Historical fiction involves an intricate blend of fact and imagination. The amount of real history and fictional invention can vary, but there are usually fictional protagonists and characters integrated with historically accurate characters, events, or settings. Historical fiction must be set in an era that the author didn’t personally live in but for which he or she can provide well researched information. The storytelling often includes details about the history of the time and place which help frame the plot.
To write good historical fiction, an author must be extremely familiar with or an authority on the period in which the story takes place. You want the reader to feel that he or she has been transported to that time. So, how does an author accomplish this? Research, research, and more research. In this collection of interviews, historical fiction authors share their research and writing process, along with tips on how to effectively blend fact and fiction.