Five by Five: ‘Unruly Human Hearts’ explores the unheard voice in the Beecher-Tilton scandal

By Max Bowen 

In her new book, “Unruly Human Hearts,” [She Writes Press, Jan. 28] Barbara Southard explores the Beecher-Tilton scandal, but through a new perspective—that of Elizabeth Tilton.

In this Five by Five interview, Barbara talks about how this historical tale caught her interest and how she came to choose this viewpoint, as well as the lengthy research done for the book. She also shares how this scandal resonates with the current times.


How did you become aware of Elizabeth Tilton and what inspired you to write a book about her?
A question raised by a student in a graduate seminar on US history that I taught at the University of Puerto Rico challenged me to focus on Elizabeth. We were discussing the 1875 trial of Henry Ward Beecher, the most famous preacher of his time, for adultery with Elizabeth Tilton, wife of the journalist Theodore Tilton. I pointed out that public fascination with the Beecher-Tilton scandal was comparable to the reaction to Bill Clinton’s impeachment for the alleged cover-up of sexual intimacies with Monica Lewinsky. A young man said that both President Clinton and Reverend Beecher survived the scandal. Yeah, said a young woman, but what about Monica and Elizabeth? Her question reverberated in my mind. If Monica had a rough time with cyberbullying, what did a woman named as correspondent in a famous adultery trial in the 19th century have to endure?

I began to dig into historical sources and found that Elizabeth’s beliefs, feelings and motivations were more difficult to fathom than those of her two lovers, who both had public platforms and testified at the trial. I felt challenged to unravel the mystery of this deeply religious and seemingly conventional woman who was accused of holding beliefs and engaging in conduct that challenged the core values of Victorian society.

You refer to Elizabeth as the “unheard voice” in this story. What does her voice add?
Many historical studies of the Beecher-Tilton scandal picture Elizabeth as a weak personality, a woman who gave in to both her husband and her lover and couldn’t keep her story straight. As I read more about the Victorian code of conduct for women, I suspected that this interpretation was simplistic. Women of her time were truly the “second sex,” excluded from the circles of power and decision-making. Looking at the scandal from Elizabeth’s perspective meant being sensitive to her efforts to influence the decisions of the key men in her life that could ruin them all. Was she a passive victim, or a heroine who courageously tried to protect the careers of both her husband and her lover as well as defend herself against public condemnation and possible loss of everything meaningful in her life, including her children?

Elizabeth’s perspective made me sensitive not only to the complexity of her own emotions but also those of her two lovers. The role of Henry in the scandal can be dismissed as a minister seducing a parishioner. Theodore can be labeled a hypocrite who championed women’s rights in public, but not in private. Elizabeth had a more nuanced view of the motivations of her two lovers, which comes through in her letters, sources that would never have surfaced if her husband hadn’t given them to newspapers to print against her will. Her appreciation for the good in both men adds new dimensions to the story, making it a tale of love and loyalty as well as betrayal.

Tell me about the research you did and what was learned in the process.
After the interesting discussion with my students of the Beecher-Tilton scandal, I began to explore historical studies of the scandal as well as primary sources. The most helpful primary sources were personal letters and the records of the church investigation and the public trial. The sources revealed that there was deep affection among all three participants in the love triangle. Personal ties were strengthened by their involvement, in varying degrees, with reform movements to promote suffrage for women and freed slaves as well as the reinterpretation of the Calvinist heritage.

Elizabeth was inspired by the gospel of love preached by Henry, whose sermons spoke of God’s love and mercy rather than the Calvinist emphasis on punishing sins. The reverend’s comparison of God’s love with the tender care of a mother inspired Elizabeth and helped her see the feminine role as crucial not only with the family unit but in building a better society. Both Henry and Elizabeth saw the concept of free love as an extension of the gospel of love.

In addition to their beliefs, I also strove to understand practical issues that affected the main characters. Did Elizabeth’s financial dependency make it difficult for her to insist that her husband keep his promises to protect her? Did concerns about male honor and reputation, as well as jeopardizing their careers, influenced the decisions of Henry and Theodore to either maintain or abandon a united front in denying scandalous rumors?

What was the concept of “free love” in the 19th century and how does it compare to modern polyamory?
The basic idea of free love in the Reconstruction era was the freedom to choose whom to love and to express true love in a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Those who espoused free love believed that government should not interfere in matters of the heart, because the question of who loves whom cannot be legislated. Some radical feminist leaders supported free love because they believed that marriage and divorce laws were unfavorable to women and often imprisoned them in injurious relationships. Supporters of free love did not express support for promiscuity; they couched their beliefs in terms of individual freedom to express true love outside of marriage.

Polyamory has similarities with free love doctrines of the 19th century and the concept of open marriage put forward in the second half of the 20th century, but it is a more inclusive philosophy, a more open-ended version of free love. Polyamorous individuals may have multiple romantic relationships with the consent of all involved without necessarily viewing one person as primary partner. Elizabeth viewed her husband Theodore as her primary partner, and Reverend Beecher as another love that enriched her life and deepened her love for her husband.

Is there a message from this historical controversy that resonates today?
The story of Elizabeth is relevant to concerns about individual freedom and social ethics in more recent times. The emergence of creeds of sexual liberation and open marriage in the second half of the 20th century raised questions about whether free love is liberating for women. Many women were still economically dependent on men, which made it difficult for them to insist that men grant their partners the same sexual freedom that they claimed for themselves. The MeToo movement that emerged in the early 21st century points to the problems implicit in a sexual relationship in which one partner enjoys the advantage of power and position. Elizabeth insisted that her tie with Reverend Beecher was based on true love, but her husband saw it as a pastor taking advantage of a deeply loyal member of his flock. On the other hand, Theodore was oblivious of the power dynamic in his marriage to Elizabeth. If our society continues to make progress toward gender equality, we can hope that women involved in polyamorous relationships do not undergo the same heartbreak that Elizabeth experienced.

Five by Five: Noir novel brings a different perspective to southern towns

By Max Bowen

Writing coach and teacher Brandi Bradley brings her professional experience to bear in writing “Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder” set to be released on March 14. Here’s a look at the story synopsis:

When a young entrepreneur is killed, everyone in town points fingers at his fitness influencer ex-girlfriend, Gabbi – including the victim’s best friend, Jenna. As detective Lindy D’Arnaud and her partner Boggs search for a motive, they begin to wonder if this is a case of jealous violence or something much deeper. In Lindy's personal life, things aren’t much clearer. When Lindy’s wife’s ex-boyfriend–and sperm donor to their baby–decides to move back to town, she finds herself competing for her wife’s affection.

In this interview, Brandy talks about the Souther Noir genre, the use of different perspectives in her storytelling and her writing style.

How did your work as a writing coach and teacher help with this book?
Teaching actually helps me practice what I preach. For this book, I realized that I was not making the time to work on it, so I set up a few write-in sessions on my campus in the library and invited creative writing students to join me for an hour of uninterrupted writing time. I had to show up and work because there could be students waiting for me. It got me out of my rut.

What is the Southern Noir genre and why was it the one you choose to write in?
Typically noirs take place in cities – the dark and gritty city. Corruption, reputation, aesthetics, cynicism, money: small towns have to deal with this, too. Add to that the mythology of the Good Southern Family. Look at how everyone was intrigued by the Murdaugh case in South Carolina. People want to believe nothing bad happens in small southern towns, but that’s not true. And because these small towns are also hiding big juicy secrets, it makes a fertile ground for story ideas to grow.

Lindy sounds like she’s dealing with a lot in her personal life. How does this factor into the story?
I think Lindy would say she’s fallen under the spell of a pretty girl a time or two. It’s possible her experience makes her project and speculate on theories based on past experiences with women who were dangerously charming.

I like the shifting perspectives you use. How did this become your method of telling the story?
At first, I think I wanted to do a structure somewhat similar to what they did in “Big Little Lies,” where a person’s perception of events is clouded because of what they perceive as a slight or some imaginary adversary. And I remember a writing instructor telling me once to make sure I leave room for fun: to always keep something in my story that does nothing but bring me joy. And it was just too much fun to write in the voices of these women.

Did this story get planned out or was it more “seat of the pants” style?
Oh no. I’m a plotter. But I don’t follow any specific outline. I like to know where I’m going in a story. When I get started on a new idea, I open a Word doc and make a bullet point list of everything that needs to happen for the story to work. It’s more of a flexible list than anything else, but it suits me.

Talking travel, robots, and Moscow marriages at the Rhode Island Author Expo

This December saw the return of the Rhode Island Author Expo, run by the Association of Rhode Island Authors. Along with emceeing the event, Citywide Blackout co-host Max Bowen sat down with some of the many talented writers to talk about their new releases, story inspirations, character development, and what we can expect down the road.

McLaughlin shares details of upcoming books
Heidi McLaughlin, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, joins me to talk about her two upcoming novels, “Sail Away With Me” (Dec. 31) and “The Art of Starting Over” (Feb. 1). Both are romance stories, and we go into the details of the potential couples, her character development process and how these fit into her over 60 previous works.

Getting married in 1979 Moscow
Joann and Jim Mead have an interesting story about how they met—in Moscow 1979. In their new book, “Married in Moscow: A Red-hot Memoir during Cold War Times,” the couple talk about what brought them to Moscow in the first place and their memorable moments there. Joann and Jim share their first impressions of each other and how they went from two strangers to a marriage that lasted the years.

From travel blogging to crime thriller
To say that C.B. Giesinger has had a wide-ranging writing career would be putting it mildly. From her travel blogging, where she shows readers some of the best places to check out across the globe, she’s also tried her hand at all sorts of genres of books. Most recently, she released “Where the Salt Water Ends” a thriller in which the mother of a missing child begins an investigation when other kids are taken, and the truth is not something she wants to learn.

C.B. and I talk about her different types of writing, portraying strong female characters, and future works.

YA author is back with second “Courage Kids” book
In 2023, I got to meet debut author Nishita Roy-Pope to talk about her first book. “Courage Kids: The Secret Soccer Ball.” Now, Nishita has continued the series with “Courage Kids-Robots, Sharks and the Missing Glow” and with a name like this, you just know it’s going to be a great story. Nishita talks about what inspired this book and how it continues the first one. We also go into this new role for Nishita and how she plans to grow it in the future.

Kelly Swan Taylor shares the newest story in teen mystery series
Kelly Swan Taylor is now in the fourth volume of her Wright Detective series, this time set amidst a new love for her protagonist, Tessa Wright. We explore the different ways that the series has progressed and how Tessa has changed since the first book. Kelly also shares the role that Tessa’s love interest Mason plays in the new book as well as the potential for new titles.

Kevin Moore keeps the Christmas spirit with new book

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, so it’s only fitting to mark it with Kevin Moore’s new book, “Christmas Stories, Vol. II.”

Kevin may love Christmas even more than I do, as his new book is a collection of Yuletide-themed short stories, including “a young boy who creates a profound and mystical Christmas for his community, a woman who stumbles upon a mysterious pink gift card filled with unexpected surprises, and a troubled young man who hears the magical sound of snowflakes falling” according to the story synopsis.

Kevin talks about some of his favorite aspects of the stories and how writing one led to another, then another, and wound up as a new book. He employs a technique called ‘lucid dreaming’ which has helped with his writing. Kevin shares how lucid dreaming is done and the insight it has offered to his work.

And of course, we talk about the holiday and why it’s so special to him.

Five by Five—A special agent pens his life’s work into thriller series

By Max Bowen

Author Mel Harrison isn’t just a writer of thriller stories—he’s lived the life.

A former special agent and regional security officer with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Mel is the creator of the six-book Alex Boyd series, with the newest book, “Crescent City Carnage,” having been released in October. Here’s a look at the story:

Special agent Alex Boyd and his wife Rachel Smith are only a day into their New Orleans vacation when they discover their good friend and colleague, Simone Ardoin, has been brutally murdered. Simone’s parents, members of New Orleans’ high society, are devastated by the tragedy and implore both Alex and Rachel to work with local police to find her killer. The more Alex and Rachel delve into the case, the more deeply they’re drawn into a labyrinth of secrets as twisting as the city’s alleyways, and as dark as its hidden corners.

Mel talks about the New Orleans setting and its role in the book, as well as his background and how it shaped the story. He talks about writing a series and how his main character has evolved over the years.


Why was New Orleans chosen as the setting and how does it serve to drive the story?
While New Orleans is the first domestic setting in my six-book Alex Boyd thriller series, I selected the location because it has characteristics that are conceptually similar to my first five overseas adventures. The Louisiana culture in general, and New Orleans specifically, is unique in America. It is a rich gumbo of black and white, hard-working and laid-back, and innovative and corrupt. When you blend in the amazing food, incredible architecture of the city, and history, it forms the perfect backdrop for a heart-pounding and emotionally captivating story setting.

How was the character of Alex Boyd created and how has he changed over the course of the series?
I developed Alex Boyd’s character based upon my own background as a special agent and regional security officer with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. Of course, I enhanced certain things to make Alex exciting and memorable to the readers. I created his physical appearance to set an image in the mind of the audience. He’s tall, good-looking, a tough guy, and big enough to handle most situations.

I felt it vital that he also have a keen sense of humor. After-all, in the Foreign Service you meet a range of people in both the embassy and among the foreign community who have divergent views and customs. And you are dropped into dangerous situations that would stress most people. Humor helps deal with this. Also, Alex is successful because he is dedicated to the job and to keeping people safe.

Rachel Smith’s parallel career in the Foreign Service as a press officer and later a senior political officer was created by me to bring readers into the real world of smart couples trying to make it in the challenging world of diplomacy. The humorous banter between Alex and Rachel continues in all the books. As for how he has changed in the series, once he meet and falls in love with Rachel Smith he realizes there is much more to life than merely “the job.” Being a team in every aspect of their life is vital to him.

Was it always your intention to write a series?
Yes, I always wanted to write a series, I just wasn’t sure how many books would be included. I was certain I would have the same protagonist throughout the series. In addition to having Alex Boyd as my lead character, I knew I wanted to have a strong female lead, Rachel Smith, who was an intellectual match for Alex, and also a physical match as well. As I intended to put both of them in harm’s way, I gave each of them the fighting skills to deal with adversaries. I also decided it would be useful to bring back a few secondary characters into subsequent stories, thereby creating linkages that would exist in real life.

How has your professional experience helped you as a writer?
The first bit of advice I learned when I decided to be an author was to write what you know. I have drawn on my knowledge of living overseas, working in American embassies, and dealing with real crisis’ to craft my stories. All of my books are set in locations where I have either lived for several years or worked there from time to time. My characters are fictional, yet they are a composite of people I worked with in different settings. The stories are occasionally based upon events that actually happened, but I have taken the liberty to jazz them up or modify them to excite the reader. As for the extraordinary relationship between Alex and Rachel, well, you will have to draw your own conclusion.

What got you into writing in the first place and why is the thriller genre the one you chose to work in?
Toward the end of my career, I believed I had enough interesting and exciting experiences to write thrillers that would appeal to a broad range of readers. Picking the thriller genre was a no-brainer for me. Thrillers and action-adventure novels are the types of books that I personally enjoy reading. My knowledge of dealing with terrorism, riots, kidnapping and verbal foreign policy disagreements was sufficient to form the basis of each story. When I retired to Florida and moved into my current community, I found it had numerous writing groups to help individuals create the type of books that they yearned to create. I am very grateful to all those who helped my writing improve.

Ink and Riffs: Love, family and country tunes

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Hannah: A Soldier’s Diary” (audiobook)
This recently-released musical audiobook tells the story of Hannah, a young woman who falls for Jack, a soldier who’s about to be deployed to Afghanistan. Their love is brief, but powerful, and determined to survive months of being apart—no matter what.

Written by veteran playwright and author Steve Wallis and voiced by actress/musician Zoe Wright, this audiobook, which tracks at around one hour and 40 minutes, is absolutely stunning and kept me hooked from the first chapter. The story is beautifully told by Wright, who takes on Hannah’s role as if it’s her own life she’s recalling. The emotional ups and downs, the feelings of love from a random encounter, it all comes through so naturally.

One unique aspect of this story is that each chapter has a song paired with it. The songs really capture the feel of the chapters and add a great element to an already superb audiobook.

“Brownstone” (comic)
Written by Samuel Teer, with art by Mar Julia, “Brownstone” (Harper Alley) follows Almudena as she meets her biological father for the first time at the age of 14.

Normally a challenging situation, this meeting is made far more so that Almudena, who is half-Guatemalan, doesn’t speak any Spanish (her father also speaks almost no English) and knows nothing of her heritage and feels like an alien among her own people. The journey is one of discovery, not only of a father and daughter learning about each other, but of Almudena learning just who she is.

The story is paced well, with many hurdles before Almudena begins to feel at home. As she learns about her father and why he left right after she was born, she also becomes more in tune with the culture that she never knew, little by little. She also sees how gentrification by white landowners is forcing many of her people to leave, breaking apart friends and families, and sees the intolerance of those coming into the neighborhood.

The art is equally detailed, with vibrant portrayals of the community and its people. I loved taking the time to really explore scenes of the neighborhood, homes and businesses. There’s a lot to take in and it’s worth pausing on a page to do so.

“Brownstone” is describe by one reviewer as “with a scrappy heart of gold,” and I wholeheartedly agree. There’s real heart in this story and getting to the end had me hoping there will be a volume two someday.



“Wanted Man” (music)

This August release by country artist Trey Calloway is big reason that I got into the genre. The music is skillfully done, with a lot of heart, a layered sound and one of the best voices I have heard. Not a surprise that he’s been doing this since 15 and racked up a number of awards in that time.

Trey’s music covers a lot of ground. Some of the nine songs on this album deal with love, but from different angles. “You Don’t Need a Woman” speaks to how you don’t always need love until you really do, while “Miss Gone By Morning” is about that one lady that never stays put for anyone.

“That Was Us” is one of my favorites, a look to the past and the good times they remind us of. “Forgotten Man” is a look at the working man who does so much that is never seen, while “Horses in Heaven” really got to me in a personal way.

One aspect of Trey’s career is that he’s lived in a number of places, from his hometown of Lucia, North Carolina, to Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives today. This leads to the notion that he has a “traveling man” sound to his music, the voice of someone who’s seen a lot and wants to share the story.

Trey is an exceptional artist, and still in the early years of his career (his first release was “One Tough Job” in 2020). This album really speaks to his skill and I look forward to what comes next.

“Hannah: The Soldier Diaries” blends love, music and a gripping story

Welcome to our final episode of Citywide Bytes for the 2024 season. We’re taking a break to recharge and come back in 2025 and believe me, we have a lot planned.

Capping off this season I am very excited to be talking about the musical audiobook “Hannah: The Soldier Diaries” and joining me is the story’s creator — theater writer, producer and author Steve Wallis.

Here’s a look at the plot:

When the gorgeous Hannah meets Lance Corporal Jack Webb in summer 2012, she is quickly smitten. However, Hannah has to decide quickly whether to embark on a whirlwind affair or walk away, as the couple only has four weeks together before Jack has to return to the army to fight in the Afghan War. Hannah follows her heart and spends the most amazing four weeks of her life with Jack before he has to leave. Then, over two months later, Jack is missing, and Hannah — who is three months’ pregnant — is beside herself with worry. Out of nowhere, a face she knows only too well appears at her door. Are all Hannah's worries over? Or is this the beginning of the end for Hannah and Jack?

Steve and I go into the origins of the project and how his own grandparents’ relationship amidst World War II inspired the story. Steve talks about the main characters, Hannah and Jack, how they were created and how they grow over the course of the story. We also talk about the stage version that’s been done and learn some big news about a new project!

Zoe Wright provided the narration, voices and singing and we learn how she and Steve met and the collaboration process as they brought this story to life. “Hannah” has a second part dropping in December and we talk a bit [just a bit!] about the cliffhanger ending and what lies in store.