Writing, Research, and Resilience: Insights from an Award-Winning Author
Juliane Weber shares her transition from science to historical fiction, the research behind her Irish Fortune Series, the challenges of writing about the Great Famine, and advice for aspiring authors.
Juliane Weber seamlessly bridges the worlds of science and storytelling, crafting immersive historical fiction that brings 19th-century Ireland to life. With a PhD in physiology and a background in medical writing, she sharpened her skills before taking the bold step into novel writing. Her acclaimed Irish Fortune Series has captivated readers with its rich historical detail and compelling narrative, shedding light on the era of the Great Famine.
In this exclusive interview for Reader’s House Magazine, Weber discusses her journey from scientist to novelist, the research behind her books, and the challenges of writing historical fiction. She also shares valuable insights for aspiring authors navigating their own creative paths.
What inspired you to transition from a career in science to writing historical fiction?
During my studies I realised that I preferred writing about scientific research to doing the research myself. It was thus that I fell into a career as a medical writer, which involved me writing and editing all manner of scientific articles and further honing my writing skills. With this newfound passion for writing came the thought that I might want to write a book one day, although it took me a few years to actually get started. I decided on historical fiction as my genre as it’s one I enjoy reading. Plus, I figured the historical background would give me something to start with, as I wasn’t sure whether I had the imagination to come up with an entire storyline on my own.
How did your background in physiology and zoology influence your approach to writing?
My background in science helped me with the research necessary for writing historical fiction. Knowing how to find reliable sources of information, picking out the most important bits and providing a balanced view even within the context of a novel are all necessary for writing compelling historical fiction, skills that are similar to those required when consolidating scientific research. My interest in science has also seen me add bits of historically relevant scientific lore to my books, which I enjoy researching and writing, and my readers enjoy reading about.
What kind of research did you undertake to accurately depict 19th-century Ireland and the Great Famine?
For historical information I refer to books and articles by experts in the field, 19th century newspaper articles and eyewitness accounts, as well as things like census results, court records and similar sources.
How do you balance historical accuracy with crafting an engaging narrative?
I do my utmost to ensure historical accuracy throughout my books, as far as such a thing is ever possible. This means that I automatically filter everything that happens to my characters, as well as the way they talk and act, to fit within this historical framework, thereby enabling me to come up with engaging storylines that still allow me to write historically accurate novels.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while writing the Irish Fortune Series?
The first challenge was coming to grips with the complex situation that prevailed in Ireland before the famine even started. Numerous factors contributed to the disaster that was the Great Famine and I had to take the time to understand these in order to be able to accurately portray them in my books. The second challenge was balancing all the dreadful events surrounding the famine with more light-hearted content, to ensure that my books are historically accurate without being overly gloomy.
Which character in your books do you feel the closest connection to, and why?
I feel a close connection with both of my main characters, Alannah and Quin, as I’ve had to get into their heads to tell their story, so we’ve experienced a lot of adventures together.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors, particularly those looking to transition from a different career into writing?
My advice is to simply start writing, in whichever way works for you. Don’t think about how anybody else goes about writing a book or whether or not your book will ever sell. Just get words onto paper any way you can and enjoy the process, doing whatever research is necessary and working carefully to eliminate errors in order to write the best book you possibly can. And remember, just about everything about books is subjective, so write a story that is compelling to you in a style that comes naturally to you, and don’t let anybody else’s opinion sway you from your course.
