Setting Authenticity by Nikki Leigh

I love to read books set in other places and different time periods so that I can enjoy a good story and to learn about new places and times. When I write, I spend a lot of time learning about the place and time for my books to add authenticity to my stories. This requires extra work, but I like to weave factual information into my novels. In the first chapter of Widow’s Walk, I changed some major elements of a scene I really liked – because some key facts were wrong. Thankfully, I had done enough research to avoid needing to make major changes in Lady Lightkeeper.

There is a very well known author who I really like to read. Her books are great and one was set in Cape Cod. There was a great old house set on a cliff overlooking the ocean which was a major element in the story. About a year later, I visited Cape Cod and I went in search of the house – just in case it was there. It wasn’t there and there were some other major problems. The book put the house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Problem is – there are no cliffs in that part of Cape Cod and it doesn’t face the ocean. I see that as two major elements of the story that should’ve been changed.

I spent a lot of time researching the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the 1950’s for my Cape Hatteras mystery. My research library contains plenty of books on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Cape Ann area of Massachusetts. These books have been invaluable in my research and I found a wonderful historian at Cape Hatteras. Several reviews for Lilah and the Locket (Cape Hatteras mystery) specifically mentioned the atmosphere in the book. That sort of comment makes my day and justifies the added work to make it “right”.

The other side of the coin involves many local historians. I have an idea for a neat local site that I plan to include in Rebels and Rogues. So, I contacted the local historic society for some additional details. At first the conversation went well, but then I got an angry email. This was followed by a series of angry emails.

The place that I want to use has some history, but there is no proof that it was used the way I plan to use it. This seemed to be a hot button issue with the historians. One actually accused me of “perpetuating a myth that had no substantiation in history”. I tried to remind them that I write fiction, but that didn’t help. In the back of the book, there will be a note that there is no proof that my events ever took place, but many other elements of the story will be authentic.

So, what is the answer? I’ll keep using as much authenticity as I can. There will be a note in any book where I took liberties with the truth. But, I believe that as a FICTION author, I should be able to play with the facts as needed for my stories. In turn, I give the reader as much truth as I can work into the story. I feel that’s a good compromise. What do you think?

Nikki Leigh
Author of LADY LIGHTKEEPER
http://www.nikkileigh.com/

“My love of the coast, lighthouses, history and architecture let me have a lot of fun researching and creating my stories. I’ve found that its helpful to write several stories in the same area.
Nikki has a series of business books released under the name Shri Henkel. Additional information can be found at www.sandcconsulting.com/books_4_sale.htm
She also owns a consulting and promotional business. Her twenty years of business management and fifteen years in promotions have been helpful in her business books.
Nikki's latest project is the first book in a series of e-books to help authors learn to promote their books better. It delves into all facets of book promotion and shares tips
from a number of authors about things that worked for them.
Nikki would invite all authors, writers and readers to visit her and her friends at www.readersstation.com. Nikki can be reached at http://www.nikkileigh.com/

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