The summer is half over and I’ve finally landed in front of my computer. There is nothing like a move, or multiple moves in a short time, to distract a person from writing. Still, in the mist of all the upheaval, I have found a subject that has captured my imagination.
I now live in Tennessee. Over the years I have created characters in three manuscripts that illustrate the Southern sensibilities and lifestyles I gleaned from my parents and grandparents. However, I have not resided in this State since I was five or six years old and I find that I am now submerged in a culture that, unlike any other I have experienced, steadfastly holds on to both religion and regional history. In reaction, I am exploring the period of American history called Reconstruction and hope to create a character reflecting how the current roles of women were shaped in part by the consequences of the War Between the States.
If you have thoughts about how women’s roles changed during Reconstruction, if you have any ideas or if you can recommend interesting materials on the subject, please be sure to let me know.