I am finding myself gravitating towards seeking out more biographical (historical) fiction stories whereupon the writers have found a beautiful impetus to write compelling dramas and novels spun out of the fabric of their ancestral past! Stories where the living persons who lived are part of the writer’s family, and within this nexus of choices, they are uncovering honest impressions of life from centuries not too far into the historical past which compel us to re-examine our own thoughts on not only these life-affirming subjects and topics but to pull back the veil on time a bit more to discover how far we’ve progressed forward whilst noting how much work is still left to do to resolve any leftover grievances.

I love curling inside historical fiction as a genre, because where else can you find the warmth of living inside an era you were not bourne into but with the safety of walking onto the holodeck? I like being able to time travel to any century of my choosing whilst finding stories seeking to endeavour my heart to find a new reason for a repeat visit. Writers have a way of inspiring their readers to find new niches of time and history to explore, and when it came to reading about Redfield Farm my own heart fluttered a bit because I had members of the Underground Railroad in my own ancestral past!

Unlike Ms Coopey’s connection to the Railroad being presumed rather than confirmed, I have found historical evidence where other members of my extended family unearthed confirmations where my great-grandfather not only had a stop on the Underground Railroad but he put his land and family at risk to save the lives of those who passed through.

No matter what your familial connection is to this tumultuous time in history, it was defined by the brave souls who not only ventured out of the South into the North, to start their lives over in a place where they were no longer judged through their differences but it is a testament to the moral will of man to stand against oppression and right the wrongs where history tries to forget where mankind erred on judging in lieu of accepting a tolerance for our own uniqueness which gives our world a melting pot of culture, tradition, and history.

I was thankful I had the opportunity to ask a few questions about the story itself as well as how uncovering hidden history and ancestral data can be exciting for a researcher! I hope you will enjoy reading the conversation as it unfolded!

Book Synopsis of Redfield Farm:

Ann Redfield is destined to follow her brother Jesse through life – two years behind him – all the way. Jesse is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and Ann follows him there as well.

Quakers filled with a conviction as hard as Pennsylvania limestone that slavery is an abomination to be resisted with any means available, the Redfield brother and sister lie, sneak, masquerade and defy their way past would-be enforcers of the hated Fugitive Slave Law.

Their activities inevitably lead to complicated relationships when Jesse returns from a run with a deadly fever, accompanied by a fugitive, Josiah, who is also sick and close to death. Ann nurses both back to health. But precious time is lost, and Josiah, too weak for winter travel, stays on at Redfield Farm. Ann becomes his teacher, friend and confidant. When grave disappointment disrupts her life, Ann turns to Josiah for comfort, and comfort leads to intimacy. The result, both poignant and inspiring, leads to a life long devotion to one another and their cause.

Redfield Farm   was inspired due to a real-life (potential) connection to the Underground Railroad, which perked my own interest to ask how did the story take it’s genesis from a plausibility undocumented to a novel in hand?

Coopey responds: The idea that my ancestors might have been involved in the Underground Railroad intrigued me and piqued my interest in the Underground Railroad itself.  So I started to read about it, first to try to find some documentation of my ancestors’ involvement, but also because I found the whole operation fascinating.  People willing to put their business and social ties on the line, willing to risk ostracism, jail, fines or even their lives.  Wow!  That’s dedication beyond anything I’ve ever been asked to do.  So I wanted to know more, and the more I learned, the more the story emerged from my research. Read More