I have to credit this quote ‘The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.’ The
Go-Between (1953) Leslie Pole Hartley, and Nancy Mayer, a fabulous Regency researcher, who has the wonderful website http://www.susannaives.com/nancyregencyresearcher/ and from whom I’m taking a class on Regency basics this month for today’s topic.
When I was eight, I took a Czech freighter to Rabat, Morocco where I celebrated my ninth birthday. From there we traveled to Tangiers, Gibraltar through Spain on a train and over to Palm de Majorca. I’ll never forget my brother’s anger at getting pound cake when he’d ordered pancakes. Or my son’s dismay at discovering that in Europe pepperoni was a vegetable. We did try to tell him, but some people have to learn the hard way. Over the years, I’ve lived many years in foreign countries and have a tendency to “go native” as my husband puts it.
Other than getting used to the change in food, even my move from Guam to Germany was painless. I love other cultures and don’t really understand why so many people fight the differences. Whether it’s eating in local restaurants or homes, driving 140 miles an hour on the autobahn, switching from French to German, learning to read menus and store signs in a language I don’t know, to me it’s all part of the fun.
Maybe that’s the reason I enjoy writing Regencies. I have the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, learn the language, local laws, politics and customs, taste the food, go shopping and build houses, all without spending a pence. And there is the challenge of writing an interesting story using the mores of the time.
What period do you write in and what are your challenges?
ellaquinnauthor
Nice. I grew up all over the world as well, that’s why I like reading about different times and cultures.
I write in the present – but in my own paranormal world where I get to make up my own culture.
You get to make up your own rules.
Wonderful post, Marion! I write in a world I’ve never experienced first hand through romantic suspense and military romance and I love it. It’s like living a double life, lol!
Jennifer, You do a good job at it.
I love research. I hate having to adhear to the letter of the ‘law’ in my writing. That’s why I write fantasy. I let’s me branch out combine things from different periods or make up my own. I can appreciate how hard it is to write a good story and stay true to a certain period. It takes work. And I love to read them. Nice post, Ella! And happy writing.
Casea, Thank you. I like learning the rules then try to find ways around them.
Great post – some exciting life experiences. Whenever my family and I travel we don’t consider it a vacation – it’s an adventure. We explore – we get lost – we have fun. And like you – we understand there are alot of different cultures out there and that’s – to use a cliche – is what makes the world go round.
That’s so awesome that you were able to visit so many places. Def an advantage when you’re a writer!
Thanks Mart. It’s too bad I can vist Regency England. Though I did live in 20th century England.
I love different cultures as well. Although I’ve got to experience first hand like you did, I hope to at least visit another country some day.
I write paranormal romance set in current time. With paranormal I can create just about any world.
Of course I write Regency as you know, but I’ve dabbled in viking and victorian eras as well. I think the most difficult thing about period writing is to master the clothing and the food. I seem to have to really dig around for good sources. Lukcy for me I have a fantastic CP who knows everything about the regency *wink.
Great blog Ella!
Great post. I write contemporary, but I love to read stories about different cultures and time periods.
Nothing like living abroad. It’s a whole new world compared to a vacation. It’s a little like reading a good book. You’re immersed.
I write about Imperial Russia during the same time as the Regency. My challenge is finding good, consistent, reliable sources. There’s not much on the internet about that time in Russia, and most written sources are in Russian. Though I studied the language, my skills are not such that I can easily translate large amouts of text. Still, I push on. I used to be a librarian, so I’m fairly adept at research. It’s a fasinating country and there are so many things to write about. Though I’ve visited three times, I’ve never had the opportunity to live there. I am jealous of your time living overseas.
Living somewhere is really the best way to get to know a place.
Impressive background. I rarely get out of my bubble.
I like action and sci-fi, and city living. So, I write current day romantic suspense. I may even try my hand at a paranormal down the line.
“Going native” is a great way to learn and write.
I really enjoyed this post.
-Cheryl
Great post! I sense a kindred spirit in you, Ella! I too have traveled the world and the best way to experience any country is to “go native” ! You find out so much more about a country and its people when you blend yourself in.
I write Regency set historical romance for just that reason. Had I to choose another era in which to live it would be early nineteenth century England. And I LOVE doing research. I just wish I had more time to do it!
LOL – I always read signs aloud in foreign countries, enjoying the sound of the words, even if it’s a language I know fairly well. It’s disconcerting to whoever’s next to me because they think I’m talking to them. Nope, it’s just me communing with that sign over there.
What’s really scary is when you start understanding Neiderlandish or Flemish.
LOL. I had fun trying to figure out how to pronounce Welsh and Irish.
Great question. Since I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I would like, I spend a bunch of time in research. Maps, photos and narratives blend to help create a mental picture. However, I understand nothing takes the place of boots on the ground in the region you are writing about.
One other cultural aspect that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the difference between rural and city life. I grew up on a farm and have lived in the city most of my adult life. Though technology, class issues and many other things have changed, there is still a distinct difference between rural and city cultures. I find it easy to slip into that mindset when writing and envision how people of the land might have lived in a given period. Thanks for the post!
I love your reasons for writing regency. They are the same reasons I love to get lost in the worlds I create.
Great post. Kudos to all the those authors who write in a world gone by. I don’t have the patience for the research. I love making things up so maybe that’s why I love the paranormal world. Almost anything can happen. And my brain is wired pretty weird, lol.
Good post, Ella. I write historical western, and I find I slip once in a while. For example, I used a reference to roller skates, and luckily one of my CPs picked it up. When I checked into it, they were in use during the time I was writing ab out, but my heroine would not have been able to use them as a child. Many times I’ll read a word in an historical that I know was not in use with that meaning at the time. In a book I’m reading now, the heroine (1870s) said something nasty was “gross.” Umm. I don’t think so.
Hi Callie, LOL. We have so many more words now than in the 19th century.
I’ve currently got works going in Georgian, Medieval, and Victorian England. I’ve loved history all my life–if I could go back to any of those time for just a day I’d die happy.
I’ve traveled, though not as extensively as I’d like and the best time was researching turn-of the-century Irish women in Dublin for two summers for my dissertation. i loved the culture, the people, the landscape. Can’t figure out why I’m not writing about it now. LOL
I’ve read a lot of Regency HR and love the period. I have an outline for one of my own–I’ll be calling on you when I start it, Ella–and can’t wait to do research for it.
Mistakes are the Sword of Damocles hanging over me, but I try to find at least one cross reference for major things, but terminology is often tough. Ella saved my butt a couple of months ago with that. But as you said, it’s a foreign country. There’s bound to be a slip of the lip once in a while.
Excellent post, Ella.
Jenna, Thank you.
Considering I write westerns and suspense, not too hard ot do research!
I write around the regency era and contp mysteries….Everything is a challenge for me…Especially getting the clothing, dialogue, and settings right! I told you…everything! LOL
You need me as one of your CPs