J'nell Ciesielski Shares Tips for Historical Research

J’nell Ciesielski is a fellow client of Linda S. Glaz and the Hartline Literary Agency. She finaled in the Dixie First Chapter contest in 2011, the Launching a Star contest in 2011, and won first place for the Inspy category of the Maggie Award in 2012! Her marvelous attention to detail comes through beautifully in her writing, so I invited J’nell to share some tips for historical research. You will enjoy what she has to share.

J’nell, please tell us something about yourself.

Born in Florida, I spent a happy childhood splashing on the sugar white beaches only known to the Sunshine Stare. While in middle school, my dad got a job transfer to Texas where I graduated from Texas A&M with a B.S. in Psychology. Not knowing what else to do with my life and seeing as how writing wasn’t paying the bills yet, I joined the Air Force. Stationed in Germany I was privileged to travel to France, Austria, the Netherlands, England, and my favorite, Scotland. I also met my awesome husband over there. Finding him was worth wearing camouflage and combat boots every day. After serving our four years, we now live in Virginia where I’m a stay at home mom to a busy one and a half year old and a very lazy beagle.

Want to learn about random history facts or things that time has forgotten? My blog is for you! I like talking about famous women spies, pirate foods, FANY ambulance drivers, and how to properly wear a filleadh mhor (that’s great kilt to you and me). It’s the perfect place to expound upon little details I uncover during research and that doesn’t get more than a passing reference in my books. Things like why Pekinese dog hair was used to make blankets for burned victims in WWI. 

A recommended resource.

What do you consider the best resources for historical research? 

Start with movies. No, Hollywood isn’t the most accurate when it comes to historical details (Pearl Harbor anyone?), but they’ll give you a sense and feel for the era. Get you in the mood, so to speak. Once you’ve mastered sitting in front of the flickering screen for hours, give your eyes a break and go listen to music from that time. If your story is in 1941 France then try Edith Piaf. If you’re galloping in the Highlands, go for some bagpipes, and for the Revolutionary War try a drum and fife march in your living room. Kidding. Unless it helps, and then I say no holds barred. You’ll find out not just the type of rhythms they liked, but the messages in there. What was important to people of that time? Were they hopeful, were they sad or angry, did they just want to get back home to their girls? It’s amazing how much history is written into those little tunes.

One of J'nell's favorite writing places, with her dog, Daisy, for company.

Now it’s time to stretch your legs! Go to museums, get in touch with professionals, interview those who lived during that time (if possible), or attend reenactments. Just don’t let your search stop at Wikipedia. And of course, read. Read everything you can get your hot, greedy hands on. Biographies, diaries, fashion magazines, newspapers, and anything else that will give you insight into the daily lives and extraordinary events going on.

Research notes!

Those sound like excellent suggestions, J'nell. What period of history do you find most fascinating? And is there a specific location related to that which you like to study?

I may have to cheat on this one, but since no one is here to stop me I’ll do it anyways. My mood determines which time period I find fascinating, and the mood is often dependent on watching certain movies. Like everyone else on the planet, Sunday nights spent at Downton Abbey give me a longing for Edwardian England. If a sense of daring adventure strikes, I’ll write about pirates and sailing the high seas. For bravery that defies society’s rules and honor that risks it all for love I dive into a world war. And if I need warriors and their fiery ladies amidst a backdrop of breathtaking beauty I head to Scotland.

J'nell at Eilean Donan Castle.

Even though I switch around the century that my stories occupy, I tend to keep them based on the British Isles and the western half of the Continent. Why? Because I’m an Anglophile and love writing men with Scottish accents. Seriously though, there’s such a rich history that is passed down from generation to generation that affected how they dressed, ate, social circles, what they said and how they said it. I’m so proud to be an American, but there’s something so exciting about places different from my own. Castles, moors of heather, centuries old buildings, driving on the wrong side of the road, moody weather, what’s not to love? And of course, the accents hehe J

The one thread that ties these centuries and places together is the characters that inhabit them. Characters who dare to risk it all, including their own lives, for the one they love. Clothes, countries, and politics may change, but love never does.

How true!

Are you the kind of person who searches for answers to particular questions? Or do you completely immerse yourself in your historical research?

J'nell on more of her world travels.

Both! I’ve always loved history. I was the nerd in school who put together historical research papers and read them to the class for fun. So I have a pretty fair knowledge of what happened when and the general essence of different eras. Starting with that broad scope, I then narrow my focus to what was happening during the time frame I set my story in. What were the politics, who wasn’t getting along with whom, what kind of transportation did they have and how long did it take them to get from place to place. Most exciting of all were the kinds of fashion for the day. Once I have a big overview of the year, I then go back to look up specific questions which often lead me down more than one rabbit hole, but sometimes those holes hold the most fascinating tidbits that end up in the story.

As the story goes on, I find myself looking for very specific things. What color chairs did Hitler have in the Berghof? What brand of lipstick was available in 1941 England? How would a sailor get tar out of his hair on board a ship? What song would a Tommy sing hunkered down in a trench on the Somme? For A Rolls Royce in No Man’s Land it took me a whole week of reading and watching youtube videos to learn how to change a tire on a vintage Rolls Royce. No detail is too small for me because I believe it’s these little things that bring the story to life. And yes, I’ve been known to look up weather records for certain days in history.

I have looked up weather record as well. I guess I'm not alone in that.

Another recommended book.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share for effective historical research?

Never stop reading! Books are our gateway to the world. That’s a little heavy I know, but it’s true. You’ll never know the kinds of things you’ll learn each time you open a book and let the pages take you away. And if not a book, the Internet is a boundless source of information. For pretty much anything you could possibly want to know about, and even the things you don’t, there’s a website out there.

If you can, visit the places you’re writing about. I was privileged to live in Europe for three years and we took as many opportunities as we could to visit different places. I remember the unique smell of Paris streets, the feel of the wind whipping through my hair as I stood on a cliff in Skye, the bullet holes still in the stone walls of Kaiserslautern, Germany as we walked to get a pretzel, the beautiful green richness of Bavaria, and the clanging of Big Ben on a gloomy afternoon. I can feel these places each time I write about them, and hopefully my stories are richer for the experiences.

Just remember to always double check your facts! You don’t want your Scots running around in clan tartans ala Braveheart when the ‘clan tartan’ wasn’t really invented until the nineteenth century.

You are indeed blessed to have been able to visit all those places, J'nell. 

Thank you for taking the time to be a guest on my blog, J’nell! You've shared very

helpful information. 

You’re welcome! I loved sharing with you!

We'd love your comments. What do you find difficult about
historical research? Do you love it? Or does it bog you
down? Do you have a question for J'nell? 

Tweet and share:
Need tips for smarter historical research? Learn from award winning writer, @JnellCiesielski.

Kate Breslin: Retelling a Beloved Biblical Account

 Welcome Kate Breslin:
 Author of For Such a Time!

A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was an RWA Golden Heart finalist. For Such a Time is her debut novel. Kate’s writing journey has been one of faith as well as success; after years spent writing novels aimed at the general romance market, she finally heeded God’s call to write stories of how His love brings two hearts together. When not plotting her next novel, she loves spending time with author friends, reading from her mountain of books, or watching anything Jane Austen on BBC. Kate’s also an avid gardener and enjoys taking long walks in Washington State’s many forests. A traveler as well, she’s toured most of the country at one time or another and also been abroad–Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. She’d love to hear from you so please stop by www.katebreslin.com and say hello!  

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28 (NRSV)

Kate, what led you to write this marvelous retelling of the story of Esther in an historical, yet more modern setting than Bible times? Why is For Such a Time set during World War II? 

Kathy, thank you so much! The idea came to me as I was reading Queen Esther’s story and was struck by the fact the Jewish people have suffered prejudice and torment throughout history. The most recent event that came to mind was the Holocaust of WWII, and so I began to see similarities between the wicked Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews and Hitler’s “Final Solution.” I wondered if I could superimpose the Biblical work into this more modern venue; and as I began research, the story was born.

Do you have any favorite characters among your cast? And why? 

Having spent so many years with all of my characters, it’s hard to choose a favorite. Still, I think the houseboy, Joseph, is closest to my heart. He proves to be resourceful, intelligent and oh, so brave, yet his young years hold onto a measure of innocence. I imagine many Jewish children must have endured as he did during that horrific time. 

I agree, Joseph is an endearing character!

What have you found to be the best research sources? 

When I first began writing For Such A Time, there wasn’t much available on the Internet, so my information came primarily from reading books, watching documentaries, looking at photographs, etc. For my latest novel I was able to research almost exclusively online. The World Wide Web has become an amazing tool! 

Would you like to share something about your next book with us? 

Yes, thank you! My next novel for Bethany House is another historical romance, this time set in the “Garden of England,” Britain’s county of Kent, during WWI. Take a beautiful London Suffragette and a mysterious aristocrat, mix with a dash of Downton and a pinch of espionage and you’ve got Not by Sight, which will release next summer. I really enjoyed writing this story and hope my readers will love it, too! 

What have you learned about yourself through the writing process? 

I’ve learned I can work long hours under pressure while fighting off wild dust bunnies and climbing mountains of dirty laundry!  Seriously, I’ve discovered I’m more organized in my approach to writing than I realized. Preparation up front saved me tons of time and I like having a “map” (synopsis) before I begin. It allowed me more creativity, while minimizing those plot snags halfway through a manuscript. Writing is an ever-changing process, however, so I’m certain I’ll evolve even more with the next novel. 

Kate, is there anything you would like to share with readers about yourself, such as information about family, hobbies, pets or anything else? 

 I’d love to! I have been married 35 years to my incredibly gifted guitarist husband,    John, and we have a grown son and ten-year-old grandson who live locally. And yes, I dote on them whenever possible. We also have a cat, a beautiful Russian gray named Coco (as in Channel,) that I admittedly spoil. She’s ten years old now, but for most of her life our other cat, Nick, loved picking on her at every opportunity. He’s gone now and we miss him, but Coco is THE QUEEN of the cat condo.  

As far as hobbies, I enjoy dabbling at the piano, but my true passion is writing. I’m also an avid walker and try to get in a couple of miles each day. It helps clear my head for writing and is great exercise. Fortunately, our neighborhood is quiet and wooded, so I can take off whenever I like. I love to read, I enjoy my rose garden, and John and I go camping in our RV around Washington State as often as we can get away. Traveling abroad is also one of my favorite ways to vacation. I hope to venture to Barcelona, Spain in a year or so. A return trip to Greece is definitely on my bucket list as well.  And who knows? There may be another story in the making… 

Thank you, Kate, for sharing with us about your writing journey and your life. 

Where to connect with Kate Breslin:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

More about For Such a Time:

Powerful Retelling of the Story of Esther

In 1944, Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, her Aryan-like looks allow her to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, to maintain her cover as von Schmidt’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths, Stella appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's indulgence gives her hope even as she risks discovery with every attempt to help the prisoners. When her bravery brings her to the point of ultimate sacrifice, she faces an excruciating choice. God may have brought her to the camp for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she cannot save herself?

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