The Joys of Historical Research

Today I want to flip open those dusty history books and dig into some of the joys of historical research. That’s right–joys. I know many of you cringe at the very idea, but for a few of us odd history geeks, stumbling over the perfect historical fact or reference is like finding a golden ticket. It can make a whole story fall into place. That’s what happened with Beyond the Ashes, which just released this past week.

Reader reviews are beginning to filter in and that’s always an unnerving time as an author. I usually try not to obsess over reviews, but there’s one on Amazon that delighted me beyond words. Beyond seeing the five stars and the wonderful headline–notice the part I highlighted. (If you can’t read it, click the image and it should expand).

This comment made me want to dance and sing.  Accurate research is a big deal to me. I’ve read so many books where the history seems either vague or completely incorrect, and it has a tendency to throw me out of a story rather than drawing me in. My goal in writing is to provide enough detail that the reader feels immersed in the time period and the character’s lives without being overwhelmed by useless facts.

This was the challenge of writing the Golden Gate Chronicles. We had a well-documented natural disaster (in Out of the Ruins), two characters who were physicians, and multiple medical crises. The full extent of my medical training is a minor in biology and raising two kids. That’s where research comes into play. Not only did I need to learn everything I could about the illnesses and injuries featured in the books, I also had to know how doctors would treat said ailments in 1906. How in the world do you do that?

Once upon a time, it would have meant many hours in the library. But one thing that helped me this time around was Google Books. I found several out-of-print medical texts from the time period, downloaded them to my iPad, and began reading. Here are a few gems that I discovered.

“Cancer cured by X-rays!” (1901 medical journal)

And the same year, one of the foremost experts in X-ray technology assures his colleagues that an X-ray burn “need never be considered serious” and that nearly every patient he’s treated has suffered these inconsequential burns, sometimes repeatedly.

Can you imagine a doctor being so nonchalant  about X-rays today? Toward the bottom of the image, you might read about a case in which “daily treatments have been given for over two years.” Yikes!

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that you started seeing cautions about those X-ray burns.

So you can see how the research progressed, and if you’ve read Beyond the Ashes you can probably see how it played into the story. I went through much the same process for other historical aspects of the book. The refugee camps, driving an 1903 automobile, disease outbreaks, etc. When I stumble over a question, I’m a bit like a bloodhound on a scent trail. How did they administer shots in 1906? What were nurses’ uniforms like? How did they prepare for surgery? If you follow me on FB, you might remember a lengthy online discussion about what you call the little step on the outside of Gerald’s automobile. 

Of course, it’s always important to verify information you find through research. I’m fortunate to have a few friends in the medical field who I can ask questions of. I even have a friend who works in radiology read through both books for a modern perspective on the field. In the end, there are always a few questions that I can’t find answers to. At that point, I have to play the “fiction card” and hope for the best. But, as you can see, that’s my last resort.

I know many authors who shake their heads and steer away from writing historical fiction for this reason. They’d rather stick to time periods they know, or create entire new worlds in the fantasy/speculative genres. But I know some–myself included–who find the research to be half the fun.

So, what do you think? Do you like solving puzzles and tracking down bits of historical trivia? Or does that sound like a nightmare?

Have you ever run into a historical blunder in a book or movie? Did it keep you from enjoying the story?