Ask the Author: C.J. Heigelmann
Answered Questions (8)
C.J. Heigelmann
Silence is kept.
C.J. Heigelmann
My inspiration burns like everlasting hot coals, fueling my wood stove. Writing is my pot and pan. Whenever I have time to cook, I simply place them on my stove and begin, then savor the aroma.
C.J. Heigelmann
I never have writer's block. I have daily life blocks. That is the struggle. To defend my writing time against the wiles of hectic daily life is a challenge. Perhaps success would free me from these distractions. I'd like to find out! :)
C.J. Heigelmann
Yes! There are plenty of video tutorials! Just do a quick YouTube search. There are literally thousands. :)
C.J. Heigelmann
Literary Fiction- Murder/Mystery Psychological Thriller.
C.J. Heigelmann
Hello Barb, I'm glad you enjoyed the novel! Thank you for your great question!
No, that's not correct. This novel is inspired by historical events and is a historical fiction novel that weaves together the lives of lesser-known historical figures into an intimate folk tale while keeping an accurate historical timeline.
In my preface and author notes, I go into detail about which main characters were inspired by historical figures, as well as actual historical figures and actual lesser publicly known historical events. Here are my preface and author's notes for clarification.
PREFACE
This literary work was inspired by true historical events and the people who participated in them during the American Civil War. While illuminating the lives of lesser known individuals and historical facts, it paints a unique and realistic picture of that tumultuous time in world history. Great care and effort was taken to ensure that every detail of speech, dialect and custom be replicated ethically and accurately. The reader is carried backward in time with each character, and into every situation which transpires, compelling them to share that character’s intimate perspective of life.
_______________________________________________________________________
Author’s Notes
As stated within the preface, this book was inspired by true historical events and the people who participated in them during the American Civil War, while illuminating the lives of lesser-known individuals. The acknowledgment of these particular people and events within the book was done with the intention of shedding light on certain myths and stereotypes many people hold to be true as it pertains to the African slave trade to the Americas, and the American Civil War in general.
Not many people imagine that there was a Chinese Union Army soldier like Shay, who was formally adopted by a merchant ship captain in China. Actually, there was not one, there were two, and very well documented. Edward Day Cohota and Joseph Pierce. As their real-life stories are mirrored in this book, so are the men who adopted them.
Captain Price is one such character. In exploring the dynamics of their lives, the reader has an opportunity to ponder the implications of such an adoption, specifically the stereotypes of Caucasian males living during the 1800s. It seems improbable to some, that the selfless and charitable act of adopting an orphan of a socially non-inclusive race would be socially acceptable and occur, but it did at least twice. It is a prime example of an individual who chooses to be obligated to, and driven by, compassion rather than conform to the social prejudicial norms of his society.
Victoria was inspired by my 4th great-grandmother, known as Mary Clark, who allegedly was the second generation of my African ancestors who endured slavery, lived and worked on a plantation in Alabama, and bore three sons from a renowned colonel and surgeon of the Confederate States Army.
Little Jefferson was inspired by my 3rd great-grandfather, Jefferson Clark, the bi-racial son of Mary. I display photographs of them both at my residence, taken during their elder years. They were a great inspiration in the development and the acknowledgment of the vision which compelled me to undertake this literary work.
Levi Holloway Naron or “Chickasaw” is a lesser-known historical figure, but one who’s life story is remarkable on many levels. Civil War historians who read this book will note that the fictitious “Chickasaw” and his timeline near the end of the war, fits perfectly with the entries of his biography, including him checking on one of his scouts and learning the fate of another. That particular scout inspired the character of Hardy.
These are only a few examples of lesser-known historical facts in the book, which unpretentiously incorporates many other such uncommon or lesser-known details of the time period. I have attempted to explore a variety of topics within various subplots, such as racism, prejudice, religion, belief, class, sexual assault, and nationalism. I was determined to examine the intangibles of the human heart through situational character interactions, such as love, hate, forgiveness, empathy, resentment, guilt, and pride.
_______________________________________________________________________
So Barb, all of the historical events are true, and some characters are fictional and based on lesser-known historical figures which lived during the same timeline and woven together into a story. I invite you to research the historical characters listed in my author's notes to learn of their incredible lives so you can recognize the snapshots that I illustrated in An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody. I look forward to more of your great questions!
Warmest Regards!
C.J.
No, that's not correct. This novel is inspired by historical events and is a historical fiction novel that weaves together the lives of lesser-known historical figures into an intimate folk tale while keeping an accurate historical timeline.
In my preface and author notes, I go into detail about which main characters were inspired by historical figures, as well as actual historical figures and actual lesser publicly known historical events. Here are my preface and author's notes for clarification.
PREFACE
This literary work was inspired by true historical events and the people who participated in them during the American Civil War. While illuminating the lives of lesser known individuals and historical facts, it paints a unique and realistic picture of that tumultuous time in world history. Great care and effort was taken to ensure that every detail of speech, dialect and custom be replicated ethically and accurately. The reader is carried backward in time with each character, and into every situation which transpires, compelling them to share that character’s intimate perspective of life.
_______________________________________________________________________
Author’s Notes
As stated within the preface, this book was inspired by true historical events and the people who participated in them during the American Civil War, while illuminating the lives of lesser-known individuals. The acknowledgment of these particular people and events within the book was done with the intention of shedding light on certain myths and stereotypes many people hold to be true as it pertains to the African slave trade to the Americas, and the American Civil War in general.
Not many people imagine that there was a Chinese Union Army soldier like Shay, who was formally adopted by a merchant ship captain in China. Actually, there was not one, there were two, and very well documented. Edward Day Cohota and Joseph Pierce. As their real-life stories are mirrored in this book, so are the men who adopted them.
Captain Price is one such character. In exploring the dynamics of their lives, the reader has an opportunity to ponder the implications of such an adoption, specifically the stereotypes of Caucasian males living during the 1800s. It seems improbable to some, that the selfless and charitable act of adopting an orphan of a socially non-inclusive race would be socially acceptable and occur, but it did at least twice. It is a prime example of an individual who chooses to be obligated to, and driven by, compassion rather than conform to the social prejudicial norms of his society.
Victoria was inspired by my 4th great-grandmother, known as Mary Clark, who allegedly was the second generation of my African ancestors who endured slavery, lived and worked on a plantation in Alabama, and bore three sons from a renowned colonel and surgeon of the Confederate States Army.
Little Jefferson was inspired by my 3rd great-grandfather, Jefferson Clark, the bi-racial son of Mary. I display photographs of them both at my residence, taken during their elder years. They were a great inspiration in the development and the acknowledgment of the vision which compelled me to undertake this literary work.
Levi Holloway Naron or “Chickasaw” is a lesser-known historical figure, but one who’s life story is remarkable on many levels. Civil War historians who read this book will note that the fictitious “Chickasaw” and his timeline near the end of the war, fits perfectly with the entries of his biography, including him checking on one of his scouts and learning the fate of another. That particular scout inspired the character of Hardy.
These are only a few examples of lesser-known historical facts in the book, which unpretentiously incorporates many other such uncommon or lesser-known details of the time period. I have attempted to explore a variety of topics within various subplots, such as racism, prejudice, religion, belief, class, sexual assault, and nationalism. I was determined to examine the intangibles of the human heart through situational character interactions, such as love, hate, forgiveness, empathy, resentment, guilt, and pride.
_______________________________________________________________________
So Barb, all of the historical events are true, and some characters are fictional and based on lesser-known historical figures which lived during the same timeline and woven together into a story. I invite you to research the historical characters listed in my author's notes to learn of their incredible lives so you can recognize the snapshots that I illustrated in An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody. I look forward to more of your great questions!
Warmest Regards!
C.J.
C.J. Heigelmann
Experiencing the story while writing. Immersing myself into the situations and events, while experiencing the emotions of the characters as a spectator and a participant.
C.J. Heigelmann
It is my belief that the ideas which writers receive through inspiration, are not theirs at all. They only interpret the visions, thoughts and emotions set before them. Ask yourself the question, "Why do I write?" Is it for you? Others? Or does the passion inside compel you? If it's the passion inside you which cannot be restrained, then the purity you dwell in should be free from your own ego and from judgement. You are not the creator of your imaginative thoughts while writing, you are the conduit. When writing from this purity, it actually doesn't matter what you or others think of your work. The work must live.
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