Well friends, it's my absolute pleasure to have author J.M. Hochstetler with us on the blog today in honor of her new release, Valley of the Shadow, which is book 5 in The American Patriot series. (Book 5! Swoon! I thought writing four historical novels in one series was hard!) I had the privilege of endorsing her series, so I'll share that here with you too:
"The American Patriot books are the most complete, complex, and textured retelling of the Revolutionary War I've found in historical fiction. Hochstetler is not only a masterful storyteller, but a genuine historian. These are timeless classics, destined to be read--and relished--more than once."
Yes. I am a fan. Now, without further ado, let's get to the interview! Jocelyn: Where does your passion for the American Revolution come from? Do you happen to know of any ancestors who fought in the war? J.M.: Oddly enough, this passion started back in 1982 after I watched a TV movie, The Scarlet Pimpernell, starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. It was set during the French Revolution, and it had everything: swashbuckling action, comedy, pathos, intrigue, danger, and swoon-worthy romance. I adored it! The characters possessed me, and I knew right away that I had to write my own version of the story. Unfortunately . . . I wasn’t really interested in the French Revolution. And besides, they’d already done it, and very well too.
OK, now I'm totally in the mood to watch that. But keep going. It immediately occurred to me that we have our own Revolution! So I baldly hijacked the characters and the basic plot line. Aspects of Lord Percy split out into both Elizabeth Howard and Jonathan Carleton, with Elizabeth also naturally filling the role of Marguerite, and Jonathan the role of Percy. Thus was born Daughter of Liberty and a series that has taken over my life. I’ve often wished I did have ancestors who fought in the Revolution so I could join the Daughters of the American Revolution. My ancestors, however, were all Amish, who are nonresistant, so no soldiers there. Ironically, they came to this country in 1738 seeking religious freedom and in 1757 were caught up in the French and Indian War when their farm was attacked by Indians. The father refused to allow his sons to take up weapons against their attackers for fear of killing some of them. As a result, 3 family members were killed and 3 were carried away into captivity, returning years later. Last year my cousin, multi-published author Bob Hostetler, and I released a novel based closely on their story titled Northkill, Book 1 of the Northkill Amish Series. We’re currently working on the sequel, The Return, which publishes next fall. It’s an inspiring and compelling story, and we hope to do justice to it. Bottom line: I don’t qualify to join the DAR. I don't either, I'm pretty sure. [Update! My grandmother just wrote to tell me that my ancestor came over in 1772 to Philadelphia and fought in the war! Wahoo! Now back to our regularly scheduled interview...] By the way, your book Northkill totally knocked me off my feet. I felt that book to the core of my being. My core, I tell you! Am dying for the sequel. Now, what is one of the most surprising things you uncovered during your research for this series? In addition to the role that mobs played in the rebellion—which rather took me aback—I was surprised to learn that the role I envisioned for Elizabeth and many of the escapades I invented for her actually have considerable basis in fact. One young woman, Sybil Ludington, rode out through the countryside to warn the people that the Regulars were coming, as Elizabeth does in Daughter of Liberty. Sybil actually rode farther in a shorter time than Paul Revere did! Many women served actively as spies, some at high levels where they consorted with British officers and prominent Tories, and others fought in the rebel army disguised as men. In regard to Valley of the Shadow, a few women were even held aboard British prison ships, and one was reputed to have been a top-level spy. Interesting stuff! Wow! That's amazing, I had never heard of Sybil! Do you use any sources for your research which might surprise us? If so, do tell! Yes, indeed! Young adult and even some children’s books can be a rich source of accurate information. Those recommended as supplemental reading in schools for particular subjects, such as history, are particularly helpful because they’ve been carefully researched, and they present a wealth of information succinctly and clearly. Recently I found an out-of-print book used as a textbook in some schools back in the 1980s titled The Magic Moccasins. It contains in-depth details about several Indian tribes in the mid 18th century that I needed for writing The Return. That led me back to its source, Moravian missionary David Zeisberger, and I found his original Indian dictionary and history of the Indian tribes on Amazon! That had me doing the Snoopy dance for sure! Oh, what a find! I love it! What is one misconception about the Revolution which you hope your books can correct? There are actually 2 related ones. The first is that the majority of Americans passionately supported the Revolution. The fact is that comparatively few participated in the rebellion against England in any meaningful way. There were many loyalists who vehemently opposed it, often for thoughtful reasons that challenge us today to consider our own stance on the issues involved. A related misconception is that those on the side of the rebellion were all heroes and the British were all evildoers. Or, alternatively, that the American leaders were all hypocritical charlatans, while the British were all noble, which seems to be a popular viewpoint today. The truth is considerably more complicated than that. The short period of our Revolution was filled with an astonishing number of leaders who by any measure were great men and women. They believed deeply in the ideals they proclaimed and sacrificed their lives and fortunes to “form a more perfect union.” And very many of the common people shared those values. We should be grateful to every one of them for the legacy they bequeathed us. However, there were many British officers and leaders in Parliament who were equally admirable. This is not to say that there none on the dark side. History gives us some notable examples of those too. All of them on both sides were human, not to mention that some were downright self-serving and out for their own gain. The same political shenanigans went on in the Congress then that go on now. It’s sort of like the little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead: When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid! When you study and write about history, you have to keep a realistic attitude. It helps to be a Christian and remember that there’s none righteous, no not one! I’m often amazed to see how God worked with the frail clay he had at hand to accomplish his great purposes even as he continues to do today. Exactly right, and so well said. You have an amazing way of bringing raw emotions to life with your writing. How does that type of writing affect you as you pour yourself into some quite heartwrenching scenarios? Well, honestly, there are times when I’m writing that I’m laughing like a fool, and others when I’m weeping like a baby. It’s a good thing that I’m generally alone when that happens. It’s a rollercoaster ride that I love! But I have to admit that I’ve written scenes that truly took a lot out of me, and I’m sure it’s the same for other authors. There are times when my emotions are so wrenched that I have trouble returning to real life, especially since I’m an introvert by nature. It helps that my husband is an extrovert, and he grounds me, as do my daughters and grandchildren. They have a way of dragging me back to what’s happening now, and I appreciate that! Is there anything you MUST have handy when you sit down to write? Coffee? Kleenex? A purring cat? Coffee always helps, of course. Somebody needs to invent a caffeine patch! Probably the most essential is to have my resources along with the usual masses of sticky notes and scraps of paper, thickly scribbled, spread out across my desk, the floor, any open space in the vicinity. I work best alone and in a quiet, cluttered environment. It isn’t necessarily the convenience of having resource materials close at hand. It’s more as if they give off an aura that subtly vibrates the atmosphere and stimulates brain cells. Hmmmm…… That’s pretty weird, isn’t it?! LOL! I love it though! I think I'll add "aura" to my list of must-have-on-hands. :) How do you hope your books will affect your readers? My greatest desire is that they offer a winsome witness to our gracious God and create in readers’ hearts a thirst for the living water only a relationship with Jesus Christ can provide. Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Jocelyn! I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. You really got me to thinking about some unexpected things, and it was fun! The pleasure is mine!
Excerpt
Before we get to the give-away, Joanne is graciously sharing with us the first portion of Chapter One from Valley of the Shadow. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Thursday, 30 October, 1777 11:05 p.m. In the flickering candlelight the words swam and blurred before his eyes. Clenched in his hand, the paper shook. Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton stared at the letter, his mind gone blank. A wave of terror and rage squeezed the air from his lungs and brought bile into his throat. By degrees he became aware of the gusting wind that beat against the inn, the sudden bursts of freezing rain flailing the window panes, his own ragged breath. Despite the heat radiating from the hearth’s blaze, chill sweat trickled down his brow and beneath his worn buckskins, darkly rain-slicked from the downpour his Rangers had ridden through. He swallowed with difficulty and forced himself to focus on the letter’s signature. William Howe. Knight of the Bath. Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s forces on the North American Station. “Jon, what is it?” Behind him, Colonel Charles Andrews’s voice sounded hollow and far away. Ignoring his friend, Carleton studied the words scrawled boldly above Howe’s name as though, if he willed it, they would say something else. That the American cause was entirely lost. That Washington had surrendered to the British. That Howe’s entire army waited outside the door to escort Carleton to the scaffold, there to hang for treason. Anything. Not this. Tuesday 28 October, 1777 Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton Sir, This is to inform you that I hold Elizabeth Howard prisoner. If you wish her to live, present yourself to me, alone and unarmed, at my headquarters no later than two days following your receipt of this letter. The guard that bears it has orders to conduct you directly to me with all courtesy due a general officer. Be advised that if you do not appear or if anyone accompanies or attempts to follow you, Miss Howard will die in that hour. I am, sir, Your most humble servant . . . Humble servant. If he did not loathe Howe so intensely at that moment, he would laugh. “Jon, please—” His expression masked, Carleton thrust the letter at Andrews. The colonel threw an alarmed glance at the brigade’s chief physician, Major Pieter Vander Groot, before bringing it close to the candle to scan its contents. When he looked up, his face had gone chalk white. “Dear God! He has Beth!” Vander Groot strode across the cramped chamber of the modest inn on the edge of the small village of Baptist Meeting House, where they were staying the night on their journey across New Jersey. He tore the letter from Andrews’s hand and after reading it dropped the page on the table and slumped into one of the chairs drawn up to it, groaning, his face buried in his hands. “It’s my fault. My rashness caused this.” Taking a shaky breath, Carleton moved woodenly past the two men. Andrews grabbed him by the arm and spun him around. “What do you mean?” “When they ambushed me at Gray’s Hill,” Carleton reminded him hoarsely. “I taunted Howe to his face. You warned me he’d move heaven and earth to capture me. Obviously he has.” Again he stepped toward the door. “You can’t mean to go to him!” Carleton tried to wrest his arm free, but Andrews gripped him by the other as well and forced Carleton to face him. “This is insane! Think, Jon. He’ll arrest you—hang you.” For a suspended moment Carleton regarded the colonel blankly, unable to make sense of his plea or to come up with a coherent response. “I know,” he rasped at last. “Do you truly think he’ll release Beth in exchange for you?” “No.” “You’re right. You’ll accomplish nothing but to hand him your head on a silver platter—one of our best officers, the very one who so magnificently fleeced the British of every scrap of intelligence the patriots needed! What you suffered when General Gage arrested you back in Boston will be nothing to what Howe will do now. Didn’t he say in Beth’s hearing that he wanted to personally hand your scalp to George the Third? He’ll make you the prime example of what happens to those who dare defy the king, then execute you both.” Carleton tore out of his hold, but before he could reach the door, Vander Groot sprang to block him. “What Charles says is true. I know Howe well enough to be certain of it.” “I—cannot—allow her—to die—alone,” Carleton said, his voice thick, each word an effort. “I will not.” Andrews’s expression hardened, and he grasped Carleton by the shoulder. “Do you honestly think Howe hasn’t thought of that, that he’d allow you to catch even one glimpse of each other, or that he’d give either of you the comfort of being hanged together? He’ll never allow her to know that you gave yourself up for her, never allow you to see her one last time and assure her of your love!” His voice broke. “After he hangs you, he’ll simply let her rot away in misery in some stinking hellhole, knowing full well what would happen if you came, but wondering still whether you ever learned of her fate—or whether your love failed.” Staggered, Carleton tried blindly to turn away. Vander Groot shoved a chair toward him, and he collapsed into it. Leaning forward, hands gripped between his knees, shoulders heaving, Carleton fought to ride out the tide of agony that bore over him. But it rose all the higher until he feared he must either drown or be swept away to some unspeakable act of violence. “Lord, what am I to do?” he whispered.
Give-away
And now the give-away! First, you should know that we are ALL winners because each book in the American Patriot series is $1.99 as an ebook from now until the end of September.
But you can also enter the drawing for a chance to win the book of your choice in this series, ebook or paperback: Daughter of Liberty, Native Son, Wind of the Spirit, Crucible of War, or Valley of the Shadow. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment sharing why you'd like a book, OR what you enjoyed from this interivew! For another point, subscribe to the blog and tell me you've done so. For yet another entry, subscribe to my e-newsletter in the footer of this Web page. I'll choose a random winner on Tuesday, September 15. The winner will have three days to respond to my email before I'd need to select a runner-up, so be alert!
More About J.M. Hochstetler
Award-winning author J. M. Hochstetler is the daughter of Mennonite farmers, a graduate of Indiana University, a publisher and professional editor, and a historian. Her American Patriot Series is the only accurate, comprehensive historical fiction series on the American Revolution. Book 1 of her Northkill Amish Series, coauthored with multi-published author Bob Hostetler, was awarded ForeWord Review’s 2014 INDIEFAB bronze award for historical fiction. Her contemporary novel One Holy Night was the Christian Small Publishers 2009 Book of the Year and was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. You’ll find more information about Joan, her books, and her other websites and social media pages at www.jmhochstetler.com.
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