I want to talk a little bit about choosing a profession or line of work for our characters. A while back I mentioned the topic of women's work and how up until the late 1800's women, as a whole, worked inside the home.
The crazy notion during the late 1800's was that to clean the home women were achieving their highest calling. Women's popular literature of the time was full of advice about and encouragement for proper housekeeping. Thank goodness that notion changed in the early twentieth century!
The job selections for the heroine can be varied or somewhat limited depending on the era in which the story takes place. A woman living in the early twentieth century or before could be a housewife, a seamstress, washer-woman, or possibly a stenographer.
Nowadays, there are a plethora (love this word and wanted to use it) of choices. A woman today, as we know, can pretty much choose any career path she wishes to follow.
My next book, yes, I’m finally going to write that Time-Travel that’s been rolling about in my head for many years, is set in Dallas (Present day) and Galveston (1900).
Most of the time, whether the characters go back in time or come forward, we portray them as a fish out of water. Since I’d used that premise with my last book, Laurel: Bride of Arkansas, where a mail order bride from Philadelphia society married a widower living on an Arkansas farm. While anyone most certainly would fir this description, I didn’t want to use it as the whole plot point.
My heroine, Faith Daniels, needs to have a career she loves in the twenty-first century that she can draw on when she travels back in time.
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Inspiration for Faith - 1900
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| Inspiration for Faith Daniels |
Lately I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the home remodeling and do-it-yourself shows on certain channels. One in particular holds me captive each week, where the star of the show rehabs old homes to their former/original glory. Sooooooo, one day the “lightbulb” came on over my head and stirred the what-ifs. Aha! By jiminy, that’s it.
Faith is a modern-day house rehabber living in Dallas. Her friend, Stella, travels with her to Galveston to see and work on the turn-of-the-century house she’s bought in a blind auction.
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| Inspiration for Faith's house. |
Now, if you know me, you know that isn’t all Faith is going to go through. It seems to me there was a little storm passed through Galveston in 1900. She’s going to meet a special, tortured gentleman, Joe Benning, and I wonder if they’ll get together. Will she stay in the twentieth century or will she come back home to Dallas? The working title for this time-travel is, The Texan’s Redeeming Faith.
I’ll keep you posted on all the goings on just in case you’re interested. Do you like time-travel stories? Let me know.
Carra
I do enjoy time travel stories. Personally, I prefer when they stay back in time. I suspect it is because that's what I would choose, given the choice. I'm not sure I would fit into 1900 society though or enjoy all the things that are missing. But, I think those characters are so lucky to be able to experience a time that has gone by. I can't wait to read it and will be first in line!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would choose to go back, too. I sure hope you get to read it sooner than later, Lol. PS, you put the image of you sitting in your chair under an umbrella with your Kindle all charged up, in my head. I'll bring you something cold to drink! =)
DeleteI'm so glad to hear you're not writing that typical "fish out of water" time travel. I've used that premise in my time travel stories, too - I think you have to to some extent, but I don't focus on that. All my time traveling heroes or heroines travel for a purpose (whether to the past or to the future) and have a purpose or skill in their new time that is central to the story. I think coming to the future is even more "fish out of water" that going back in time.
ReplyDeletePeggy, I hope this goes as planned in my mind. I don't plot too severely, so we'll see. I've thought about asking you for some guidance/opinions on this project. Are you up for it?? =)
DeleteI love Rehab Addict because she appreciates old homes and how magnificent they were. Tat's a wonderful idea for your heroine's job and gives her a knowledge of special things in those houses. Maybe she knows about certain secret places under the stairs or in the closets that ends up taking her through time. I love time travel. Have you already planned on how she's going to go back in time?
ReplyDeleteIt's really weird that you should write about time travel stories here--I wrote about time travel over at Once Upon A Word on the same day. How odd is that?
I agree with Peggy that there has to be a purpose for your heroine to go back in time like some mysterious thing that happened in her family that needs an answer or something of that nature.
Anyway, I wish you great success with your endeavor. Keep us updated.
Well, by jiminy...okay, I admit, I am not a fan of time-travel romance. My scientific mind cannot make sense out of how this could happen..and I always worry about how the heroine will "get back home." So, I don't read many at all. Once in a blue moon I will read a time travel I like but it depends on the characters. I think you've probably hit upon that particular storyline, for yours does sound good. I like your time frame and setting. Sometimes that makes all the difference. So..good luck with your story..and that cover should really help. It's so good!!!
ReplyDeleteI do like time travels, Carra. I have one published and three more plotted. My character travels forward in time for each of these. I love the drawing of the house you're using for inspiration. Good luck writing! I'll be eager to read the result.
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