Writing Historical Crime Fiction in Today's Political Climate

Thanks to Capitol Crimes-the Sacramento, CA chapter of Sisters in Crime-I participated in an interesting conversation with crime fiction authors, Naomi Hirahara (Clark and Division) and Shelley Blanton-Stroud (Copy Boy) where we discussed craft issues, research, and suggested resources for those writing historical crime fiction.

I spoke of my research process while writing Time's Undoing; Long Way Home: A World War II Novel; and even my Charlie Mack Motown Mystery series which is set in the mid 2000s.

We had a robust conversation, ably moderated by author Jennifer Morita (Ghosts of Waikiki), with an audience of 80 attendees who asked dozens of great questions, and provided their own research resources and tips in the chat.

I'm currently working on a project (two books) set in the American West in the 1870's. The era is called reconstruction, five years after the end of the Civil War, and the political divisions are not so different than our current partisanship. Railroad moguls are the two-thousand pound gorillas lobbying and manipulating immigration patterns, the displacement of Native Americans, and land development. U.S. President Grant, a Republican, tries to hold the nation together as southern states, led by Democrats, work to dismantle laws and policies protecting Black Americans. In Kansas, a former Buffalo Soldier and now a Pinkerton Detective unravels a vicious political plot. Within the story: Moses Manuel, Pinkerton Detective: The Conspiracy I reference the true events, people, and issues of the time. I think readers will recognize similarities in our present politics, and cultural tensions. My research materials were books, newspapers, films, letters and other historical records. The research has been both enlightening and empowering.

Jennifer, Shelley, Naomi and I chatted about balancing the elements of good storytelling-character, plot, description, setting- with the fact-telling. How to inform the reader when an element of the story is the author's imagination. How and when to attribute research source material. How to include authentic, and accurate, language and dialogue.

I hope this discussion provoked others to take the plunge into writing historical fiction. Especially historical mysteries, and especially those mysteries that reveal America's true past--good and bad. The work can be grueling but the outcomes and rewards are tremendously satisfying. And important.

During a time when attempts are being made to erase or amend the historical events of our country, ignore the past and present contributions of our citizens and immigrants, and minimize America's past actions that contribute to the world's current events, we (novelists, filmmakers, artists, poets, and other creatives) have to keep the facts, the little-told stories, and the ideals of our democracy front and center.