I love history. And I love weaving history into my novels.
When we moved from Colorado to Nashville in June 2007 (has it really been almost 10 years?!), I set about discovering Nashville’s history with the hope of incorporating some of it into my novels. But what I did not anticipate were the partnerships—the friendships—I’d cultivate with the staff at some of the local antebellum mansions.
It’s been a writer’s dream—and an incredible blessing!
I could not have written the Belmont Mansion novels and the Belle Meade Plantation novels without the help of the curators and historians at these local Nashville sites. They’ve opened up a treasure trove of files, collections of family letters and newspaper clippings, and have made me feel so welcome and at home.
Belmont Mansion, Nashville, TN
Belle Meade Plantation, Nashville, TN
Another unexpected blessing has been meeting groups of readers and book clubs at these mansions and touring the grounds, talking history, and sharing about the characters in the novels. Including the characters based on real people who lived and worked at those estates in the 19th century.
It’s SUCH a joy meeting with you at the mansions!
Finishing the final novels in both of these series in recent months has been bittersweet. Because it means saying goodbye to characters I’ve grown to know and love over the past six years. So it means more to an author than you might realize when you read her book and grow to love those characters too. It’s like you’ve invited her family into your home for dinner! : )
And I’m thrilled to share that I’ve added a third Nashville mansion to this list of historic homes I’ll be writing about:
The first book in the Carnton series? A Christmas novella…
More about Christmas at Carnton
All this to say. . .
Thank you for reading and sharing these journeys with me and for visiting the settings that I—and the other authors here at Inspired by Life and Fiction—write about. We appreciate you!
What’s a “novel setting” you’ve visited? Either historical or current day?
Tammy
For all you low carb gluten free lovers among us . . .
Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake
I’ve made this twice in as many weeks. It’s the perfect spring dessert!
Delicious!
Grab the recipe on All Day I Dream About Food
Have you entered Deb’s fabulous giveaway yet?
Tick tick tick!
Tamera blogs every first and third Tuesday at Inspired by Life . . . and Fiction, a group blog she shares with a wonderful community of authors. If you'd like to join the conversation on this post, Tamera would love to see you there!