James Alexander Thom has written a book on how
he researches and writes his popular historical novels, and
it was published early this year by Writer's Digest Books. The title is
THE ART AND CRAFT OF WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION
Though it is basically a textbook on how to work in this
special literary field, it is more. Part How-To and part memoir,
the book is full of insights on how this prize-winning author learned
the lessons that built his reputation for accuracy and vivid
story-telling. More than 30 years of experience in the field, and
interviews with half a dozen respected historians, make it as
entertaining as it is instructive.
Critics and readers of the new book say:
--"This is really the best textbook I've ever read."
--"His precise, witty, common-sense approach is a delight."
--"It's like sitting at the feet of your grandfather or your
favorite teacher and learning how things should be done."
--"Readers and writers both will find this work inspiring and
practical."
Thom describes his purpose: "I would like to guide novelists
to write stories so vivid and powerful that the reader is in
the past, living those moments. And I want their novels to
be so accurate that even professional academic historians
will be glad to praise them." He adds:
"My philosophy of writing about the past is in my motto:
ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS NOW."
The book is in paperback, cover price $16.99. In bookstores
nationwide.
*
THOM NOVELS GOING ELECTRONIC
Six of James Alexander Thom's historical novels have been selected to be included in Random House's Electronic Book (ebook) publishing program.
The titles chosen for such formats as Amazon Kindle, iPod, and
the Sony Reader are:
LONG KNIFE
FOLLOW THE RIVER
THE RED HEART
SIGN-TALKER
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
PANTHER IN THE SKY
The author finds the news good, but ironic, musing, "I use every bit of my skill and imagination to take my readers hundreds of years into the past -- and now they'll visit those old days through the screen of an electronic gizmo."
Awards & Accolades
SPUR Award – Best Novel of the West: Panther in the Sky
Indiana Author Award Winner – Indianapolis Public Library
New York Times Bestselling Author with more than 2,000,000 million copies sold
Follow The River selected for 2005 One Book, One West Virginia
2014 inductee into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame
Doctorate of Humane Letters from Indiana University
