What happens when the history surrounding your own home becomes stranger than fiction?
On this episode of Plot Twist Radio, Erin sits down with award-winning historical fiction author Sharon Virts, author of Mask of Honor, Bargains of Fate, and Veil of Doubt, for a fascinating conversation about the real people, forgotten scandals, murder trials, and historic properties that have inspired her novels.
Sharon shares how restoring an 1810 Virginia mansion unexpectedly launched her writing career and led her deep into the lives of the people who inhabited her community more than two centuries ago. What began as research into the history of her home eventually uncovered extraordinary personal connections, including an ancestor who served under one of the historical figures in her novels.
Then the rabbit hole got even deeper.
While researching an 1872 murder trial, Sharon traced one of the attorneys involved in the case and discovered that his daughter had lived for decades in Sharon’s own house and had even died in the bedroom Sharon now occupies. That discovery ultimately helped inspire Veil of Doubt.
Sharon and Erin also dig into the craft of writing historical fiction, including how much an author can change while remaining faithful to history, blending real and fictional characters, keeping research from overwhelming the story, and creating flawed protagonists readers can still love.
Sharon also reveals her unusual writing process involving timelines, color-coded Post-it notes, major plot points, and just enough “pantsing” to allow unexpected characters to take over the story.
Plus, they discuss Mask of Honor and Bargains of Fate, the real history behind Jack McCarty and Armistead Mason, dueling in early America, the War of 1812, historic preservation, and Sharon’s upcoming third installment, Swamp of Lies.
For history lovers, historical fiction readers, writers, and anyone fascinated by the secrets old houses leave behind, this episode proves that sometimes the best stories aren't invented. They're waiting to be uncovered.
Topics include: Sharon Virts, historical fiction, Mask of Honor, Bargains of Fate, Veil of Doubt, Swamp of Lies, historic homes, Virginia history, War of 1812, American history, historical research, writing historical fiction, murder trials, historic preservation, writing process, and real stories behind historical novels.