Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Real Life Character

My life just turned a tad more interesting. I don’t write historical fiction, but I want to. What’s stopping me? Fear baby. That’s right, I’m a big-ole scardy cat, fur fluffed, claws extended, hanging on to the ceiling like some cartoon kitteh all shivery and shaky. Why? Cause those who read historical romance are sticklers for accuracy. How would I know? I read historical romance. Oh, I don’t go so far as to insist my characters in the Renaissance don’t bathe, I bathe, they should too. I don’t want romantic characters smelling like they don’t wipe their behinds properly. Talk about suspending my disbelief, ewww.

Other than the bathing thing, and maybe not sharing a communal cup, I’m pretty insistent. That dress better have a corset under it, and if we’re in the 1500’s, it better not be your waist your cinching, but a nice conical figure you’re making. The horses better be right and falconers better dang well know their stuff. Food should be accurate too. Right now I’m watching, “The Tudors” and I’m having fits about the loosey-goosey time-lines, missing characters (at this rate Mary Queen of Scott’s would not ever exist, since her mother was never born and her sister died without issue) and general costuming missteps. Why be accurate? It’s history and when you’re messing with reality changing our perception of it, changes it as a whole. People buy into what they see. It took years for my people, Native Americans, to shake off this icky image of the bloodthirsty savage. So history is important and it’s important to people who read and write about it.

Now, onto the interesting thing in my life. I auditioned for, and got a part in The Michigan Renaissance Festival. How cool is that? I’m an Italian flower seller in England in the late 1500’s. So I’ve been researching garb, designing my dresses, and underclothes, learning songs (did I mention I’m singing to? I am) and taking Italian lessons with Rosetta Stone. Yes, yes, Renaissance Faires are not history as it existed, but history as we would like it to be. I do get that, but this will give me some insight into that time. More insight than the average faire goer. There are language classes, acting workshops and history lessons that are all part of the process. My character is not a merchant, she’s an actor playing a part. Actually selling said flowers is optional.

So, I have research at the tips of my fingers. Not wholly accurate, but a darn site better than some of the stuff that’s out there, and I’ll take it. Huzzah!

Oh, and before I forget, Lady Lillian’s Guide to Amazing Sex is out in paperback! Get thee to a Borders, Amazon, or Barnes and Nobles and order thee a copy today. Yes, it’s set in modern times, but it’s funny and romantic and very sexy. That’s from some wonderful reviewers. I am very proud of this book. I know my readers will love it.