When a writer spends countless hours researching a historical figure, there comes a point when facts and dates are no longer enough. To tell that person’s story with authenticity, one must try to understand not only what they did, but who they were—their presence, their character, their spirit, and the way they might have appeared to those who knew them.
In the case of Viola Ruffner, that task presented a profound challenge. There is no known photograph or authenticated drawing of Viola...
