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| Julie Lence, author |
Copyright © 2012 Julie Lence
I grew up watching John Wayne on Sunday afternoon television. Sprawling ranches, horses, cowboys and the old west became my passions. Little did I know back then that I would be writing about them today.
In each of my stories, I try to incorporate as much accuracy to the era as I can. One such way I do this is through research. For No Luck At All, the story opens with my hero having just obtained his medical degree from a Boston college. Since my background is accounting and not medical, I wanted to make sure that there was such a college in 1874 Boston that Creel could have attended, so I went to Google. A few clicks of the mouse and I found numerous articles pertaining to Harvard and Massachusetts General, how the two colleges were close in vicinity, how they related to the medical profession, and how they eventually became affiliated with each other. Having found that, I did take liberty in creating Creel's mentor, Dr. Somerfield, but I made sure that the time Creel was away from home attending college to become a doctor was valid.
My readings about both colleges led to other areas of medicine during the 1800s. One of which was the use of ether during the Civil War. I'm not one for blood, guts, and gore, but I have to say I was captivated by the discovery of ether and how surgeons used the drug to lull patients to sleep when bones had to be cut off. From that little bit of info, I knew I had to put Creel in a similar situation; thus Bob being attacked by a mountain lion was born. Doctors had be careful when adminstering ether, or risk losing their patient. Creel was no exception. He remained calm and dutious to his profession and patient, taking care to apply a small amount of ether to a cloth and then hold the cloth over the patient's nose until the patient fell asleep.
Research can be a wonderful thing, especialy when the subject holds a personal interest. It can also lead to other eye-openers, such as Creel with the ether. No matter what story I'm currently working on, a little bit of research and something I hadn't thought of, or didn't know, usually ends up in the book.
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February 6 to 12, 2012
Good for you for being so conscientious about your research, Julie! It's so interesting, isn't it, to look back at the "good, old days" and see what life was like back then.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl:
DeleteIt is interesting, and sometimes frustrating when I can't find anything on something I really want to know. When I researched prisons for Zanna's Outlaw, I came across Huntsville in Texas, which was perfect for the story's setting. But I wanted to know what it looked like back then, and there was nothing except mention of the bell tower. So, I had to take liberty. It all worked out in the end.
That's what literary license is all about! :)
DeleteGreat article Julie. I, too, enjoy research. That is part of the fun of writing. Reading about a certain era really leads to new ideas and a more interesting story. I love researching for Bridged By Love, which is set in the mid 1880 is the 4-state area of AR, TX, OK, and LA.... I with you also on the old John Wayne cowboy movies. Love them. Happy writing.
DeleteI guess I wrote in the wrong space.... Oh well, just know I enjoyed your blog Julie.
DeleteHi Patricia: Glad you liked the blog. I enjoy research when it's a subject I have an interest for, and the 1800's have always interested me. Give me a John Wayne-type cowboy and I'm there.
DeleteI've always been fascinated by old medical practices. One reason I don't think I'd want to live in the past!
ReplyDeleteMe either, Michele. I hate going to the doctor as it is.
DeleteI shudder to think of the practice of using leeches to treat people! I would die from the cure instead of the disease.
DeleteGreat post! Fun and interesting how research leads to new ideas.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Vicki. Not only do I use Google, but I have a friend who is a retired Colonel from the Air Force--she was a nurse. I'm always asking her about medicine in the 1800's. My last question was about infections and when people began realizing that getting a cut could lead to an infection if not properly cared for, because of the germs. Linking those things together, medically, didn't come about in the year my story takes place, but she gave me a great term to fit my time period--festering.
DeleteGetting lost in research is so easy for me. But everything we read enriches our story because we are more immersed in the time. Thansk for sharing today.
ReplyDelete