Research is a huge part of writing any novel, but it plays an especially key role when it comes to historical fiction. Historical details are the building blocks that shape the story world for readers. They can help shape the plot and give extra dimension to the characters. They bring the setting to life and even offer wow moments when something particularly unique is revealed.
My latest project, In Her Sights, is the first book in a multi-author series that spans approximately 130 years, from 1893 to modern times. Since my novella provides the origin story of the pistol that passes from woman-to-woman through the rest of the series, it fell to me to set the details in place so that others could easily follow.
First, we needed a pistol.
When deciding on the gun we would model our pistol after, I turned to my handy-dandy 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog. I use this resource constantly when writing my historical fiction. It’s a great resource for everyday items and prices.
The base model of our pink pistol is a Smith & Wesson .32 caliber double action revolver. Since this was available with a pearl stock, we knew our gunsmith could customize it with a special mother-of-pearl pink handle.
You’ll note that this is a 5-shot weapon, not the usual six shooter. This ends up playing a key role in my story.
Next, we needed a gun case.
I found some antique gun cases online to model ours after then added a pocket to the lid lining for story purposes. The box is made of mahogany with brass hinges and a mother-of-pearl decorative inlay. The inside is lined with green velvet and has room for ammunition and cleaning implements.
This case is sure to get worn and banged up as it travels through time, but this is where it started.
Finally, I needed to select a time period that would allow our gunmaker to gift the pink pistol to Annie Oakley while still allowing my heroine to take lessons from the famed markswoman afterward.
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show toured Europe for quite some time in the late 1800’s, yet one particular US engagement lasted seven months and would have given our gunmaker ample time to finish his work and approach Annie.
After a successful European tour, Buffalo Bill brought his group home to the states and learned of the World’s Fair coming to Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the Americas. Ever on the lookout for a way to get his show in front of a crowd, he sent his business manager to petition for a place at the fair. The committee agreed to let him participate for the price of 50% of all proceeds – not profits, but proceeds.
Buffalo Bill refused the steep tariff and outsmarted the fair committee by purchasing land adjoining the fairgrounds. He built a grandstand that would seat 18,000 spectators and opened his show 4 weeks before the grand opening of the World’s Fair and closing one day after the end of the fair’s run. In the end, he cleared about $1 million in profit and didn’t pay a cent to the fair committee.
Annie Oakley performed with the show in Chicago, and the day after closing night is when she receives a visitor with a special, pink-handled pistol in the opening scene of In Her Sights.
As a side note, I learned that Buffalo Bill Cody used the profits from this stint in Chicago to establish his namesake town in Wyoming. I’m going to be traveling to Deadwood, SD this summer for a book event called Wild Deadwood Reads, and one of the places I am planning to visit along the way is Cody, WY. Can’t wait!
What do you love most about the historical research that goes into your favorite historical novels?
The story world it creates?
The chance to learn something new?
Getting to meet real historical figures?
Other ________?
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Loved the novella–and the now knowing the way you incorporated all the historical tidbits!
Thanks, D’Ann!
Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so I love all of the things you mentioned. Historical fiction provides me an opening to search further topics in depth. I read all time periods – have read two fascinating books about Cleopatra, have read a series about medieval monks, lots set in England, Ireland, and Scotland; also, in America, I have read Colonial, Civil War, western, and New York stories from early settlements to 1920’s.
Just started In Her Sights and read a little about Annie Oakley. I didn’t know she had programs for women. At the risk of being repetitive, I have been to Deadwood twice and also Cody. Both are wonderful towns with such friendly people. My husband was a fan of history, so whenever we took trips, we tried to see all of the history in that area. Sadly, I lost him in January, but will be forever grateful that he fostered my love of history.
I love learning history through novels. So much better than a textbook. Ha!
How wonderful that you and your husband shared a love of things historical. My husband is not as interested in historical sites as I am, but he loves me and puts up with my desire to visit museums, historic buildings, even old cemeteries. 🙂 I’m so looking forward to our trip to Deadwood and Cody this summer.
Allow for hours to spend in the museum in Cody, Wyoming. I spent a long time there, and it still wasn’t enough!
Thanks for the recommendation, Robin! I’ll be sure to carve out lots of time.
When I was in grade school, my favorite books were the Hardy Boys mystery series, Old West fiction, and biographies of people like Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, Swamp Fox, and others like them; i.e., anything to do with the founding and expansion of our country. I could have read those books all the time if I hadn’t had to go to school to learn a bunch of other stuff I never thought I would need. I enjoyed reading about the research you did for your book. It makes the book sound even more appealing.
Thanks, Edward. 🙂 I’m glad there are other people like me who geek out about these little historical nuances.
I love all of it! The world it creates, the chance to learn something new, and I get a kick out of real historical characters stepping into the story, even for a moment.
I love walking through museums and seeing physical evidence of what life was like for our ancestors. Have a great time exploring, can’t wait to see what tidbits end up in your next stories.
Happy Easter, Karen!
Thanks, Gena. I’m sure I’ll find lots of inspiration in WY and SD. 🙂 I rarely have famous real people in my stories, but I loved having the chance to bring Annie Oakley into this one. She was such an amazing woman. Historians believe she taught over 15,000 women how to shoot over the course of her lifetime.
I learn so much from reading historical fiction and my memory is refreshed with things I knew but had forgotten.
Me, too, Teresa. I actually disliked History in school, but I loved it in novels. It came to life in fiction. 🙂
Cool, thanks for sharing! I’ve seen reproductions of store catalogs from various department stores at one time or another.
The novella cover looks fantastic.
Thanks, Elisa. I’m glad you enjoyed the tidbits today. And thanks for your kind words about the cover. I love the spring daffodils on it. 🙂
I love Cody, WY! I’ve visited many times…beautiful views, great history, friendly people, and stories everywhere! Check out the Irma Hotel if you get a chance while you’re there. A college friend of mine goes out every year to visit her parents who own a small ranch there. I’m always ready to go back!
How fun, Kerri! I can’t wait to see it. I only wish I had more time to soak up all the rich history. 🙂
Make sure that when in Cody you go to the https://centerofthewest.org/ and specifically the Gun Museum. You might be able to reach out in advance and make arrangements to see some guns related to your writing that are not on display. When my oldest was in college she did an internship there one summer in the Gun Museum.
How fabulous, Yvonne! That museum is definitely on my list of things to see. Thanks for the recommendation!
I love the story side of history and the research they do on guns and the personalities behind them and the many records are fascinating. I think this link is the firearms blog —. https://centerofthewest.org/category/cody-firearms-museum/
The engravings that are on some guns can tell the story of the gun. There is one engraved to Ethel Merman on the occasion of her 1,318 performance of Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway from 1966.
https://centerofthewest.org/2015/07/15/stories-in-engraving/
How cool!
I enjoy hearing how other HR writers use their research. Wondering if you spend weeks or months researching before you begin or if you do preliminary research to make sure your concept is plausible then research as you go?