AUTHOR’S NOTE
When I set out to write the story of Blackbeard, I wanted to add flesh and bones to a legend—to create a backstory for a man who chose the life of a pirate and who historians claim was cruel and unruly. But recent studies have people questioning those reports. Some say Blackbeard wasn’t as evil as formerly believed, and that he was a type of Robin Hood of the seas. The Edward Teach of Blackhearts and Blacksouls is a work of fiction based on a few details in various historical accounts. The world he lived in, however, was very real.
I fiercely love my characters and wanted to be true to their narratives. I knew from the beginning I needed a strong female who could go toe-to-toe with the young man who would go on to become the most infamous pirate to sail the seas. An image of Anne came to mind immediately, a beautiful biracial girl with a fierce spirit and a longing for freedom. Blackhearts ended with both Anne and Teach on separate ships heading for the West Indies. The more I researched, the more I discovered that the story would be much broader in scope than I first anticipated.
In writing Blacksouls, it would have been impossible to ignore the subject of slavery, nor did I want to. I believe it’s important to confront the past, to learn and grow from our predecessors’ failings. I can only hope Blacksouls opens the door for deeper conversations on this topic in the future.
If you’re interested in more information about the actual history of slavery, I suggest reading the works of Frederick Douglass himself, including Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.
Another book I would recommend is by Andrea Stuart, entitled Sugar in the Blood: A Family’s Story of Slavery and Empire. One of Ms. Stuart’s ancestors fell into the life of a sugar plantation owner, quite by chance. Incredibly well researched, this book details the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and how absolute power corrupts.
Of course I also needed help with the nautical aspects of my book. I turned to Daily Life in the Age of Sail by Dorothy Denneen Volo and James M. Volo. It provided a wealth of information that I hope added to the authenticity of the readers’ experience.
These works combined to help me craft Blacksouls. At its heart, my story is about a young man’s descent into the world of piracy. But it’s also about the young woman he loves and their journey together to find their place in a sometimes cruel and unfair world.