Historical Fiction
Date Published: 1/18/2024
Narrator: Deborah Balm
Run Time: 15h 30 min
It is 741. Only one thing stands between Charles the Hammer and the throne—he's dying. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love.
Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny.
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
Since I write historical fiction, much of the plot is driven by what happened in history. The trick is to develop characters whose motivation matches the choices they made in history. I knew in the first book of my trilogy (Anvil of God) that one of the characters would do something unconscionable in the third book (Crown of a King). I had to build a story arc that would get him to a place where it would be credible to the reader that he would do it.
Because I believe there are few really evil people, I needed to define characters who could make evil choices. Why do brothers battle brothers? What motivates someone to betray a loved one? Those choices have to be consistent with their character, or the story will not work. More than once I’ve had to reconsider a character trait to make the historical plot believable.
What are your most played songs?
Of late, it’s “Just Like That” by Bonnie Raitt. There’s a reason it won Song of the Year. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. I’ve also become a big fan of a song making the rounds on TikTok. It’s called “The Road Goes Ever On,” and it’s sung by Fritz Hager and a woman called Elizardbeth (who “stitched” in her duet). It’s fantastic.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Beta readers have been invaluable. They catch inconsistencies, question my story choices, and help me improve the story every time.
What book are you reading now?
I tend to read science fiction and fantasy when I’m writing just to keep my head from getting mixed up with other historical novels. I’m currently reading The Hopkins Manuscript by R. C. Sherriff. It’s an SF classic but new to me. I’ve just started it, so I can’t really give it a thumbs up or down yet.
How did you start your writing career?
Most of the jobs I’ve held (press secretary, newspaper columnist, and public affairs/crisis management consultant) required extensive writing. That said, it was a very different type of writing.
During one of my last jobs, I was given a sabbatical and figured that, if I was ever going to get started, it had to be then. Once I began, I couldn’t stop.
Tell us about your next release.
It’s called, Errata, The Temptation of Ben Franklin. While most of us think of Franklin as an eighty-year-old founding father, he was once 17, young and green, trying to make his way in the world. Those formative years were not only challenging but contained a number of mistakes he called “errata.”
If I had to describe it in a sentence, it would be, “Political and romantic intrigue beset young Ben Franklin as he is torn between his ambition and his sense of morality.” I had a great time writing it.
About the Author
After a 25-year career working as a press secretary on Capitol Hill, writing a weekly column for a daily newspaper, and managing crisis and public affairs for many of the largest American corporations and institutions, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction to satisfy his passion for storytelling.
His first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, was named Historical Fiction Book of the Year by the Independent Publishers Awards and Mainstream/Literary e-Book of the Year by Writers Digest Magazine. The sequels (Wheel of the Fates & Crown of a King) both received 4.5 ratings or better on Amazon.
With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the events that shaped history. He says he writes historical fiction to discover “why.” He and his wife live in Virginia.
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