Like any good historical novel, author Nancy Burkhalter embraces the context in which her characters live. As Delhomme sinks deeper and deeper into his own personal dilemma, he finds himself gripped inextricably within the social upheaval of mid-nineteenth century France.

The more I read about this man, the more I appreciated his malleable morals, sizable ego, and skilled skullduggery. Most important was my need for a character to compromise the destitute piano tuner’s own principles into doing the king’s bidding. Zing! Vidocq was the man for the job.

At History Through Fiction, we believe that one of the most important elements of any historical novel is the Author’s Note. This letter from the author to the reader establishes a relationship of trust and accountability—the author says, I will give a story if you will give me your attention.

So, I had learned a valuable lesson: Remain neutral toward all characters, no matter their foibles or allure. Otherwise, you lose perspective on their usefulness to the story and, worse, it may keep you from putting them in compromising or even dangerous situations. The end result could easily become wimpy characters and insipid plots. No reader wants that.

Including nonfiction elements within historical fiction does not detract from the story—it enhances it. It provides an outlet for curiosity and gives deeper meaning to the characters and their experiences.

Something is sentimental when it exaggerates a feeling and becomes falsely emotional or inauthentic. This often happens when a writer relies on an assumed emotional response from a reader by, for instance, describing a marriage as happy or a funeral as sad. Not all marriages are happy and not all funerals are sad, and each will be viewed differently from different perspectives.

Free indirect style is a powerful literary device that emerges readers deep within the mind of a character. When done effectively, it blends the voices of the narrator and the character making them seem like one-in-the-same. By using free indirect style and engaging readers in the mind of the character, empathy is created which ultimately leads to an emotional response.