This weekend I took my granddaughter and niece to the Historic Bath site first annual Pirate Invasion. I have attended other reenactments, Civil War and Pirate but due to its smaller size I had the chance to really talk to some of the actors. Most are armchair historians, they spend a lot of time learning about their time period and developing their character and costume. Some even compete with other reenactors for points; they are scored by how accurate their portrayal of the time period: costume, speech, tools and back story.

As a writer this intrigued me. What a wonderful way to see a time period come to life. I was able to ask questions about undergarments, class and cooking and see (all but the undergarments) in action. I could see how difficult it was to lift a cast iron pot, how time consuming it was to cook over an open fire. I learned about buttons and shoes, and the difference between pirates and pirate hunters.

Anyone writing a historical whether non-fiction or genre, what a great way to do research, join a reenacting troupe or just interview one. The people I met at the Pirate Invasion were happy to share their knowledge.

Thanks to the Crewe of the Archangel, Privateers and Pirate Hunters
web site: http://jcsterlingptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel
blog: http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

and the Devilmen of the Cape Fear Captain William Hall pyraten666@yahoo.com