The Nugget that Spurred THE BARTERED BODY by J.R. Lindermuth
After retiring from my former job as a newspaper editor I began writing a weekly column for the paper on local history. This fit in well with the new post I accepted as librarian of our county historical society where I assist patrons with genealogy and research. I didn't realize at the time it would also provide grist for writing fiction. As I browse through old copies of our paper and those of surrounding communities in search of material for the column I'm constantly stumbling on bountiful sources of ideas for my stories. I make copies or jot down notes on these ideas for further consideration. Sometimes the idea will lead directly to formation of a story. Just as often mulling on one of these nuggets will take me off on a tangent and the completed story will have scant relation to the original source. One of these nuggets inspired my latest novel, The Bartered Body. In 1876 a band of counterfeiters attempted to steal Abraham Lincoln's body from hi...