Just wanted to share

[J7339]

Made my day to receive this today:

As always, good stuff Jules. One thing I love about your writing is the dialogue. Always spot on, always in character. I know you say you tend to float away from canon, but to me it seems as though the characters are living, breathing people - and that means they will grow and change with the times. So if you did stay in canon, you'd have some very boring characters on your hands. But there's no danger of that here.

You have alway done a fabulous job carrying the adoption storyline - with its ups and downs. The idea that it's an evolving situation really comes through.

Also, I'm pysched you keep working on your stories, both old and new. BREATHE is my favorite story of all the stories out there, and everytime I see your update in my inbox I get excited.

Keep up the great work.

I guess I am doing okay with my writing with comments like this - almost as good as receiving a sale or feedback.


Jules

[katandron1]

Great job Jules.
Keep up the good work.

[Lanascountry]

That is SUPER, Jules..It is always so good to see one of our members
doing well and enjoying what they do. So glad you are here! :)

[angelsolutions]

Congratulations Jules! How wonderful to receive feedback on something you're passionate about. Keep up the good work! Obviously, you have fans! :)

Blessings for your success,
sylvia

[J7339]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone - appreciated.

I got 2 more new reviews this morning - so great stuff.

Writing is my escape from the real world and I spend every spare minute I have doing it apart from my research work.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

And just how do nosey folks access your work?? Serious readers here!! :D
So happy & proud for you Ms Jules..That is SUPERB.. I have a first cousin that writes Christian
fiction (romance and mystery). I am so amazed by those so talented they can put words
together and tell wonderful stories.. LOL, I write and have a bit a' trouble understanding
me'self! :D
My cousin's name is Darlene Franklin and she has several books out now with some success.
She has one with BARBOUR PRESS , a very large Christian book publisher.
She is also doing other work with such publications as the "Chicken Soup' books.

[J7339]

This is my author page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/101762/

I was going to see if people here might have been willing to help a little.

I am writing a story that will soon involve snippets from the Civil War - just flash backs so to speak

I need a really good name for a Colonel in the Union Army - a young lieutenant in the same army

And I need 2 names for soldiers from the Confederate side

and 1 slave name

I also need a train route from somewhere in a Union state that would then run into Confederate territory.

I am hoping to find the name of a Union town that today would have a fairly good historical library about the war and what might have happened.

I usually just make them up - but I have asked on forums before and found that I often get great ideas by asking this way.

This is all just background information and set up for my story.

The story is set in the future - but I need to look back to Civil War times and events that I am going to have happen then.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

Jules (this) coming from a true Southerner my first question would be:
have you read and truly STUDIED the works of Margaret Mitchell (ie: Gone With
The Wind' etc,) This will give you a bit TOO much of a southern slant, but is a great
place to start..Just a idea..I am thinking on those names. I assume for the slave we
are speaking of a adult male name correct? Thinking!!

[unclejunk1]

Just a suggestion but what about the slave Dave - so famous now for his pottery.

[J7339]

Hi Lana,

No I haven't - I haven't seen the movie either - probably the only person in the known world LOL

Yes - the slave is an adult male - should have said - the picture I have in my head - is the large black guy with Tom Hanks in the "Green Mile" - a very large man.

Jules

[J7339]

Thanks Rick for the suggestion - I am not sure that I know of him.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

MOST of the black names during the civil war period WERE stereotypical (sorry) and would
most likely sound African or Biblical. (just a FYI) :) Yes I would go get the GWTW books..and the
movie..The later versions not quite as accurate, but also not quite as biased either. :p (IMO)

[Lanascountry]

Elijah was a extremely common and STRONG slave name. (Biblical, of course)

I have no idea (really) how so many of the slaves became so deeply spiritual, but they DID
and quickly. Their dedication has always been deeply inspiring to me.

[unclejunk1]

Lana probably knows who I am speaking of. during that period it was against the law to teach a slave to read and write. Dave not only could read and write but made pottery with poems and verses on them. Now even broken pieces of Daves pottery is very valuable - goes for thousands. This type of person could fit in with someone like Tom Hanks and converse on his level. Dave was from South Carolina.

Now another really neat story overlooked so often by the history books and hollywood is the Reedyfork Trussel attack. Took place north of Greenboro, NC. Northern troops were determined to kill the Confederate President who was meeting in Greenboro shortly after the fall of Richmond (Confederate Capitol) the purpose of the meeting was to determine where to place the new Capitol. Reedy Fork Trussel is located in Browns Summit, the highest point between Greensboro and Danville, VA. They planned to blow the trussel and have the train he was traveling on crash in to the raven below. Problem - their timing was off. The train had already crossed before they blew it up. And yes Danville became the next and last Capitol of the Confederate States.

One more tall tail if need is the story about the lost Confederate fortune. Let me know if you want it.

[J7339]

My story does involve the blowing up of a train - I had already written something similar for another story.

I wanted the Confederate soldiers to be blowing up the train that has a shipment of gold for the Union.

Sorry for my lack of knowledge of places in the US - so is Danville in Virginia ???

The story involves the gold being hidden after the crash - and that is where the slave is - he comes in the form of a ghost from back then that knows where the gold is hidden - and I already have it that he can't speak.

Giving my plot away a little here LOL

Jules

[unclejunk1]

Oh yes, you may want to know about Jamestown, NC and the part it played in the war. Made many rifles for the Confederates but was a Quaker Community and very involved with the underground Railway. The Mendenhal's had a false bottom wagon used to move slaves from that point to the next station. Many tales surrounding that area and its people. I rented the Coffin House for a while as a shop and many stories were told.

[unclejunk1]

Yes Danville is in south Central Virginia.

[J7339]

So would Danville or Jamestown be a better choice for a museum of library ???

I will have to have a look on a map.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

Jules ...see this..Rick might be on to something..This Dave is really cool!

http://www.usca.edu/aasc/davepotter.htm

(this page is from the University of SC)

[Lanascountry]

Jamestown..(IMHO)

[unclejunk1]

I don't have that much imagination but do remember stories as told to me. Here is short version of two stories told to me as truth. When Lee surrendered after his last battle in Virginia they signed the papers at Bennet place ( a farm near Durham, NC) troops were mustered out in Greensboro and more near High Point, NC - to be more exact - Trinity, NC along the way it is said that the Confederate treasury was hidden after paying the mustered out soldiers. People have been digging all along the rail line between Greensboro and Trintiy. Never found but they forget that the rail line moved from its original route. Second story is in Danville, VA. It is said that a grave yard ( Black Grave Yard) dating back to that time period is where the money - gold is hidden. The grave yard is owned by a local lawyer and he refuses to allow any digging.

As you probably already know the south had spies - women spies in the north so you may want to play on that to.

[J7339]

Jamestown is in North Carolina ??? and Confederate ??? just to get it straight in my head.

Sorry - we never learnt anything about the civil war here at school.

Jules

[unclejunk1]

The original building in Danville, VA is still standing and is a museum. A church in Greenboro was turned into a Confederate hospital and is now the local museum. Corner of Summit and Lindsey St's.

[unclejunk1]

Jamestown is located between Greensboro, NC and High Point, NC

[mj-trading]

Uncle! I'm Marred To One Of Those Women Spies! She is always spying on me!:eek:

[Lanascountry]

Re: Jamestown..libraries..museums..(location of Jamestown)
also of extreme interest Williamsburg!


http://www.apva.org/tour/whereis.html

[J7339]

Most of what I will write will be made up to a certain extent - but

Would the rail line have gone from Jamestown to Greensboro - just for reference in my story - I don't need to go into a lot of detail in the plot - but just to make it sound a little more convincing.

I had already thought of using the graveyard idea - and would love to - but am thinking of just have the gold buried on a large plantation style estate - which is where the slave comes into it.

Appreciate all the ideas and help with the historical facts .

Jules

[Lanascountry]

Mr Rick will be a LOT better answering that Jules..My very next questions
were going to be: How much history? How much fantasy?
My opinion. IF history I would do some interviews with American historians. As you
can see, this is of extreme interest to many in the states. There is NO 'sides' but a
great deal of interest!

[unclejunk1]

The Coffin House I mentioned earlier was the office and home of Dr. Coffin. When the Confederate Cabinet meet in Greensboro the majority stayed at Mendenhal plantation in Jamestown but could not hold them all so some stayed in the Coffin House. Irony - The Mendenhals were Quaker's just like Dr. Coffin. While this Cabinet meeting was going on Slaves were being transported in false bottom wagons from Dr. Coffins house to freedom. Some argue they only left from the plantation - who knows for sure now! What I am telling you is fact and many of the artifacts from the period I was involved with appraisls for the local people loaning to the High Point Museum and Mendenhal Plantation Museum. I have owned two Jamestown Rifles - still own one. Also appraised many items from Magnolia Plantation in the same are.

[unclejunk1]

Yes the railroad does travel from Grennsboro through Jamestown and on past High Point and Trinity. Trinity was also the birthplace of Duke University - for reference.

[J7339]

Basically I have already written the first part to this story - the slave ghost comes and appears to someone in the future - because he wants to show him where the gold is hidden.

I have write where the person learns about the train crash and goes to the place and everything yet.

The reason I have the ghost coming back to this particular person to show him - is because he looks like the young lieutenant from the Union that I have yet to name - he and the slave are the only two who knew where the gold was hidden - the ghost can't speak - only show.

I wanted the gold to be hidden on a large plantation style estate somewhere after the train crash - hence the introduction of a Colonel figure. The two confederate soldiers are the ones who hid the gold but are now dead too because of the time difference.

The villians I have in my story - will learn that this person now knows where the gold is - and forces him to show them.

Basically that is the rough plot outlined.

I need the museum because I want a book of the time to show a photograph of the young lieutenant so that they can see the resemblence.

I am probably not making much sense - just all in my head at the moment.

Jules

[unclejunk1]

As Lana said some things like the gold is folklore. Other things like the spies and skirmishes, plantations and facts i mentioned around them can be verified. I mentioned several museums that you can contact.

[Lanascountry]

A Southern OFFICER might have been named _ _ _ _ (something) Bouregard. :)

[Lanascountry]

In relation to what Rick said..Jules..just my opinion..IF your facts are
actually fiction, I would make that REAL clear. U.S. folks get pretty ticky about this
subject..(MO) :)

[unclejunk1]

If I was going to use a museum it would be Greensboro because the building is from the time period. The Museum in Danville was the actual Capitol at one point and could be recoginized as that if it matters. But again today it is a museum. Confederate Officers. One that comes to mind was General Ramseur because he was the Confederates youngest General - but he did not live very long. There are many you can find on the net. There is one other very notable black that I rememberd and that is Thomas Hill - I think I have the name right. Unusual because he owned slaves and was a very well know cabinet/furniture maker. He even made furniture for the Governers Mansion in Raleigh, NC for Gov. Motley Morehead. Several stories around that one.

[J7339]

Yes - but I will be putting something in there when I write that chapter.

I do try and do a fair bit of research for my stories to make them a little more realistic - but I do make note that after that it is my interpretation only - and may not be accurate in some parts.

So far it has worked for other stories that I have written.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

Jules, I have rated your post 5 stars!! I am INTRIGUED!! Maybe you
might consider thinking about this as a ebook for sale..:D (IF reasonable, I will buy).
Anyway another idea of keeping this post *HOT* (topic) and adding to it as thoughts are
discussed. Rick is really GOOD at this stuff. (I am merely good at RESEARCH!) :)

[unclejunk1]

You are not wrong Lana! I take it very seriously when someone calls it fact and it is not. Yes call it a work of fiction based on actual places and some actual names from the period but fiction.

[J7339]

Thanks Lana - no not for sale - just for fun - just something I enjoy.

On my author page - the first parts are written - the story is called GHOST - but I have only done a couple of chapters yet.

The story I hope to have published is MAP OF STARS - but it is a fantasy/sorcerer story - so totally different genre.

Jules

[Lanascountry]

I can certainly see that it might appear to be pure fiction by the name..
But in the U.S (and MUCH of the world) GHOST were NOT always considered
fiction. There is a whole other world of stories and tales during that and even
the 'Indian wars' periods regarding ghost and ghost presence.

[unclejunk1]

One last thought and I am gone. This would be fiction except that the places and things exist. Between Bennet place (Durham) and Greensboro along a spur line is a place that was called Columbia and a mill called Columbia Mfg. during the war they made Confederate Uniforms. The spur line ended at the old mill and had a turn table for the engine. Back then mill's operated off water power so it was located along the deep river. Columbia was remaned Ramseur after the war in honor of General Ramseur, the young general that died so young. what better place to hide a treasure but at the end of a rail line along a river with a building to hide it under if you like. Actual places and names but pure fiction as a story line. Makes sense if you think in order of events - signing of the papers in Durham and mustering out of troops in Greensboro. Small town in an out of the way place. Just a thought. Have a good night to all!

[jtsspecialties]

Just catchin up on this post and I would love to read this story once your done writting it if possible. I really enjoy a great fact based/fictiction book.:cool:

[happyface]

What a fantastic job, Jules
I love some of the stories that I seen.
Keep up the good work!
Lisa (happyface)