Pump Up Your Book Chats with Historical Nonfiction Author James Diehl
Author Interviews, Featured — By Dorothy Thompson on November 1, 2009 at 12:40 pm
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Editor’s Note: James will be right in this very spot on Monday, Nov. 9 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., answering any questions you may have about his book or his writing life. Leave a question for James starting now until 8 p.m. Monday night and you will be put in the pot to win a FREE copy of his book, World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware. Please leave your email address underneath your comment. The winner will be announced Monday night. Good luck!
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James Diehl is an award-winning journalist who has covered Sussex County, Delaware for various media outlets since 1998. Since 2007, he has owned and operated a freelance writing company based in Seaford, Delaware and is also a partner in a Lewes, Delaware-based public relations and marketing firm. He is the author of one other work of non-fiction – Remembering Sussex County, from Zwaanendael to King Chicken, published in 2009 by The History Press.
James can be found online at www.twitter.com/sussexwriter, at www.facebook.com/sussexwriter or via www.ww2-heroes.com.
Thank you for this interview, James. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?
I did enjoy writing as a youngster; it was always a fun thing for me to do. I remember in high school and college, I always preferred tests that were given in essay form as opposed to any other method because I felt I could prove I knew the material much better, and much easier, in this fashion. My first job in the field of journalism after college was with a small weekly newspaper in central Arkansas. I wrote sports and I remember the first several stories that I wrote. It was so exciting seeing my name in print back then. That excitement kind of died away for me until I saw my name of the cover of my first book, Remembering Sussex County, from Zwaanendael to King Chicken, in the spring of 2009. I got that feeling of excitement all over again and it drove me to write World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware.
What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?
The most frustrating part for me is working out all of the legalities and contract issues when publishing a book. It’s something that has to be done but it’s not a very enjoyable part of the process for me, and one that can be very time-consuming and frustrating. The most rewarding aspect for me is the realization that I’ve created a work of art that will survive long after I have left this earth. I really like that feeling.
Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?
I have been married to my wonderful wife for nearly 12 years now and she supports my writing in every way possible. With kids now, however, combining the writing life and the home life isn’t always easy. It often requires creativity and working some crazy hours. But I always manage to find the time that I need.
World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware (click on cover to purchase)
What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?
When you write for a living and work primarily out of your home, it seems the opportunities to get away from your desk are few and far between. I like to spend as much time as possible with my children, and with my wife. One thing we have done the last few years that I really enjoy is escaping the cold, winter months of the Northeast and going on a cruise to the Caribbean. It’s a nice escape that forces me to leave my computer and my cell phone at home and focus on relaxing with my family.
If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?
An hour would be a bit of a tease, but I have always wanted to experience the city of Venice, Italy. Their labyrinth of canals has always fascinated me and I would love to spend some time there one of these days.
Who is your biggest fan?
My wife supports my work and is very proud of what I do, but I think my biggest fan is probably my nine-year-old daughter. She loves to tell her classmates and her teachers at school about my books. She even keeps a copy of each book in her backpack so she can read them when she has a chance.
Where’s your favorite place to write at home?
My favorite place is really my only place – my office. I live with three girls and it’s really the only part of the house that I can call my own. I like to wake up at about 4 o’clock in the morning and get to work while the house is still quiet and before the chaos of the day begins. You could say my office is my sanctuary.
What’s your favorite library and why?
With the Internet playing such a large role in everyday life these days, I can’t say I spend much time in libraries anymore. However, when researching my first book about a year ago, I spent a good deal of time at the Delaware State Archives building in Dover. The amount of information on file in their spectacular new building is just amazing. It was so enjoyable to spend several days there going through historical documents of my home state.
What’s your favorite bookstore and why?
We have a wonderful individually-owned bookstore in one of our beach resorts here in southern Delaware called Browseabout Books. It’s such a wonderful atmosphere just a couple of blocks from the ocean that not only features books and magazines, but also has a nice gift area and a café. On nice days, you just can’t beat the atmosphere at Browseabout.
Do you have any pets?
The only pets I have right now are the koi swimming in my fish pond outside. When writer’s block strikes, I’ll often sit by the pond and just watch them gracefully swim back and forth in the water. It’s very relaxing and I enjoy spending time out there whenever possible.
What are you reading right now?
I’m reading The Associate by John Grisham, my favorite author. The problem with reading a John Grisham novel, however, is that I usually can’t put it down once I start it. That can sometimes prove detrimental when I have a lot I need to get done.
Tell us a secret no one else knows.
Gosh, I don’t know; I don’t really have too many secrets. Well, I did vote for Ross Perot in 1992. I’m not sure I ever told anyone that but, at the time, I thought he could do a really good job in the Oval Office. He really had no chance of winning, of course, and I don’t usually like throwing my vote away. But I did vote for him for president in 1992.
What’s the first thing you notice when you meet someone?
I’m a very personable person and I tend to start conversations with people I don’t know on a regular basis. It drives my wife a bit crazy, but I enjoy meeting and talking with new people. What I notice first is whether the people I strike up conversations with are friendly, or maybe not so friendly. If it’s the former, we could talk for quite a while. If not, well there are some people who prefer not to be bothered.
Have you ever won anything?
I’ve won several media awards for my journalistic work, including a first place award from the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association for the stories that became World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware. The first thing I ever won was a first place award from the Arkansas College Media Association in 1994 for a story I wrote on the Los Angeles earthquake.
What’s on your to do list today?
After completing this interview, I need to make revisions to a project I’ve been working on for the state of Delaware, compile a press release and an e-newsletter for a marketing client and finish a magazine story I’ve been working on. I also have further promotional commitments in regards to World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware.
I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in November and December via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?
I’m a partner in a marketing company based in coastal Delaware. I’ve used traditional marketing methods for some time, including when promoting my first book earlier this year. However, with Heroes, I wanted to gain some exposure from outside Delaware. I read a couple of articles on-line about virtual book tours and what they were all about and it didn’t take me long to see the potential for marketing my book via this method. The World Wide Web is a powerful tool, and virtual book tours are a perfect way to harness the power of all the internet can bring to the table.
Thank you for this interview, James. Good luck on your virtual book tour!
Thank you very much. And thank you for allowing me the chance to talk about myself and my new book here today. God bless!
You can visit James’ official tour page here!
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26 Comments
James will be in here around 9 a.m. but James I thought I would start off by asking you how long did it take to gather all these stories?
Good morning everyone! I look forward to a good chat today here at “Pump Up Your Book.”
To answer your question, Dorothy…I wrote all the profiles in the book over the course of a year, then spent another year tweaking, adding photos, rewriting, editing, designing, etc. to get the book ready for publication.
So, I guess the answer to your question is about two years. By the way, have you had a chance to read any of the book yet? What did you think?
Welcome James. I have to tell you that this sounds like a wonderful book. I’ve always loved nonfiction, and even though I usually stick to the American Civil War or earlier, this sounds like a book I would enjoy. I would have reviewed it for the tour but I am behind a bit on reviews right now.
It’s funny that you mention your office is your sanctuary, as I feel the same way about mine, though I get most of my work done after the girls are in bed. And koi fish? I learned about those while copy editing a book for a client where one of the characters had a pond filled with koi fish. I had never heard of them before that.
The comment you made about libraries is so true. I wonder how long public libraries will be able to survive the online boom.
Can you tell me a bit about one of the heroes we’ll find in your book? Also, how did you find out about him and his story?
Thanks.
Good luck!
Cheryl
James, I started on it last night…not finished of course, but I love reading these stories! Is there one you’re particularly fond of over the others?
Oh, I have another question. Why did you choose Southern Delaware – because you live there or another reason?
James,
This looks like a really great book! World War II – wow what a subject.
I wish you the best of luck on your novel and your blog.
GL
I’ve been wanting to ask you which is your favorite story and why?
Hi Cheryl! Good morning!
Wow! There are 50 brave men and women featured in the book and it’s so hard to pick out one above the rest, but if I must. :)
There’s one man in my book who was a United States Marine and was in one of the first units to invade the island of Iwo Jima in 1945. Of more than 300 members of his unit, he was one of only 17 who survived the attack. As a result, he had terrible survivor’s guilt for many, many years until he was finally able to come to peace with it.
He saw things during that time that are just incredible, surviving dozens of close calls. He was hit by body parts, spent days in foxholes, saw friends and colleagues killed in front of his eyes and was just missed by Japanese fire many times over. BUT, he also got to witness firsthand the raising of the Stars and Stripes atop Mount Suribachi, one of the most famous and emotional photos ever taken.
My book is filled with heroes just like Mr. Russell, men who put their lives on the line to protect our way of life here in the United States. They are all heroes, whether they’re comfortable with that title or not.
It’s hard to pick out just one Cheryl, but that was one that came to mind. I should also note that not every person featured in my book saw as much action as did Mr. Russell, but each has his or her own special story to share about the war.
As to how I found them, I started out by going through lists provided to me by the local VFWs and American Legions. As the series picked up steam, however, more and more members of the public contacted me to recommend friends, neighbors or family members.
Thanks so much for your question Cheryl! God bless!
Ok, I just have to ask…can you tell me what King Chicken is? Both books sound great – good luck with your virtual tour!
I picked southern Delaware because I live here and wanted to honor some of our local heroes. But the book is not about southern Delaware; the men and women in the book merely have ties to this area. The stories are from Europe, from Asia, from Africa and from all throughout this country. They are personal stories told about the war from the perspective of those who lived through it.
I also hope to write a couple more books profiling World War II heroes from the First State. Obviously, the window is closing to do such a project, so I’m hoping to get started on that as soon as I can.
Hi Patricia, thanks for popping in.
It would be impossible for me to pick out a favorite story in this book. Each of the 48 men and 2 women have their own unique perspective on the war and each one is a hero in his or her own right.
Some of their stories humble and amaze me. No matter what I accomplish in my life, it will pale in comparison to what these men did during a time of war. To witness the attack on Pearl Harbor, or storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, or participate in the battle for Iwo Jima, these heroes put their lives on the line and were lucky enough to return home and tell their stories.
I’m so grateful that they shared their stories with me; I only hope I’ve done them justice in the pages of “World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware.”
LOL Tracee,
King Chicken refers to the significant role the poultry industry has played in Sussex County, Delaware. The county produces more than twice as many broilers per year as the county in Alabama that ranks second on that list. The industry also accounts for 12 percent of the county’s workforce, so I thought “King Chicken” was an appropriate title for that particular story. And it gets people’s attention, as it did yours. ;)
Thank you Gale! I appreciate it…
Thanks for answering my questions, James. Let me ask you this, and I don’t mean to put you on the hot seat, but I would love to get your opinion on this if you are willing to share it.
It seems that two kinds of people come out of the military–those who are proud of their service and those who are not so proud. Do you think public sentiment plays into how a military person perceives his years of service? No conflict is going to be popular, but Viet Nam and the war in Iraq are two that have divided this country, whereas, WWII seemed to garner more public support at the time even if we were slow getting involved. Could public support help or harm an individual’s impression of how he served his country?
Thanks again.
Cheryl
What originally motivated you to write the first story about World War II veterans? Do you think this topic is something that you want to continue to explore?
Hey guys…don’t forget to leave your email address or there will be no way of contacting you if you won!
Very good question Cheryl! I can certainly offer forth my two cents worth on the subject.
I think that the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 proved to be a great rallying cry for this country, leading to a wave of patriotism never before seen here. The United States was very divided on whether or not to enter the war before the attack, but everything changed on Dec. 7, 1941. There was no dodging the draft, the men of that era felt a duty to go off and fight for their country, a country that had been attacked by the Emperor of Japan.
Vietnam and Iraq are different stories. We were never attacked by either of those countries, which leads to the division in the country on whether or not we should have gotten involved. But, whether you believe in the causes or not, we must always, as a country, support our armed forces. They may not always want to be where they are, but they took an oath and are putting themselves in harm’s way for the greater good.
Kind of a roundabout way to answer your question, but yes, I think public sentiment can play a large role in the way you remember your experiences. In my experience, the men and women I profiled in “Heroes” are extremely proud of what they did for their country, though they don’t think they did anything all that special. They were merely “doing their job,” as I was told time and time again.
Dave,
I definitely want to continue exploring the stories of these fine men and women. Talking to each and every one of them was a humbling experience for me. The opportunity to tell these stories is closing pretty rapidly, but I hope to start on the second installment in my World War II series early next year. It’s a wonderful topic, with stories told by wonderful men and women. But they won’t be able to be told for much longer, so time is of the essence.
Oh, James, it’s great that you’re planning a second installment. Will you be profiling more people from Delaware or are you expanding your reach?
Thanks for answering my other question. An elderly neighbor (Phil) who was more like a relative to me while I was growing up, experienced that call after Pearl Harbor and he and his brother both signed up. Sadly, he’s passed on now, but I noticed one day that his brother’s last name was spelled differently than Phil’s and asked him about it. Seems when his brother enlisted, his last name was spelled “Dynik” instead of “Dynak” as it should have been. His brother ended up being interrogated as a potential spy.
I’m sure many such stories exist and I hope you enjoy uncovering some of them in your journeys.
All my best,
Cheryl
The second book will feature World War II veterans from our coastal areas and be titled “World War II Heroes of Coastal Delaware.” The third, if I can get to it in time, would be “World War II Heroes of Central Delaware.” I’d like to have a nice, three-part series honoring the men and women from the First State.
Thanks for the kind words Cheryl!
I’m back…taking care of a puking 30 year old daughter – not fun. James, did you see any mental issues with these men? Like did they harbor things inside in any way that you could tell? I know when soldiers come back from the war, there are mental issues. What was the general attitude of these men and women?
James,
It sounds like a great book. I have always done family history research and you can hear the ghosts of the past, but you actually got to interview people who were still living and such an important subject. As those people who were touched by WWII die there seems to be less and less of the younger generation that knows nothing about WWII. It doesn’t quite come alive in history books the way it does in a specific book such as this one. What method did you use to find all the people you interviewed for your book?
Dorothy,
I didn’t see the types of mental issues that the men of the VietNam era experienced. However, there are several men in my book who have had trouble letting go of feelings they developed for the enemy during that era, particularly as it relates to the Japanese.
The gentleman from Iwo Jima, who I mentioned above, says he was consumed by hate for the Japanese for many, many years, until a trip back to the island in the 1990s. He said when he left the island that time, he no longer had the hate inside that had consumed him for all those years. It’s got to be a difficult thing, fighting an enemy to the death one day and being asked to forgive, forget and make friends the next.
I can tell you this – most of these men have forgiven and moved on. But they will NEVER forget!
Hi Rebecca,
You’re so right about the history beginning to fade, which is why I’m hoping my book will hold a certain amount of educational value moving forward. Much of what’s in my book you won’t find in other places, those personal accounts from the war, the behind the scenes type things.
When I started on the project, I was working off lists given to me by the local VFW and American Legion halls. As time went on, members of the public began contacting me with names and contact information for people they knew. It kind of grew from there to where I was able to put a pretty good collection together.
Thanks so much for your comments and your question.
Cheryl,
Send me your contact information at thednbgroup@gmail.com so I can send you a free copy of “World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware.” After you finish reading it, I would also love to hear your comments. Thanks for stopping by today and for the great questions!
James