A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
I’m on maternity leave! During this time, a few of my favorite authors offered to step up and write guest posts so that this blog would remain active while I adjust to my new role as a mother. I may also be a bit slower to respond. Thanks for understanding and for being so supportive of me, my family, and my blog. Want to donate a few dollars to keep this blog running or perhaps contribute to my diaper fund? You can do so on Venmo or Paypal.
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
6:00am: Pack last items for limousine ride to the airport for research trip to London. Confirm appointment with British Library to view the never-before-seen manuscripts of a 12th century nun who prophesied the building of the Panama Canal and founding of Coney Island.
6:20am: Wake up with Gracie, the little white dog, standing on my chest and reminding me above activity was a dream.
6:21am: All three dogs, two cats and spouse now awake. Dogs out, coffee on. Get ready for day.
7:00a: Virtual writing group meets to write. During which I answer emails and read the news. I’m also waiting on a response to my request from the National Association of Timetable Collectors (NAOTC), as I am hoping they have a digital version of the 1905 US Rail Guide. This is very important, as my main character in the book I’m writing needs to get on the right train in Kansas City at the right time, and if she doesn’t, Someone Somewhere will say the train I wrote about didn’t actually go where I said it did, and thus my whole novel is suspect as both art and historical record. Also, the timetable plays a big role in keeping her a step ahead of the bad guy and alive.
8:12am: Writing group over and all news read for day. No timetable email.
9:22am-1:10pm: Butt in chair. I’m facing a scene that has been giving me troubles, as I fear I didn’t set up an earlier scene and now need to research again the life of an Arizona dancehall girl, re-refer to the map on my wall to see if indeed the heroine can run from the dancehall to the stables and pass the fictional train depot I put in the town. Worried that the Someone who will call me out on the inaccurate train timetable will call out my made-up town. And then particularly comment on the location of the fictitious depot which would, were it real, find itself swept away in a flash flood.
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
Within above butt in chair time, I also experience:
A brain block as to the main character’s sister’s name.
Indecision - can’t decide if her best friend should have green eyes or brown, so give her one of each.
Receive my timetable response: HOORAH! Turns out the rail schedules were books left in hotel rooms, and as popular with weary travelers as the also provided bible. One hour taken up with perusing trains, schedules, maps, and cross-referencing Sanford Fire Maps. Highlighter runs out of ink.
Twenty minutes on Amazon determining the very best highlighter to purchase and which will be here tomorrow. Diverted by book on Queens of the Underworld which sidetracks me into ideas for future books and is thus purchased along with Sharpie highlighters and some extra thin nib Bible highlighters for difficult small print situations.
1:10pm-1:40pm-ish. Lunch of vegetarian chili and two Vanilla Oreos to keep up health standards.
1:45pm-4:45pm. Drive an hour to city archives to review primary documents of first female police detective in US. Read correspondence between her and the mayor. Both are prickly but admire each other. Take notes on my iPad of story ideas. Read newspaper columns related to her endeavors. Snap ninety-six pictures of pages from the 1910 City Directory of various businesses involved in the story I will plot about said policewoman.
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
Three thoughts occur:
There were a damn lot of saloons in the city in 1910.
I can’t get too excited, as the novel about the dancehall girl with a penchant for timetables and in loads of trouble with the law must be finished first. As in ten days to make my deadline.
I am envious of the researcher at the next table. Or rather, envious of his Venti coffee-type drink.
4:45pm-5:45pm-ish. Drive home the long way through woods and farmland. My thoughts veer from the joy of driving through such beautiful land and how lucky I am to live here in the Pacific Northwest to slowing a bit and commenting that particular farms, barns, culverts and sheds would be excellent settings for a murder. This is directly followed by the thought that such a thought is awful. Which is followed up with a quick run through of policewoman story to see if it might fit in. And yes, I see it all in sepia.
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
5:46. Dogs really hungry and staring at me. Feed them and then dinner is had with spouse.
6:16pm-ish. I talk in babbling phrases about good body drop zones and the need now to find someone who owns a 1903 Ford Model A. Then I share on my phone the Google Map screen shots I’ve taken of farm roads in Kansas. They are flat. I see her eyes glaze. I point out a hill in one shot. It doesn’t inspire awe. Neither does the lonely windmill.
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
I tell her a trip is required. We will need to explore Kansas and the small-town environs on the train route, so as not to induce a Someone Somewhere to complain about my research.
She sighs and nods and I am fairly sure she wishes I’d decided to write about a 12th century prophetic nun. In London. Because she would very much like to see the King.
(Note: As of this publication, the train trouble novel is complete. It’s called GOOD TIME GIRLS and will be out in May. I promise I triple-checked the train schedules. I am currently in the weeds and among the many saloons in the female detective book. It’s called SINS OF OUR DAUGHTERS and will be out…l’ll keep you posted on that.)
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
KIM TAYLOR BLAKEMORE writes historical novels that feature fierce, audacious, and often dangerous women. She writes about the thieves and servants, murderesses and mediums, grifters and frauds - the women with darker stories, tangled lies and hidden motives.
She is the author of THE GOOD TIME GIRLS (May 2023); the historical thrillers THE DECEPTION, Silver Falchion Award winner AFTER ALICE FELL, and THE COMPANION: and YA historical novels BOWERY GIRL, and Willa Literary Award winner CISSY FUNK.
In addition to writing, she is a developmental editor and founder of Novelitics, which provides workshops and community to writers in the United States and Canada.
She lives with her family and passel of rescue cats and dogs in the Pacific Northwest. She loves the rain, is afraid of scary movies, and thinks the best meal consists of a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
Visit her at: www.kimtaylorblakemore.com
A Day in the Life of An Historical Fiction Author: A Guest Post by Kim Taylor Blakemore
