Monday, October 14, 2013

Bending Facts in Fiction

I have been thinking about this subject quite a lot lately. My novel is definitely fiction, but it does take place in a real time and place. What is my responsibility for keeping to the facts of history, real places and events, etc.? In the beginning of my novel, I put in a sort of "disclaimer", reminding the reader that this is a work of fiction and should be read as such. When a review of my novel was done by posted on a Vietnam Veterans of America website, the reviewer pointed out some of my mistakes dealing with the military (such as sergeants not being referred to as "Sir") as well as my misunderstanding of President Carter's pardon of the draft dodgers. This is what prompted me to write this blog because when I looked up that information on the internet, what I found out was what I used to proceed with my story. I needed to get a draft dodger character back to the United States from Canada, so when I found my answer, I proceeded. Since I was not looking into the actual deeper meaning and history of the event, I felt that I didn't have to research it any further.
I have no resentment toward the reviewer.  As a military and Vietnam veteran, his historical and accurate knowledge of the events is indisputable.  And he gave my novel an otherwise glowing review, which is most important to me!
I still feel okay with what I wrote and researched. My novel is for the everyday reader, not the historian. Most readers would not even notice these inconsistencies, but should I? I don't think so. What do you think?

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Book Review Up at vtwinbiker.com!!

Read my latest review on vtwinbiker.com:

http://vtwinbiker.com/Book_Art_Reviews/book_art_reviews.html