Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with John A. Heldt
Book Title: The Patriots
Released: 08/25/24
Genre: Historical Fiction/Time Travel
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The Patriots”?
Heldt: A lot of things did. As I wrote in my blog in August, I have long had a fascination with the American Revolution. I have read many books and watched several movies about the war and wanted at some point to turn that interest into a time-travel series. Making The Patriots into a love story was a no-brainer. Noah and Jacob Maclean, two young brothers from 2024, were always going to need more than a love of history and adventure to remain in the 1770s. So I had them cross paths with Abigail and Rachel Ward — bright, beautiful sisters who challenged and inspired them.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Heldt: I started by researching names from the 1770s, using various historical records. Once I had a pool of names to work with, I considered other factors, such as compatibility with surnames, regional popularity, and even Biblical relevance. Early in The Patriots, much is made of the fact that Jacob and Rachel share the names of a famous couple from the Old Testament. Such coincidences would have been noted by Colonial Americans, who were very religious.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Heldt: I am a former sportswriter, newspaper editor, and reference librarian who has been writing and publishing books for more than a dozen years. Though I have written twenty-four very different novels, I approach each the same way. I research a time and a place, build a story around the setting, and create an extensive outline. I map out every major detail and twist in a book before writing a word. On occasion, I will modify a storyline and move in a new direction, but that is rare. I know how the novel — and even the series — will turn out before I complete my first draft.
If The Patriots was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
That’s a tough one because I am not familiar with any young actors in movies today. But if I could take any actors as they appeared in works from the past forty years, I would cast Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) as Noah, Wil Wheaton as Jake, Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years) as Abby, and Reese Witherspoon (The Man in the Moon) as Rachel. Rachel, in fact, is compared to Reese in The Patriots.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Heldt: That’s easy. I go for a walk. When I go for long walks in my subdivision, I not only clear my head of clutter but also come up with new ideas and plot twists. I can’t think of a single time I didn’t.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Heldt: Yes, I have a few. First, take your craft seriously. Treat it like a job. Set daily routines and follow them. I do most of my writing with coffee in the morning, when I am alert and undistracted. I do most of my planning on walks in the afternoon, when I can find inspiration. Second, when you do write, write in your voice and at your pace. Be original. Don't follow the pack. When possible, enlist the help of others, particularly those with complementary skills. Write, rewrite, and edit until you can no longer stand to look at your manuscript. Strive to produce the best story you can. Readers will appreciate it.
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Heldt: I don’t have a favorite genre, but I do have favorite elements. I like American historical fiction with a dash of adventure, romance, and humor. Life is not just one thing. It is several things, and literature should reflect that. John Jakes, an author I read often growing up, combined these elements well. As for books I have enjoyed, I would put Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens in the top ten of any list.
What are you working on next?
Heldt: I am working on The Winding Road, the second book in the Stone Shed trilogy and the sequel to The Patriots. I am about halfway through the first draft. The new book will be set in the northeast United States in 1777 to 1779.
Learn More About the Author and The Fountain here:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/John-A-Heldt/B007A23EQS
Blog: http://johnheldt.blogspot.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-a-heldt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnaheldt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaheldt/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754231.John_A_Heldt
Tumblr: http://timetravelauthor.tumblr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnheldt
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