The Story Behind My Story

From a young age, I’ve been captivated by the story of the Titanic. Not just the ship itself — with its unmatched luxury, bold engineering, and tragic fate — but the people who were aboard. Real lives, real choices, and the terrors that lingered long after the ship sank. That fascination became the starting point of my own story as a writer.

Where fascination meets fiction — my desk as I dive into Titanic and WWI research.

Over the years, I’ve devoured books, studied photographs, and traced the Titanic’s route across maps. But what truly inspired me to write this novel wasn’t the ship’s tragic fate — it was the story of one survivor who captivated me. After losing her father in the sinking, she still chose to sail again. Not only that, she boarded a sister ship nearly identical to Titanic. That kind of courage and resilience became the spark for my heroine.

As I began shaping Nora, my lead character, I discovered something else: her journey intersected with another turning point in history. She was in Europe when World War I broke out. Suddenly, I wasn’t just writing about survival at sea, but about a woman navigating a world on the brink of war. My fascination with Titanic had led me to my character, and my character led me deeper into the history of WWI — another era filled with resilience, courage, and change.

My debut historical novel is set in the aftermath of Titanic’s sinking, just as the shadow of war spreads across Europe. Through Nora’s eyes, I want to explore themes of survival, resilience, and hope — and the courage it takes to begin again after loss.

I love historical fiction for its power to make the past come alive. It transports readers into cabins, cafés, and cobblestone streets of another time. That’s why this story matters so deeply to me. It’s not just about retelling history — it’s about honoring the human spirit that rises from tragedy and offering hope to readers today.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing updates as I prepare for a research trip retracing Titanic’s original route — from Southampton to New York, with stops in Belfast, Cobh, and Halifax. This journey isn’t just about travel — it’s about immersing myself in Titanic’s history to bring greater authenticity and accuracy to my novel.

I invite you to follow along on Instagram @traveling_author_amy as this story — and this journey — continue.