In childhood, Karen Martindale loved to read and write stories. She loved Anne of Green Gables and had a penchant for all things historic. As a young adult, her post-secondary studies led her to Trent University in Peterborough, where she took a Canadian Insurance Accountants Association course.   A short time later, she landed a sensible accounting job in the insurance industry and rose steadily through the ranks for the next fourteen years. Along came children and the decision to trade in the ledger for a new focus upon babies and bedtime stories.

Then a long dormant desire to write started to bubble to the surface. Over the past five years, Karen has nurtured her childhood interest in writing. She has developed numerous characters and story lines. She has completed four novel-length contemporary fiction manuscripts and is working on short stories. Karen also worked on several stories in her beloved genre of historical fiction. Freelance editing and volunteer work also kept her writing muscles sharp. Her short story, Second Chances, was also selected to be included in a compilation of written works published by the Writers’ Community of Durham Region.

In 2011, Karen and her writing took an unexpected turn, sending her back to a different place and a different time. Now cue the knight in shining armour riding in on a gallant steed, or rather a duel to the end to outbid any opponent at a local silent auction. The coveted prize was a pre-paid Trent University single course fee certificate.  Karen knew she had to have it.  She walked out of that silent auction victorious, with the course in hand and a new plan in mind.  

In 2012, Karen walked through the doors of Trent University Oshawa. The class entitled, “The Social History of Europe, 1500-1800,” finally reunited her interest in history and love affair with writing. She hasn’t looked back. She is now writing a new novel set in the early modern period. Armed, as well, with knowledge gained from her recent essay on the topic of masculinity in early modern Europe, she hopes to translate what she has learned through study in her class into her new book.

Here comes that fellow on the horse again. Note he does not have a moustache, as through research, Karen learned that men of certain time periods may not generally have worn them.

Karen felt that taking a history class to thoroughly learn about the times and those who lived in them would be very useful for her writing.  She said, “It is a great way to find out how men felt and coped with their masculinity. There was such pressure put onto them by society to take charge. While I also acknowledge the societal structure that brought suffering upon women, I think I now have a greater appreciation for how hard it was for men of that time. Recognizing these kinds of implications may help me to more accurately portray gendered characters within my novels.”

As for walking through the doors of Trent and entering a classroom for the first time in many years, Karen felt intimidated and wondered how on earth did she make the journey from accounting professional to stay-at-home mom to aspiring writer of the best historical fiction ever? (Not to mention, she now had the chance to study the subject matter of her dreams.  Her return to academia was filled with excitement, renewal and trepidation.  As with many good novels, however, it did all work out in the end.

Associate history professor Jennine Hurl-Eamon, is Karen’s instructor. Some of her research interests include early Modern Europe, gender and marriage. She welcomed Karen to her class with open arms.

Professor Hurl-Eamon said, “Karen Martindale is one of those dream students that is highly engaged in the course and comes to our seminar discussions each week bursting with great insights and questions about the material. Both she and Trent stand to benefit enormously. I think that Trent Oshawa is the perfect place for someone like Karen. Because we have smaller class sizes than any other Ontario University, Karen could quickly get comfortable with her classmates and with me.  I know all of my students as individuals. This year has been a wonderful journey for us both.”

Karen mirrors Professor Hurl-Eamon’s comments. She said, “Jennine is really enthusiastic about what she’s teaching. It’s infectious—it’s written all over her face.”  

In addition to working on her novel, Karen is now considering more courses or possibly working on an undergraduate degree. As for offering inspiration to other potential students who may find returning to school as nerve wracking as the walk to the dungeon, Karen said, “Trent Oshawa will embrace anyone who has aspirations to go back to school.” 

In the meantime, Karen is chasing down story lines for those chaps on the horses.

Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013.