Historical fiction chronicles times past. It can be any time in the past, since there is no rule, no convention that has determined "times past." There is a presumption, however, that it should be far in the past, say fifty, or five hundred years. The shorter time suggests access to writings and/or recordings including pictures, film and sound--all records that are easily accessible. The longer date suggests scant records at best and possibly no more than oral tradition.

If we went back far enough, there may exist only a fossil record that predates script or illustrations such as pictographs. In these instances, there is no empirical way to match the story with reality. It is, in fact, the ultimate fiction, the grandest lie, albeit a well-written lie, and often commercially successful. Of all forms of historical fiction, the prehistoric account necessitates a near-complete suspension of disbelief.


Historical Fusion - Fusing Fiction with Fact

Historical "fusion" is set apart from historical "fiction" in an important way. The purpose of the story is to initiate thought--to explore, examine, and interpret relatively current events, but events that are, in fact, historical by definition.

In the case of "The Figurehead," the subject event was the signing of the Belfast Agreement of 1998. The fictionalized account (the medium for telling the study) is entirely contrived. However, the course of the actual event is true and the historical time line at the end is a guidepost for further study and understanding of the event.


Historical Fusion - Guidelines

1. Identify the subject event, something of considerable significance and drama. All the better if it promises an exotic setting and spirited characters.

2. Thoroughly research the subject event and subsequent outcomes and prepare a preliminary chronology. (Preliminary, because there are endless facts and figures associated with even a mundane real-world event.) Eventually, the time line shall be redirected and refined. It may include insertions right up to the time of publication.

3. Devise a fictitious adventure story that in the course of its telling becomes a medium for conveying substantial elements of the primary story.

4. The fictitious story needs to be whole and plausible, with compelling characters. To build in passion, pathos and irony, the character must possess "dramatic truths," something about them and their situations that provides depth and meaning to both their stories and the subject story.

5. Ascertain that the subject event is settled enough that the conclusion of the fictitious story will not be undermined by dramatic and potentially contradictory events that might take place during the writing or publishing of the story.

6. The characters must, at some level, interface with the subject event. This interface is guided by several allowable levels of interactions and restrictions.

A. The fictitious characters can play minor roles and/or witness the event.

B. The fictitious characters can play fictitious roles as long as the subject story remains accurate and the main players of subject story events are portrayed accurately.

C. The fictitious characters cannot change or substantially affect the outcome of the historical event.

7. The fictitious story should be a medium for considering both sides of controversial elements of the subject story (historical event), as opposed to an advocacy position (e.g. Tamils right - Sinhalese wrong, Catholics right - Protestants wrong).

8. Advocacy of a virtue, however, is the purpose in telling the story. Viewpoint and context, diplomatic resolution of conflict, and force is not a remedy, are themes I have chosen to advance in the Carter Phillips Adventure series.

9. Open-minded exploration of emotional issues and tolerance of diverse thought, particularly in multi-ethnic situations, shall be a central part of the marriage between the fictional and factual stories.

10. MOST IMPORTANT - Make sure you like where the story takes place, who is in it, the virtue being extolled, and everything else about the experience because you will live it, and re-live it, countless times over countless hours!