Fascinated
When I first moved to the Tulsa area as a young married, I remember hearing bits and pieces about the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. Nothing specific. Very few details. I later learned that the most I heard back then was fabrication.
The story fascinated me even all those years ago. Not a morbid fascination; more like an incredulous fascination – wondering how such a thing could have happened.
Need Historical Fiction
Fast forward to the point where I am writing novels for Barbour Publishing. I was writing inspirational romances and each time I finished one, my editor would remind me of how he needed historical fiction.
I let his plea go in one ear and out the other. Contemporary fiction was much easier – much less research.
When I finished the fourth contemporary title for Barbour, I remember feeling as though I was dusting off my hands. That was the last. I was through. Now I would go back to writing juvenile and teen fiction – my first love.
I Saw Tessa
It was a Labor Day weekend; I had sent off the final edited copy of the fourth contemporary title to my editor. It was late when I went to bed. But I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about the Tulsa Race Riot. I saw a young girl dressed in a plain cotton housedress, carrying a basket, walking through a crowd of angry gun-toting men into the courthouse in downtown Tulsa. That was little Tessa Jurgen, but I didn’t know her yet.
I was hooked. Lights on. Pen and paper. That night I wrote the thumbnail sketches for all four books in the Tulsa series. My editor loved them and within a week I had a four-book contract in my hand.
My Exhilarating Journey
Thus began a wonderful, exhilarating journey back into the history of Tulsa. I made a transfer from earth to seventh heaven. I love the stories; love the characters; love writing historical fiction. Surprise.
I also became addicted to research. Ever study an old
Sears catalog? (In the picture on the right — a new innovation — enclose your car! They called them winter sides.)
How about a studying 1921 Tulsa High School yearbook? I did, and I loved it. I have to say, I was on a two-year high as I created these 4 books.
In my next blog, I’ll share a little more about the history of the riot itself. Stay tuned!
Book #1 (Tulsa Tempest)
(Click the cover for more information.)
You can read Chapter 1 of Tulsa Tempest right HERE!
Free Download!
Book #2 (Tulsa Turning),
(Click the cover for more information.)
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I have always respected David McCullough as a writer and as a historian. This quote from him touches my heart.