Author Interview – JDR Hawkins

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot? Yes. I think that every writer incorporates personal experiences, and my writing is no exception. The main character, David, and his best friend, Jake, are loosely based on my son, Jeremy, and his best friend, Ben.

How important do you think villains are in a story? I think they are critical to the suspense of a story. Every great novel has a great villain to go with it.

What are your goals as a writer? My primary goals are to entertain, teach, and tell a good story.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? I make it a point to visit the places I write about in my books in order to make them authentic. Getting the terrain right and imagining the placement of armies on various battlefields helps me to visualize what actually took place at these sacred places.

What books have most influenced your life? Black Beauty, Gone With the Wind, Heaven Is For Real, and Cold Mountain. I love reading inspirational stories, classics, stories featuring strong character arcs, and books that affect my psyche.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? Yes. I have written two more sequels to this series, which I am calling the “Renegade Series,” and I am currently working on a nonfiction book about the Civil War.

Have you started another book yet? I have started several. Some are ready for publication, and some are still in the works.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself as a more experienced author with several more titles under my belt. My goal is to find an agent and a traditional publisher to help me advance my career.

What are your current writing projects now? I am working on a nonfiction book about the Civil War, and I plan to start a memoir later this year.

This book received an honorable mention at the Los Angeles Book Festival.
This book was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

In the spring of 1861, a country once united is fractured by war. Half of America fights for the Confederate cause; the other, for unification. Rebel forces have already seized Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, a new Confederate president has been elected, and the Constitution has been revised. In northern Alabama, a farmer and father of three decides to enlist. For Hiram Summers, it is the end of everything he has ever known.

After Hiram travels to Virginia with the Fourth Alabama Infantry Regiment, he is quickly thrust into combat. His son, David, who must stay behind, searches for adventure at home by traipsing to Huntsville with his best friend, Jake Kimball, to scrutinize invading Yankees. Meanwhile, Caroline—Hiram’s wife and David’s mother—struggles to keep up with the farm as her world revolves around the letters she receives from her husband, whom she misses dearly. As Hiram and his son discover the true meaning of war, they soon realize that their choices have torn their family apart.

In this historical tale, the naïveté of a young country is tested, a father sacrifices everything to defend his home, and a young man longs for adventure—regardless of the perilous cost.
Civil war tore families apart, and many of those families fought to stay together every step of the way. “A Beautiful Glittering Lie” is a novel of the American Civil War, as J.D.R. Hawkins writes of the Summers family and the rift the war brought to their family. Drawing on her heritage to tell the tale, Hawkins presents an insightful and riveting read of a family at war. “A Beautiful Glittering Lie” is a strong pick for historical fiction collections. Able Greenspan- Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Civil war tore families apart, and many of those families fought to stay together every step of the way. “A Beautiful Glittering Lie” is a novel of the American Civil War, as J.D.R. Hawkins writes of the Summers family and the rift the war brought to their family. Drawing on her heritage to tell the tale, Hawkins presents an insightful and riveting read of a family at war. “A Beautiful Glittering Lie” is a strong pick for historical fiction collections.
Greenspan’s Bookshelf  - Able Greenspan- Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

We are so proud to announce that A Beautiful Glittering Lie: A Novel of the Civil War by J. D. R. Hawkins is a 2012 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This assures readers that this is a book well worth their time and money! - G. Indiebrag

This is a very good book! From first to last, it was exciting and thoughtful, raising important questions about the effect of war not just on the nation but on regular people.

The historical quotes and history are intertwined well into the fictional plot, and the horror of battle is well represented. The violence is not gratuitous but rather an essential part of the theme.

The book is well plotted and the narrative moves along at a satisfying pace. The reader is treated to a history lesson of the Civil War through the eyes of common folk.
I would certainly look forward to the sequel - Writers Digest

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Historical Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with JDR Hawkins on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://jdrhawkins.com/