Taking History to Heart with Beth Trissel

Thanks for having me in your little corner of the universe, Sarah. I’m reflecting on how taking history to heart has influenced my writing, especially American historical romance Red Bird’s Song.

Back when I was doing research for the novel and read A Sorrow In My Heart, the Life of Tecumseh, about the great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, I was devastated to read he was killed in battle in 1813 at age 45. Tecumseh was so awesome and vital to his people. I rushed out into the garden, wiping at tears, and railing against the injustice of life while aimlessly weeding. I should have seen that one coming, but there are tons of notes at the end of the book and I thought he had pages left to live.

So, what do this and my numerous other grapplings with history have to do with Red Bird’s Song? Simple, it’s historical, a poignant romance, and written more deeply from my heart then any of my other books. Many of the events depicted in the story and the inspiration behind it are true. Red Bird’s Song is based on events that happened to my early American Scots-Irish ancestors in the Virginia colonial frontier and further west. And it’s the first novel I ever wrote and rewrote and learned how to write in the process. The novel began as carefully researched historical fiction with a strong romantic element but evolved into a historical romance, still painstakingly researched and pulsing with emotion. The romance between Wicomechee and Charity throbs with tension and tenderness, passion and angst.

*A bonus for readers, at the end of the book is the account of this Shawnee warrior I discovered in distant branches of the family tree. Yes, Wicomechee really lived and he comes vividly to life along with the others characters in this adventurous romance with a strong The Last of the Mohicans flavor.

The romance between Charity and Wicomechee is also inspired by an account I read of a Scots-Irish captive who fell in love with and wed the son of a chief and was later forced back to her white family. Her warrior husband did the unthinkable and left his people to go and live in the English world, but before he could reach his true love, her brothers intercepted and killed him. Heartbroken, she grieved herself to death shortly after giving birth to their daughter, who survived and has descendants to this day, I might add. So affected was I by this heartrending account that it also played out as a profound influence in my historical fantasy Daughter of the Wind.

Obviously when writing a romance, the death of the hero and or heroine does not qualify as a HEA ending, unless you’re Nicolas Sparks. (And don’t tell me he’s not writing romance). More research, dreams, and visions helped me contrive a far more satisfying ending for Red Bird’s Song. Also for Daughter of the Wind, I assure you. After two novels, I hope I’ve worked through the affect that tragic account had on me.

Who cares that it happened over 200 hundred years ago? IT WAS REAL. I suspect I’m what some might refer to as sensitive and deeply attuned to those who have gone before us. My parting advice for authors is to draw from the events and people who touch your heart, either from the present or the past, and interweave this poignant wealth into your writing.

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Red Bird’s Song and my other stories are available at the Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers. For a taste of my work, I have a new SHORT historical romance out at Amazon, The Lady and the Warrior.

For more on me my blog is the happening place: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/

Married to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by my children, grandbabies, and assorted animals. An avid gardener, my love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into my work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of my inspiration. In addition to American settings, I also write historical and time travel romances set in the British Isles.

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Spotlight On...Beth Trissel

Please help me welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author Beth Trissel to Off the Keyboard. Welcome Beth! What surprised you the most when you became a published?

After 12+ years, finally getting published was surreal. And that same spring I was a Golden Heart finalist and won the Linda Howard in the historical category. Wow, all in one. Then I found out about promo…whewwww.

Which comes first, plot or characters?

My stories are very character driven. I must get to know the characters well and listen closely to them for the story to unfold.

It's the same for me. What do you expect from an editor?

My editors (I write for two lines at the Wild Rose, so have two) are wonderful. They help me polish the story and better flesh it out, not to mention catching typos. My work is always stronger when they’re through with it. No, I don’t want to selfpub and manage without them.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 

I have ten published works thus far, both historical and light paranormal. My favorite will always be Native American historical romance Red Bird’s Song, a 2012 EPIC eBook Finalist.

Tell us about your latest release? 

My vintage American Christmas Ghost Story Romance Somewhere the Bells Ring is also very special. It grew out of a vivid dream I had that took place in the old Virginia family home where my father was born and raised and I visited during the holidays—the setting for the story. Somewhere the Bells Ring opens in 1968 during the tumultuous age of hippies, Vietnam, and some of the best darn rock music ever written. That nostalgic era beckoned to me (clamored) as did an earlier one, 1918 and the end of World War One. The ghost isn’t scary—he’s intriguing, and the mysterious gentleman I met in my dream.

Where can we find you on the web?

Facebook
My Website
My Blog
Twitter
Goodreads

What’s next for you?

I turned in a historical romance novel, the next in my colonial frontier trilogy (the sequel to Through the Fire) to my historical editor and am waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, I’m at work on the sequel to Time travel romance Somewhere My Lass and will feature the popular secondary character Fergus.

Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? 

If you haven’t read any of my stories, why not? *smile*

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Spotlight On... Beth Trissel

The contest winner has been announced! Congratulations, Linda Henderson.

This morning we have historical/paranormal romance author Beth Trissel at the keyboard. Welcome, Beth, can you tell us a little about yourself?


Certainly, thanks. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and live on a farm in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with children and multiple animals. The beauty of the valley is an inspiration, as are my roots which go well back into Virginia’s history. My fascination with the colonial frontier and the Shawnee Indians is an early and abiding one. My English, Scots-Irish ancestors had interactions with this tribe, including family members taken captive. Intrigued with all things Celtic, much of my writing features the Scots-Irish who settled the valley and spread into the mountains and the Carolinas. This absorption with early America also extends to the high drama of the Revolution and ancestors who fought and loved on both sides of that sweeping conflict.

Tell us about your new release, RED BIRD’S SONG, and where we can find it.

Colonial Native American romance novel Red Bird’s Song is the story of my heart. Although it’s the sixth novel I’ve had published, it’s the first one I ever wrote and rewrote multiple times and learned how to write in the process. I’d set it aside and get it back out again. Much of the book is based on events that occurred to my early American Scots-Irish ancestors in the Virginia colonial frontier and beyond. The research I did for this book was all-consuming. I hope readers will appreciate the depth to this very special historical romance. Available in print and digital download from the Wild Rose Press and other online booksellers. Local bookstores can order it in.

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Describe your writing in three words.

 Historical/Paranormal Romance.

Why did you choose your genre?

I’m passionate about the past so everything I write is historical or has a strong historical element.


Do you have any 'must haves' with you while you're writing?

Must have the right music for each scene.


What has been your highlight of your career to this point?

Getting published that first time is hard to beat.


What do you find is the hardest part of writing a book?

 Writing it. I can happily research forever.


Have you noticed your voice has changed as you’ve gained experience? If so, how?

I’m a more polished version of myself.

Where can we find you on the web?

I am a very active blogger:  http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/

I also have a website:  http://www.bethtrissel.com/


Is there anything you would like to ask our readers?

Do you like colonial American settings for historical romance?

Readers, thanks for dropping by.  Also, make sure to leave Beth a comment and automatically be entered to win a digital download of Red Bird's Song.

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