November 2026 Meeting: Writing History vs. Writing Historical Fiction

Writing History vs. Writing Historical Fiction

NVWC member David K. Wessel is a retired U.S. diplomat who served at embassies in Central America and Europe and is the former Mayor of Duck, NC. His recent publications include an article for American Historical Association’s Perspectives magazine and his first novel, Choosing Sides, which explores how ordinary people living in Germany between the two world wars responded to the loss of their democracy, a subject he has studied for some fifty years. In this presentation, David will share the perspective he has gained on the differences – and similarities – between writing history and writing historical fiction.