If you know anything about the actual historical events that inspired my novel, Waverly, you may be wondering where the title came from. I wish I had some unique, serendipitous explanation, but the truth is really quite simple.
When I first began researching what took place in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1936, my intention was to write a historical novel that went along closely with the actual events. I wanted to stay true to the people and the circumstances as they actually unfolded.
I spent hours researching online and scrolling through old newspaper accounts in the Daviess County Library’s Kentucky Room. I studied old city maps and drove laps around downtown, trying to pinpoint exactly where the historical locations were. One thing I gained from this process was a new appreciation for just how much work goes into writing historical fiction. To put it mildly, it was exhausting!
I realized through my research that there are some descendants of the people involved who would rather not have their name associated with the events of that summer of 1936. In fact, many people living in Owensboro still feel an overall sense of shame and lingering guilt at what happened here and at the way the city was portrayed in newspaper accounts of the time. They don’t want Owensboro remembered as the scene of such horrific events.
To that end, I began toying with the idea of changing some elements of the story. I first decided to change the names of the major people involved. This gave me the freedom to structure the plot and move the story along in a way that made sense to me, without constantly referring back to my notes and research to make sure I had every detail and piece of dialogue exactly as it unfolded. I also completely invented some new characters so that I could fill in gaps in the story.
It was hard to develop a story without a frame, so I decided to use the idea of alternate points of view. I quickly realized how much this would complicate things, but I couldn’t figure out another way to tell my story. By then, these characters had began to take shape in my mind as a blending of truth and fiction, and I wanted them all to have a voice.
In addition to changing some elements of the story and characters, I knew I needed to change the name of the town where the story takes place. I love Owensboro, but that name sure doesn’t just roll off the tongue! I wanted a town name that sounded southern, had a nice ring to it, and wasn’t a place anyone would have already heard of. I did a google search of small towns in Kentucky and surrounding states and stumbled upon the town of Waverly, Tennessee (population 4,091). I liked the sound of it. Little did I know there was another Waverly (population 299) in Union County, Kentucky. This Waverly is actually only about 45 miles from Owensboro.
One thing I never considered when I chose the title was that some people may confuse my novel with the infamous Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Louisville, Kentucky. While this institution is briefly mentioned in my novel, it is definitely not a focus and bears no significance on the choice of title.
So now you know the story behind the title. How did I choose all of the character names? Ah, now that is another story for another time. 🙂
Happy reading!
Amy Bellamy, Author 