Hi, All
I've used a real person, by name, in my historical (a major character, not the protagonist). Is this a good idea, or should I change the name slightly? Either way, a disclaimer is necessary. Below is mine, written as a Foreward. I didn't include full references of my source books here so I wouldn't be accused of spamming. Is this the way to do it? Comments would be appreciated.
Phoenix, while fictitious, follows major events in the real life of one of its characters, John William (Jack) Swilling. Although I lived in the Phoenix Valley for twenty-four years, the name Jack Swilling did not register with me until I initiated research for Phoenix. This surprised me, after the fact, since Swilling was known as the “Father of Phoenix” to many.
The Swilling Irrigating and Canal Company reconnected the elaborate network of ancient Hohokam canals to the Salt River in the late 1860’s and re-opened the Phoenix Valley to agriculture. Swilling was a successful businessman, and benefactor to many, but he was addicted to morphine and abused alcohol, to deal with injuries suffered in his raucous past. This is the enigma called Swilling—a good but imperfect man, as documented in two interesting references, Tragic Jack by XXXXXX (full reference) and Catch the Stage to Phoenix by XXXXXXXXX (full reference).
In Phoenix, I have remained true to some of the facts and lore surrounding Swilling’s life and death. Also, the Arizona Territory towns, cities and mines in the story were all real. But that’s as far as it goes. All of the other characters are products of my imagination. Similarly, my portrayal of Swilling’s personality is a fictitious extrapolation from the bedrock of documentation presented in the cited references.
This book is dedicated to the memory of Jack Swilling, Father of Phoenix.
I've used a real person, by name, in my historical (a major character, not the protagonist). Is this a good idea, or should I change the name slightly? Either way, a disclaimer is necessary. Below is mine, written as a Foreward. I didn't include full references of my source books here so I wouldn't be accused of spamming. Is this the way to do it? Comments would be appreciated.
Foreward
Phoenix, while fictitious, follows major events in the real life of one of its characters, John William (Jack) Swilling. Although I lived in the Phoenix Valley for twenty-four years, the name Jack Swilling did not register with me until I initiated research for Phoenix. This surprised me, after the fact, since Swilling was known as the “Father of Phoenix” to many.
The Swilling Irrigating and Canal Company reconnected the elaborate network of ancient Hohokam canals to the Salt River in the late 1860’s and re-opened the Phoenix Valley to agriculture. Swilling was a successful businessman, and benefactor to many, but he was addicted to morphine and abused alcohol, to deal with injuries suffered in his raucous past. This is the enigma called Swilling—a good but imperfect man, as documented in two interesting references, Tragic Jack by XXXXXX (full reference) and Catch the Stage to Phoenix by XXXXXXXXX (full reference).
In Phoenix, I have remained true to some of the facts and lore surrounding Swilling’s life and death. Also, the Arizona Territory towns, cities and mines in the story were all real. But that’s as far as it goes. All of the other characters are products of my imagination. Similarly, my portrayal of Swilling’s personality is a fictitious extrapolation from the bedrock of documentation presented in the cited references.
This book is dedicated to the memory of Jack Swilling, Father of Phoenix.