Goodreads asked Jamie Malanowski:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Jamie Malanowski My new book is called Commander Will Cushing, Daredevil Hero of the Civil War. It is the biography of a young naval officer who accomplished many daring exploits, including sinking a confederate ironclad. My initial inspiration came when I was eight years old. To mark the centenniel of the Civil War, Life magazine ran a six part series. The first installment of the series included a double-page illustration of Cushing sinking the Albemarle by the artist C.E. Monroe. I was mesmerized by this picture of this David vs. Goliath feat, and I never forgot it. When I was looking for a subject to write about a couple years ago, Lt. Cushing came to mind.

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