Dialect, likewise, isn’t just people talking funny. It’s a reflection of culture.
While doing so, I knew that it would make parts of the dialogue harder for many of my American readers to understand. While I could have made the dialect less thick, it would have also contributed to erasing the culture of the Antiguan population. In the “A Note on History” section, I’ll have some recommended reading, if you’d like to know more about dialect and Antigua.
Justin Roberts’s dissertation “Sunup to Sundown: Plantation Management Strategies and Slave Work Routines in Barbados, Jamaica and Virginia, 1776–1810” was invaluable in understanding how a working plantation ran. More on that in the “A Note on History” section.
Megan Eccles mentioned on Twitter that she had named her son after Vincent. I was at a point where I needed Vincent’s full name so I asked what her son’s middle name is. One of those … one of those names is his.
Michael Livingston (for the longtime readers, yes, that’s the man I named Captain Livingston after) is a medieval literature professor who I turn to when I need help with archaic language. In this case, it was attempting to come up with a term for ultraviolet light. In real history, UV was recognized in 1801 by German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter as “oxidizing rays.” So, theoretically, I had a perfectly good period word to use. But … but, my theory was that in a world where glamour works, people would have known about ultraviolet much earlier. After tossing around a couple of different ideas, Michael offered “porphyry” as a possibility. This was perfect, because it corrupted so easily into “poorfire,” which was a great word for a light that makes things glow.
My husband, Rob, who is my muse, has been wonderfully supportive and lets me talk through plot problems when I am stuck. He doesn’t offer answers, but he knows all the right questions to ask.
My agent, Jennifer Jackson, and first reader, Michael Curry, deserve especial thanks this time. During the research process, I realized that the ending I had planned was not going to work. Not in a billion, billion years. We sat over dinner and hashed out possible alternates. Jenn pointed out that the thing I keep returning to in these novels are the personal stakes and relationships. Rather than making the conflict larger, I made it smaller and more personal. Otherwise, you would be reading about a rebellion.
Likewise, my editor, Liz Gorinsky, always makes my books better, but with this one, when I was at the mid-point, I realized that my new ending would also not work. She helped talk me through the reasons that it was a problem and figure out what I needed to do to fulfill the promises I’d set up at the beginning.
Many thanks to my assistant, Beth Bernier Pratt, who keeps me from double-booking myself and generally makes the world a much better place.
Thanks also to my beta readers: Alycia, Amanda Jensen, Amber Hancock, Andy Rogers, Annalee Flower Horne, Anne, Beth Matthews, Bonnie Fox, Caroline, Carrie Sessarego, Charlotte Cunningham, Chloe, Chris M., Chris Russo, ChristonJP, Darci Cole, David Wohlreich, Denelian, Elizabeth Lefebvre, Faith, Furecha, Gloria Magid, Halley Ruiz, Hilde Austlid, Hope Romero, Jessica James, Jill, Joan, John Casey, John Devenny, Jon Marcus, Julia Rios, Justin Clement, Karen, Kassie Jennings, Katherine Boothby, Kathleen Ladislaus, Katie, Laura Christensen, Lilia Visser, Mark Lindberg, Mary Alice Kropp, Matt, Melissa Tomlin, Mrs. Arkban, Nina Niskanen, Nonny Blackthorne, Norma, Pat, Patrick, Rae Nudson, Ryan LeDuc, Sally, Sara Couture, Sara Glassman, Serge Broom, Siddhartha, Stephanie McDaniel, Tanya Kucak, Terry, Tracy Erickson, Trish E. M., and Tyler Kraha.
I wrote great chunks of this book at Letizia’s Natural Bakery in Chicago, where they would let me camp for hours. Always friendly, and they have excellent pastries.
My parents and my husband’s parents are wonderful people and both sets recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversaries. So, unlike poor Vincent but like Jane, I have had excellent examples of loving families. I am grateful for them.
Also, my brother, Steve—excuse me, I mean Dr. Stephen K. Harrison—who, by virtue of getting his PhD in history, gave me something to try to one-up. Affectionate sibling rivalry is a great motivator. Five novels, Steve. Ha! Top that. You know … by being hired to teach history internationally. And … um … having grandchildren for our folks.
Darn it.