Author Interview: Gretchen Jeannette / This Day is Ours
JMR-Welcome to the Books
Delight, Gretchen. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun and
what does the perfect day look like?
GJ-Many thanks to Books Delight
for having me! I live in Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles west of
Philadelphia, in an area rich in Colonial American and Revolutionary War
history. I enjoy visiting the historic sites of 18th Century
America, not just in Pennsylvania but in all the former 13 Colonies. A perfect
day for me would be spent at Colonial Williamsburg during the Grand
Illumination.
JMR-What’s your favorite
historical time period? Why?
GJ-I’ve always been drawn to
America’s revolutionary era. I live a stone’s throw from the Brandywine
Battlefield, where a pivotal showdown occurred during the American War of
Independence. Growing up, I devoured every book on early America I could find—Johnny Tremain, A Light in
the Forest, The Young Trailers, The Last of the Mohicans, Bridal Journey, and Drums Along the Mohawk to name a few. My parents were history
lovers and often took the family on trips to famous places such as Washington’s
Crossing. I guess you could say that a fascination with the American Revolution
runs in my blood.
JMR- Great list of books, Gretchen, but I have to plug the very wonderful, or so I'm told, Blood in the Valley.
JMR-Who is your favorite
historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
GJ-I’ve pondered this question
many times, and I keep coming back to George Washington. Of all the Founding
Fathers, he alone was America’s indispensable man. No one else could have kept
together the American army through eight years of hardship and uncertainty,
including the mutinies of the Connecticut Line, the Pennsylvania Line, and the
New Jersey Line. In the face of overwhelming odds, Washington not only endured
as commander in chief but also inspired his long-suffering soldiers to keep
going. I would ask him this: If you could go back to the beginning of the war,
what would you do differently as America’s military leader?
JMR- I am a great fan of the
American Revolution. How do you immerse your reader in that time period, make
them feel like they are there?
GJ- I always weave factual
history into my plots, not only important historical events but also the
subtleties of everyday life of the times. Above all, I try to avoid information
dumps that can pull a reader out of the story. My number one rule as a
historical fiction author is “know your subject”; otherwise, your story might
not ring true. Although research is time-consuming, it is also key to capturing
the essence of a time period. The importance of authentic settings, dialogue,
mood, and historical details can’t be overstated. They are the cornerstones for
building a realistic world that captivates readers and enables them to suspend
their disbelief.
JMR- Writers of historical
romance have to balance the history with the love story, how do you keep
readers interested without putting anyone off?
GJ-I think the “historical”
aspect of a romance novel is as important as the romance itself. I have read
historical romances that have no roots, meaning they could take place at any
time in history simply by changing a few names and dates. I like my characters to
participate in history-making events so that they aren’t merely living during a
time period but helping to shape history as well. The more the hero and heroine
engage in the times, the more real their characters become and, hopefully, the
more compelling their romance will be for the reader.
JMR- You worked as an editor.
When and why did you decide you wanted to be the writer?
GJ- I dreamed of becoming a
writer when I was in grade school. Whenever a homework assignment involved
writing, I couldn’t wait to go home and get started. I wrote my first
full-length novel in high school, though it was more for practice than a
serious endeavor. (And it was awful! These days, I read it for laughs.) In my
late twenties, I landed a job as an editor, an experience that deepened my love
of the written word. After working with other writers on their essays and short
stories, the urge to become a full-fledged author grew too strong to ignore. The
rest, as they say, is history!
JMR- Gretchen,
tell us about your new book, This Day is Ours.
GJ-This Day is Ours has been a
labor of love. What began as a “what if” idea blossomed into a story that owned
my heart and soul for more than three years. Set in Philadelphia during the
American War of Independence, the story explores an unlikely romance between a
courageous rebel activist and a young Loyalist widow. The war and its effects on
the characters in the book shares the spotlight with the romance. I set out to
present the conflict from opposing perspectives—Rebel versus Loyalist—and I
hope I succeeded.
JMR-What projects do you have
in the pipeline?
GJ-I’m working on a standalone story
involving the main characters from This Day is Ours. The focus this time is the
fate of the Loyalists who remained in Philadelphia after the war. Stripped of
their citizenship, property rights, and voter rights, they endured persecution
from vengeful radicals bent on banishing them from America. The hero from This
Day is Ours, who fought for seven years for American independence, returns home
from one war only to get caught up in another.
JMR- Tell our readers how to
find you on social media and the web.
GJ-You can find me on Twitter at
@GAJeannette, and on Facebook at @GAJAuthor. You can also visit my website at www.gretchenjeannette.com, though
that is a work in progress.
JMR- What question were you
hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
GJ-Do I have a favorite author? Too
many to name! However, I love Bernard Cornwell’s writing, and I’m a big fan of
David Liss.
JMR- Thank you Gretchen for stopping by and for a fun interview. Good luck with your writing and stay safe. Readers if you would like to see more about Gretchen's book, This Day is Ours, I've included a link to Amazon, you can find it Historical Fiction/ United States
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