Why I Wrote A Siege on Her Heart

Story time! Here is a little bit of background as to why I wrote A Siege on Her Heart.

It all started in 2021. 

I had just graduated from college with my degree in English literature/Creative writing. I was working several copywriting jobs that weren't quite as creatively inspiring as I hoped. So I wanted to get back to writing in my spare time. 

I had started one Regency romance (my current book 2...see My Books tab for details) but the idea of a series was already spinning out of control in my head. I knew I wanted to write about two estranged brothers. Each of them would heal their relationships and have their own love stories. (Book 1 and Book 2)

But when I started to understand Peter Ashmore's character and motivations, I knew he would be an army man. So I started to research about some of the conflicts going on at the time. And needless to say, there was a lot going on. Napoleon was wreaking havoc in various countries. I noticed that there had been a trail of battles happening in Spain. 

I thought it was perfect! I'd be able to use some of my Spanish (I lived in Argentina and Uruguay for two years, so I learned Spanish and have a huge love of the Latino people.) and add some cultural and historical details that would help my book to stand out from others in the genre.

So, I did a quick Google search to see what was going on in Spain at the time of my book(1813) and was met with a horrific tale.

The siege of San Sebastián was an extended battle during the Peninsular War, occuring between July and September 1813. Thomas Graham led the Allied British and Portuguese forces in various attempts to take the city and end the siege. Ultimately, the strategy of Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington, led them to success. At last, the French surrendered and the innocent inhabitants of San Sebastián were free. Right?

But what happened next is harrowing. The allied soldiers went on a rampage through San Sebastián, pillaging it for valuables and assaulting and murdering many of its inhabitants. After the heinous crimes committed there, the soldiers set the city on fire, destroying most of the town. The allies had spent months trying to free this city, and they destroyed it mercilessly within hours of their victory.

Now this is where things start to be debated. I had to consult with some historians on how to portray this, and ultimately decided to lean into the confusion surrounding these events. Nobody knows how the fire started or why it occurred. Some say that the British army leaders wanted to be freed of their allyship with Spain, and that this was a strategic move to cut ties. Others say it was merely a mishap of foolish, violent drunkards. 

The British(yes, even their prized Wellington) blamed it all on the French.

So, why would I choose to write about something so horrific?

I've always loved historical romance. It seems to bring a depth of emotion, vulnerability, and humanity that you don't always get from lighter romance genres. And when I stumbled upon this tragic siege and sacking, it seemed like the perfect setting to highlight the grave weakness of humanity as well as the potential for growth, healing, and forgiveness. 

I also loved to include some mental health struggles in Ana's journey to healing. 

SPOILER AHEAD!

If you've read A Siege on Her Heart, you'll know that Ana struggles with postpartum depression (then called melancholy). I haven't seen a depiction of this sort of struggle in many romances, much less historical romances. Given that I struggled with my mental health following the traumatic birth of my firstborn, I wanted to give some representation to this struggle that so many mothers face. But you don't have to be a mom to know the feeling of depression. I hope that Ana's battle with these feelings and her ultimate healing give you hope that you can find a similar healing in time. Talking to medical professionals, relying on my husband, and strengthening my relationship with my Heavenly Father were instrumental in the healing process for me.

Do you have any questions about this background? I'm eager to hear from you.

Happy reading!

Jessica

P.S. If I've convinced you to read A Siege on Her Heart, click the button below to order it!