Adding Backstory

Joanna Bourne, Historical Romance

Since I took time off from all extraneous pursuits a month or so ago I’ve not only been getting my head together, I’ve found time to do some of that reading.
(That’s part of getting my head back together.)
It’s been a TBR-bookshelf time.
A self-indulgent immersion in story.

I’ve been reading a lotta urban fantasy.

I’m moving along with Seanan McGuire who continues to impress me with her writing.
She’s so good. I’m learning a lot from her.

Rosemary and Rue is the first in her 15-book October Daye series. Are you looking for an exemplar of how to weave in backstory? Of protagonist introduction?
Look no further. This is it.

 Readalikes on how to do complicated backstory in First Person would be Ben Aaronovitch Rivers of London and Jim Butcher’s Storm Front.
 

The books (1) lay out the backbone of the story, (2) punctuate with suspense and action moments, (3) insert backstory, and (4) info dump in the best possible way.
I want to go into the books and highlight my way through them in four different colors and see how they’re woven together.
McGuire is wonderful at this. 

Interesting that the three authors who immediately come to mind for introduction of backstory are all writing First Person.

Do we introduce backstory and infodumps more easily in First Person?
More to think about

RITA-winning author Joanna Bourne writes historical fiction set in Revolutionary and Napoleonic France and Regency England. It was a time of love and sacrifice, clashing ideals, and really cool clothing.