No one's really sure how it happened, but sometime around my 11th birthday, I got hooked on the war. I can't remember if I read or saw something on TV, but I became ravenous in my quest to find everything I could get my hands on about the Civil War. This is really weird, since a) I'm Canadian, and b) I was a young girl, with not even an ancestor to link me to the conflict.
Luckily my dad thought it was amusing, and fanned the flames of my curiosity by buying me books on the subject and watching documentaries with me. My favorite is the Ken Burns series. I remember racing home from ball practice at the age of 14 to watch every episode with my heart pounding. And then the best thing ever happened. My dad let me pick the destination for our annual family summer holiday. I picked Gettysburg, of course.
In the weeks leading up to the holiday, I spent countless hours planning our itinerary, so we could see as many battlefields as possible. The trip was amazing, and my favorite family holiday of all time. Not so sure the others loved it that much. My father patiently stopped at every marker and graveyard I asked him to, and my mother and little sister bore it all with admirable patience. Since then, I've dragged my hubby to a major reenactment and all sorts of other battlefields back east, despite my fear of flying. He even proposed to me on the hill at Fredericksburg, VA, and we had a Civil War wedding. He proudly wore the Yankee cavalry uniform I bought for him, and we cut the cake with one of my sabers. Just one of the antique weapons I've collected from the war.
Is this over the top? Probably. I can't even tell you why I love the Civil War so much; I just do. I mention all this because yesterday, in honor of the 150th anniversary, I submitted the novel of my heart to my new editor. A single title Civil War romance that I started way back at the age of 16. I've researched it to the nth degree, and rewritten it countless times. I've visited every single battlefield mentioned in the manuscript, and studied all the medical procedures involved, using medical texts from the period. I grew up with this book living inside of me, and in a lot of ways, it means more to me than anything else I've ever written.
In short, it was very scary to hit SEND this time. I'll be holding my breath on this one, so please send out good thoughts for me!
15 comments:
The only reason I knew was because I saw your Facebook post! You and my Father-in-Law would get along great, he's an American history buff and I bet he could talk your ear off on this subject 'til your heart's content.
Kaylea - loved your post. When I moved to Va. my husband insisted we visit ALL the battlefields. They are a moving sight and the tragedy of the Civil War still seems alive. Good luck with your book!
You've reminded me of my all-time favorite mini series: Did you guys see (or read) North & South? Patrick Swayze, Kirsti Alley, Genie Frances. And all the civil war drama you could imagine :)+
Lots of good thoughts. I am so proud of you. Not all of our works are novels of the heart, but when we put those out there, it's a big deal. Best of luck!
I was in DC last month and I didn't know that Arlington used to be Robert E. Lee's estate. :)
I was also very moved by the statue in front of the capitol building. The one with History recording the names of all Americans who were killed during the Civil War while America looks over her shoulder and weeps.
And yeah, North and South is zeee crack. I've even read all of the books.
Jenn, I would love to meet your FIL!
Thanks, Ann. And can I say that I think you're a lucky woman? My hubby doesn't share that particular passion with me :)
Logan and Saranna, of course I've seen North and South! Cool about Arlington, no? When I was there I found out General Lee and I have the same birthday :)
Kaylea, I was also obsessed with the U.S. Civil War for a few years in junior high, but (fortunately? unforntunately?) moved on to other obsessions. Your wedding sounds like huge fun. I'm sending out every kind of positive energy I can think of for the book of your heart!
Kaylea, my dad is a civil war buff, too!!! Have you read Shelby Foote's civil war narratives?? Amazing reads! Ohhh, sweetie, good luck on tha book!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Gail. Lol, I still have to "grow out" of this obsession. Don't see it happening, though.
Liane, no fair! Why are there no Civil War buffs up here for me to play with? And yep, I've read Shelby Foote's books. Well, sections of them. They're really long. A wedding gift from one of my ball coaches ;)
Good luck with your book. I love the civil war, too, and am writing a civil war novel as well. Since it's my very first novel ever I'm sure it won't be near as good as yours, but I love it & that's what matters. :-)
And my favorite civil war movie is "The Blue & The Gray". I like North & South, too, but Blue & Gray is much better to me.
Good luck!!
Great post, Kaylea! I am a huge Civil War Superfreak as well so I completely relate to this post.
We should chat!
R.E. Arlington, when I toured there with my mom a few months ago (My parents lived in D.C. for a couple years) I couldn't help but think Old Bobby Lee would have approved of the use for his home.
I am working on a Civil War Romance as well so fingers crossed for you!
Hi, Charlotte. Good luck with your novel! Hey, we all have to start somewhere, right? If I can do it, you can do it. Be persistent and hang in there. I'm rooting for you.
Hey, Writer Girl. Yay, another Civil War fanatic! Best of luck with your book, too. I'm not sure about mine. It's really in between genres. Too hot for historical fiction, yet with so much history and large chunks of time where the hero and heroine are apart (hello, there's a WAR going on!), it may not make the cut as a romance either. I'm biting my nails :)
Wow! Sounds like you've put a lot of yourself into this novel! I really hope that it's accepted.
I also think that the Civil War is interesting (though I'm not a 'superfreak', lol). I grew up in MD and PA, among other places, so our school field trips were always to Gettysburg and places like that! It's neat (and sad) to see the battlefields and houses full of holes and ammunition.
Hi there, Ranae Rose. You're so lucky to have grown up in Civil War country! I'm jealous.
This book does have a lot of me in it, but the jury's still out on whether or not it'll fly as an historical romance. We'll see :)
Carina specializes in those genre-bending kinds of books that have trouble finding homes with the trad publishers because no one can figure out where to shelve them. Fingers crossed for you!
Thanks, Gail. I hope you're right!
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