Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly feature that shines the light on Indie and Debut authors. This week I have the pleasure introducing readers to:
JOHN HELDT
~Author of The Mine~
Hi John, welcome to the blog, please tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up in Oregon and Washington, the third oldest of six kids, and began writing professionally when I got out of college. For about a dozen years I wrote and edited sports articles for daily newspapers. I switched careers in the late 90s and now work as a reference librarian in a public library. I'm also a married father of three who enjoys sports, fishing, and making homemade beer.
What inspired you to write The Mine?
I was inspired by more than a dozen books and movies, including "Back to the Future," "The Notebook," and "A Walk in the Clouds." But I didn't decide to write "The Mine" until after watching "The Time Traveler's Wife" last summer. I had already read the novel by Audrey Niffenegger. I enjoyed both but was motivated more by the possibilities of 20th-century time travel than that particular story. I outlined the plot for "The Mine" on scrap paper in five minutes.
If you could pick a song that fits the mood of your book what would it be and why?
I must pick two because "The Mine" covers two very different years in American history: 2000 and 1941. The first song, "It's the End of the World as We Know It" by R.E.M., is an upbeat, contemporary pop tune that seems in sync with my carefree, fun-loving protagonist, Joel Smith. And the title perfectly describes his predicament after he enters a time portal. The second song, "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller, is the quintessential anthem of the 1940s, a big band hit that immediately conjures images of World War II, swing dances, and all the trappings of that incredible time. Both songs are mentioned by name in the book.
What would you like readers to walk away with after reading your book?
I would like them to walk away thinking that they have read a great story, one that will prompt them to ask big questions and perhaps consider what they would do if thrown back in time. "The Mine" is a book that informs and entertains on several levels. It's a novel that I think would appeal to most readers, particularly those who like humor, adventure, and character-driven romances set in the 1940s.
Can you share any future plans?
I would like them to walk away thinking that they have read a great story, one that will prompt them to ask big questions and perhaps consider what they would do if thrown back in time. "The Mine" is a book that informs and entertains on several levels. It's a novel that I think would appeal to most readers, particularly those who like humor, adventure, and character-driven romances set in the 1940s.
Can you share any future plans?
I plan to publish the second book in my Northwest Passage series in November. The Journey is about a childless, unfulfilled 48-year-old widow who returns to the time and place of her senior year in high school. While keeping her true identity secret, she befriends her younger self and nudges the girl and her childhood friends in more positive directions against a backdrop of tragic historical events over which she has little control. The Journey is unrelated to The Mine, though two characters from the first book make an appearance in the second. I also intend to write and publish the sequel to The Mine in 2013. The Show will also feature a time travel romance theme and be told mostly from Grace’s perspective.
Thanks John for stopping by today, The REM song is great, bring backs tons of highschool memories. Best of luck on your writing career.
John A. Heldt is a reference librarian who lives and works in Montana. The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved reading and writing since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of both the University of Oregon and University of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. THE MINE is his first novel.
GIVEAWAY
Today John is giving away one Kindle copy of his book, The Mine. To enter please just leave a comment and a winner will be drawn October 20, 2012.
In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.
Find out more about John on Goodreads and Blog
What a transition from newsprint sports writing to a novel! Sounds like a compelling read...I love time travel books! (not an entry)
ReplyDeleteVery nice interview.
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Loved the interview. Go DUCKS! LOL
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