Words of warning: writing is a selfish solitary occupation and research becomes addictive. You will find Fate has an unexpected habit of intervening too.
My own exciting journey began when I happened to pick up a second-hand book about French Marshal Ney. The book looked interesting. He looked interesting with his glittering career and subsequent downfall, together with his undoubted sex appeal. Little did I know that simple impulse would lead me down a three decades long of research, discovery and storytelling.
A couple of weeks later, at a lunch party, I found myself seated next to a gentleman named David Chandler – who, as it turned out, was the world’s leading authority on Napoleon at the time. It was David who introduced me to another fascinating historical figure: the eccentric English General Sir Robert Wilson.
Three Decades of Research
Wilson proved to be just as compelling, and – luckily for me- he was also an extraordinarily prolific writer. His books and journals were rich with stories, including his many encounters with Ney, and another curious character: Michael Bruce, a dissolute and hedonistic young Englishman, quite unlike the other two. I became engrossed with these three men and their intertwined lives across Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the beginning of a story I just had to write! So, it all began.
It has taken me three decades of research and keyboard bashing to publish the two books in the “Three Men in a War“ series, Glory Beckons and Fleeting Glory. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Napoleon’s coronation to the decisive Battle of Waterloo. Could be described as Battles, Boudoirs and Bedsports. As luck would have it, I did not have to invent characters, they all lived. Or the plots, it all happened. So, I never suffered from writer’s block, quite the reverse.
War and Peace!
The original book turned into another overly long War and Peace. My editor suggested I split it into two, which did work well as there was an obvious event: Napoleon poised to cross into Russia on the start of his disastrous invasion. This meant that, when writing the sequel, I had to make sure a reader who had not read Glory Beckons would be able to follow the story. For example, Ney’s famous horse was called Concorde. At the beginning of Fleeting Glory, I did introduce him as Concorde the horse. Not just Ney’s horse.
Although I already knew the plots, I still wrote a book-plan with Part plans and then Chapter plans. This is how I begin to write, though I do appreciate if it is a completely fictional book being written, this might not work, as the characters and plot can suddenly change mid-story. I didn’t always write in order either, so if, one morning, I felt like tackling a battle scene or a seduction, I would go to that. Thank goodness for Word, which of course stores Chapters in sequence even if the input is at different times.
As every historical fiction author knows, research becomes addictive. I was lucky to find so many documents, books and letters in the public domain, especially those by Sir Robert. Rich with stories, his prolific writing made me wonder if he ever slept during campaigns! So, I was able to tell this extraordinary story with historical accuracy, depth, romance, and more than a little irreverence.
How did I go about the research?
How did I go about the research? Three decades ago, there was no Google, so I spent a considerable sum on books from the USA with extremely expensive postage! Over the years I have built up my extensive Napoleonic library with some very rare volumes. Yes, the Net goes so far, no matter what the period is, but, for me, it did not often go into enough detail. I had a great deal of assistance from the British Library and various translated Russian and French sources. And I have travelled widely throughout Europe – visiting many of the same places where my characters once walked, fought and loved.
“Golden Nuggets”: exciting, very obscure or little-known facts. I discovered Napoleon suffered from epileptic seizures, I have never read this in any of his official, even modern, biographies. A very well-kept secret at the time. What if he had had one while commanding a battle?
In winter 1807, Sir Robert saved the life of a toddler stuck with his family in the Polish snows, Ferdinand de Lesseps. He grew up to develop the Suez Canal, opened to shipping in 1869. He was also in charge of transporting the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French people to the Americans, to New York in 1884.
Write Something!
Onto the writing! No matter how you feel, write something. As frequently as possible. It is the only way to keep the words flowing. You can always delete or edit. How you tackle any seduction scenes can be interesting. Where such scenes were part of the story I tried to keep them tasteful. But you always offend someone.
Personally, I found the process of getting my books to the published stage both daunting and laborious. I had an agent, who after he had done precisely nothing for six months, I gave the boot. I had some interest from a well-known publisher, whose timeframe for the first novel was over two years. Let alone the second. They also wanted to rewrite some of it. Self-publishing sounded even more daunting, so I went to Troubador, a sort of half-way house. You keep all the decision making while they sort the professional process. Proof reading, Editing, Marketing, Website (essential!). Costs money but worth it. I have published the two books in under two years. Believe you me, there is no other feeling like holding YOUR book in YOUR hand.
Finally, enjoy your writing as much as I do, but don’t give up the day-job. There are very few authors who make enough to live on.
(c) Jean Baveystock
For more details of me, my dogs and my Napoleonic novels Glory Beckons and Fleeting Glory please visit my entertaining website. Jeanbaveystock.com
About Fleeting Glory by Jean Baveystock:
More Battles, Boudoirs and Bedsports. In the gripping sequel to Glory Beckons, three very different men find themselves in the collapse of Napoleon’s empire.
Marshal Ney, Napoleon’s famous ‘Bravest of the Brave’, at the height of his illustrious career, with a secret that could destroy the Emperor’s infallible reputation. Sir Robert Wilson, an English general and diplomat, harbouring a hatred of Bonaparte, determined to be the man who assassinates him. Michael Bruce, young hedonistic Etonian with little interest in Napoleon’s ambitions, apart from when they interrupt his travels and erotic adventures. The exciting, dangerous and intertwining lives of these three men give them ringside seats to the end of a conflict that tore Europe apart and defined the shape of the world for the next century.
Opening with Napoleon’s fateful entry into Russia and his advance towards Moscow, following the famous retreat through a Russian winter, and ending in the aftermath of Waterloo, Fleeting Glory is a non-stop page turner. Its racy depiction of gory battles, immoral court life and elegant lifestyles tells what it was really like for those caught in the finale of an empire.
Order your copy online here.
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