Tom Conlon on ‘Genealogy, Local History and the Novel’
History generally records events both nationally and locally. Genealogy mainly records family events. Historical novels frequently attempt to provide insight into how individuals cope with those events or celebrate good fortune.
Your lecturer has written books and articles on history and genealogy, the latter largely unpublished. He has extensive experience in writing business and technical reports. How should he tackle the process of writing an historical novel? The context for the novel would be the very rapid construction of a new town (Kingstown, Ireland) on a greenfield site in the 1820s and 1830s. How would he select and shape the characters? How would he develop the story? And what lessons has he learned as he embarks on the writing of the inevitable sequel?
The novel referenced is “Growing up with Kingstown” available from Amazon worldwide.
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