Get ready to learn more about the book Remember Me in this discussion with sapphic author Del Robertson.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Del Robertson about Remember Me, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Wartime Romance category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Remember Me?
I love history and every time we visited Granny in San Antonio, we always ended up at (1) the zoo and (2) The Alamo. I always thought it was unfair that history only mentioned the men on both sides of the battle, but for the most part, the women were excluded. I wanted to “fix” that by showing that there were women at The Alamo, as well.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character is Buckshot Bailey Bowen. Even prior to fighting at The Battle of The Alamo, she went against traditionally male roles by being a rancher, a cowhand, and all around bad a**.
What part of Remember Me was the most fun to write?
The most fun was writing about the final siege. I tried to cover several different facets; Travis’ last stand, Bowie’s fate, Crockett’s final moments – but I also delved into the fates of my “lesser known” characters such as Bailey Bowen and the women that served with her as well as a particularly feisty, little old lady that refused to give up her rocking chair.
How much research did you need to do for Remember Me?
Soooo much research. That’s the thing about writing historical fiction; if you want it to ring true, you need to figure out what they wore, how much they paid for stuff, what the weather was like, what weapons were available, what they ate. For example, no running out to the local McDonald’s for a Big Mac. In 1836, salted pork, beans, and corn were staples.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I have a tradition. Whenever I finish a book, I watch the movie, “Misery”. Every time Kathy Bates comes after James Caan’s character with that sledgehammer, I have a knee-jerk reaction.
What animal or object best represents you as an author or your writing style?
A racoon. I’m sort of cuddly, a little bit chunky, eat a lot of junk that I shouldn’t, and there’s better than a ninety percent chance that I’m rabid.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
The thing that has hindered me the most is body aches. I find that whereas I was once able to work all day and write all night with just 2-3 hours of sleep, I now struggle to stay sitting still for more than an hour at a time. There are some sessions in which I don’t find my groove before that first hour is up.
If you could be mentored by a famous author (living or not), who would it be?
I would go with Agatha Christie. The woman was amazing (especially for the time period that she lived in). She traveled to Egypt and all sorts of places that she later wrote about in her books. Plus, she had that whole incident in which she disappeared in real life and everyone thought her husband had killed her off until she inexplicably showed up again. Plus, her title alone…”The Queen of Mystery”…
What books did you grow up reading?
I grew up reading Nancy Drew books. My mama used to work at the Stars & Stripes bookstore on base and she would purchase one for me whenever she could afford to. I don’t write mysteries, but these books did inspire in the sense that Nancy Drew (Trixie Belden, etc) were “books for girls”. I grew up thinking that I’d like to read about girls being the knight in shining armor instead of the damsel in distress. Or Indiana Jones instead of the damsel in distress. Or the cut throat pirate instead of…again, the damsel in distress. Finally, I decided if I couldn’t find those kind of books, I would write my own.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
Oh, I’m a hopper. I like fantasy, sci fi, mystery, disaster, action. Mostly, it depends on what has sparked my interest or what time of the year it is. Example: During October, I tend to lean towards witches, vampires, and tales about Sleepy Hollow. In December, I’m leaning towards stories about reindeers and elves or sexy Kris Kringles.
I’ll probably be beaten for this, but I will confess that I do judge books by their cover. If I see the cover and it doesn’t appeal to me, or if I read the blurb and it doesn’t catch my interest, odds are I won’t crack the spine.
