Trivia - An established author with whom I will be attending a writing workshop (Aug 2007) shared information on writing a 1000-word synopsis of one's novel, describing the crisis and climax of the tale.

That's how I realized that the events in the chapter titled "The Virgin" were the climax of the first part of the book (Elvira's story). But I hadn't written it as a climax.

As ... Continue reading »

Trivia - The appalling thing about my decision to stick with all known historical facts in my fictional tale is that I have been able to go back and insert major events without causing major structural damage to my later narrative.

For those who do not know the fictional from the factual, the basic facts of the major characters in this chapter are true - dates, who leaves, what ... Continue reading »

Trivia - Summer 1841 was an awful time, only to be exceeded by the summer of 1842. Joseph Smith was particularly saddened by the death of his younger brother, Don Carlos. I can't help think that Joseph must have wished that a different man had died of malarial fever...

Trivia - The press in Jackson County, Missouri, on which the Book of Commandments was being published was destroyed by a mob. The few books that were able to be created were from the sheets that fifteen-year-old Mary Elizabeth Rollins and her thirteen-year-old sister Caroline saved, grabbing the pages and running from the mob to hide in a nearby cornfield. The scripture I have Joseph quote is well known, but ... Continue reading »

Trivia - Students of Mormon history may recognize Tom Sharp as the editor of the Warsaw Signal, who famously called for violence against Joseph Smith in 1844, writing "Citizens arise, one and all!!! Can you stand by, and suffer such infernal devils! To rob men of their property rights, without avenging them. We have no time for comment! Everyman will make his own. Let it be with powder and ball." ... Continue reading »