Interview with novelist James W. George

Novelist James W. George joins me today and we’re chatting about his new historical novel, The Prophet and the Witch.

During his virtual book tour, James will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

James W. George is a lover of history and historical fiction. He is a graduate of Boston University and a military veteran. He is currently residing in Virginia with his wife and children.

He published his critically-acclaimed debut novel, My Father’s Kingdom in January 2017. The novel described the prelude to King Philip’s War in New England in the 1670s. The Indie View gave it five stars: “This is high historical drama handled wonderfully…a tale that will fully engage you on every level.”

My Father’s Kingdom is a planned trilogy, and book two, The Prophet and the Witch, was published in September 2017. This is an epic novel that spans the entire conflict of King Philip’s War, and includes such notable historical figures as Josiah Winslow, Increase Mather, Metacomet, Benjamin Church, and Mary Rowlandson. The Literary Titan awarded it five stars and a gold medal for October 2017.

The author is looking forward to book three of the trilogy, and he can be found on Goodreads.

Welcome, James. Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Prophet and the Witch is a brand-new release. It is book two of a planned trilogy, but the book stands well on its own even without book one. The setting is New England in the 1670s, and the book explores the obscure but fascinating conflict known as “King Philip’s War.”

We’re all familiar with the tale of the Mayflower in 1620, and the first Thanksgiving. Even the most casual student of history is fairly knowledgeable about the American Revolution in the 1770s. But what, if anything, happened in the intervening 150 years?

The sad reality is, approximately fifty years after the first Thanksgiving, relations with the Native Americans of New England deteriorated so badly that they went to war with the Puritan English colonists. The leader of the rebellion was Metacomet, known as “King Philip” to the English. He was the son of the great Massasoit, who was instrumental in helping preserve and nurture Plymouth Colony in their early years.

The novel is extremely accurate from a historical perspective. It recounts the war through the eyes of major historical figures such as Josiah Winslow, Benjamin Church, Metacomet, Mary Rowlandson, Roger Williams, and Increase Mather. Additionally, a cast of fictional characters such as Israel Brewster, Constance Wilder, and Linto bring this chapter of history to life like never before.

It’s truly an epic tale, with Puritans, Quakers, Mohawks, Frenchmen, pirates, seventeenth-century drinking songs, romance, Elizabethan sonnets, witchcraft, militia marching songs, psalmody, a refined Scottish villain, riveting combat, erotic moments, witchcraft, a seafood feast, lacrosse, a treasurer you will love to hate, deep questions of faith, religion, and friendship, and a slow, insubordinate, flatulent horse. What else could you want?

What inspired you to write this book?

I love history and historical fiction, and I wanted to portray a chapter of history the average American was not familiar with. I’m not trying to be critical, but in my opinion, we’re kind of overdosing on WWII, the Tudors, and the Vikings, and I’d like to see some of the more obscure events in history brought to life. King Philip’s War was one of the most tragic and catastrophic events in American history, and too many of us have never even heard of it.

Additionally, the conflict has been the perfect vehicle to explore themes of religion, friendship, and courage in the face of evil.

Excerpt from The Prophet and the Witch:

This is from Chapter 29. Linto is a Native American Wampanoag, and his people have enlisted the help of New France to aid in their war against the English. Linto is remorseful, because he is convinced he has committed a grave sin during the prior week.

“Vous êtes malheureux?”

Linto morosely drew another card, and ignored Captain Alain Fontaine.

“Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?”

Linto should have been using the opportunity, as Captain Fontaine expected, to study the language of their new allies. As the captain repeatedly conveyed, within a few years New England would merely be an extension of New France, and a working knowledge of French would be vital.

“Are you unhappy, Linto?”

The shift back to English stirred Linto from his dull torpor. He briefly made eye contact, played his card, and sighed. They were playing “one and thirty,” and this would certainly be the fourth consecutive hand Linto would lose. His three cards currently added up to a paltry seventeen points, and he knew Fontaine would capitalize on his discard.

“I will take your three, and…voila. I have thirty-one. Or better yet, I have trente et un.” Linto stared vacantly into space.

“Linto, speak to me. You miss your family, no? I miss my family as well. My daughter is named Madeline. She is with her grandmother in Lyons. Tell me, what are the names of your children?”

Linto blinked and stared at the table. “Will Father Jacques ever come back, Cahp-ee-tehn Alain?”

Fontaine remained cordial. “I do not believe so. I have told you before. He will spend the spring to the west of here, on the shores of the ocean lake. It is very far, but he will save many souls. But I can answer all of your questions. You wish to know more about the English heresies? How they revile the Holy Father?”

Linto reached absent-mindedly for the cards, and lethargically shuffled them, much to Fontaine’s surprise. “A fifth hand, Linto? Surely, your luck must be ready to change?”

Linto briefly ruminated on the concept of luck. “Cahp-ee-tehn Alain, do you confess your sins?”

“Excusez-moi?”

“Father Jacques told me true Christians will tell a holy man all the things they have done wrong, and they will ask to be forgiven. Do you think people are punished if they don’t tell a holy man all the things they have done wrong?”

“You think of such serious matters all the time, Linto. The sky is clear, the English are on the run all over the land, and we are roasting ducks today. There will be a big lacrosse game to watch in the afternoon. I think we will also see at least thirty more warriors arrive this week, and they will bring muskets.”

Linto continued his ineffective shuffling. “How often do you tell the holy man your sins? What if you do bad things every day?”

Fontaine reached for the cards and took them. “Linto, you have been moping like a sad Puritan ever since you went to see the Nipmuc. Weren’t they overjoyed at the news? Aren’t they making preparations for two hundred new warriors?”

The reminder of deception and falsehood triggered an even deeper gloom in Linto. He sat silently, and was relieved when one of Cahp-ee-tehn Alain’s attendants came in with cheese and brandy. Linto hoped the subject would now quickly change.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Book three of the trilogy will move forward approximately fifteen years. There was another obscure but fascinating war that rocked New England during that time, and evidently, in 1692, there was some kind of kerfuffle in Salem that got everyone all excited.

Additionally, the audiobook for The Prophet and the Witch is in progress. My narrator, Mr. Angus Freathy, is phenomenal. He does all the accents, easily differentiates between dozens of characters, and doesn’t falter with any of the exotic names and places. He even does the tipsy singing.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed the academic writing associated with school and work, but 2017 is the first year I’ve begun professionally writing.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

No, I’m not a full-time writer. Fortunately, my work schedule affords me time to write, especially when I’ve been working night shift, and I’m at home on my days off wide-awake at 2AM.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Things come much easier when I’m listening to classical music.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I remember a fifth-grade career project when I listed “aerospace engineer” and depicted myself standing next to an airplane with a clipboard. How geeky is that? I guess I was pretty close, as I did get an engineering degree and spent twenty-two years in the Air Force.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’m extraordinarily proud of this book, and the initial reviews have been terrific. One review I’m very fond of came from romance author Shashane Wallace, who noted “The Prophet and the Witch is a book for everyone.” In other words, even if you’re not normally drawn to historical fiction, I’m confident you’ll enjoy this tale of love, war, courage, religion, friendship, and faith.

Links:

Goodreads | Amazon

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

It’s been a pleasure. Thanks for having me!

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Interview with YA fantasy author Andrew Anzur Clement

I’m helping fantasy author Andrew Anzur Clement kick off his virtual book tour for his historical young adult trilogy, The Keepers of the Stone Trilogy.

During his tour, Andrew will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Andrew Anzur Clement departed his native Los Angeles at the age of nineteen, with a curiosity for far-off lands. He quickly discovered an insatiable wonderlust that has led him to live, work and study in many fascinating places around the globe. Now in his late-twenties the unabashed opera fan is based in Europe. He continues to travel and read widely, finding new inspiration in the places he discovers. In his ‘other’ life Andrew is an academic researcher, focusing on nationalism and identity formation. He enjoys including insights from his research in his books and the characters he inhabits.
 

Welcome, Andrew. Please share a little bit about your current release.
My current trilogy follows the adventures of a group of misfits. They're tasked with protecting a mystical stone from the designs of an ancient cult -- the Urumi -- who are essentially the devil's servants. But, there's a bit more to it than that. We open in the middle of the action. The main character, Malka, has already sacrificed the entire tribe she's been raised with -- but, as an adoptee, never accepted by -- to protect it. She's already befriended Stas. A youth born of a Polish father into exile in Egypt and British India. Both are sent on extensive journeys that are travelogues of the late 1880's. Like many refugees who find their upbringings caught between multiple countries today, they are forced to define the truth of their own identities and pre-conceptions, as they become involved in a quest to see the stone to its final resting place. It's a battle that will test their own core beliefs about their personhoods. And, determine the course that the future's history will take.

What inspired you to write this book?
Hmmm... The short version is 'the Lady Godiva statue in Coventry, England' (I'll come back to this in a sec).

Yet, there's one that's much longer. As I mentioned above, I start my story in mid-action. The back story was partially inspired by a book I first read as a miserable, overstressed and bullied seventeen-year-old in Los Angeles. The English language title is 'In Desert and Wilderness,' by iconic Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz. It's about a British girl and a Polish boy who is proud of his heritage. The two get captured, from where they were raised in Egypt, amidst the 1885 Mahdist rebellion in Sudan. They overcome these circumstances amid impossible odds.

Flash forward to November 2015: The migrant crisis in full swing. I'm living in Europe. And all of the infamous headlines about migrants in the Polish press are just coming out. I get news from my family. We're going to Egypt for our next vacation. The first thing I think of is 'In Desert and in Wilderness'; I start looking up coincidences between the book and our planned itinerary. To my shock, I find that Stas -- the same youth who's been sold as the paragon of Polishness in that tome -- would probably be more like the Syrian migrants attempting to come to Europe's shores, in terms of his cultural identity, than like your run-of-the-mill Pole.

The following morning, I took a walk in Coventry. As an academic researcher investigating European migration, I was unable to keep the insights I'd gained from my head.

Here's where the Lady Godiva statue comes in. I found myself standing in front of it. In Coventry's main square. The image spoke to me. And that, in the end, is what inspired the first chapter: a girl on a horse. Setting off on a desperate quest. One that she's yet to realize the entirety of. Stas gets caught up in this too. But, if you've never heard of the original book? No worries. I fill in the back story as we go along. You'll be fine.

Excerpt from Keepers of the Stone: Book Three: Homecoming:

            “Who are you?” the man asked, looking behind himself in surprise. Inside the kitchen, some of the other staff were moving to see what was going on in the lobby. That could not be allowed. The kitchen employee turned back to find himself looking down the barrel of a six-shot revolver.

             “I’m the one who’s pointing a gun in your face. Let me in. Now,” Stas demanded.

            The man seemed to hesitate for only a second before stepping aside, placing his frame against the open door. Holding the weapon with both hands, Stas edged forward. In front of him, he could see the kitchen. It was a rather dark space. Various dishes sat on the stone counters in different stages of preparation. Most of the staff looked at him with stares of fear and shock. When Stas used to dream of coming to his family’s home city, this was just one more way in which it had not at all been the experience he’d had in mind.

            There was a sudden yowl, followed by the sound of a foot impacting with flesh and a body crumpling to the floor. Stas glanced back just long enough to see that Liza – now in her human form – had taken down a younger man, about Stas’s age, with a side kick. He had been waiting beside the doorframe, apparently intending to attack the Slav from behind with a butcher’s knife. Kneeling quickly, Liza retrieved the cutting tool, which was smeared with blood from some kind of beef or pork meat. Standing in the doorway, she raised it up to a point beside her head. The felinoid turned the blade towards herself as she inspected it briefly, before allowing the ends of her lips to curl slightly upwards, while jutting out her lower jaw. Concurrently she nodded twice, as if deciding that this would do nicely.

             “Let’s move!” the felinoid barked at Stas.

What exciting story are you working on next?
In short? A trilogy that's partially a sequel to Keepers --Voyages of Fortune. One of its main plotlines follows the actions of our protagonists from Keepers of the Stone about two years onwards. Others are completely new. Including one that chronicles the adventures of a real-life female solo adventurer, mystic and writer who journeyed around the world during the 1920's. It all ends up on a clipper ship that can fold space at supernatural speeds in the twenty-first century. The whole thing is tied together by a time travel paradox that spans over 120 years. Kind of makes my head hurt sometimes, actually.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess for a while now. At least, in some sense. I've been writing and publishing as an academic for a few years. But until these books were brought out I'd never really considered myself an author of fiction. It's true, what a writer friend of mine one said; to paraphrase: Once you take the cork off, you can't put it back on.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I wish. In my daily life I'm an early career academic, researching the confluence between migration and (lack of) European identity formation. There's a rhythm in this life; it largely means that I'm able to use the time when I'm waiting for decisions on academic manuscripts to write my novels. And vice versa. Additionally, it means that I'm able to bring the insights from my academic research to bear on the narratives my characters inhabit.

It also allows me to let my hair down a bit. Let's just say that after you read these books, you'll never look at a cat the same way again. Although the story is set in 1886/7, my characters talk in a snarky way that will be recognizable to the modern reader. My main character is a mixed-race teenage girl, who takes down her enemies with a nothing but a dupata, a doorknob and a dagger.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like writing on public transport. Most of what I'm writing necessarily takes place in the evening. Kind of like in place of watching a TV series. But, I'm most creative/productive while writing during travel between cities. For exposition, most of the end of Keepers book two and the beginning of book three was banged out while on six hour long train rides between Plovdiv and Varna, Bulgaria. Book three was finished in Slovenia, where I gained the inspiration for my next trilogy. (I'm a fan of Central Eastern Europe, if you can't tell).

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I think I oscillated between trumpet player, news anchor and businessman (whatever that meant). And no, novel writer never figured into it. When I first sat down and began the journey that became these novels, no one, believe me, was more surprised than I. Yet, I'm more than glad I did so.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
My tomes are part fantasy, part history, and part reflection on what national belonging means in an increasingly globalized world. Having had the experience of penning these books, partly while writing a doctoral dissertation, I can't help but be impressed by how much Keepers of the Stone encompasses my own narrative thesis biased off of my travels and research in Europe, North America and South Asia. Across which most of Keepers' action is based. It's a travelogue of the world. As encountered by those who must find their place in it. Even as they fight threats that they once never could have imagined existed.

Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog | Andrew's Amazon Author Page

Purchase Links to book one (Books two and three already out):

Amazon | Amazon UK | IBooks | Kobo | BN

Thank you for being a guest on my blog! Happy touring!

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Live chat with historian Jeffrey Kerr - Sunday, Nov 3, 7-9PM EST

The Writer's Chatroom presents non-fiction author Jeffrey Kerr.

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Sunday, November 3, 2013

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