by Charlotte Gutzmer
Have you ever opened the pages of a book only to be transported to a world full of intrigue, allure, and fascination? Amanda Skenandore has, and as a writer of historical fiction, much of her work is devoted to the art of rebuilding remarkable scenes from history and transposing them onto the page. Jennifer Klepper, USA Today bestselling author of Unbroken Threads, even wrote that Skenandore paints these landscapes of history “with such fine strokes that it’s hard to believe she didn’t somehow transport herself back in time to do her research”!
Amanda Skenandore is the author of two historical novels, The Undertaker’s Assistant and Between Earth & Sky, winner of the 2019 American Library Association’s Reading List Award for Best Historical Fiction. Her third novel The Second Life of Mirielle West comes out in August, 2021. An avid reader, tea-drinker, and wanderlust, Amanda lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and their pet turtle Lenore. On June 15th at 7pm, join her in her upcoming CVWG craft talk: “Writing the Past”.
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Amanda Skenandore about her fascinating historical fiction novels and her upcoming craft talk. Read on to learn how to find extraordinarily inspiring moments in history, how to create resonance between the past and the presence, and how to craft a story that is unforgettable.
Charlotte Gutzmer: What draws you to researching and writing about the past?
Amanda Skenandore: I’ve always loved history. In many ways, the past is like an entirely different world—a world I get to visit in my mind when I research and write. And yet there’s so much that’s relatable in history too, so much that’s relevant to our modern-day lives. History challenges me. It surprises me. It broadens my perspective.
CG: How can one find extraordinary moments in history?
AS: History is filled with extraordinary moments, and you can find them by being curious—not just in your reading but your everyday life. The imprint of those moments is all around us, in the physical spaces we inhabit, in our customs and values. But oftentimes you have to peel back several layers of myth and bias to get at the truth of those moments and find what’s really extraordinary.
CG: In the description of your craft talk, you discuss how there are “common elements that make stories from the past resonate with modern readers”. What are some of these elements?
AS: Many of those elements relate back to our shared humanity. Readers want to be transported to another time, but they want to see people (real or imagined) relating to that world in ways similar to today. Not necessarily on an operational level, but on a physical and emotional one. Heartbreak, ambition, loss, pain, courage—these existed in the past as much as they do today and can bridge that distance in time for the reader.
CG: What are some of the greatest rewards and challenges that come with being a writer of historical fiction?
AS: One of the greatest rewards of writing historical fiction is connecting with readers and sharing with them lesser-known parts of history. I feel like I grow with each novel I write and am able to see the world with a fresh perspective. One of the greatest challenges is finding primary source material, especially for marginalized voices and overlooked events.
CG: Your craft talk will discuss “the responsibility an author has to the historical record and to the reader.” What are some of these responsibilities, and what makes them so important?
AS: I believe writers of historical fiction make a pact with readers. In exchange for their trust, we present a well-researched rendering of the past. Too many errors or misrepresentations and readers will be pulled from the story world and approach the work with suspicion.
CG: Could you give a sneak preview of one of the historical research techniques that you’ll cover in your craft talk?
AS: One of my go-to resources is Google Books. I use it not just to read out-of-print material but also to verify word usage. I can set the date range I want in the advanced settings and search for words or phrases to see if and how they were in use during that time period.
CG: In the description of your craft talk, you quote Rudyard Kipling: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” What makes a story unforgettable?
AS: For me, it’s the character. When we experience history through the lens of a person—their thoughts and fears and hopes and dreams—we connect with the surrounding events, the history, on a more visceral and memorable level.
So what are you waiting for? Register today for Amanda Skenandore’s craft talk for the chance to peer into the past and to transport yourself into a time where you and your writing will never be forgotten.