Research informs historical fiction

An enertaining meeting

 "As the American colonies whisper of liberty and revolution a young slave boy, John Randall, listens. And when the country hurtles into war, he seizes his chance, escaping to fight for the English and his freedom. John’s flight leads him across oceans: poverty and petty crime in the grey slums of Manchester; the rotting prison hulks on the Thames, and finally as a convict to a new penal colony on the other side of the world – a vast, unknown land later to be called Australia.”

On Saturday at our general meeting Jo Braithwaite presented an introduction to her book Black Randall. He was her ancestor who was transported to Australia on the First Fleet. As she researched this man she became fascinated with the circumstances that led to his deportation and his subsequent life in the early colony.

Jo has used her creative writing skills and provided his story as historical fiction, a favourite genre for many genealogists and family historians. Jo also talked about the path to publishing, including finding a mentor. 

The book will soon be available for members to borrow from our library.

Two other historical fiction authors recommended by family historians are Nathan Dylan Goodwin, who is a genealogical mystery crime novelist and M J Lee. Martin is a writer of contemporary crime, historical and genealogical mystery novels.