Focusing on the United States in the 1920s, this project examines the tension between traditional and modern values, Prohibition, bootlegging, and women’s place in the community with the purpose of analyzing how historical research can translate into a compelling and immersive setting for a historical fictional novel. The reality of the 1920s was different for each community, far from the glamor of flappers and the massive parties portrayed in The Great Gatsby, and as creative writing provides a space in which writers can express ideas and feelings, it has the potential to act as a creative medium to highlight the experiences of those who have been historically underrepresented, to challenge myths, and to explore the subtle and overt complexities of a society that is both recognizable and unrecognizable as the precursor to the society that we know today. In order to achieve this experience and depth, understanding the setting that a story is built on is essential.
Born in Winston-Salem, Jazmin Loera-Caballero is a double major in History and English with a Creative Writing concentration. During her time at Salem, she has served as president of the Alpha Lambda Delta Salem Chapter and three times Judicial Council Representative. During her free time, she enjoys a good book and hanging out with her cats. Upon graduation, Jazmin is planning to pursue a Juris Doctor.