Writing historical fiction is a carefully choreographed dance. One side of the stage is filled with untold hours of well-researched facts and details. More than you could ever include in one story. On the other side of the stage is the delicate weaving of these facts into the lives of people who lived long ago. In most cases, the author is not privy to their intimate conversations or deep feelings about what happened to them. So this is where the author of historical fiction does everything possible to accurately portray the lives of those they are writing about. 

I admit that some historical fiction I’ve read is more fiction than history, and that is the author’s prerogative. Some of their stories stretch the facts to make them fit together more coherently or make a better storyline.

Then there are other authors of historical fiction who create works that are more historical than fictional. They value the facts they’ve unearthed over the creation of a larger-than-life character with a fabulous storyline. 

I fall into the latter example in my historical fiction writing. When I started writing about Catalyntje, I planned to write a history book about her because I wanted it to be genuine. However, once I started writing, I switched my book’s genre to historical fiction because Catalyntyje was too remarkable to be just a stuffy history book. I wanted her to come to life for my readers. I wanted them to love her as much as I did. 

To accomplish putting flesh on her bones, I added some fiction. This fiction included conversations Catalyntje might have had and feelings about situations she faced. There are no records of these conversations or feelings, so they are considered the fictional part of my novel. I have received several comments from various New Netherland scholars and museums that the novel I have created is more historical than fictional. 

To build the world that Catalyntje lived in, I carefully researched and studied more than one hundred sources. I have included them in this post, since some of my readers have been curious about this.

If you haven’t yet read my historical novel, “Catalyntje Trico: A Life in New Amsterdam,” I’d encourage you to get a copy. Her life will inspire you and give you hope.

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