{ep. 104} Using Archives to Write Your Book with Amy Tector
September 8, 2023
Amy Tector and Alexa Bigwarfe discuss using archives for both research and setting in your novels. Amy is the author of THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS, a bookclub fiction set in Paris and THE FOULEST THINGS, a murder mystery set in Ottawa.
In this episode, we discussed:
- The indispensable contribution of archives in supplementing research and crafting insightful write-ups.
- How to exploit archives for polished research work essential in writing.
- Amy Tector's riveting encounter with using primary sources from archives to fuel her literary creations.
- Canada's National Archives Library and Archives Canada collection of historical records and documents.
- Why you should explore the archives in your local area or the archives related to your specific writing interests to uncover hidden stories and insights.
- Consider incorporating archival research into your own writing process to bring a unique perspective and depth to your stories.
- The importance of encouraging people to support indie authors by buying their books and spreading the word!
- Amy Tector's debut novel, The Honeybee Emeralds, available now.
Unveiling the mysteries of the past, Amy Tector takes us on a thrilling journey through archives in her latest book, The Honeybee Emeralds. But what happens when the young archivist stumbles upon a body hidden in the art vaults? With historical authenticity and unexpected twists, this gripping novel will leave readers on the edge of their seats, desperate for answers.
Learn more about Amy:
Amy Tector has spent more than 20 years plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives — whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working in The Hague for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada, and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy’s debut novel, THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS was published in spring 2022. Her second novel, THE FOULEST THINGS, is the first in a loose trilogy centered on murders and mayhem in the archives. It will be published autumn 2022.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Université Libre de Bruxelles and lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil. She is an enthusiastic, but incompetent, cross-country skier.
Find more here:
www.amytector.com
www.amytector.substack.com
https://www.instagram.com/amytectorwrites/