Local Author Malanna Henderson Brings History to Life Through Fiction and Theater

Fredericksburg author Malanna Henderson didn't always take her writing seriously. As a child who devoured Nancy Drew books and stayed awake inventing stories to lull herself to sleep, she viewed writing as a personal hobby—something to entertain herself during lunch breaks at work. But after years of starting and stopping a novel, Henderson made a pivotal decision. "Once I realized how many years I put into it, I decided to give it a real shot," she recalls.

That commitment led to her historical novel On the Wings of Freedom, set in 1860 Virginia, which tells the story of Carrie Bennet, a free-born Black woman from Brooklyn who travels south to purchase her grandmother's freedom. The journey takes a harrowing turn when Carrie becomes entangled with the Underground Railroad and finds herself on trial for murder after defending herself against an enslaver.

The inspiration for this gripping narrative came from Henderson's deep dive into Black history. She was particularly moved by the true story of Celia, a fourteen-year-old enslaved girl who killed her master in self-defense in 1855 in Missouri. "For the enslaved, self-defense was no defense that the court would recognize," Henderson notes, explaining how this historical injustice sparked her creative vision. The novel explores a painful reality: in the antebellum period, assaulting a Black woman—enslaved or free—wasn't against the law.

Living in Fredericksburg has profoundly shaped Henderson's work. "By living in Fredericksburg, I'm surrounded by history, and it has propelled me to take my writing seriously," she says. Through research, she has uncovered stories of people who lived and worked in Virginia, finding threads that resonate with contemporary audiences. Her plays have featured historical figures including George Washington, Peter Salem, and the Lovings, bringing local history to vivid life on stage.

Beyond her novels, Henderson has established Somewhere in Time Productions, Inc., a performing arts company dedicated to producing original plays by local playwrights. "I believe a play isn't finished until it is performed in front of an audience," she explains. The company provides emerging and seasoned playwrights alike with a platform while offering theatergoers "something fresh, a new story with a never-before-seen ending."

Her recent production, The History Lesson, earned rave reviews and will return during Black History Month. Set in 1860, the play follows Frank Turner, an attorney kidnapped into slavery, who risks everything by teaching a young woman to read and write. Henderson adapted it from a chapter in On the Wings of Freedom, demonstrating her ability to reimagine her work across different media.

Henderson's creative influences span from the Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens to contemporary voices like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Walter Mosley. More recently, nonfiction works including The 1619 Project, The Color of Law, and Just Mercy have informed her historical research, grounding her fiction in documented realities of institutional racism and social justice.

For aspiring writers, Henderson offers practical wisdom: "Write about what you love to read about. Record your family history." She emphasizes the importance of building vocabulary, joining writers' clubs for feedback, and understanding that writing is a process. Her favorite advice? "Don't be a critic when you're developing your story. Do the editing afterwards."

Currently, Henderson is working on her second novel featuring Henry Mason, a butler-turned-detective who joins Allan Pinkerton's agency in Chicago and uncovers a plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln. Between managing her theater company, singing jazz, enjoying Zumba, and spending time with family, Henderson maintains a steady writing practice, proving that dedication, not rigid schedules, sustains creative work.

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Those interested in Somewhere in Time Productions can email somewhereintimeproductions21@gmail.com, visit somewhereintimeproductions.org, or watch for The History Lesson this February. Malanna's first novel On the Wings of Freedom can also be purchased on Amazon.