Janice L Dick: Calm Before the Storm

I’m pleased to host Janice L. Dick as she shares about her latest release Calm Before the Storm. I love this story, and I hope you’ll check it out.

Welcome Janice!

Hello, Candace, and all you wonderful readers who follow and support her.

It is my pleasure to meet you virtually via blogpost, and to tell you about my journey researching my historical books.

My first historical series takes place in Russia circa 1914-1924. I began working on the first book—my very first novel—around the year 2000. The story is part of my family background (Mennonites of South Russia), and has always existed in my head and heart, waiting for creation and release. However, I had no idea how to craft a novel, except to use the inspiration of the hundreds I’ve read.

Step One: Create the Characters

I chose three distinct viewpoints: wealthy Mennonite woman, middle-class Mennonite man, Russian peasant, and then began writing.

Step Two: Take a Step Back!

Already? Yes, because as I wrote the first thirty pages, I discovered a plethora of gaps in my knowledge that required investigation. Google was not in common use in 2000! I used books, docu-dramas, old movies, interviews, personal diaries, and memories of stories I’d heard as a child.

Step Three: Will the Correct Answer Please Reveal Itself!

Three real scenarios from my researching experience:

Four history books open on my desk, each with its own “truth” but not in agreement…

What to do?

Consider all I know and follow the most likely path. Remember that the history books are written by the winners. They may not always be historically accurate.

Interviewing two elderly gentlemen, both born and raised in South Russia, yet with strongly conflicting opinions and memories…

What to do?

Listen to both, discern their connection to the facts, find a compromise that reflects a wider truth.

My opinion of the past is challenged as I learn more about the times and my people…

What to do?

Realize that my opinions are filtered by my love for the relatives who told their stories at my Oma’s house, which I heard with the innocence of a child. Be willing to admit that my pre-conceived ideas may not all be historically accurate.

Step Four: Pray and Discern

Researching historical fiction involves digging up information and then deciding what is accurate and true. I had to set aside my pride of family, my preconceived ideas of across-the-board ethnic integrity, my understanding of my peoples’ relationships with their neighbours. It was my responsibility as an author to correctly reveal the truth about the past.

Step Five: Listen for Themes

As I worked through the discernment process, I encountered themes that emerged organically from my story. When I followed these themes, the characters took on more rounded personas. Note that I often worked through my personal dilemmas on the page. Here are a few examples:

* Katarina admitted her reliance on family, wealth, her wonderful estate home, and how these things had replaced her trust in God. She seeks to give up what is temporary and rely instead on the Lord. To a point, I can identify.

* Katarina observes that not everyone in her family and other Mennonite families lives with integrity toward their poor neighbours and servants. She tries to find ways to correct this injustice, while dealing with rejection from those she’s trying to help.

* Paul Gregorovich Tekanin throws in his lot with the revolutionaries, only to realize that revolution cannot create Utopia, that those that live by the sword often die by the sword, that there is real evil in the world and maybe the faith of his old friend, Johann, is a better way.

Step Six: Who Am I Writing For?

The compilation of research and dissemination of truth through the eyes of the characters is my responsibility before the God who brought me to the place of this writing. Consider the diverse assortment of writers God used to form the body of His Holy Word. Even in my imperfection, weakness, and lack of direct divine inspiration, I must do my best to fulfill God’s plan for me in writing this novel. My “boss” is the Lord, and my purpose is to glorify Him. I’m thankful that His Holy Spirit works within me to help me accomplish that end to the best of my ability.

Some Important Researching Tips:

* Make lists, charts, timelines, notes and keep all in a binder/computer folder.

* If publishing independently, start early procuring permissions for everything not originally yours.

* Triple-check every fact.

* Note that even a contemporary novel requires lots of research. If you don’t write what you know, make sure you do the research to know what you write!

Thanks, Candace, for this opportunity to share my research journey with your readers. It’s been fun.

Blurb:

Calm Before the Storm

South Russia, 1914. The world is at war and revolution threatens. Against this backdrop of fear and danger, three young people search for hope and love.

Katarina Hildebrandt’s tranquil life on her family’s Crimean estate is about to change. Tutor Johann Sudermann has found true faith, but it will turn his life upside-down. And Paul Gregorovich Tekanin, working for the revolution in St. Petersburg, finds it will demand his soul as well as his wit and strength.

Will they find faith to weather the coming storm?

About Janice:

Janice L. Dick is an award-winning author from the Canadian prairies. She has written six historical novels to date, as well as a contemporary cozy mystery, short stories, blogs, articles and book reviews. She is the winner of the 2016 Janette Oke Award.

Janice was born in Canada, but her parents emigrated to Canada from Russia as children. In her childhood and youth, Janice heard many stories about life in South Russia, which sparked her interest in keeping the stories alive for her family and others who might not know the history of the Mennonites from South Russia. Her ultimate goal is to illuminate God’s sovereignty through her stories.

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