It Bloomed!

 by Charlotte Hinger

Since forever, I've tried to find a perennial flowering plant for this oversized terra cotta planter that would bloom every year. Hollyhocks look perfect, but none of them have survived for another year until this one. 

I suspect the gentle frequent rains did the trick. Perhaps I didn't water the plants enough in the past. I'm very grateful for this unexpected blooming. 

And speaking of blooming! This unanticipated flowering has so many parallels with my writing process.

One of the most difficult questions I have to address from readers is "how long does it take you to write a book?" The truth is--I don't know. When I'm working on one book, in the background of what passes for my mind, bits and pieces of other works are taking root.

Best of all, little tendrils of plots mesh. Buds of possibilities peep through. Problems are solved that have nothing to do with the work in progress. A new book is taking form. 

I have to know what a book is about before I begin. A novel is concocted around a central problem or idea that's of interest to me. For instance, the focus of Come Spring, my first historical novel, was that settling Kansas was really hard. Can you make someone into a Kansan? 

My first mystery novel, Deadly Descent, was inspired by a character in my favorite books of poetry, The Spoon River Anthology. This very handsome, very successful man attributes his achievements to his superior genetic heritage when, in fact, he was adopted. Who knew? 

All of my novels, whether historical or part of the Lottie Albright series, involve a lot of research. As a historian, I care a lot about accuracy. Then through research, other ideas for development pop up. 

When I wrote Lethal Lineage, my foray into material about the frontier Catholic Church was one of my favorite research journeys. In fact, that book was one of my favorites to write because it was my one and only "locked room" mysteries. Why do I say "one and only?" Because I will never have an idea that's that good again. 

Unless, of course, I'm blessed with some random blooming. 

Sharing Research

 by Charlotte Hinger

In addition to my mystery series, I have published historical novels, an academic book, short stories, and a number of articles. Recently, I have received requests for copies of my primary research. Some of this has been hard to come by. No one would even know it existed if I hadn't cited it in books and articles. 

Does that sound like an exaggeration? It's not! For instance, in describing the brilliant African American con man, John W. Niles, in my academic book published by Oklahoma University Press, I relied on a pamphlet published by the Vo-Tech boys in a high school class in 1923. It was housed in the historical society of Graham County, Kansas. A volunteer managed to locate it and copied it for me. 

I've wrestled with my reluctance to copy these documents and send them off to whoever. I've literally crawled up into dust-laden shelves for some of them. And persuaded county clerks to go fetch old records when they barely have time to keep up with current customers.

A very wise editor supports generosity. He pointed out that each historian puts material to a different use. I've come around to his way of thinking. But my willingness to "share" depends on the willingness of other writers to demonstrate basic courtesy. Nothing takes the place of "please" and "thank you." 

The first step in acquiring this kind of material always begins with the question "Does this exist?" If so, where would it most likely be located? This process is similar to plotting in mysteries. It's very satisfying to work out a plot in a mystery novel. I love the aha moments. 

Identifying and locating primary source material gives me the same triumphant feeling. I was positively giddy when I figured out that John Niles was the first person to get to United States senate to introduce a petition for slave reparations. I had the Senate Journal entry to back up that audacious assertion. 

I was equally elated over the miraculous moment during the writing of Lethal Lineage, my second book in the Lottie Albright series, when everything clicked. All at once. The book had literally been driving me crazy. More than a light bulb going off, it was like a meteor shower. 

Lethal Lineage is a locked room mystery. My first and probably my only one because I'll never have an idea that good again. It's still my favorite mystery in the series. 

Both my agent and my editor told me they didn't see the ending coming, but it made perfect sense. I was thrilled!

There's one historical document that I probably will never find. In 1879, the county commissioners of the County of Rook in Kansas were presented with a petition to organize the first township in the County of Graham. The petition originated in Nicodemus, so all the signatures were African American. I've searched for this petition at the Kansas State Historical Society and all the county offices. 

I would love to have it. Does the original exist? Probably not. But who knows? Sadly, families often horde old documents and photos thinking they will write a book someday. Then they die and the kids don't recognize the value of the pictures and papers and they are tossed.