I read and loved Book of Gothel! Then I passed my copy along to a friend, with instructions to keep sharing it with others. I loved how you combined a good story with real depth of research. As a writer plus developmental editor, I would love to know more about how you did that. And I hope you'll come to Chicago sometime--we have some good bookstores!
Hi Jenny--Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm so glad you loved the book and are spreading the word. I love Chicago and would love to go back! As far as research, what would you like to know? I do a lot of reading for my novels, both nonfiction about the period and fiction set in it. I'm careful about the sources I consult.. Many end up being scholarly books, especially those that combat sexist assumptions about the era. I read about the period before and during drafting, until the world is realized in my head... Is there something specific you'd like to know? Mary
Thanks for your reply, Mary! What I was specifically wondering was how you avoid getting too stuck in the "facts" from research/scholarship and allow your brain the creative freedom to see a new story? In a related question, I was intrigued by the pacing of your novel--as I read it, it was quiet and thoughtful for much of the book but then events cascade at the end. Was this choice of slow pacing in the beginning and middle a choice to better establish the diary-like "voice" of the writer/narrator? And if so, was this pace something inspired by other diaries or diary-like documents you found in your research?
Oh! Sorry for the delay--I've been on a book two deadline to turn in the teaser pages of the next book for the GOTHEL paperback.
I typically do most of my research first, highlighting and taking notes in my project journal, rather than researching as I write. When I have to do research as I write, I make sure to do it during a different part of the day and write the details from memory, only checking sources in editing. The danger is obviously to bog down the writing with unnecessary historical details. Some of those still do end up in early drafts because I tend to get seduced by them, and I have to edit them out.
The structure of the book is definitely meant to evoke medieval documents (the idea of a declaration of truth, for example, comes from period documents), but I think the pacing of the book is a result of my preferences as a reader. I prefer leisurely paced books, intricate worldbuilding, magic systems that are very slowly revealed as you discover them with characters. I even prefer my love stories to be slow burns. My favorite books luxuriate in moments and use subjective narration/voice to reveal character. But I also love a good climax and payoff!
Thanks so much for this fulsome reply, Mary! It's good to know how you keep research and writing separate, to allow your mind to be creative and not too stuck on facts. Looking forward to your next book :)
Mary,
I read and loved Book of Gothel! Then I passed my copy along to a friend, with instructions to keep sharing it with others. I loved how you combined a good story with real depth of research. As a writer plus developmental editor, I would love to know more about how you did that. And I hope you'll come to Chicago sometime--we have some good bookstores!
Cheers,
Jenny
Hi Jenny--Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm so glad you loved the book and are spreading the word. I love Chicago and would love to go back! As far as research, what would you like to know? I do a lot of reading for my novels, both nonfiction about the period and fiction set in it. I'm careful about the sources I consult.. Many end up being scholarly books, especially those that combat sexist assumptions about the era. I read about the period before and during drafting, until the world is realized in my head... Is there something specific you'd like to know? Mary
Thanks for your reply, Mary! What I was specifically wondering was how you avoid getting too stuck in the "facts" from research/scholarship and allow your brain the creative freedom to see a new story? In a related question, I was intrigued by the pacing of your novel--as I read it, it was quiet and thoughtful for much of the book but then events cascade at the end. Was this choice of slow pacing in the beginning and middle a choice to better establish the diary-like "voice" of the writer/narrator? And if so, was this pace something inspired by other diaries or diary-like documents you found in your research?
Oh! Sorry for the delay--I've been on a book two deadline to turn in the teaser pages of the next book for the GOTHEL paperback.
I typically do most of my research first, highlighting and taking notes in my project journal, rather than researching as I write. When I have to do research as I write, I make sure to do it during a different part of the day and write the details from memory, only checking sources in editing. The danger is obviously to bog down the writing with unnecessary historical details. Some of those still do end up in early drafts because I tend to get seduced by them, and I have to edit them out.
The structure of the book is definitely meant to evoke medieval documents (the idea of a declaration of truth, for example, comes from period documents), but I think the pacing of the book is a result of my preferences as a reader. I prefer leisurely paced books, intricate worldbuilding, magic systems that are very slowly revealed as you discover them with characters. I even prefer my love stories to be slow burns. My favorite books luxuriate in moments and use subjective narration/voice to reveal character. But I also love a good climax and payoff!
Thanks so much for this fulsome reply, Mary! It's good to know how you keep research and writing separate, to allow your mind to be creative and not too stuck on facts. Looking forward to your next book :)
Oh, thank you! I’m so excited about it. My main character is such a force!