The History That Informs My Fiction
My fiction grows out of early twentieth‑century U.S. history, especially the lived experiences of people finding their way through the Progressive Era. My research often centers on immigrant communities on the Great Plains and the work and movement of ordinary people in that period. I also draw on the history of Harvey Houses and the Santa Fe rail line, which shaped travel and opportunity across the Southwest. With a background in nursing, I’m drawn to the history of nursing and the ways nurses trained and worked in those years. This page gathers the historical material that shapes my stories and the world my characters move through.
These notes, sources, and historical threads aren’t meant to be exhaustive. They reflect the parts of early twentieth‑century life that shape my characters’ choices and the worlds they inhabit. I return to this material often as I write, and I add to it as new questions and stories emerge.