AMERICAN HISTORICAL NOVELS discussion

Hello, AHN! Please join me in welcoming our host author for the week, Gail Olmsted Author. Stay tuned all week for discussion of Landscape of a Marriage... and a giveaway, of course!

Rebecca Rosenberg: Hello Gail Olmsted & thank you for hosting this week! What inspired you to write Landscape of a Marriage?

Author: My husband is related to renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (1822- 1903) and we have visited a number of his parks. He always sounded interesting to me, but when I read that he married his late brother’s widow Mary and adopted her three children and together they had four more and were married more than 40 years... that’s when I thought- a marriage of convenience leads to a life of passion and purpose. That’s a story worth telling!

Rebecca: Can you give us insight into your writing process?

Author: I focus on character development. I want to know everything about the main characters to help me to tell their story and make it feel authentic. All their quirks, flaws, mannerisms. I generally have a good idea of the story line until about the midway point, then the characters take over and write the rest of the book themselves. I rarely know how a story will end until it does!

Rebecca: What type of research did you do for writing Landscape of a Marriage?

Author: There has been so much written about and by Olmsted. That was actually both a blessing and a curse: how do you honor the real man and still break new ground? I poured through a dozen books and countless articles and wanted to make sure that the backdrop of the second half of the 19 th century was accurately represented. Not only the big events such as the Civil War, Lincoln’s assassination and women’s suffrage, but the day to day details- how would the family spend time together, what would they wear, eat and read?

Rebecca: Did you find anything in your research that was particularly fascinating or that helped shaped the novel?

Author: Landscape is told from Mary’s perspective, and I wanted her to be so much more than the ‘little woman at home’. I was able to find plenty of evidence to support my central idea that Mary joined her husband on his quest to transform the American landscape and that she contributed much to the success of the family business. All in all, 1000 parks, private estates and academic institutions were created by Olmsted and his successors.

Rebecca: What was your favorite scene to write?

Author: Fred and Mary had a fairly rough start to married life as he had to transform from a carefree bachelor to a husband with three children overnight and she was still mourning the loss of her first husband. That being said, there was a scene early on when the family strolled through the nearly completed Central Park and everyone was so happy. Fred could be a bit clueless at times, but he urged his pregnant wife to rest a bit while he took the children off to feed the ducks, and promised to return with a lemon ice for her. That’s when I knew that he would do his best to be the kind of partner that Mary deserved!

Rebecca: What was the most difficult scene to write?

Author: No spoilers here, so I’ll just say that Mary Olmsted suffered a few tragic losses in her life and I sobbed through each one right along with her.

Rebecca: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Author: My long-time friend swears that I told her I wanted to write a book while we were still in high school. I honestly don’t recall saying that but I actually trust her memory more than my own. I earned two business degrees and pursued careers, first in marketing in the telecommunications field, then as a college professor. The summers off while teaching finally provided me with the time to start writing. My first book Jeep Tour was inspired by a family trip to Sedona, AZ. Three more contemporary novels followed before I starting writing Landscape.

Rebecca: What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

Author: I honestly love the whole writing process- the early ideas, the plotting, the research, the first draft, the re-writes, the editing- well usually, depending on the editor I am working with. I guess the most challenging is when I’m reading the first set of edits being recommended. A lot of tears and a lot of swearing. I have been able to survive the process with lots of chocolate.

Rebecca: Who are your writing inspirations and why?

Author: Stephen King, in my humble opinion, is the greatest writer of our time. He appears to seamlessly move from horror to thriller to mystery to historical... all with great characters and interesting stories. I read his book On Writing and I recommend it to everyone who writes.

Rebecca: What was the first historical novel you read?

Author: Gone with the Wind was the first and still one of my all-time favorites. I also loved The Thorn Birds, Trinity by Leon Uris and The Given Day by Dennis Lehane.

Rebecca: What is the last historical novel you read?

Author: The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. I have read a few of her books and recommend them all.

Rebecca: What are three things people may not know about you?

Author: I am such an open book so that’s a tough one. Hmmmm. I have been known to decorate and set the table a full week before a planned dinner party, I make three things flawlessly: pulled pork, banana muffins and hermits and I have a closetful of baby blankets that I knit during the pandemic, despite giving at least two dozen as gifts in the last year. Do you know anyone who wants a blanket?

Rebecca: What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

Author: I love the fact that a well-written historical novel can draw a reader in to a particular person, topic, or time period and inspire them to do more research, to learn more about who they were, what was happening and why. Historical fiction is the gateway to a fascination with all of the things we never learned in school.

Rebecca: What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Author: I enjoy all sorts of water sports, especially sailing and kayaking. I love to spend time with my family and friends and I read a lot, like to knit (baby blankets) and love to travel. And drink coffee and enjoy my cats- my best buddies- they are named after characters in my earlier books- Jackie and Jill!

Rebecca: Lastly, will you have more projects in the future?

Author: I am developing a few ideas, possibly one with a legal theme. All of my books share the theme of second chances and I think there are still a number of ways to explore that topic.

Stay tuned to American Historical Novels this week for more!

Thank you Rebecca! I am excited to be with you and your readers this week!!
Gail O

I bet there is a NICU or shelter that would take those blankets off your hands! Over the years I have heard of various projects that seek donations but nothing comes to mind off hand.
Look forward to hearing more about your book!

Amanda wrote: "I bet there is a NICU or shelter that would take those blankets off your hands! Over the years I have heard of various projects that seek donations but nothing comes to mind off hand.
Look forward ..."

Ever since Covid- it is increasingly difficult to donate hand-made items, esp. for infants and children. One place said yes, but only with tags! Tags! A friend of mine is checking with her grand-daughter's day-care center. Fingers crossed.