President Lincoln's Secret by Steven Wilson
Steven Wilson was born in Ohio and raised in Wisconsin. He has been fascinated by history since he was a child. One of his first books, a birthday present from his aunt, was THE CIVIL WAR by Bruce Catton. He was equally enthralled by motion pictures, working in his great-uncle's theater at the age of seven, hauling tins of un-popped popcorn to the concession counter. He's held a variety of jobs including tower clock repairman, factory worker, shoe salesman, stock boy, roofer, construction worker and now, museum curator. Wilson began writing novels in 1993, after a sketchy attempt to write short stories.
His eclectic interests include motion picture history, movie soundtracks, 19th Century military history, and World War II. He works fulltime as a curator and museum consultant and writes part-time. He considers research as least as important as the writing, and plans to write some non-fiction works in the future.
Let's get to know him...
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S SECRET is the second in the Fitz Dunaway series. Tell us about this character.
Fitz is a bit like me, outspoken, impatient, and short-tempered. I like him even if he is socially clumsy. He's honest, bright, and not easily deterred.
Your interest in Abraham Lincoln goes deeper than source material for a book. Give us the lowdown.
I'm constantly involved in some form of Lincoln study as the curator of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at Lincoln Memorial. Believe it or not, it's a massive field, and I will always be a struggling student.
Can readers jump in with this new book, or do they need to have read PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S SPY first?
No, not really. There are some transition points of course but nothing that can't be overcome by careful reading.
What's your favorite scene in the book? I think the scene of Royal and Victoria Januarys return to Mayfield. I can't give too much away, but it was fun to write. Following the characters into their tragic past was intriguing.
What will surprise readers about the Abraham Lincoln they meet in your books?
His strength and political acumen. Lincoln is often portrayed as one dimensional. In fact he was a superb politician, brilliant administrator, and never lacked for self-confidence.
You did a couple of World War II thrillers. Tell us about them.
VOYAGE OF THE GRAY WOLVES, BETWEEN THE HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED, and ARMADA were set in the North Atlantic and English Channel. Some of my favorite characters including George Hardy, and Jordan Cole, were involved in these adventures. Hardy was grouchy, and Cole was flawed, but they performed well against German U-boats, battleships, and E-boats.
Will you be returning to WWII or sticking with the Civil War era?
That depends on my agent and editor. I'm flexible, although I'm working on a Cold War drama. Thematically speaking, I'll go anywhere, anytime.
The publishing industry is going through some changes. How have you been riding out that storm?
As well as can be expected. Of course selling a million books would make things a bit easier.
Historical thrillers present a special challenge in that you need to inform as well as entertain. How do you manage that mix?
It's relatively easy. History is drama. I keep the characters and circumstances in mind and weave the historical narrative throughout the plot. I also keep the characters in historical context. A disgusted Fitz Dunaway may have to make his way through a herd of pigs on Pennsylvania Avenue. In the 1860s this was fairly common.
Your novels feel current and relevant despite being about bygone days. What's your method for connecting these events to the modern reader?
I place myself in the time period, observing the scene as if I'm a part of it.
What makes the process fun for you?
That rare moment when I'm at the computer and forget I'm writing. It's when the words tumble effortlessly out of my head and onto the screen.
What's next?
More writing, and developing a strategy with my agent and editor.
Find Steven online at: www.stevenwilsonbooks.com
JONATHAN MABERRY is the multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning of
PATIENT ZERO (St Martins Press, March 2009), ZOMBIE CSU (Citadel Press)
and WOLVERINE: GHOSTS (Marvel, April 2009). Visit his author website: www.jonathanmaberry.comThrillerFest
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