Historical Fiction
Date Published: 10-25-2024
Publisher: Counterpoint Press
As the drumbeat of the American Revolution grows ever closer,
Scotsman-turned-American-patriot Duncan McCallum must navigate treacherous
cultural and political waters if he’s to secure a fighting chance for
the fledgling nation in this gripping installment of the acclaimed Bone
Rattler series.
INTERVIEW
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
No part of the process is easy, although it is all very satisfying. In my experience the hardest part is the final editing of a manuscript, which often comes many months after the manuscript has been completed and submitted. By then I am always working on a new novel and I have to shift my mental processes back to the prior book, meaning I am juggling two sets of characters and two plotlines. It can feel like working on two separate jigsaw puzzles with all the pieces mixed together.
What are your most played songs?
Like most people my music tastes have evolved over the years, Nearly all my listening today is classical, Celtic, and theatrical sound tracks played while I write. I gravitate to music that tells tales—which spans a spectrum from the New World Symphony to the tracks for Gladiator, Last of the Mohicans, Outlander and Lord of the Rings.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
In the customary meaning, no. I am my own beta reader in the sense that I will intensely work on a chapter then set it aside for two or three weeks and pick it up again, with a rested, more objective set of eyes. I often find that fresh perspective to be quite constructive—I am my own sharpest critic.
What book are you reading now?
I always read two books concurrently, one fiction and one nonfiction. For fiction today it is Patrick O’Brian’s maritime masterpiece The Surprise. My nonfiction book is a wonderful volume by Alistair Moffat titled Before Scotland, examining the rich history, and prehistory, of the lands and peoples of the geography now known as Scotland.
How did you start your writing career?
I have been writing since my university days, starting with book reviews and minor essays. Those efforts evolved into several nonfiction books but in the 1990’s my muse badgered me into attempting fiction. My first effort, The Skull Mantra, was rejected by thirty publishers before it found a home, then won the Edgar and a Golden Dagger nomination, giving my publisher and myself enough confidence to continue. My nineteenth novel was just published.
Tell us about your next release.
I am working on a new contemporary series that follows an ex-intelligence agent who is embittered by the conflicting loyalties of his masters and painfully estranged from his family. He finds new meaning by applying his unique talents in the services of a very unusual Scottish monastery, on a quest that is rooted in both geopolitics and ancient history. The first entry has already been released in Germany.
About the Author
ELIOT PATTISON is the author of the Inspector Shan series, which includes
The Skull Mantra, winner of an Edgar Award and finalist for the Gold Dagger.
Pattison’s Bone Rattler series follows Scotsman Duncan McCallum on the
road to revolution as he fights to protect the cause of freedom. Pattison
resides in rural Pennsylvania.
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