Author Interview with Leslie K. Simmons
Welcome Readers toanother installment of our author interview series. Today we have the pleasureof chatting with Leslie who just released her first historical biography.
JMR-Welcome to theBooks Delight, Leslie. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun andwhat does the perfect day look like?
LKS- I’m an AmericanExpat living in New Zealand for the last 20 years. I live on what is called a‘life-style block’ which is basically enough land for a house, gardens, anorchard, and livestock, though my only livestock is our cat, Zero and theneighbor’s sheep. For fun I love to read, bake, come out of my writing cave to stayconnected to friends, play boardgames with the familyand enjoy a sunset in thehot tub. Perfect day – a free trip to Disneyland. But other than that, takingin a new place or experience, enjoying a good meal that someone else cooked, andhanging with friends.
JMR-What’s yourfavorite historical time period? Why?
LKS-My favorite timeperiod has shifted over the years. I started with the Revolutionary War, movedbackwards to the Medieval/Renaissance period (European, of course), and endedup really becoming fascinated with Antebellum America because it was such apivotal period in our history that still is relatively unexplored. I learned alot things that really intrigued and surprised me that were going on during the1815 – 1840s.
JMR-Who is yourfavorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what wouldit be?
LKS-Too hard to chooseone. Naturally, John Ridge’s name has to be mentioned. I don’t guess I wouldn’thave written a book about him if he didn’t really interest me, but I am mostdrawn to those who are lessor known outliers, people who were probablyconsidered rebels in their time, people who will fall on their sword over anissue and were the early leaders in the social curve of change.
A question for John:Would you have done anything differently to achieve your goals?
JMR- How did you cometo be a writer of historical fiction?
LKS- Shock and horror –I never set out to be a writer, although the only possible choice of genre washistorical fiction because History and Anthropology have always been a passion.I taught myself to write fiction so that I could tell the Ridges story, a storyI nurtured for a long time before any words went on paper. Now it seems I havediscovered I can tell a story and write, so since I am retired this seemed likea good time for a new career.
JMR- We are allaffected by the highs and lows in our lives. How has your lived life informedyour writing?
LKS-I use so much of mylife experiences when I write, things that may not be front of mind or seemimportant, emotions that I felt or senses I recall, or recollections longburied. Calling on these things adds texture and depth to the story, offeropportunities to explore shadowy memories, exorcise a few demons or just havefun.
JMR- Did you visitanyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to yourcharacters?
LKS- I’ve visited almostall of the major locations in the book, some places more than once. I was evenlucky enough to visit many place in DC that are no longer open to the public. There’s nothing like standing in the locations(even changed by time) to evoke the sense of place. The place I felt closest tothe characters in RCRW was at Running Waters, the home John built, which is nowa private residence. Also visiting his grave in Oklahoma. Those were both veryemotional for me.
JMR- Leslie, tell usabout your book, Red Clay Running Waters.
LKS-Red Clay, Running Watersis thelittle-known story of John Ridge, a Cherokee man dedicated to his people, andhis White wife, Sarah Northrop, a woman forfeiting everything to join him. Itis a timely and relevant saga about profound love, sacrifice, and the meaningof home in one family’s search for justice in the 1830s Removal Crisis. Readerswill be propelled on a stunning journey across true events that leads to ahaunting and moving conclusion.
JMR- What is thesignificance of the title?
LKS-The story is aboutdivision and internal conflicts within American and Cherokee/Native Americansociety. These divisions were political, moral and cultural. Red Clay is thename of the Council Grounds the Cherokee relocated to in Tennessee because ofGeorgia’s oppressions. Chief John Ross, the majority faction leader for theCherokee, conducted official business there. Running Waters was the name ofJohn Ridge’s home and also the site of several Councils held by the dissenting Ridgefaction. I felt that these two locations perfectly represented the conflictbetween Ross and the Ridges and would instantly tell anyone who knew thishistory what the story was about.
JMR-What projects doyou have in the pipeline?
LKS- I’ve just decidedwho my next book will be about, as Biographical Historical Fiction is where Iam happiest, but it’s very early days. All the research is still ahead, andthen of course, there’s the writing, so it will be a few years yet before itgets talked about. I will hint to say it will be about one of the charactersmentioned in RCRW and will stretch me back in time several decades, so new turffor me. Stay tuned.
JMR- Tell our readershow to find you on social media and the web.
LKS- You can find me onmy website,Facebookand Instagram.I also regularly post to the American Historical Novels FB Group.
JMR- What question wereyou hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
LKS- Favorite Reads orfavorite research rabbit-holesperhaps?
JMR- Thank you, Leslie,for stopping by. Your book looks really great! Readers, I’ve included a link toLeslie’s book below. Please be sure to check it out.
I will add a button and link to the book.
