Becoming Violet. I sat with my book, "The Fever" in hand as I watched the clouds shift out the window. I marked up the book, figuring out where I could develop the next story. Where I could create more life in the next book. I began researching in March, coincidentally the coronavirus had just been announced that it was taking over two towns away. The similarities between how the COVID was handled and how the yellow fever was handled was eerily similar. I researched, read through doctor notes from the 1800s, read about experiences in the tunnels beneath the hospital, I studied the map of Savannah in 1870. I literally rearranged my living room and bought some victorian trunks from an antique store to really get the feel for the story. I placed it all together piece by piece to give an "in the attic" feel. I had a photoshoot one day, with the mental support of all my friends screaming at me to "smile with my eyes" I finally got the cover photo. Also, side note, do you have any idea how hard it is to smile with your eyes when you're a very hollow-eyed person? When I smile, my eyes light up but when I'm not smiling, my eyes are very hollow and empty.
Some people have asked why I didn't really decribe how she looked. In a way, I feel like I am my main character. I didn't give much description of her because, in a way, I felt like I was her. I tried to mentally become my main character, and in a way, for a while I watched myself change. I think as a writer, that's how you bring life to your story, you mentally change until its finished. You become one with your story. Why do you think most writers are weirdos? 🤣
Want a quick summary of the story?
"Violet is an average housekeeper for the Hamilton Family in Savannah, Ga 1876. It's business as usual in the world of the Hamilton family until one night after an extravagant party. The oldest son of the family, ten year old Peter, has fallen ill. His parents head to the hospital with poor Peter, who is vomiting a black sludge. When they arrive home without him, Violet and the family nanny decide to investigate where he is and why was there such a fast "death notice" with few answers. Where is Peter? Violet gets more than she bargains for in this thrilling, on the edge of your seat short story."
If you'd like your own copy of "The Fever", click here. It's available in Ebook & Paperback.
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