Welcome, Samuel. Tell us how much of yourself you
write into your characters.
Since my genre is primarily
historical fiction, I retain the actual names of the people in the story unless
the family of a bad person would suffer shame or embarrassment by my depiction
of their relative. My characters are based on people I’ve known or observed but
they reflect my idea of what I believe them to be.
Obviously, I see my
characters through the lens of my biases and worldview. While I can portray
believable characters, I would be hard pressed to develop a Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs) as I simply would
not want to descend—even within my imagination—to the level of a serial killer.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Just being me. For those of
us with ADD, it’s hard to isolate one activity or habit. I try to represent the
real me wherever I am. That has alarmed people who feel that making a good
impression is paramount, while some probably classify me as eccentric, or even uninhibited
or rude. So yes, I’ve been known to do or say the unexpected, which may appear
to be quirky but really, I’m simply enjoying being myself.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Freshman composition college
class. One of my classmates, whom I viewed as intellectual, said he thought I
got the only A in the section. I loved that class; it not only showed me that I
could write, it exposed my vast need for improvement. Research was the tinder
to light my fire, and learning to use the right word as opposed to the
almost-right-word became a game.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy
reading.
The Book That Made Your World by Vishal Mangalwadi and Foxe’s Christian Martyrs of the World should be in every Christian’s
library, in my view. Oswald Chambers, Andrew Murray, and Brother Lawrence conveyed
their experience with the Holy in ways that inspire me to this day. Tim Keller
and Ravi Zacharias form much of my apologetic while the writings of C.S. Lewis
are timeless; I trust Christina Hoff Sommers for social commentary; and Jon
Krakauer and John Vaillant (The Tiger) write the kind of adventure stories I
aspire to. Alexander McCall Smith and Thurber titillate my funny bone, and
Walter Wangerin, Jr. is simply remarkable. Beryl Markham, Sanora Babb, and
Eudora Welty wrote with a passion and attention to detail that will forever
keep their books on my shelves. Bill Myers and Richard Russo, each in his own
way, craft stories that never disappoint. Stephen King is seldom a comfortable
companion for bedtime reading but he is deadly eloquent and never dull.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run
world?
I don’t venture out into it
very often. Long ago, my roommate bequeathed me a B & W television. When it
died two months later, I didn’t replace it. My wife and I never owned a TV. We read
stories to our three children when they were young, and all appear to have
survived the hardship of doing without TV.
Additionally, our house
reposes behind a coverlet of trees on all sides. It’s a blissful place of
refuge that calms my soul.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
I generally let them choose
their own names, appropriate to their level of perceived self-importance,
reputation, giftedness, fears, or ambition. However, if they get carried away,
I step in and allow other irreverent characters in my story to tag them with
nicknames that bring them to heel. For my historical fiction, I let them keep
the names they brought home from the hospital … unless, of course, they or
their living descendants would be shamed or inflamed by my revelations. Then I
give them innocuous handles somewhat in keeping with their roles.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
It’s not really my achievement
but I am most proud of our daughter and two sons. The fact that we and they
love each other, and say so every time we part or sign off a conversation
speaks volumes about God’s love for me.
I have few personal
accomplishments that I attained due to my determination or talent; most
resulted from my response of sink-or-swim to situations or roles thrust upon
me. One prominent exception is my staying with my story, Daughter of the Cimarron,
until it found the right publisher—Ashberry
Lane .
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and
why?
Ah, the giraffe, that
mild-mannered wallflower with the ungainly stride. Deceptive in demeanor, he
towers above the madding crowd, and his kick can knock an incautious lion into
next week.
What is your favorite food?
As related in Daughter
of the Cimarron, once during the Depression, Claire and Elmer had only
wheat and milk to eat—for two whole months! In contrast, I consider the variety
of delectable foods we put on our tables today, and I’d have to say that just
about any food could be my favorite.
What is the problem with writing that was your
greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Discipline, or lack of it. We
ADDers live interesting lives, jumping from an activity to a succession of
distractions before settling down to complete whatever task must get done.
Deadlines are our friends, quieting the siren call of procrastination. The
nature of a critique group carries with it the simple expectation that each
writer has something prepared … every time, every meeting. My unwillingness to
not meet those expectations means that I do my level best to perform as
expected. Wrong motive, but for me, that’s what I need.
Tell us about the featured book.
Set in the Great Depression,
Claire’s story begins when she is stranded in St. Louis on a traveling sales crew by her
cheating husband, abetted by her own cowardice. A moment of outrage achieves
what she’s long needed—and always feared. She can’t go home but she has to
start over. The breakup of her marriage shatters her trust in a manageable God
and ends her dream of a happy home with children.
Urbane and handsome Elmer,
her irreligious boss, wins her affections until she learns there’s another
woman. Heartsick and doubting if God ever forgives divorce, she flees to a
doubtful refuge—home. Two men pursue her but she can’t decide which love is
real. Her own mother doesn’t show up when she marries. The Depression forces
the couple onto their own resources. Marooned far from family, they spiral into
extreme want. With the Dust Bowl as the anvil, Claire’s in-laws become God’s
hammer to make her into what she’s resisted … and desired.
This story portrays a woman’s
quest for identity and celebrates her determination and inner worth. It honors
the dignity of people struggling to overcome. Beyond that, the characters
question God’s reality while hiding personal agendas and power plays.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Chapter One
CLAIRE
Mama always said, “People put
out stories to make themselves feel superior. Ignore the tales and the people
who tell them.”
But I couldn’t ignore the
envelope in my purse.
“Sunday driver!” My husband
shook his fist at the car in front of us. Tilting the steering wheel to the
left, he pulled the throttle lever down. The engine puttered faster as we moved
beside the other car’s back bumper. A moment later, the car jolted.
Our ’26 Ford coupe jerked to
the right and slipped into a shallow ditch beside Illinois Highway 3. No sound
but the creaking of metal.
The car we’d been trying to
pass kept on going.
Harold sat rigid as a post,
knuckles ivory white over the steering wheel. My husband’s thick brown hair
looked as if he’d combed it with an eggbeater. Uttering a stream of curses, he
swept his hair off his forehead.
“Are you all right?” Why had
he taken such a risk? Did he want to die?
Harold shoved his door open
and, without another look at me, stepped down.
I pushed against my door, but
a barbed wire fence gleamed on the other side of the ditch so I scooted across
the seat and followed him out.
He ducked to catch his
reflection in the side window and commenced finger-combing his hair back in
place. “Lookit that,” he muttered. “Clear in the ditch and stuck besides. How
am I going to get this flivver back on the road?”
A battered red truck rolled
to a stop beside us. The driver, a rangy farm hand with a gap-toothed grin,
vaulted out. “Hey-ee. Close call. Everybody in one piece?”
I pulled myself upright. “I …
I guess so. It was so quick, I—”
“Things can happen mighty
fast. People driving thirty, forty miles an hour. Like maniacs. You coulda been
killed.” He shook his head.
“What?” Harold puffed out his
chest. “You didn’t see nothing. Who you think you are?”
The tall man’s smile faded.
He seemed to be deciding whether to fling Harold over the fence or simply to
leave.
I stumbled forward. “No. No,
he didn’t mean it that way.” My voice caught. “Yes … you’re right. We should’ve
been careful …”
“Claire, I did mean it that
way!” Harold’s right eyelid twitched, a sign things could get out of
control—quickly.
I wheeled between the two and
grasped Harold’s arm. “Elmer expects us in St. Louis today. We need this man’s help. He
didn’t intend disrespect.” I turned back to the farmer. “He’s … we’re just
upset. That was very frightening. We’re so glad you stopped.”
The man stared at Harold, as
if daring him to pop off again. Finally he got into the truck and backed up to
our car. Within minutes, he’d hitched on to our coupe and pulled it up beside
the pavement. He unhooked from the Ford and dropped down to look underneath.
“That right tie rod’s bent. I’d get it fixed as soon as possible if I was you.”
He directed the words at me, not Harold.
I reached into the car for my
purse.
The farmer shook his head.
“You don’t owe me nothin’. I’m glad to help you.” Without further ceremony, he
climbed in his truck and chugged off.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My blog can be reached via my
website, samhallwriter.com. I also have a FaceBook and Goodreads presence.
Thank you, Samuel, for sharing this new book with us. I live in North Central Texas, and we have been in an extreme drought for almost a decade. I've often through about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. I'm so thankful that the drought is finally broken.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Daughter of the Cimarron - PaperbackDaughter of the Cimarron - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
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16 comments:
I like the writing style, and enjoyed the interview.
-Melissa M. in TN
Our son has ADHD so I can understand the struggle to "pin down" your thoughts :-D I would think it would be especially hard as a writer. Your thoughts would have to make some sort of sense to make a story!
I do like the idea of your book "Daughter of the Cimmaron". It's set in the Great Depression time, a hard time in our history where so many struggled to make it everyday. I could not imagine living through that time. This book sounds really good and one I'd love to put on my to-read list! Thanks for coming out to talk a bit about yourself, Samuel, and your book. Also for a chance to win a copy :-)
I forgot again to say where I'm from! One of these days, I will remember!
Trixi in OR
Great interview! Samuel is a new author to me and I am certainly intrigued by his book. Would love to read it! Thank you for the giveaway!
Melanie Backus, TX
Interesting interview. I am not familiar with Samuel's work, but this book sounds interesting. lisajcowell(at)cs(dot)com in Ohio
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre. I love the sound of this book.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thanks to all of you for your comments, and interest in "Cimarron."
Trixi, on the one hand, I sympathize with you--and your son--re his ADHD. On the other, I daresay that he can live an interesting and fulfilling life. For myself, I didn't realize what prompted my off-the-wall emotions until I was diagnosed about 9 years ago. You can imagine the trial I was to those around me--particularly my wife! I've settled on a fairly satisfactory medication level and now I'm much more fun to be around.
But that doesn't mean life is pond placid. While driving and talking to my passengers, my eyes are constantly scanning the terrain and traffic on both sides. My passengers seem to miss so much, while I'm having a great time taking everything in. Makes my conversation a bit ragged + my ability to absorb their questions suffers occasionally. I'm not bored but I sometimes leave the impression that I'm not fully engaged with them. This is another area I need discipline.
This is a new to me author. This book sounds very intriguing and emotional. I am hooked on historicals and I definitely want to read this one.thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Deanne Patterson
Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com
I'm in Pennsylvania
sounds like a interesting book! Shelia Hall from Mississippi
New author to me but the plot sounds good. I like the name 'Cimaron'. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com California
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Several of you have mentioned your affinity for the word "Cimarron." It's the name of a river that begins in NE New Mexico and flows east into the Oklahoma Panhandle, angles up to catch the SE corner of Colorado and then dodges back and forth between Oklahoma and Kansas for 600 miles before it joins the Arkansas River.
Boyhood friends introduced my brothers and me to a fantastical place of bluffs and canyons that overlooked the Cimarron River. Shards of flint and pieces of spear and arrowheads littered one mesa. I later learned that that gathering place for ancient tribes was less than a mile from where Claire, my mother, took her solitary walks from the first farm my parents rented. The confluence of those two widely separated events sparked my imagination (and my desire to write) like no other discovery.
Hence the title of the book, "Daughter of the Cimarron."
Enjoyed learning more about you and your writing, Samuel - thank you!!
I love the era and setting of Cimarron and would love to read it - thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!!
I live in Virginia. Thanks for the great giveaway.
My grandparents told me stories that they heard about the dust bowl. I am looking forward to read this book.
Patricia Blackmon
Shepherd, Texas
I'd love to read this! thanks for gifting a copy :)
dkstevens NEBR
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