Renegade (33 page)
Authors: Caroline Lee
On Historical Accuracy
If you’ve made it all the way to reading this part of the story, it should come as no surprise to you that I love the Lowcountry. I was born and raised outside of Charleston, and I’ve waited years to set a historical romance there. It’s been a struggle to decide on the right time-period, though. While Charleston has plenty of history, it’s not always romantic. I opted to set the Baird Brothers’ stories at the end of Reconstruction, when the South had twelve years of change behind them, and before “rifle clubs,” like the KKK and the Red Shirts, gained enough power to really suppress black voices.
The history behind the end of Reconstruction was covered in the story; President Hayes cut a deal to gain the presidency in exchange for removing troops from the South. South Carolina elected its first Democratic governor since the War (the Republican Party was considered the “liberal” party of the time, advocating for change and rights for ex-slaves), and in a gross generalization, many aspects of life went back to the way things were before 1861.
But while society is changing around Mac and Becks, I like to think that I’ve created a little haven of equality in Beckett. It’s no secret that the history of the Sea Islands was a little different from the mainland, and Edisto was no exception. While it wasn’t exactly the model of parity in the post-war years that I’ve portrayed, I’m hopeful that Mac and Becks, Eugenia, Pearl and the others will continue to work together for a bright future.
History aside, it should be obvious why I love the Lowcountry: the land. I always knew that my first Charleston story would revolve around the natural beauty of the area, and Becks’ love of the land should be clear. I grew up boating and swimming (and crabbing and shrimping) on the coastal rivers, and tromping through the swamps and forests of the South Carolina Lowcountry. I hope I was able to bring to life some of that joy and wonder, through Becks’ eyes.
Ten years ago, my parents moved to Edisto Island, and I was lucky enough to fall in love with a new place, new people, and new natural beauty. The places I describe are real: Eddingsville Beach, the churches, Holmes’ Store, and of course, Beckett Plantation. Beckett is now a subdivision, surrounded by spreading live oaks, stately pines, and magnificent magnolias, bordered by what is now called Fishing Creek. The remains of Eugenia’s childhood home are even visible from the water, and I’d like to think that I was able to capture the feel of Beckett (and Edisto) in the springtime. Like Becks, the azaleas and wisteria are my favorite parts of a Lowcountry spring.
I had a grand time coming up with Mac’s smuggling story; while bigger cities like New York saw a much bigger rash of smuggled goods than Charleston did at that time, I liked the idea of Mac thumbing his nose at authority with his small-scale operation. Lace might seem like an odd choice for Mac’s smuggling, but his reasons are accurate. There was at least a 60% tax on lace and silks at the time, and in 1877 a
major
lace-smuggling ring was busted bringing lace into New York Harbor in barrels. It might not have seemed particularly manly to Becks, but smuggling lace was
very
profitable.
Mac’s love of sailing should come as no surprise, even after he spent years on steamers. Sailing allows him to pit himself against the elements, to survive on his wits and talent and abilities. Of
course
he’d love that! Steam-ships might be the wave of the future, but Mac cherishes the freedom and autonomy sailing offers him.
And any good sailing ship needs a pilot who knows the waters well. Robert is of course named after Robert Smalls, who deserves a mention despite not appearing in this book. Smalls was born a slave and sent to Charleston to work on the docks and the ships there. He was actually owned by a family named the McKees; I like to imagine that the Bairds are relations, to have named their middle son McKee. Robert Smalls was piloting a Confederate military transport in May of 1862 when the officers went ashore and Smalls and the rest of the black crew hijacked the ship. They sailed the ship and their families through the blockade to surrender to Union ships, and he became a celebrity in the North. He returned home to Beaufort after the Civil War as a wealthy man, bought his old master’s house, and became a prominent politician in the Republican Party. He was the first black man to become a captain in the US Navy, a successful businessman, a South Carolina Senator, and a member of the US House of Representatives. He was a brave and brilliant man who triumphed over hatred, adversity, and prejudice, and I think
my
Robert would have been pleased to have known him.
Robert and Pearl’s stories aren’t unique, and I’m looking forward to giving them voices of their own in an upcoming novella. The twelve years of Reconstruction allowed previously unheard-of freedoms and rights to the people who had once been slaves, and the white population of the South didn’t all respond the same way. I like to think that there were voices like Mac and Becks, who’d been a part of slave-owning society before the war but saw the righteousness of the new ways of life. But there were plenty like Major Creel who dismissed “negroes” as irrelevant, or Holton who sees them as a population that need to be taken care of. I’m looking forward to pitting Holt against an outspoken Yankee schoolteacher who believes that every person has a right to self-determination and an education.
If you’ve fallen in love with the Baird Brothers, you’re going to really enjoy Holton’s story.
The Brothers of Baird’s Cove: Rebel
will reveal Holt’s past and why he’s sure it means he has no future. As Eugenia realized, it’ll take someone special to bring him—and Baird’s Cove—back to life.
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If you’ve enjoyed the history behind the Baird’s Cove trilogy, I urge you to find me on
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Reviews help other readers find books they’ll love! All reviews are read and appreciated.
Mac and Beck’s story would not be in your hands without the constant cheerleading, the occasional nagging, and the immeasurable help from my critique partner,
JA Coffey
. I owe so much to her, and to
Sophia Henry
, and to all of the brilliant and talented authors of the
Carolina Romance Writers
chapter of Romance Writers of America. Thank you all.
This book wouldn’t have looked this good without
the Killion Group’s
beautiful covers, detailed editing, and fantastic support. And many thanks to the experts at
Barclay Publicity
for giving Mac and Becks the launch they deserve.
Thanks are also owed to my beta readers, especially Kristin, and to my parents, who have always encouraged me to pursue my dream job (hint: it’s writing romance). I owe a special acknowledgement to the ladies of Edisto Island, who let me tromp around their properties and pick their brains, while remaining excited and supportive about my work. They have welcomed me into their groups and their homes, and I couldn’t have met a finer bunch.
And of course, my husband deserves recognition for tirelessly listening to me talk about plot and characters, and smiling encouragingly the whole time, regardless of his level of interest.
Caroline Lee is what George R.R. Martin once described as a “gardener author;” she delights in “planting” lovable characters in interesting situations, and allowing them to “grow” their own stories. Often they draw the story along to completely unexpected—and wonderful!—places. She considers a story a success if she can re-read it and sigh dreamily... and she wishes the same for you.
A love of
historical romance prompted Caroline to pursue her degrees in social history; her Master's Degree is in Comparative World History, which is the study of themes across history (for instance, 'domestication of animals throughout the world,' or 'childhood through history'). Her theme? You guessed it: Marriage throughout world history. Her favorite focus was periods of history that brought two disparate peoples together to marry, like marriage in the Levant during the Kingdom of Jerusalem, or marriage between convicts in colonial New South Wales. She hopes that she's able to bring this love of history – and this history of love – to her novels.
Caroline is living her own little Happily Ever After with her husband and sons in North Carolina.
You can find her at
www.CarolineLeeRomance.com
.
