jasmine tarkheena
Active member
I’m thinking of writing a Christian 10 book historical fiction series set 1773-1815, drawing inspiration from Liberty’s Kids, Turn: Washington’s Spies, and the Anne of Green Gables series, calling the series The Voices of Liberty. As most of you know, writers actually do get inspiration from other sources, and there’s a fine line between inspiration and plagiarism.
Here are characters ideas I have planned out so far:
Main Character: Lucy Stiles, born March 3, 1765 in Philadelphia, a peasant orphan with strawberry blond hair, aqua eyes, porcelain skin, and a fair complexion, is soft spoken, sweet and innocent as well as imaginative, yet headstrong and has a slight temper. Her parents Major Matthew who was a guerrilla during the French and Indian War and Priscilla Stiles both died of smallpox when she was only 5 years old, and has stayed with a neighbor when her parents first came down with smallpox. Lucy has been in and out of homes, many of which were abusive and treat her more like a slave, the last consisting of a married couple where the husband was a drunkard who threw her out into the streets. Lucy lived out in the streets before she was taken in at the Pennsylvania Gazette (the Franklin Court, that is) November 1773. There, she learns how to read and write, as well how to sew, stitch, and sew with which she later becomes a seamstress. Lucy posses a rag doll named Penelope gifted to her by her father for Christmas when she was 3. She starts out as neutral then later becomes a patriot.
Caleb (pronounced in Spanish) Gracíos, a young Anglo-Spanish nobleman born February 16, 1761, in Madrid to a Welsh-Scots-Spanish father and an English-Irish mother, and moved to London when he was about 7, with deep brunette hair, a light olive complexion, and rich brown eyes, has lived a sheltered and privileged life, has a talent for playing piano and singing, and he and his parents are close friends with Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His father Seńor Colonel Jonatan Gracíos who served in the Seven Years War, retired from the service and received honor from both King George III and King Carlos III, and went to scout out new lands in the Ohio River Valley for both kings in 1770. Dr. Franklin arranges for Caleb to stay at the Gazette while awaiting for his father to return from the west and his mother Seńora Rachel Gracíos remains in London, and once Colonel Gracíos returns, Rachel would join them in the colonies. Caleb tries to make passage on a ship to Philadelphia, but couldn’t, so boarded the Eleanor to Boston December 1773. Caleb’s father has sent him only two or so letters, as there’s no mail service in the Ohio River Valley. He exudes warmth, intelligence, and maturity, is fluent in both English and Spanish, and conveys his thoughts through a very expansive vocabulary, which she uses to eloquently describe and transmit his perspective on the rapidly changing world around him. He is confronted by many complex, tragic, and troubling circumstances once arriving in America, and abhors every form of human suffering including slavery. With the possibility of a war between the American colonists and England, he decides to become a correspondent for Dr. Franklin's newspaper to offer a more balanced perspective to the press. He posses an heirloom engraved silver watch given to him by his father before he left for his exploration. Despite his privileged upbringing, he is very kind and thoughtful, and cares deeply for his friends. He starts out as a loyalist then later has a change of heart and turns to patriot. He later uses his wealth and nobility to become a diplomat for America, settling in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and correspond for various newspapers from a diplomatic perspective
Nolan Costner, born January 7, 1761 in Baltimore to upper-middle class family with 1 sister Anne, with blond hair and gray eyes. Nolan is a correspondent for the Pennsylvania Gazette, and is committed to getting the facts, impulsive, steadfast in his beliefs, not afraid to risk his life for a cause he is passionate about, speak his mind, volunteer for a dangerous mission, or to help someone in need. His father who is also a retired colonel from The French and Indian War, is a merchant who squandered on the family fortune and fell into debt. Nolan goes to Philadelphia to work at the Gazette to help pay off his father’s debt while his mother and Anne remain in Baltimore. He is a patriot from the very start, and although a bit overzealous, he’s kind and thoughtful, and cares deeply about his family and friends. He later pursues medicine to become a physician and sets up his practice in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and correspond for various newspapers from a medical perspective
Felix Haller, born April 10, 1767, in Connecticut and is Native American, with black-brown hair, copper skin, and hazel eyes, and his father has been a captain during the French and Indian War. When Felix’s family move to Philadelphia in 1773, he goes to live at the Gazette as his parents permit him, where he helps sell newspapers. Felix is commonly found getting into trouble, no matter how often he is told to stay out of it; he quite enjoys the fun, excitement, and attention it brings. He also had quite an appetite as he was always hungry, even when he had just eaten, then eventually grows out of it. Felix serves as comic relief who eventually becomes a patriot. He later pursues law to become an attorney, sets up practice in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and corresponds for various newspapers from legal perspective.
Maurice Dutoit, a tall and muscular French Romani in his 30’s and 40’s, with dark olive skin, deep brunette-black hair and brown eyes, Maurice was brought in chains to North America as a slave, and sold on the block in Charleston, South Carolina as a boy. Because of his ingenuity, Maurice learned to read and write in both French and English, learned smithing and craftsmanship, and buy his freedom, thus freeing himself from the slavery of the American south. He eventually moved to Philadelphia and found work at Dr. Franklin's Print Shop as a printer and serves as his majordomo, as Dr. Franklin is a man who hates slavery as much as Maurice. He values his freedom more than anything, and will never allow anyone to strip him of his dignity, despite his or her feelings on race. He has a sister named Brielle from who he was separated from as she was taken to North Carolina. On his way to Philadelphia, Maurice went to North Carolina and successfully bought Brielle freedom, and they went to the Franklin Court together, where she manages with housekeeping. Maurice also posses a letter from Dr. Franklin that states he’s a free man for protection. As Dr. Franklin is away overseas most of the time, Maurice and Brielle look after the Franklin court as well as the four children who live and work there. Maurice later starts a school for French Romani children (boys and girls) from immigrating families where they could learn English as a second language as well as read and write in both French and English, and other essentials like arithmetic, grammar, and science.
Safira Liete, born February 1765 in Portugal to a middle class family, with an older sister and a younger brother and sister, with brown hair and blue eyes. Safira and her family move from Portugal to Philadelphia in 1775, and becomes Lucy’s best friend. She develops a gentle nature, and often speaks up for Lucy. She even shares with Lucy that the custom of tea time actually originated in her home country, Portugal, giving her a reason to be a patriot because she sympathizes with the colonists over unfair taxation over tea.
Charity Mavis, born May 1767, is a native of Philadelphia like Lucy with platinum blond hair and green gray eyes who moves temporarily to York 1777-1778 during the British winter occupation, and befriends Lucy and Safira while there.
I plan to include the most essential historical events of the Revolution and beyond (The Boston Tea Party, The Intolerable Acts, the First Contentinental Congress, the Liberty of Death Speech, the Midnight Ride, Lexington and Concord, the Green Mountain Boys and Fort Ticonderoga, the Second Contentinental Congress, Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, the Declaration of Independence, Nathan Hale’s famous last words and execution, the Crossing of the Delaware and Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, the Treaty of Alliance, Battle of Monmouth, the Battle of Flamborough Head, the French arrival, Benedict Arnold’s treachery, the Southern Campaign, the Siege of Yorktown, the Treaty of Paris, Shay’s Rebellion, the Constitutional Convention, etc), as well as other events that don’t get studied often, (the Burning of the Peggy Stewart (a cargo ship), the Minutewomen at Jewett Bridge, the Turtle (the first submarine), Sybil Ludington’s midnight ride (who did it twice as much as Paul Revere), Spain’s involvement (for creative license, Spain becoming an alliance along with France of the US), the Brom and Bett vs Ashley case, the Newburgh conspiracy, etc).
If you have any suggestions how I should approach this, please feel to free to share them. Note: *I don’t intend to turn this into a sermon or get into the political aspect of it, so refraining from any discussion about religion or politics would be appreciated.
Here are characters ideas I have planned out so far:
Main Character: Lucy Stiles, born March 3, 1765 in Philadelphia, a peasant orphan with strawberry blond hair, aqua eyes, porcelain skin, and a fair complexion, is soft spoken, sweet and innocent as well as imaginative, yet headstrong and has a slight temper. Her parents Major Matthew who was a guerrilla during the French and Indian War and Priscilla Stiles both died of smallpox when she was only 5 years old, and has stayed with a neighbor when her parents first came down with smallpox. Lucy has been in and out of homes, many of which were abusive and treat her more like a slave, the last consisting of a married couple where the husband was a drunkard who threw her out into the streets. Lucy lived out in the streets before she was taken in at the Pennsylvania Gazette (the Franklin Court, that is) November 1773. There, she learns how to read and write, as well how to sew, stitch, and sew with which she later becomes a seamstress. Lucy posses a rag doll named Penelope gifted to her by her father for Christmas when she was 3. She starts out as neutral then later becomes a patriot.
Caleb (pronounced in Spanish) Gracíos, a young Anglo-Spanish nobleman born February 16, 1761, in Madrid to a Welsh-Scots-Spanish father and an English-Irish mother, and moved to London when he was about 7, with deep brunette hair, a light olive complexion, and rich brown eyes, has lived a sheltered and privileged life, has a talent for playing piano and singing, and he and his parents are close friends with Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His father Seńor Colonel Jonatan Gracíos who served in the Seven Years War, retired from the service and received honor from both King George III and King Carlos III, and went to scout out new lands in the Ohio River Valley for both kings in 1770. Dr. Franklin arranges for Caleb to stay at the Gazette while awaiting for his father to return from the west and his mother Seńora Rachel Gracíos remains in London, and once Colonel Gracíos returns, Rachel would join them in the colonies. Caleb tries to make passage on a ship to Philadelphia, but couldn’t, so boarded the Eleanor to Boston December 1773. Caleb’s father has sent him only two or so letters, as there’s no mail service in the Ohio River Valley. He exudes warmth, intelligence, and maturity, is fluent in both English and Spanish, and conveys his thoughts through a very expansive vocabulary, which she uses to eloquently describe and transmit his perspective on the rapidly changing world around him. He is confronted by many complex, tragic, and troubling circumstances once arriving in America, and abhors every form of human suffering including slavery. With the possibility of a war between the American colonists and England, he decides to become a correspondent for Dr. Franklin's newspaper to offer a more balanced perspective to the press. He posses an heirloom engraved silver watch given to him by his father before he left for his exploration. Despite his privileged upbringing, he is very kind and thoughtful, and cares deeply for his friends. He starts out as a loyalist then later has a change of heart and turns to patriot. He later uses his wealth and nobility to become a diplomat for America, settling in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and correspond for various newspapers from a diplomatic perspective
Nolan Costner, born January 7, 1761 in Baltimore to upper-middle class family with 1 sister Anne, with blond hair and gray eyes. Nolan is a correspondent for the Pennsylvania Gazette, and is committed to getting the facts, impulsive, steadfast in his beliefs, not afraid to risk his life for a cause he is passionate about, speak his mind, volunteer for a dangerous mission, or to help someone in need. His father who is also a retired colonel from The French and Indian War, is a merchant who squandered on the family fortune and fell into debt. Nolan goes to Philadelphia to work at the Gazette to help pay off his father’s debt while his mother and Anne remain in Baltimore. He is a patriot from the very start, and although a bit overzealous, he’s kind and thoughtful, and cares deeply about his family and friends. He later pursues medicine to become a physician and sets up his practice in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and correspond for various newspapers from a medical perspective
Felix Haller, born April 10, 1767, in Connecticut and is Native American, with black-brown hair, copper skin, and hazel eyes, and his father has been a captain during the French and Indian War. When Felix’s family move to Philadelphia in 1773, he goes to live at the Gazette as his parents permit him, where he helps sell newspapers. Felix is commonly found getting into trouble, no matter how often he is told to stay out of it; he quite enjoys the fun, excitement, and attention it brings. He also had quite an appetite as he was always hungry, even when he had just eaten, then eventually grows out of it. Felix serves as comic relief who eventually becomes a patriot. He later pursues law to become an attorney, sets up practice in Fairfax (Culperer), Virginia and corresponds for various newspapers from legal perspective.
Maurice Dutoit, a tall and muscular French Romani in his 30’s and 40’s, with dark olive skin, deep brunette-black hair and brown eyes, Maurice was brought in chains to North America as a slave, and sold on the block in Charleston, South Carolina as a boy. Because of his ingenuity, Maurice learned to read and write in both French and English, learned smithing and craftsmanship, and buy his freedom, thus freeing himself from the slavery of the American south. He eventually moved to Philadelphia and found work at Dr. Franklin's Print Shop as a printer and serves as his majordomo, as Dr. Franklin is a man who hates slavery as much as Maurice. He values his freedom more than anything, and will never allow anyone to strip him of his dignity, despite his or her feelings on race. He has a sister named Brielle from who he was separated from as she was taken to North Carolina. On his way to Philadelphia, Maurice went to North Carolina and successfully bought Brielle freedom, and they went to the Franklin Court together, where she manages with housekeeping. Maurice also posses a letter from Dr. Franklin that states he’s a free man for protection. As Dr. Franklin is away overseas most of the time, Maurice and Brielle look after the Franklin court as well as the four children who live and work there. Maurice later starts a school for French Romani children (boys and girls) from immigrating families where they could learn English as a second language as well as read and write in both French and English, and other essentials like arithmetic, grammar, and science.
Safira Liete, born February 1765 in Portugal to a middle class family, with an older sister and a younger brother and sister, with brown hair and blue eyes. Safira and her family move from Portugal to Philadelphia in 1775, and becomes Lucy’s best friend. She develops a gentle nature, and often speaks up for Lucy. She even shares with Lucy that the custom of tea time actually originated in her home country, Portugal, giving her a reason to be a patriot because she sympathizes with the colonists over unfair taxation over tea.
Charity Mavis, born May 1767, is a native of Philadelphia like Lucy with platinum blond hair and green gray eyes who moves temporarily to York 1777-1778 during the British winter occupation, and befriends Lucy and Safira while there.
I plan to include the most essential historical events of the Revolution and beyond (The Boston Tea Party, The Intolerable Acts, the First Contentinental Congress, the Liberty of Death Speech, the Midnight Ride, Lexington and Concord, the Green Mountain Boys and Fort Ticonderoga, the Second Contentinental Congress, Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, the Declaration of Independence, Nathan Hale’s famous last words and execution, the Crossing of the Delaware and Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, the Treaty of Alliance, Battle of Monmouth, the Battle of Flamborough Head, the French arrival, Benedict Arnold’s treachery, the Southern Campaign, the Siege of Yorktown, the Treaty of Paris, Shay’s Rebellion, the Constitutional Convention, etc), as well as other events that don’t get studied often, (the Burning of the Peggy Stewart (a cargo ship), the Minutewomen at Jewett Bridge, the Turtle (the first submarine), Sybil Ludington’s midnight ride (who did it twice as much as Paul Revere), Spain’s involvement (for creative license, Spain becoming an alliance along with France of the US), the Brom and Bett vs Ashley case, the Newburgh conspiracy, etc).
If you have any suggestions how I should approach this, please feel to free to share them. Note: *I don’t intend to turn this into a sermon or get into the political aspect of it, so refraining from any discussion about religion or politics would be appreciated.
