Tell us about your book. What inspired you to write it?
Growing up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, most people think I’ve been a Civil War buff all my life - but that’s not exactly right. It wasn’t until I moved to northern Virginia in the '80s and learned about a Confederate officer, Colonel John Mosby, that I really got hooked. Mosby is every writer’s dream of a great leading character: gallant, valiant, handsome, and chivalrous. My main character, Colonel Alexander Hunter, is based on his legendary life as a Confederate officer.
Once I caught the Civil War bug, I became enthralled by how committed the common soldier was to God, country, and honor. The more I read about the war, the more inspired I became to put a story down on paper that reflected the values and principles of that era, as well as the affection and devotion that existed between those who vowed “’til death do us part.”
Shades of Gray is the result, telling the story of a time in our nation’s history when “honor was as precious as the blood spilled to earn it.”
Did your book require a lot of research?
In a word, YES! I don’t think there is a group of people more knowledgeable or more critical than Civil War buffs, and I figured no matter how careful I was, they would find some small inconsistency in fact. Fortunately, that has not happened. I’ve managed to satisfy the historian with the amount of factual information in Shades of Gray – and have pleased romance readers by weaving a love story into the fabric of history.
What was your goal?
My goal is to educate and to entertain. I want readers to not only feel like they’ve read a great love story, but to also gain an understanding of the great conflict of emotion that tore at the hearts of those thrust into the War Between the States. The title Shades of Gray was chosen for just that reason — to show that the issues that caused the war were not black and white, or right and wrong — but shades of gray. I really hope that through this fictional story, readers also develop a better understanding of the passionate debate on both sides, and can learn to appreciate and respect those who value that heritage today. The extraordinary valor and devotion of the Confederate soldier is, unfortunately, often maligned and misunderstood in today’s politically correct society.
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