certain facts, I find that I need constant reminders of them. I'm afflicted with ADHD, remember?

Because I am a visual-learner, I depend on visual cues to remember these key items as I write the current novel. I make several charts or graphs, which are actually poster-board sheets I hang on my walls or attach to the front door with magnets. These sheets have various types of information on them.

One sheet shows a column with a rough timeline of the major battles of the eastern theater of the Civil War. My characters are not much concerned with the war battles west of Virginia. A column on the rest of the page notes how my characters were impacted by these events. I should have used more space on the timeline side, as the second column needs more room. Oh well.

Another sheet reminds me of which military units are aggregated to make up larger units, that is: company > regiment > brigade > division > corps > army. I hope I got that right, as I'm not looking at the sheet.

A third sheet shows the configuration and changes there-to of the eastern fighting forces of the Confederacy. The death of major commanders often meant the entire army got reorganized. As units received casualties, they often were combined. New regiments were raised and places found for them.

My intent isn't to document these changes, but to show where they impact my characters. You see, I have assigned most of my characters to actual historical Civil War units. In only one case have I chosen to create a bogus cavalry company.

If Character A started out in actual Company Z of Regiment 1 of the infantry, and his unit was wiped out and combined with another after Battle 100, he might write home about it. If his Company didn't actually participate in a certain battle, I can't write a scene showing him in the heat of the fray.

Alas, I discovered I need to dump a scene I wrote before I learned that a character's historical unit wasn't at First Manassas. Part of the problem came about because I hadn't isolated the company he would join before I wrote the scene. I knew his regiment was in the battle, so I assumed my character's company would be. Only after I picked the company in which he would enlist did I learn that, for whatever reason, it hadn't been on the field of battle. Erk!

I know all this sounds like an awful lot of work. To be truthful, it is! However, my method makes it possible for me to function at least halfway like a human being, and to let loose the stories rolling around in my head. That's worth the extra work!

Let me know if you think the stories are worth the pain, or if I am just too weird for this world.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...