From Information to Story Creation

Just a quick welcome to this quarter’s new subscribers, several of whom came from my sister’s excellent Substack, Fields and Valleys by Vanessa Doughty!

Glad to have you along for the ride as I share what it’s like to write a novel based on a true story—the story of how my grandmother overcame multiple layers of abuse, grief, and loss while growing up in a coal mining town during the 1930s and ’40s. If you’re not already subscribed to Eliana Ink, you can do so here:

Dear Friends,

So…. This happened:

Those are my fingers poking out of what’s called a carter pillow, after having wrist surgery last month.

The surgery was made necessary when I took an unfortunate tumble from a step stool and broke my wrist in two places. One moment I was happily finishing some window washing; the next, I was on the floor in a world of hurt, begging my husband Adam to get me to the hospital. The details of the accident are fuzzy, but the pain and trauma of the injuries and subsequent surgery are still vivid all these weeks later.

My stitches are out now, and I’m progressing slowly but surely through physical therapy. By the time I write my update for the summer, I imagine only the scars and the memory of the accident will remain. (Well, my new titanium plate and screws will be there too.)

While I’m experiencing the obvious inconvenience that comes with having to navigate the world using only one hand—and the non-dominant one at that—my injuries definitely could have been worse. I’m so thankful that only a few bumps and bruises accompanied the broken bones!

And I’m beyond grateful for the excellent care Adam has been providing, as well as for all the prayers and support received from loved ones.

The temporary one-handedness (not to mention the accompanying brain fog!) is certainly a setback when it comes to my writing life too, but I am still pushing forward as I am able.

Not long before my injury, I had written a 1,400-word scene that lays the groundwork for some later scenes and introduces Rose (and you, the reader!) to her future husband, Donald, and her future mother-in-law.

In May 1942, less than a year after meeting Donald and unable to suffer the abuse at home any longer, Gram ran away at age 16 and married her beau. Within a few months she was pregnant. Donald was called up to serve in World War II in April 1943, and headed off to basic training just before their first child (my uncle) was born.

For years, I have been piecing together Census records, newspaper articles, and family photos and recollections to figure out the movements of Gram and the other “characters” of her story through the 1930s and ’40s.

From this extensive research I learned quite a bit about Donald—who was such an integral part of Gram’s life at that time. However, tracking down the few remaining puzzle pieces of Donald’s time in the military would have required lots and lots of phone calls and likely out-of-state travel. In November 2024, I decided it made sense to hire a professional military researcher to find the details I was missing.

How timely that four months later, just when the physical act of writing/typing became problematic for me, I heard back from Geoff Gentilini of Golden Arrow Research with a treasure trove of research to examine!

Now I will set about the task of fitting these new-to-me historical documents from Geoff’s research together with my own research and understanding.

It’s certainly important to me to get the facts right for the integrity of the story. But the real fun (and the real challenge!) begins as I uncover the story behind the story, the heart among the data points.

Like discovering the hidden picture within one of those old Magic Eye stereogram posters, I am staring down reports and information, hoping for an image to emerge.

But this image is not of a simple object; it’s an image of choices made, regrets, and victories, that add up to a beautiful life lived.

Until next time,
Patty