Author Interview: Historical Fiction Author James S. Kelly

James S. (Jim) Kelly is a retired United States Air Force Colonel with over 100 combat missions in Vietnam. Prior to his retirement, Jim was Program Director for a Communication’s Program in Iran, working directly under the Shah. Jim and his wife, Patricia own and operate High Meadow’s Horse Ranch outside Solvang, California. All of his novels use Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley as a setting. Over the past 15 years, Jim and his wife have been active in a charity supporting our troops in forward operating locations, in hostile territory, overseas. To contact Jim, email him at jkelly2020@outlook.com. Website: www.kellywritings.com

 

As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books.  Can you tell us how you got the idea to write your book?

Always wanted to write a civil war novel about spying and how that impacted the war

Can you tell us a little about the main characters of your book?

Used a close friend, who was tenacious and fearless, as model for the southern character and another friend who is brilliant financier as the northern character

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?

Always look to create scenes for your reader

What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?

I like to leave the reader thinking there’s more to come at the climax

Do you hear from your readers?  What do they say?

They like the stories and characters

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? 

Look to create a scene

What has been your best accomplishment?

My four children

Do you Google yourself?

No

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

One

Fun question - if you were princess or prince, what’s one thing you would do to make your kingdom a better place?  

Give a bar of chocolate to the uptight politicians

Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?

I try to tell a story where the characters and situations are realistic and the reader is hoping for more

 

Two young men grow up in the south, become great friends and love the same woman. One moves north as the civil war nears and becomes Administrative Asst to Abraham Lincoln The one who remained in the south vacates his office of US Senator to become the south’s chief spy. Both men are pitted against each other during the war. As the war ends, they try to renew their friendship but will the presence of the one they both love be an impediment. ORDER YOUR COPY Amazon → https://amzn.to/2ZulevO