Interview with G. G. Stokes, Jr.
by Donna Sundblad

Give us any background you’d like to share about yourself, your day job, your family, and a URL to your website if you have one.

I don’t have a website yet, this will be my first published novel. I live in rural northeast Georgia where I teach Social Studies at a local High School. I have a BA in History and an MA in Social Science. I am married with two children.

Would you share with us that moment in your life when you knew you wanted to write a novel?

I’ve always toyed with writing. I can remember writing a short story when I was in the eighth or ninth grade, but I never pursued it seriously. In the early eighties, I took a Creative Writing class at Georgia Southwestern College where I completed my first full-length novel. I followed this up with a second one a year or so later. I like to think of these early ones as practice, although I will surely rewrite and use them in the future. My first novel is actually a prequel to “A Lesser Form of Patriotism”.

When did you consider yourself a writer? You know what I mean—the time when you realized that you crossed the line from “want to be a writer” to “I am a writer.”

This one is easy. It was the day that my book was accepted for publication.

Do you ever struggle with writer’s block? If so, how do you work your way around it?

I do, but not often. When I’m working on a novel, I budget one hour a day to write. I make myself just write the story that comes to mind and as the words come out they eventually began to flow more smoothly. What I write is usually altered or discarded later, but most of it ends up being used in some form. Of course, often I just get an inspiration and when that happens I sit down and write for several hours until I get the story down in print.

What about U.S. Historical fiction fascinates you?

Good historical fiction teaches history. A well-researched story inspires me to find out what is actual fact and what is imagination. Nothing is more enjoyable to me than reading a novel that makes me feel as if I am walking alongside its characters.

Why did you write this particular novel? What inspired you to write A Lesser Form of Patriotism?

My favorite time period is the colonial period. I have read most of the novels set during the American Revolution, and they all tend to be written from the Patriot’s point of view. I decided that the Loyalists needed to have their story told as they would have told it. I could find only two novels, out of the hundreds that have been written about the Revolutionary War, that told the story of the Loyalists. Since I couldn’t find one to read, I wrote my own.

Your editor tells me that your manuscript was well written when she received it. How did you learn to write?

I didn’t know that I had. I guess I learned by reading the works of others. The styles of the authors that I enjoy reading tend to influence my own style.

How do you develop your plot and characters?

I always outline the story before beginning, to make sure that it will fit into the actual time line. Once I begin writing, I let the story dictate the characters and their actions.

How do you come up with ideas for your writing and why do you feel you choose some over others?

I like to write about the people and events that tend to have been forgotten. Resurrecting those lost souls makes me feel that everyone’s life has meaning.

Do you have a marketing plan for your book? How will you let readers know about your book?

This story will find three natural markets: readers who live in the South, and who rarely see a Revolutionary War novel set in their own back yards; the citizens of Canada who are, in many cases, the direct descendants of the Loyalists; and Living History enthusiasts who play the role of British and Loyalist troops across the United States each year at reenactments.

I think that relying on the book reviewers of newspapers in Columbia, Atlanta, and the other cities located in areas where this story takes place, will get the widest results.

What other writing projects are you working on and where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I would like for this to develop into a four-part series of Colonial Georgia. The first book will be set in the late 1600s to the early 1700s, the second story will take place during the founding of the Georgia colony, the third during the French and Indian War period, and this one, set in the Revolution, will end the series. Naturally, some of the characters will carry over from book to book, but each one will be a stand-alone story that can be read without reference to the others.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? Any special memories that you would like to share?

It’s a little early to tell yet. Ask me after my second novel is published.

How do your friends and family feel about your writing venture in general?

My father is my main fan. He has asked me many times when was I going to write another book. He doesn’t know about this one. I hope it will be a pleasant surprise the next time he asks and I tell him that I’ve already written one.
What do you do to unwind and relax?

Read or Write.

If you had to do it over again, would you do anything differently?

As far as this book is concerned, I don’t think so. I think the story is developed as well as it possibly can be.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Have faith in yourself. I received a lot of rejects before I got a "Yes." It doesn’t matter if you hear “No” a million times, it only takes one yes and you’re on your way.

A Lesser Form of Patriotism
by G.G. Stokes, Jr.

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