Status of Roanoke 1584-1590: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book 1: Writing. (Not planning, plotting, editing, or final publishing.)
Word Count: 6665 of 210,000 words (I started writing this book on 17 September 2012, Monday.)
Word Count Goal for 19 Sep. 2012: 5000 words
So, I am ahead with my writing. So far. (Whew.)
The Writing of This Book
There is something magical about going to a time different than our own. I do not care if it is time-traveling to the past or future. It is a different era and that brings a touch of imagination. Writing ROANOKE 1584-1590: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book 1 is magical as well. But, it is also mind-boggling.
When I think that I am writing about actual family, it is pretty difficult to fully grasp. It makes the history take on a deeper meaning.
Then, to think of my patriotism and love of the United states of America, then add this lens of family history, and I am even more patriotic. I was patriotic before I learned about my family. Quite, actually. But, add the family dimension and it has grown a million-fold.
I cannot look at anything in this country without feeling even more passionate than previously.
Writing this book has kindled even more of a passion for this great nation.
It has also added to a passion of history. I still cannot believe how little of a passion I had for history prior to moving here to Virginia. History was always my weakest subjects in school. My father sure tried to make me informed, though. He was successful in that endeavor. I learned far more about history from him than I did in all my 20 years of schooling combined. But, it was here in Virginia, in July 2011 that kindled my passion for U.S. history. To walk where America was founded, here in this part of Virginia, is humbling. Mind-boggling. Remarkable. Touching. Meaningful. To know that just up the street, so to speak, was where Cornwallis had Gates surrender to George Washington in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War... To think that, sure, there were smaller battles after that for the next couple of years, but it was at Yorktown that we turned the tide of the war, is amazing. And, I had a family member who was a Colonel who was there at the surrender--at Surrender Field... It blows me away.
Therefore, knowing about my family history makes me more passionate about, well, all of it--and surely writing about it.
I have always loved to play the "Imagine Game," where I imagine what it was like to be these historical figures, doing what they did, at the time they did, and what they experienced, thought, and felt. Writing this book on Roanoke is no different. Except, it is personal as well as part of my patriotic act.
I want to write my family's story to help all of us learn about the true history of the United States of America, without even realizing it. That is my goal for this series.
Can you imagine? I am sure trying. Hence, I write.
Can You Imagine?
The story I am writing about Roanoke is about what happened before, during, and after the voyages to Roanoke. It's about the colony that was not lost and the colony that was. I am trying, and will try, to delve far more than any other book, about what it was like to be those who planned for the establishment of the first permanent English colony in North America--and what they went through with the great expectations before going to Roanoke, then finding out about the troubles of the colony, and not being able to get to the colony for three years. Then, when they got there, they discovered the colony was lost. There was no trace of them. Then, because of a storm, having to leave before you can do more of a search... Can you imagine?
That is what this book is about.
It is the story of three men who dreamed of Roanoke, their families, and the temporarily lost dream. It's about how they got out of bed, and continuing with life, in the morning knowing about the lost colony.
Can you imagine? I am sure trying. Hence, I write.
And, what a story it is to tell!
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
The Family Treez of the USA Series
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA
