041 - Margs and Research Part 1 [Worlds Asunder]

Whether you love it or you hate it, sometimes writing just requires research. All authors fall down the rabbit hole at some point, but some genres require it more than others. Alternate history is such a beast. This genre requires attention to detail and strategic decisions about changes to true events and historical figures. This leads us to a warren of worldbuilding questions. Where do you start? When do you bring in primary sources? When do you need a centuries-old map to find a forest that doesn’t exist in the 21st century? How did people really talk during the Revolutionary War, and does it matter? 

We’re so pleased to introduce Kevin Ikenberry, science fiction, mil sci-fi, and alternate history writer. He’s the author of over 25 novels, including the alternate history novel The Crossing and non-fiction The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure. Join us as we interview Ike about historical research, ripples in time, genre differences, and how he decides where to take liberties in his alternative history. 

 

In Part One, We Discuss: 

• The seed idea and origins of Kevin’s alternate history novel, The Crossing 
• Where to start when researching for alternate history and how to decide where to start 
• Vetting your sources 
• Alternate history considerations to set up your story: what changes can you make to history, and how do they impact your story? What happens if you insert modern characters into a historical setting, and how would historical figures react? 
• How to approach writing famous historical figures
• Asking key questions to determine changes in history and creating realistic responses for your characters, both real and fabricated
• “Ripples” in history: what happens when you inject interchangeable parts and speed up the Industrial Revolution?
• Maps, terrain, and historical changes in geography 

 

Resources and Guest Links: 

• https://kevinikenberry.com/ 
• The Crossing: https://kevinikenberry.com/book/the-crossing/ 
• The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure: https://kevinikenberry.com/book/the-mercenary-guide-to-story-structure/
• The Guardian Covenant: https://kevinikenberry.com/book-series/the-guardian-covenant/  
• The British Are Coming, Rick Atkinson: https://revolutiontrilogy.com/books/the-british-are-coming/ 

 

We can’t thank Ike enough–for his time or his margaritas. He’s as generous a host as he is an author, and we’re so grateful he was willing to share his experiences and expertise with our audience. 

 

Host Links: 

• H.Y. Gregor: https://hygregor.com/
• David Shadoin: https://www.davidshadoin.com/ 

 

Credits: (all assets licensed through the sites listed)

• Intro: Music- Cinematic Epic Trailer by PaulYudin on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user- kazim hussian; from pixabay users-davidfoxx, DavidGallie, olenchic, stefaniejockschat, AiVreaSaStii, RuneSnow, duyen-nguyen, EnchantedStudios, 

• Outro: Music- Good Night by FASSounds on Pixabay

• Animation and Image- From Vecteezy user-onlydesignz; from pixabay users-olenchic, Placidplace, Evgeniy_Z, Dantegrafico, Shayea_Kim