More for Readers & Enthusiasts of Civil War America
I’ll let you in on a little secret. After I discovered a passion for history and reading historical fiction, I started gravitating toward lighter factual tidbits. Besides John Jakes’ novels, the first non-fiction book that lured me toward Civil War America in particular was “Civil War Curiosities: Strange Stories, Oddities, Events, and Coincidences” by Webb Garrison. And shortly after I finished that, I discovered in “Amazing Women of the Civil War,” also by Webb Garrison, the seedling of the idea that would turn into Sweet Glory!
My four most-prized possessions that helped me breathe life into the 10th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment in which my primary protagonist, Jana Brady (aka Union Cavalryman Johnnie Brodie), enlisted are:
History of the Tenth Regiment of Cavalry, New York State Volunteers, August 1861 to August 1865 by Noble D. Preston (Commissary Officer for the 10th NY or Porter Guards–as they were nicknamed)
Civil War Campaigns of the 10th New York Cavalry: With One Soldier’s Correspondences by Ron Matteson
72 Days at Gettysburg: Organization of the 10th Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry by George A. Rummel III
The Ties to the Past: The Gettysburg Diaries of Salome Myers Stewart, 1854-1922 by Sarah Sites Rodgers
I was also influenced by the following Civil War Movies & TV/Mini-Series:
North & South (adaptation of John Jakes’ North & South Trilogy), Gone with the Wind,
Lincoln (adaptation of Team of Rivals), Glory, Gettysburg/Gods and Generals,
The Blue and the Gray, Roots, The Conspirator and Django Unchained