In my last blog, I shared how I’d been inspired to create new Story Inspiration pages to include in the back of all of my books. Then I shared my Story Inspiration page for Choosing Bravery.
WHY WRITE ABOUT STORY INSPIRATION?
Because I love it when others share their inspiration. I love it when movies and TV shows included added extras. Seeing what inspired the filmmakers inspires me as well.
But my ultimate inspiration comes from history and epic, almost unimaginable, journeys. The Story Inspiration page that I’m sharing today is from the heyday of the Oregon Trail – before the railroad crisscrossed the country and made travel so much quicker and safer.
Hmm, I think I’ve just given away next Monday’s Story Inspiration page (a story of romance on the rails with an Irishman). But first, the Oregon Trail…
BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL – STORY INSPIRATION PAGE
Between Heaven & Hell was the first novel I wrote (and the second I published), so you can imagine how honored I was when it won both the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® for Historical Romance and the Laramie® for Western Romance Drama.
The inspiration for Hannah and Paden’s story came from many directions. First was the astounding idea of traveling 2,170 miles (3,490 km) on foot, wagon, or horseback but also leaving behind everything you knew—family, friends, the familiarity of home, the disappointments of the past. All for the hope of a better future. Few people crossed the trail more than once as Paden did. From the 1830s the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were used by over 400,000 travelers. To put that into perspective, America’s population was 23 million in 1850, the year of my story.
Attack by anyone including Native Americans (whose land was being taken and abused) was my initial worry for my travelers. It was an eye-opener to learn that disease posed the most danger. Cholera killed 3% of all travelers in the epidemic years from 1849 to 1855. Other common causes of death included hypothermia, drowning in river crossings, being run over by wagons, and accidental shootings.
So how to protect yourself? From the early days, Native tribes believed tattoos held protective powers. Symbols were tribe and individual specific because if everyone’s life story is unique, then a tattoo (and its guardian spirit) should be unique as well.
MORE INSPIRATION TO COME
Click HERE if you’d like to read the opening of Between Heaven & Hell on my website.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about what inspired me to write Hannah and Paden’s story. Join me again next Monday as I continue sharing more new (or old) Story Inspiration pages for all of my books. ❤
To read the Story Inspiration Pages for my other stories, click here.
