Since becoming an author, I have discovered a special place for short stories in my writing.

Not every moment of a character’s life shows up on the page; only those relevant to the tale we are weaving. But as their creators, we need to know and understand the significant experiences which molded their world view; their unique backstory that explains their thoughts, words, actions, and reactions.

Similarly, there are moments in history that become turning points not only in a person’s life but also collectively as a people; shared moments of fear, despair, or great joy. As the writer, we may want to explore the how’s, why’s, and what if’s of various events in order to lend authenticity to the setting.

This year, I have only read a few collections of short stories, but each focused on either characters or events.

Given that my current work-in-progress is set during the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, I enjoyed reading Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All. Written by several authors, each of the six wives tells her tale, followed by King Henry’s perspective. Sadly, the actual stories will never be fully known. Some can be attributed to families seeking to gain power and influence at court? For these women, how much of their rise and fall can be attributed to powerful men, such as Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell manipulating the truth, even manufacturing lies, to get rid of their enemies? But it is intriguing to fashion or read the known history entwined with a bit a fiction as we try to understand a time and place very different from our own.

A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii has already been mentioned in a few Paper Lantern Writers’ blogs this year. I enjoyed the variety of characters and the window into their thoughts and actions as Mount Vesuvius rumbled, the earth quaked, and soon fire, lava, and toxic smoke spewed from its mouth. Some are desperate to escape while others resign themselves to their imminent death. But ultimately, it was also an exploration of what occurred, what it must have been like for those either seeking to escape or for those trapped in the city. Some nice depictions of the heat, wading through the hot ash, and trying to avoid falling rocks. And throw in a nice story arc as some protagonists gain a new perspective on life!

Writing my own brief stories helps me gain fresh perspectives on characters featured in longer works. In the soon to be released Paper Lantern Writers’ Anthology, Destiny Comes Due, my story, An Eye for an Eye, fictionalizes the true story of an errant priest. The history is shocking and hard to forget. I found it necessary to imagine how it all went down in order to process the evil. When I began writing this short narrative, I did not know that I would decide to make this historical figure more prominent in my current work-in-progress. But the chance to explore the priest’s character and what he aimed to accomplish convinced me he would make a good counter to my main character.

Do you have a favorite collection of historical short stories? Please share in the comments. We all love good book recommendations.