Roger Litwiller
Writing history can sometimes be as inspiring as being back in school taking history class. I find my inspiration in the stories I gather from the veterans that have served in the Canadian Navy. It is there stories that bring the archival history of the ships I write about to life. It changes from a history book to a collection of stories from the sailors that were there. Ad in the official records and now you have a story that all Canadians can sink there teeth into.
My most inspiring place that I have written is at sea. My wife and I were on a cruise out of New York City to the southern Caribbean. It involved several days at sea on the North Atlantic. The same area of ocean that HMCS TRENTONIAN escorted convoys and hunted German U-Boats during WWII. I sat in the lounge on top deck of the cruise ship banging away at my laptop, with several file folders of research on the table, oblivious to the people around me. Enjoying the story that was unfolding around me and watching the ever changing landscape of the ocean.
I did hear several passengers comment, "Look at this guy, bringing work with him." I just smiled and carried on, In the zone, words flowing off my fingertips onto the keyboard. Before long, I had written the first three chapters of White Ensign Flying.
Several members of the crew inquired as to what I was working on. When I explained my book and the connection to where we were sailing, they were impressed, needless to say I didn't lack for bar service.
Writing history can sometimes be as inspiring as being back in school taking history class. I find my inspiration in the stories I gather from the veterans that have served in the Canadian Navy. It is there stories that bring the archival history of the ships I write about to life. It changes from a history book to a collection of stories from the sailors that were there. Ad in the official records and now you have a story that all Canadians can sink there teeth into.
My most inspiring place that I have written is at sea. My wife and I were on a cruise out of New York City to the southern Caribbean. It involved several days at sea on the North Atlantic. The same area of ocean that HMCS TRENTONIAN escorted convoys and hunted German U-Boats during WWII. I sat in the lounge on top deck of the cruise ship banging away at my laptop, with several file folders of research on the table, oblivious to the people around me. Enjoying the story that was unfolding around me and watching the ever changing landscape of the ocean.
I did hear several passengers comment, "Look at this guy, bringing work with him." I just smiled and carried on, In the zone, words flowing off my fingertips onto the keyboard. Before long, I had written the first three chapters of White Ensign Flying.
Several members of the crew inquired as to what I was working on. When I explained my book and the connection to where we were sailing, they were impressed, needless to say I didn't lack for bar service.
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