So… it’s been a minute. Or a year.
When I last corresponded I was full of optimism regarding my newly decided path: historical fiction.
Why would someone who previously worked exclusively in fantasy/fiction decide to take an off-ramp into a world that requires quite a bit more than simply making things up? Reading twenty serious history books is a tall task, but it’s nothing compared to what comes next. Yes, my goal is to take this knowledge and turn it into a tale that others would enjoy — adding just enough fiction to let the history do the talking.
Yes, it sounds a bit… goofy. It is, however, useful to remember that I am the same person who founded a successful financial company armed primarily with enthusiasm, some ill-fitting suits and a degree in film. I would never claim that everything I do makes sense.
Therefore, I’m pushing forward. The period I’ve carved out is the mid-1840’s to the latter part of the 1860’s. The setting is Mexico. And Nicaragua. Beyond the native peoples and politicians of those two countries, the players involve a who’s who of colonial powers, including: France, Great Britain, Spain, Austria, the United States and, oddly, Belgium.
It’s also worth noting that some larger trends were very much in play in this period. While many of us can probably remember the relatively recent “Arab Spring” of 2010/2011, most probably do not know much about the “Springtime of the Peoples” of 1848/1849 which saw uprisings against the ruling class of Europe and a push for something called democracy. Closer to home, slavery (a concept even the revered George Washington did his best to dodge) was again tearing at the fabric of the supposedly United States and, in turn, its neighbors.
Lastly, this period served as the tail end of the “Old World’s” attempt to control/invade/monetize the “New.” The American Civil War largely precluded the USA from significant actions outside its border in the years leading up to and including one of the bloodiest conflicts the world has ever seen. This decay in American influence was all-too-obvious to those governing the Old World, who saw it as their last chance to establish a foothold on the Americas.
I’ll end for now by admitting that I’ve only read fourteen history books on these topics at this point (not the twenty I stated as the goal). Much work therefore remains on the research front, not to mention the pesky actual writing. If I’m fortunate, and my health, life and the world cooperate, I’m hoping for a release in the spring of 2026. If I miss my self-imposed deadline I, like those trying to push out fully autonomous vehicles, will just throw out another date a bit further into the future and hope for the best.
However that goes, I promise to send out regular updates and may ask you, gentle reader, to ponder tidbits as we go. For example, how many times do you think the United States has invaded Nicaragua? Hint: it’s a big, big number.
Saludos
#nicaraguawar #emperorofmexico #slaveryoutlawed #FranceinMexico #filibustermexico #filibusternicaragua