Historical Fiction Author Artfully Dances Around Tough Subjects from Our Nation’s Past
Book Doesn't Deal with THAT ISSUE
A Historical Fiction author is working on a new book takes place in the mid-1800's but it is set in the neutral, newly formed initial settlements of West Virginia.
But the book will not deal with that issue, and in fact, the subject of slavery is never addressed and completely skirted around.
The historical novel will be the first of its kind, offering readers a focused, myopic view of the past that does not deal with "hurtful subject matter," "sore subjects," or "tough themes."
The plot surrounds a group of mixed-race yeoman farming families who were free to come and go as they pleased quite easily from farm to farm. The characters find comfortable living and competitive pay in this idyllic society as they offer their agricultural services to progressive landowners (who happen to be white) looking to grow their fledgling cotton and tobacco start-ups.
Wait, wasn’t West Virginia a key border state during the Civil War, a state formed specifically as slavery was being abolished?
Yes, but the book goes nowhere near a key moment in the state's history when in 1861, residents of the western and northern counties of Virginia set up a separate government under Frances Pierpont in response to Virginia's refusal to outlaw slavery.
This book will be set "right in that sweet spot" of the state's early formation and history where characters in those regions have "total ignorance" or a "general lack of care" about national events.
The historical novel will be the first of its kind, offering readers a focused, myopic view of the past that does not deal with "hurtful subject matter," "sore subjects," or "tough themes." The book will focus strictly on the lives of characters without too many opinions on politics or what is happening "over there in Washington."
Due to the unique geography of the region, characters are isolated from a number of tough conversations other states might have been engaged in since many residents of the area were protected by mountainous terrain and numerous, vast river valleys.
In fact, aside from yeoman farmers, one character is a geologist, rarely ever leaving the stalagmite caves. Another is trying to start a fledgling coal business, who spends much of his time underground in the mines. Another, a river guide deep in the Shenandoah Hardy watershed area, is unconcerned with anything other than creating new waterways.
Their wives and children stay at their neat little homes, unaffected by any sort of brewing trouble on a national scale between the Union and Confederate states.
This allows the author to not have to deal with the social milieu of the time and focus specifically on the lives of his characters without having to worry about the tough political landscape in our nation’s history.
"These are characters unconcerned with anything other than their daily lives, mainly because they are cut off from and unaffected by any national news," the author said.
He doubled-down, further defending his decision: "My novel deals mainly with the relationships of sheltered characters and the insulated conflicts that might arise, not affairs of state."
He continued, "The only problems my characters face would be issues that arise from a new beaver dam or if the family next door will accept a boy's marriage proposal. They do their jobs and are not aware of any social movement or bigger culture, blissful in their ignorance. They keep their heads down."
He paused for a second before he said, "I don't want to bother the reader who is interested in American history with any touchy issues or delicate subjects from the past."