Interview with L.B. Joramo, author of The Immortal American

Today Flashlight Commentary is pleased to welcome author L.B. Joramo to discuss her latest release, The Immortal American. 

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Welcome to Flashlight Commentary. To start things off, please tell us a bit about The Immortal American.
I’ll give you a blurb of the book:

The first in the Immortal American series . . .
As black clouds gather for America in 1775 Violet Buccleuch transforms from simple colonial farmer to become the Immortal American.


While Boston roars with protests, Violet Buccleuch fights to survive. The lone provider for her mother and sister, Violet knows that soon enough she must surrender to the only option a woman of 1775 has: marriage. 

For two years she's delayed a wedding to Mathew Adams, her fiance. He's loved her since they were children, and Violet knows he will be a good husband. But he's gone and committed the most dangerous mistake a man can make: He's introduced her to his friend, Jacque Beaumont, a Frenchman and a spy, a dark , dangerous man Violet can't stop herself from wanting. 

Then Violet's life is shattered--brutality, death, and the threat of debtor's prison surround her. Both Jacque and Mathew come to her aid--one man rescues her farm, the other rescues her heart. As the Battle of Concord rages at her door, Violet is entangled between her loyalty to Mathew, even as she's drawn further into Jacque's shadowy, mysterious world--perhaps a world from which there's no return.

Who or what inspired you to write this piece? 
Violet, my protagonist came to me first. I saw her in modern times, and the more I got to know her, this two hundred plus year-old woman, the more I came to love her. She was bright and funny and so brave. And then she told me about her life. When I learned what happened to her right before and during the Battle of Lexington-Concord, I knew I had to write about it. 

What research went into the writing of this book and what, if any, challenges did you face in adapting your research to fiction?
Oh, research! Well, Violet told me the most basic facts about what had happened to her. But it was my job to fill in the gaps, and I hardly knew a thing about the American Revolution. I mean, being an American, I think I knew my very basic history, but not much beyond that. After a year of research, I realized that that wasn’t nearly enough. I’d always wanted to go back to school to get my Master’s in creative writing, but after a year of living in the eighteenth century, I decided why not get my Masters in History. Actually, I am earning my Master’s in US Military History, and my area of concentration is the American Revolution. I go to school only part-time, so I should graduate sometime when I’m close to 700, but I absolutely love my decision. I’m still having so much fun with research, and still feel like I might never get enough. 

What is your favorite scene in the novel?
The scene where Violet realizes that Jacque is a spy is probably my favorite. They both try so hard to rise above their feelings for each other, but can’t help feeling desire, yet they so conflicted about that. Here’s just a little tidbit from that scene: 

“You are a spy?” Although it was a question, I made it sound more like a statement.  
Monsieur Beaumont nodded and smiled brightly. “You are so clever. You have discovered one of my secrets. Does that mean I need to tell you another, to balance our confidence in each other?” 
“How can you make so light of such a thing? You’re a spy!” 
“I am not making light of this, as you say. Mathew does not even know what I am. If you told one person what I am, then I would hang in the gallows faster than you could say—” 
“I would never tell a soul. Never.” 
At that moment I gripped onto his other hand furiously, seeking for him to know undoubtedly he could trust me. The sensation of his callused hands against mine was enough to make me stop breathing. 
His voice was very low. “I thank you for that. I would hate for my neck to be  stretched to an ungodly length. ” 
“How can you jest so much?” 
“If I do not, I fear, I would be weeping, which then might lead you to question my masculinity.” 
“Men can cry. In fact, I find that I quite admire a man who can cry.” 
He pretended to boohoo, which got him a smack on his shoulder. He caught my hand that had jabbed at him, while he grinned at me— both my hands in his again. His smile slowly diminished, and he seemed to hold his breath.  

What scene posed the greatest challenges for you as an author?    Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can say. I’m scared I’d give too much away about the book if I did. But suffice it to say, there is a very difficult scene where Violet takes care of her sister one last time, and that was the very hardest scene to write in my life. 

Social patterns and expectations have changed dramatically since the 1700s. How did you approach getting into the mindset of an eighteenth century woman? 
Violet isn’t exactly a normal eighteenth century woman, so that helped when I needed to get into her mind. But she also has some universal problems that translate easily through time. For instance she doesn’t quite feel like she fits in, she falls in love with the wrong guy, etc. Violet’s father was a lecturer at Harvard before he married her mother, and as such Violet was very well learned. Many women in America were, in fact. When Thomas Paine became a bestseller in America after his publication of Common Sense it was many women who read the pamphlet that changed the course of the American Revolution. 

And many years of research helped get into the eighteenth century mindset.

Violet is attracted to two very different men in your story. How does her relationship with Mathew differ for her relationship with Jacque? 
Mathew was Violet’s childhood friend. So Violet felt grateful a nice, sweet man proposed to her and offers to help her support her family. She accepted the proposal quite happily, for Mathew would claim her heart. 

But it was Jacque that intrigued Violet’s mind then her soul.  Both Jacque and Violet love poetry and philosophy, especially the French philosophes. It is in Jacque that Violet feels she can most be herself, but she can’t have him. 

It’s quite a conundrum. 

If you could sit down and talk with one of your characters, maybe meet somewhere and chat over coffee, who would you choose and why?
Oh my goodness! Jacque! Hands down I would love to meet Jacque! I love a guy with an accent, and a French accent happens to be one of my favorites. However, my French is horrible, and I always need an English to French dictionary, so I’d probably embarrass myself with trying to impress him with my horrible French. However, it would be worth it. He’s impossible not to fall in love with. 

What do you hope readers come away with after reading your work?
I hope to entertain my readers. No, that’s not quite it. I want to transport them. Not just back in time, but to feel lifted from their life just for a bit. Yeah, I do love historical accuracy, and if my readers feel impelled to do their own research, that would enthrall me. But mainly, I just want to have my readers fall in love all, have a great time, share in a cry, and laugh with my characters. 

Finally, what is next for you? Any new projects waiting in the wings? 
The second in the Immortal American series is scheduled to be released this fall. Violet meets several new people, as well as another immortal. She also transforms from a sniper to a spy. And not too far behind the release of second in the series, Jacque gets his own time in the limelight with a short story. Oh that boy finds himself in all sorts of fun trouble.  

Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’m very honored to be here!

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About the Author: I live in the Big Sky state, where I write, research, and love watching my son grow. I do live a bit of a fairy tale right now. Even with all the stress of deadlines, I live in a home where birds serenade me every day, my son amazes me with his humor, and I am doing exactly what I want—writing. For more information, please visit L.B. Joramo’s website and blog.  You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Book: As black clouds gather for America in 1775 Violet Buccleuch transforms from simple colonial farmer to become the Immortal American. While Boston roars with protests, Violet Buccleuch fights to survive. The lone provider for her mother and sister, Violet knows that soon enough she must surrender to the only option a woman of 1775 has: marriage. For two years she’s delayed a wedding to Mathew Adams, her fiancé. He’s loved her since they were children, and Violet knows he will be a good husband. But he’s gone and committed the most dangerous mistake a man can make: He’s introduced her to his friend, Jacque Beaumont, a Frenchman and a spy, a dark, dangerous man Violet can’t stop herself from wanting. Then Violet’s life is shattered–brutality, death, and the threat of debtor’s prison surround her. Both Jacque and Mathew come to her aid–one man rescues her farm, the other rescues her heart. As the Battle of Concord rages at her door, Violet is entangled between her loyalty to Mathew, even as she’s drawn further into Jacque’s shadowy, mysterious world – perhaps a world from which there’s no return.

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Check out all the stops on L.B. Joramo's The Immortal American virtual Book Tour

Monday, June 24
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, June 25
Review at Turning the Pages
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, June 26
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, June 27
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Friday, June 28
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

When the Clouds Roll By by Myra Johnson

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: June 18, 2013

Annemarie Kendall is overjoyed when the armistice is signed and the Great War comes to an end. Her fiance, Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, is coming home, and though he is wounded, she is excited to start their life together. But when he arrives, her dreams are dashed when she learns Gilbert is suffering from headaches, depression, and an addiction to pain killers. This is not the man she had planned to marry. After serving in the trenches, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary is barely holding onto his faith. Putting up a brave front as he ministers to the injured soldiers at the hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he befriends Gilbert and eventually falls for Annemarie. While Annemarie tries to sort out her confused feelings about the two men in her life, she witnesses firsthand the bitterness and hurt they both hold within. Who will she choose? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and become the woman God intended her to be? As the world emerges from the shadow of war, Annemarie clings to her faith as she wonders if her future holds the hope, happiness, and love for which she so desperately longs.

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Beginning just after the Armistice, Myra Johnson's When the Clouds Roll By is an inspirational story of the Great War and the repercussions it inflicted on the generation who came of age in its shadow.

Though I expected it from reading the jacket description, I really appreciated how Johnson explored war injuries in her narrative. Gilbert's depression and subsequent addiction to pain killers was a tragically common fate for many wounded doughboys, as was the emotional trauma suffered by those like Samuel, whose scars were invisible to the naked eye.

Another thing I liked about this one was how Johnson treated the religious aspects of her story. When the Clouds Roll By was released by Abingdon Press, a faith based publisher, but it was the historic setting and content rather than Christian themes that drew my attention to this piece. As a predominantly nonsecular reader I was worried I might find the underlying messages overbearing or preachy, but this was not the case. Though essential to the central story, Johnson managed a nice balance between the spiritual and secular, making her work enjoyable for believers and nonbelievers alike.

My sole complaint was how conveniently the love triangle was resolved. I like happy endings as much as the next reader, but I couldn't help feeling Johnson's conclusion lacked the authenticity I crave. I don't want to spoil anything, but in the end, it felt too neatly packaged for my tastes.

When the Clouds Roll By is a light historical with feel-good message. A perfect choice for those looking for both religion inspired fiction or gentler stories of World War I.

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"We fell in love as kids who thought the world was safe. We grew up to find ourselves in a world at war."

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Interview with Jennifer Cody Epstein, author of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment

Today Flashlight Commentary is pleased to welcome author Jennifer Cody Epstein to discuss her latest release, The Gods Of Heavenly Punishment. 

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Welcome to Flashlight Commentary Jennifer. To start things off, please tell us a bit about The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.

Sure! The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is a novel set against the 1945 firebombing of Tokyo. It explores that event and the Pacific Conflict as a whole from the perspectives of six different characters, and from both sides of the war.

Who or what inspired you to write this story? Why did you feel it needed to be told? 

In part it was my experience living in Japan, which I did for a total of five years (first as a student and teacher, then as a journalist). I was always fascinated by how vastly different our cultures are, and yet how closely twined we are as nations—and I’d never fully felt like I understood the war. I also knew that I wanted to write about our two countries, but didn’t feel like I had a concrete “peg” to hang the story on until my husband came back from an interview he’d done for a film he’s making about a massacre that took place in Iraq. He had been speaking with a military lawyer, and they were talking about the definition of “war crime.” Apparently the lawyer mentioned the Tokyo firebombing as something that by today’s standards would be considered a war crime—which made me realize that I really didn’t know much about that particular incident (like most Americans, my knowledge of our bombings of Japan tends to center around the atomic bombings that took place in August of 1945). When I went to research the firebombing a little I was just blown away—it was so completely devastating, and yet so unmentioned in most historical accounts. I immediately was intrigued by the idea of trying to somehow fill that silence a little by telling a story around it.

What research went into The Gods of Heavenly Punishment and what, if any, challenges did you face in adapting your research to fiction?

Mainly I read, read, and read some more—pretty much anything I could get my hands on about World War II, Japan’s conquest of Northern China, America’s various bombing campaigns against Japan and German, life in the U.S. and Japan during wartime, etc. I also took a research trip to Japan in 2009 and interviewed Japanese historians of the period and several women who had lived through the firebombings. On the U.S. military side, I was lucky enough to gain access to some of the original bombers that were used against Japan during the war, and climbed around a little inside some of them. Lastly, I had some terrific input from a former Occupation Intelligence Agent who’d been in Japan following the Surrender and was able to give me some information about how the country would have appeared to an American at that time.

In terms of adapting research to fiction: I think the biggest challenge is always knowing how to draw the balance between your story and the history. As someone who spends a lot of time researching, there is an instinct to sort of “dump” everything you learn into your book because you don’t want to feel like you’ve wasted any of that time and effort—but not everything you learn in research is of real service to your narrative. Knowing what to include and what to leave out is a balancing act.

What scene posed the greatest challenges for you as an author?

There were two, I think. One was the scene where Cam takes off in his B-25 from the deck of the U.S. S. Hornet. I honestly have no idea at all how to fly a plane, so the first draft of that was waaaaay off in terms of technical detail and perception. Happily, my dad flew planes for the Navy in the 1950’s and offered a lot of insight, as did a friend who was one of the first Air Force officers to fly into Iraq during our first war there. The latter was a real wealth of information as well—she must have read four drafts of the chapter before we felt it was ready to “fly.”

The other scene that posed a challenge was the firebombing scene itself—for obvious reasons. I’ve never lived through anything like that myself, so I had to really trust my imagination to recreate the sensations and the horror of seeing a city consumed by so much heat and fire. It was also psychologically very draining.

Photography plays a unique role in The Gods of Heavenly Punishment. What led you to incorporate visual imagery as a central component in this piece?

I knew I wanted to use an art form to try to sort of “soften” the war element of the novel and to connect my characters—much as I did in my first novel, The Painter from Shanghai, which is about one of China’s first post-impressionist artists, Pan Yuliang. Photography came to me after researching the book online and finding so many powerful and thought-provoking photographs of the period—in many ways, World War II was the first war really brought to us directly by photographs, and I wanted to explore that.

The book's title comes from the Hell Scroll. How did this 12th century artifact influence your story?

I think mostly in that the moment I saw the title, I thought: “That’s it. That’s the name of my book.” It just so perfectly summed up everything I was trying to talk about; fire, punishment, sky, and two nations who each respectively took on godlike powers in their capacities as aggressors. I also felt like the violence of the image captured the grimness of some of the book’s content.

Most war stories are one sided. Why did you opt to tell The Gods of Heavenly Punishment through individuals on both sides of WWII?

I think because I really didn’t want this to be a polemic or a political story about one side being “right” or “wrong.” I was interested in going deeper than that; in seeing how the war came about and was fought and rationalized on both sides, and how those two sides interacted. I also think I was trying to show war itself in all its brutality-not just the brutality inflicted by one side upon the other.

If you could sit down and talk with one of your characters, who would you choose and why?

Probably Hana—because she’s the character I understand the least, and I have a lot of questions for her! Plus I really think she’d be fun and witty to chat with. And could give me some great style tips to boot. J

What do you hope readers come away with after reading your work?

I think that war itself—regardless of who begins or ends it—is a brutal and dehumanizing experience for all involved, and that we have to be very, very careful about justifying it in any context. Also, that there is always hope amid the destruction, because despite everything I believe the human spirit has an infinite ability to reach out, connect, redeem.

Finally, what is next for you? Any new projects waiting in the wings? 

I have two that I’m juggling in my head right now—both from the same time period but from opposite sides of the globe! I’m not sure which will win out in the end but check back with me in a month or two…

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About the Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein is the author of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment and the international bestseller The Painter from Shanghai. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Self, Mademoiselle and NBC, and has worked in Hong Kong, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two daughters and especially needy Springer Spaniel.For more information, please visit her website.

About the Book: In this evocative and thrilling epic novel, fifteen-year-old Yoshi Kobayashi, child of Japan’s New Empire, daughter of an ardent expansionist and a mother with a haunting past, is on her way home on a March night when American bombers shower her city with napalm—an attack that leaves one hundred thousand dead within hours and half the city in ashen ruins. In the days that follow, Yoshi’s old life will blur beyond recognition, leading her to a new world marked by destruction and shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption.

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Check out all the stops On Jennifer Cody Epstein's The Gods of Heavenly Punishment virtual book tour

Monday, June 10
Review & Giveaway at Bippity Boppity Book

Tuesday, June 11
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, June 12
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, June 13
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Friday, June 14
Review & Interview at A Bookish Libraria

Monday, June 17
Review at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, June 18
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, June 19
Review at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, June 20
Review at Tiny Library

Friday, June 21
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Monday, June 24
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Tuesday, June 25
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Review & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, June 26
Review at Bitches with Books

Thursday, June 27
Guest Post at HF Connection

Friday, June 28
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Saturday, June 29
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: June 8, 2013

In this evocative and thrilling epic novel, fifteen-year-old Yoshi Kobayashi, child of Japan’s New Empire, daughter of an ardent expansionist and a mother with a haunting past, is on her way home on a March night when American bombers shower her city with napalm—an attack that leaves one hundred thousand dead within hours and half the city in ashen ruins. In the days that follow, Yoshi’s old life will blur beyond recognition, leading her to a new world marked by destruction and shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption.

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A captured American from a downed B-29

Jennifer Cody Epstein's The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is unlike any WWII fiction I've ever picked up. In many ways it is a personal story, driven by individual experiences, but at the same time it is a war story, shaped by the contention of two nations vying to defeat one another.

As far as favorite character, it is a toss-up between Hana and Anton. Hana is glamorous, intelligent, but emotionally complex. From the beginning it is clear her story will be marred by tragedy, but I couldn't help being drawn to her, couldn't help hoping her story would have a happy ending. Then there is Anton. Other characters are affected by the war, directly or indirectly, but no one else suffers such emotional conflict and inner turmoil as the American architect whose legacy is built into the Tokyo skyline. Neither Hana nor Anton is what I would call admirable, but these flawed characters - the kind who aren't black and white, the kind who aren't easy to understand, the kind prone to very realistic failings - these are the kind that make great fiction.

But good characters are only the beginning. For instance, I really loved how Epstein applied the six degrees of separation concept in this piece. Her cast is divided by background and culture, but each member plays an important role and represents something different in Yoshi's journey. I've encountered the concept in fiction before, but rarely have I seen it done with such artistry and depth as I found here.

Before I close, I'd like to offer a word of caution to more sensitive readers. The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is a work of historic fiction and Epstein is one of those admirable writers who isn't intimidated by period appropriate terminology. Personally I admire Epstein's candor, but for those who are less inclined to appreciate her dedication to historical accuracy, consider yourself warned as this book utilizes language considered both inappropriate and offensive in the modern age.

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment tackles some heavy subject matter (infidelity, post-traumatic stress disorder, prejudice, war crimes, etc.), but in the end the book is a beautiful story about survival, hope, and the courage it takes to pick up the pieces and forge ahead.

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"In times like these, people you think you know can become strangers, or even monsters. From now on - from this moment on - you must only think, first and foremost, of protecting yourself. No else matters..."

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Check out all the stops On Jennifer Cody Epstein's The Gods of Heavenly Punishment virtual book tour

Monday, June 10
Review & Giveaway at Bippity Boppity Book

Tuesday, June 11
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, June 12
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, June 13
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Friday, June 14
Review & Interview at A Bookish Libraria

Monday, June 17
Review at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, June 18
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, June 19
Review at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, June 20
Review at Tiny Library

Friday, June 21
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Monday, June 24
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Tuesday, June 25
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Review & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, June 26
Review at Bitches with Books

Thursday, June 27
Guest Post at HF Connection

Friday, June 28
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Saturday, June 29
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Top Down: A Novel of the Kennedy Assassination by Jim Lehrer

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: June 7, 2013

In a riveting novel rooted in one of American history’s great “what ifs,” Jim Lehrer tells the story of two men haunted by the events leading up to John F. Kennedy’s assassination. November 22, 1963. As Air Force One touches down in Dallas, ambitious young newspaper reporter Jack Gilmore races to get the scoop on preparations for President Kennedy’s motorcade. Will the bubble top on the presidential limousine be up or down? Down, according to veteran Secret Service agent Van Walters. The decision to leave the top down and expose JFK to fire from above will weigh on Van’s conscience for decades. But will it also change the course of history? Five years after the assassination, Jack gets an anguished phone call from Van’s daughter Marti. Van Walters is ravaged by guilt, so convinced that his actions led to JFK’s death that he has lost the will to live. In a desperate bid to deliver her father from his demons, Marti enlists Jack’s help in a risky reenactment designed to prove once and for all what would have happened had the bubble top stayed in place on that grim November day. For Jack, it’s a chance to break a once-in-a-lifetime story that could make his career. But for Van the stakes are even higher. The outcome of a ballistics test conducted on the grounds of a secluded estate in upstate New York might just save his life—or push him over the edge. A page-turning historical novel with the beating heart of a thriller, Top Down could only have sprung from the fertile imagination of Jim Lehrer. Drawing on his own experience as an eyewitness to the events described, one of America’s most respected journalists has crafted an engrossing story out of the emotional aftershocks of a national tragedy.

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President Kennedy in the limousine in Dallas, Texas,
minutes before the assassination.

What if? Most of us have pondered the question. What if I'd married my high school sweetheart, gone to college, or taken that job offer? It is a personal query, most often attached to some experience or decision we've made along the way, but what if your 'what if' moment wasn't exactly small scale? 

What if your moment made headlines around the world, was inscribed in the nation's history books and memorialized forever in an eternal flame? This is the premise of Jim Lehrer's Top Down, a fictional piece that introduces readers to Van Walters, a former Secret Service agent who struggles with demons born of the guilt he bears over a split second decision made on November 22, 1963. 

I personally loved how Lehrer approached this story. He doesn't focus on big names or play up the celebrity drama, nor does he dwell on conspiracy theories or the findings of the Warren Commission. His scope is much smaller, centered not on the event itself, but rather the lingering effects of guilt and PTSD as felt by a man attached, however minimally, to the assassination of President Kennedy.

Though the book is about largely about Van, it was Jack - Lehrer's protagonist, not JFK - who I found most interesting. Perhaps it is because Lehrer based the character on himself, but Jack is an incredibly believable character and I found a lot to admire in how he tackles his conflicting emotions.

Not being much of a Kennedy buff, I don't know if I'd recommend it to those who follow the family, but in terms of historic fiction Top Down is an interesting read. Subtle and straightforward it certainly gives one reason to reflect on the shooting and the multitude of factors the played into the tragedy.

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"And so, I, too, became one of the many people connected to the Kennedy Texas trip who were plagued by varying levels of what-if guilt. A guilt that would stay with us forever."

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Interview with Of Fathers and Sons author Evan Ostryzniuk

Today Flashlight Commentary is pleased to welcome author Evan Ostryzniuk to discuss his latest release Of Fathers and Sons: Geoffrey Hotspur and the Este Inheritance. 

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To start things off, please tell us a bit about Of Fathers and Sons.
It is a pleasure to be here. The novel is the second in the English Free Company series set in the High Middle Ages. This time around, company head and wayward squire Geoffrey Hotspur gets involved in the struggle for control of the northeastern Italian city of Ferrara in 1395. Two members of the famous Este family are claiming the right to be the next marquis – 12 year-old Niccolo, the illegitimate son of the late marquis, and his uncle, the veteran captain Azzo. Of itself, such a struggle for power was the norm in medieval Italy, but what sets this particular conflict apart is how Ferrara finds itself in a strategic position for control of northern Italy. At the moment, a fragile balance of power is keeping the peace, but whoever controls this city will have a crucial advantage to dominate the region. 

In addition, as the title suggests the story examines the relationship between fathers and sons. Both Niccolo and Geoffrey are orphans; both are insecure because of their unfortunate provenance; both feel the weight of their real or adopted fathers’ legacies on their consciences. Much of the action revolves around how these orphan boys, having been cast in the political or literal wilderness, try to live up to their names in a hostile world. They have to grow up fast or be forsaken. 

Who or what inspired you to write this story?
I was inspired to write the English Free Company series by the remarkable intensity of life that I discovered in the late Middle Ages. An astounding number of events came fast and furious during this time, and so as a means of bringing this unique period to life, I set an orphan squire into the thick of it. Canterbury Tales was written at this time. As for Of Fathers and Sons specifically, I had wanted to explore the role of children in the 14th century, and the opportunity arose when the Este inheritance came at the right time in the chronology of the series. For those who do not know, Niccolo d’Este grew up to be one of the great men of the Renaissance, and served as a prototype for Machiavelli’s The Prince. In many ways, which my novel reveals, his character was set during those tumultuous months of war with his uncle. 

What research went into Of Fathers and Sons and what, if any challenges did you face in adapting your research to fiction?
Books. Lots and lots of books. I had to investigate many aspects of the Middle Ages in the broad sense and also make detailed studies of the specific events portrayed in the novel. I made sure to cast my net widely in order the gather in as much arcane knowledge as possible. I was trained as a professional historian, and so I know as well as anyone the immense amount of research needed to create a convincing narrative. I collected chronicles, academic studies, period letters and reports, pictures, jokes and tales, and even practical guides on how to perform the most basic tasks. For example, everyone knows what a suit of armor looks like, but how many people know how to put it on properly, from under garments to gauntlets? This is important to my novels especially, because several of the main characters are soldiers, meaning what they wear to battle is of critical importance. 

The greatest challenge in adapting my research to fiction was doing the dialog. Nobody spoke then as they do know, of course, but also the use of language was quite different. People of the Middle Ages possessed a verbal dexterity that would astound listeners today. They used many more natural metaphors and religious allusions than we do. Modes of address were determined based on one’s rank in society. The language had a specific rhythm, and so people would often speak in rhyme and alliteration. People of the Middle Ages also liked a good joke, and so a certain humor was embedded in language. So, I endeavored to include these nuances in the dialogs of my characters and yet make the language accessible to the modern reader. I employed some period terms and words, especially amusing curses, but all the time I had to ensure that the speeches were neither awkward nor stilted. And then there was the task of keeping as much modern vernacular out as possible without resorting to primitive conversations. I have a number of dictionaries to help with this. As well, each character must have his or her own voice! 

Of Fathers and Sons is a sequel to Of Faith and Fidelity. How does this book differ from its predecessor?
The books differ in events and themes. Of Faith and Fidelity is about a conflict between rival popes and how religious sentiment can color one’s decisions when fundamental beliefs are challenged. Of Fathers and Sons, although set just one year thereafter, concerns the purely secular struggle between rival branches of the same family for the Marquisate of Ferrara and examines the nature of patriarchal relationships. Also, the first book contains a lot of crises of conscience, and so many of the decisions made bore a heavy moral or ethical weight. In the second novel the characters are all trying to get ahead of the game and scheming for advantage. That is not to say that Of Fathers and Sons is light in tone; rather the stakes are different this time around. 

What scene posed the greatest challenges for you as an author?
The scene that posed the great challenge was the confrontation between Niccolo and his uncle in the town hall in Bologna. Until that point, they had never seen each other, but Niccolo feared him all the same. Niccolo’s speech is a moment of catharsis, a turning point in the story, and so it had to be done just right or the house of cards would fall. The scene had to reflect many things within a short burst of text – the tension in the hall, Niccolo’s uncertain mood and insecurity, the location of the other players relative to him, and most of all his speech had to contain both rehearsed and spontaneous elements. It contains more theatrical than literary elements. In addition I had to reproduce the voice of a child on the cusp of adolescence who has the weight of the world on his shoulders yet has never spoken in public. It was a delicate balancing act, since I had to be very careful with the words, inject not just simmering emotion but shifting tones as well, while keeping the reader guessing as to where it would all lead. And all this in the absence of a detailed source. What the historical record shows is that both sides attended a peace conference in Bologna during the winter of 1395, which had a set of dramatic consequences. So, I had to extrapolate from these consequences, as well as from the anticipation prior to the meeting, the likely tone and content of Niccolo’s speech. 

If you could sit down and talk with one of your characters, which would you choose and why?
That is a tough question. I created each character so that he or she would be not only very different from any other by rank, skills and temperament, but also have their own unique histories and skeletons in the closet. However, if I had to choose, I would like to get to know Catherine the Astrologer a bit better. She comes across as the most worldly of the lot, and because of her outré social status, she must have a great many interesting and revealing stories to tell about where she came from and how she became so successful as an independent agent. Keep in mind that this was very much a man’s world, where women were broadly considered dangerous and inferior. Actually, I do know Catherine’s origins, but readers will have to wait until the next novel to find them out! And her profession gives pause to wonder. The practice of astrology during the Middle Age is one of those strange things that are difficult to account for. The Church was against the practice, for obvious reasons, yet many popes and kings kept astrologers on the payroll. Astrology was respected as much as suspected, and tangentially associated with witchcraft. Plus, Catherine seems to find herself at the heart of medieval politics time and time again. How is that? And why is she not married? Also, she keeps her (tarot) cards so close to her chest that it would be a challenge to draw her out. Geoffrey Hotspur, on the other hand, would spill all about himself at the drop of a hat. 

What do you hope readers come away with after reading your work?
I hope that readers will come away with a greater appreciation of the High Middle Ages. Not many authors write about this period, although in many ways it is more interesting than the better known Tudor or Roman centuries if only for the sake of its immense diversity of experience. The 14th-15th centuries represent the extremes of medieval culture, a transitional period that went a long way towards shaping the modern world. The weight of history is palpable at this time. 

I would also hope that the main characters make a strong impact on their readers, for I carefully sculpted them as representatives of this dramatic time. While they should be sympathetic figures, they should simply not fit in our world. I want those who crack open the book to find themselves drawn wholly into those raucous times. 

What is next for you? 
I will soon be starting the third installment of the English Free Company series: Of Crosses and Crescents: Geoffrey Hotspur and the Last Crusade. In addition, I will be writing a number of short stories and assorted vignettes showcasing the various members of the English Free Company. However, before that I will on virtual and real tours in support of the latest adventure. Of Father and Sons in paperback comes out in September.

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About the Author: Evan Ostryzniuk was born and raised on the prairies of western Canada. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.A. in History and Modern Languages and an M.A. in Modern History, Evan crossed the ocean to do post-graduate work at the University of Cambridge, concluding four years of research with a doctoral thesis on the Russian Revolution. He then found his way to Eastern Europe, where he took up positions as a magazine editor, university lecturer and analyst in the financial services sector before rising in the ranks of the local publishing industry to become Editor-in-Chief of a popular weekly. Evan Ostryzniuk currently resides in Kyiv, Ukraine near a very large candy factory. He has travelled extensively, including the locations of his novels. Of Fathers and Sons: Geoffrey Hotspur and the Este Inheritance is his second novel. For more information, please visit Evan Ostryzniuk’s website.

About the Book: Geoffrey Hotspur, orphan-squire and ward of the powerful John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, longs to return home to France. Having fought in the ranks of the now disbanded papal armies in Italy, he finds himself penniless and stuck in a foreign land far from his native Avignon, with only a resentful and unscrupulous debt collector as companion. Above all, though, Geoffrey fears losing his place at court, and so he must make his way back to the halls of Gaunt or risk being forsaken by the only family he has known. Twelve-year-old Niccolo, the new marquis of Ferrara and heir to the strategic lands of the Este family, is under siege. His right to the throne is being contested by his uncle. Outnumbered and insecure because of his questionable legitimacy, Niccolo must gather an army of his own. When the paths of the errant squire and troubled marquis cross, their fates intertwine as each endeavors to take from the other what he needs.

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Check out all the stops on Evan Ostryzniuk's Of Fathers and Sons Virtual BOOK TOUR

Monday, May 27
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, May 28
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Interview at Layered Pages

Wednesday, May 29
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Review, Guest Post & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Thursday, May 30
Review at vvb32 Reads

Friday, May 31
Guest Post & Giveaway at vvb32 Reads

POST-TOUR

Friday, June 21
Review at Luxury Reading