What was I thinking?
By Guest | March 28, 2011 |
Kath here. Please welcome bestselling historical novelist Tony Hays to Writer Unboxed. Tony’s first two volumes in his Dark Ages mysteries, The Killing Way and The Divine Sacrifice, have met with wide acclaim, each receiving starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly and glowing praise from Booklist, Kirkus, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, the Historical Novel Society Book Review, and many more. Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine named The Divine Sacrifice one of the best new mysteries of 2010. Publisher’s Weekly has called Tony one of the best authors in the medieval field today. He is now under contract for two more volumes in this series – The Beloved Dead, due for release on March 29, 2011, and The Stolen Bride, set for April 2012. Enjoy!
I needed to have my head examined. As I saw it, I had made two near-fatal decisions. First, I had decided to write a historical mystery series. Second, I had decided to set it in the world of an historical Arthur, about 460AD.
I already had some experience in the historical mystery world. My first two published novels were Murder on the Twelfth Night (onstage at the Globe in 1602 London) and Murder in the Latin Quarter (with Hemingway and company in 1922 Paris). What I learned from those books was that people who read historical mysteries are some of the most demanding readers in the world. First, the writing has to be good. Not just good, but nearly flawless. Next, the historical setting has to be completely flawless. A single inaccuracy, a single anachronism, and your credibility slips more than just a little. Finally, the mystery has to intrigue and challenge the reader. Plus, it has to fit the historical setting. Then, there are the other challenges inherent in writing a series. You know, keeping the plots both consistent with the setting but fresh. Trying, as hard as you can, to make each book sufficiently stand alone. Have I made my point?
After reviewing the evidence, I have to conclude that I did, indeed, need a psychiatric exam. For not only had I decided to write a historical mystery series, but I was setting it in a world containing some of the most familiar characters in literary history – Arthur, Kay, Bedevere, Merlin, Guinevere etc., etc. And it was a world that some of the greatest writers around had tried out, from Tennyson to Twain, from Malory to Steinbeck.
Writing is all about making choices. I had two Arthurian worlds from which to choose – the world of the historical Arthur (5th century) or the world of the Arthur of romance aka Sword in the Stone. My first degree is in history, so that made this choice easy – 5th century. My next choice involved what body of literature to use for my research. Arthurian stories generally fall into two parts – pre Galfridian (pre Geoffrey of Monmouth who introduced us to the Arthur that we are all familiar with) or post Galfridian, including the works of Chretien de Troyes (who introduced us to Lancelot and Galahad). Since I had chosen the earlier time period, I went with the earliest material. Only time will tell if these were wise choices.
I use the Mabinogion (early Welsh tales), the lives of the saints, the works of Jordanes and Gildas (who becomes a character in my books). I like to say that I ground my books in one, two or three old tales of Arthur, exploring how they might have gotten their start. In The Killing Way, I flirt with the sword in the stone myth and a couple of others. With The Divine Sacrifice, I wrap the mystery around an ancient tale of a lord who killed three of Arthur’s knights and legends of St. Patrick’s connection with Glastonbury Abbey. The new entry, The Beloved Dead, explores reports that Guinevere was Arthur’s second wife, as well as the old tale of Arthur digging up the ancient king Bran’s head from Tower Hill, mixing it all up with a serial killer storyline.
My good friend Geoffrey Ashe, probably the foremost authority on Arthur in the world, has fielded my numerous questions. He has kept me from making too many serious errors. If you are writing or contemplating an historical mystery series, it may behoove you to identify the best known scholars and beg and plead for their use as sounding boards.
In terms of the series itself, I have learned a great deal from television series. To that end, I have story arcs that run through my books from one to other just as story arcs will run for a few episodes of a series. That helps keep them fresh and keeps readers coming back.
My writing? Well, I can’t say that it’s flawless, but I’ve tortured myself and my editor enough that we’ve gotten pretty good marks for both the writing and the mystery portion. Mysteries are so much more plot driven than, say, romances, which gain much of their charm from characterizations. Neither is particularly easy to do, but the books have done okay, garnering a total of six starred reviews between them.
The challenge of writing historical mysteries is, I think, what drew me to that field. It is not easy. Readers are demanding. And that compels me to make the extra effort to keep the writing brisk and pointed. If I don’t, the readers will surely let me know.
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Great post! A writer who has never asked, “Am I crazy for wanting to do this thing that way?” has not challenged themselves enough, in my opinion. Brilliance is earned by those who aren’t afraid to step beyond the boundaries of sanity.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. And congrats on your upcoming releases!
Thanks, Lydia. But I still think I’m insane.
Great post, and enough to frighten me away from ever trying to write historical fiction! :)
Your mention of the importance of soliciting expert help made me curious. Did you find Mr. Ashe and others eager to help, or not? I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how welcome my inquiries have been, even by experts whom I was initially intimidated about approaching. For one book project, I did some research on meteorologists and TV weather reporters, and ended up involved in spirited and friendly email exchanges with some of Florida’s best-known TV news personalities, and got a standing offer to go have a beer with the head of one branch of the National Weather Service!
It drove home a point for me: people *like* to be the expert, and they *love* to talk about the things they know so well. Has that been your experience as well? Thanks for posting!
I did find them totally willing. I wrote Geoffrey Ashe cold turkey as I was working on the first book. I simply asked him that if I came to England if he’d let me pick his brain about this series. He immediately said yes, and that has grown into a strong friendship. But Dr. Christopher Snyder, probably the foremost historian of Dark Ages England was every bit as welcoming. Their help was essential.
I should have had MY head examined! I made the brilliant choice to go to college and major in Medieval Studies (somehow I thought there was money in that). Now, however, I see my education wasn’t in vain because I recognized all the characters and authors you referenced. Got to check this book out! It sounds right up my alley.
Thanks for this post–reminding us to take risks and write what we love.
It’s all about taking chances.
What was I thinking? As a historical fiction writer, I’ve asked myself this question with each book, many times over. A wise fellow named John wrote that perfect love casts out fear. I wouldn’t call my love for writing historical fiction perfect… just stronger than the fear of writing historical fiction. Most days.
Tony, your books intrigue me. Aside from 18th century American history, Celtic and Roman-Celtic British history are my favorite time periods. Just ordered me a copy of The Killing Way.
Thanks, Lori! I hope you like it. That time period fascinates me because, I think, we know so little. If you get a chance look up a book by Marilyn Floyde called King Arthur’s French Odyssey. It will change the way you look at Arthur.
My husband has said, ‘don’t you think you should write a book not set in medieval Wales?’ Why? That would require immersing myself in a whole new setting! Is he crazy!?
I admire you for taking on such challenging material and doing it so well. Good luck with your next book!
Thanks, Sarah. I’ve sweat a lot of blood on these books, but I’ve loved every second of it. Now, that’s crazy.
I’m always amazed at the amount of work/effort a historical writer is willing to go through to get all the details just right. I mean, when writing a fantasy you can drop mistakes all over the place as far as the history is concerned and as long as they don’t conflict with anything you’ve already published in that world, the reader would never know the difference.
Kudos on the dedication to your craft!
You have a little freedom writing about that time period, but readers will still pelt you with olives if they catch an anachronism. Thanks, Tami!
Apparently I wasn’t thinking, either! I chose the same period–or it chose me. I went about it more from an archaeological standpoint, which I enjoyed, and as my story is not so much historical fiction but modern women’s fiction with a time travel twist, the story is more about the characters than the setting. But I had a lot of fun immersing myself. (And my heart lurched with envy when you said “My good friend, Geoffrey Ashe…” I never had the nerve to contact him but I’ve read everything of his I could find.)
I can’t wait to read your books. Can’t wait.
As Sarah says, it’s crazy to immerse myself in a whole new setting, but now another bee has somehow gotten into my bonnet.
You should contact him. He and his wife are wonderful. And Geoffrey is happy when folks contact him, especially novelists.
I’ll do so. Thanks for the encouragement!
It’s heartening to hear that experts are willing to talk to writers. I’m working on a novel inspired by a famous 19th century forest fire and I’ve thought of contacting some scholars but the thought is a little intimidating. But I will have to give it a go!
I’m sure here are some that are old curmudgeons, but even curmudgeons like to be recognized for their specialties. Give it a try. I found it intimidating at first too, but Geoffrey really put me at ease.
These sound wonderful, Tony. I’d have made the same choice re the period, as placing an Arthurian story at the time of the French romances takes it out of its true historical setting. As a fan of C J Sansom, who achieves the winning combination of compelling storytelling and immaculate research, I’m looking forward to reading this series.
The only way that I could have chosen the later time period was if I chose to make it a comedy. I couldn’t have tried to write a serious mystery in that age. My shelves are filled with history books and archaeological reports. Good thing I like reading those.
I admire your courage for choosing that time period. You must have pored over numerous history books and research papers!
History books and papers, I love. And I like hiking, but I hiked some 100 miles across southwest England. That was tough. Thanks, M.E.
I love the word ‘curmudgeon’ Tony; that’s because I am one! Thanks for the encouragement.