Join Joan Hochstetler, author of the contemporary women’s fiction bool, One Holy Night (Sheaf House ,April 2008), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in November on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!
J. M. Hochstetler writes stories that always involve some element of the past and of finding home. Born in central Indiana, the daughter of Mennonite farmers, she graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Germanic languages. She was an editor with Abingdon Press for twelve years and has published four novels. Daughter of Liberty (2004), Native Son (2005), and Wind of the Spirit (March 2009), the first three books of the critically acclaimed American Patriot Series, are set during the American Revolution. One Holy Night, a retelling of the Christmas story set in modern times, is the 2009 Christian Small Publishers Fiction Book of the Year and a finalist for the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Long Contemporary Book of the Year.
Hochstetler is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, Nashville Christian Writers Association, and Historical Novels Society. She and her husband live near Nashville, Tennessee.
You can find Joan online at www.jmhochstetler.com or at this book’s blog http://oneholynight.blogspot.com.
Could you please tell us a little about your book?
One Holy Night is a retelling of the nativity story set in 1967 in the Minneapolis area during the Vietnam War. It tells the story of a family torn apart by intergenerational conflict, war, and illness that is brought together again by the miraculous birth of a baby.
Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?
This story was the culmination of a lot of thinking I’d been doing over a number of years about the gritty issues that impact our lives—intergenerational and interracial conflict, addictions, war, illness, death, divorce. Brokenness of one kind or another affects every family and individual. And the more I thought about it, the more I questioned how we can make sense of our lives and find reconciliation in our relationships. Where do we find purpose, strength, and healing?
I first started tinkering with the idea for this story back in the late 1980s. I had pieces of it written down, but life happened, and I didn’t get really serious about it until after 9-11. Right around that time a young woman in our church was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and died within a year. Then my parents both died as the result of a car accident. At that time the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were in all the headlines, and opposition was growing along with the casualty count. Commentators began to compare the Iraqi war with the quagmire of Vietnam—a conflict I was well acquainted with since I was in high school and college during those years.
So all these things started to find their way into this story set during 1967 about a family in a small town in Minnesota that is faced with these issues while the son is away, serving in Vietnam. The conclusion I came up with is pretty well summed up in the little blurb for the book: As on that holy night so long ago . . . in a world torn by sin and strife . . . to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss . . . there will be born a baby . . .
What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?
One Holy Night isn’t just a story set at Christmas, as other Christmas stories I’ve read are. At heart it’s a retelling of Jesus’ nativity set in modern times, and it’s also really a story for all seasons, not just for Christmas. I didn’t try to “modernize” every detail of the Bible story to make it fit a contemporary setting, but to capture the overarching themes—how God comes down into our world and through the birth of a baby brings forgiveness of sin, reconciliation of broken relationships, and healing for hurting hearts.
What is the most important thing in your life right now?
Writing and developing my small press, Sheaf House, are currently taking up most of my time and, of course, are very important to me. But the most important thing in my life is to be faithful to God in my journey through this life.
What are you currently working on?
I’m always working on several projects at a time. For me it seems like switching from one project to another when I get bogged down sparks my creativity and keeps me from developing writer’s block.
Currently my most active project is Crucible of War, book 4 of my American Patriot Series. I’m also working on a romance based on my Mennonite background set at the end of WWII and the fictionalized account of my Amish Mennonite ancestors who came to this country in 1738. They were pacifists, but ironically they were caught up in the French and Indian War when their home was attacked by a band of Indians in 1757. And I have several other projects in various stages of development too.
What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?
I’m most proud of the American Patriot Series, which is the only truly comprehensive historical fiction series on the American Revolution. It follows my characters, Jonathan Carleton and Elizabeth Howard through the entire war from the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord through the final battle of Yorktown.
The first 3 books are currently available: Daughter of Liberty, Native Son, and Wind of the Spirit. Crucible of War is set to release in Fall 2011, and it will be followed up by Valley of the Shadow, Refiner’s Fire, and Forge of Freedom. I’m kind of making a career of the Revolution, but there’s such exciting material to work with, and I’m passionate about reminding the citizens of our country of all our founding generation sacrificed to hand down to us the legacy of freedom we enjoy today.
What is your favorite past-time?
Reading a good book, especially with something good to eat. What could be better—good food and good prose?
What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?
The best advice I ever got it is to never give up. If Plan A doesn’t work, go to Plan B. Or C or D or right on down the line until you succeed at what you’re called to do. I’ve learned that if you can’t find an open door, find a window or make your own door. That’s how I arrived where I am today.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I’d just like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. I’ve enjoyed it very much and appreciate being able to speak to your readers!
An unforgettable story of forgiveness and reconciliation, One Holy Night retells the Christmas story in a strikingly original way—through the discovery of a baby abandoned in the manger of a church’s nativity scene. Destined to become a classic for all seasons, One Holy Night deals compassionately with the gritty issues of life—war and violence, devastating illness, intergenerational conflict, addictions, and broken relationships. This moving, inspirational story will warm readers’ hearts with hope and joy long after they finish reading.
November 19, 1966
Mike McRae dropped his battered duffel bag on the concrete floor and glanced through the bank of windows to where the wide-bodied army transport sat waiting on the snow-dusted tarmac. Waiting to take him and his buddies halfway around the world to war.
Viet Nam.The name hung between him and his family as they gathered in the spare, unadorned military terminal, trying to pretend that this trip was nothing out of the ordinary. But it seemed to Mike almost as if he were gone already, that he had moved beyond the point where he could reach out to touch them. Their faces, loved and familiar, blurred before his eyes as though he looked at them through a mist.
His father cleared his throat before shoving a dog-eared, plain, tan paperback book into Mike’s hands. “Thought you might be able to use this sometime,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You and Julie used to like to sing some of these old songs when you were kids. Remember?”
Mike looked down at the book he held. It was his father’s old service hymnbook that he’d gotten as a young Marine at Sunday worship aboard a ship headed out to the South Pacific during World War II. Frank McRae wasn’t much of one to attend church, and the gift surprised Mike. Maybe spiritual things meant more to his father than he had thought.
It evidently surprised his mother too. “Oh, Frank, I didn’t think you paid any attention. Julie taught you those songs when you were just a toddler,” she added, lightly touching Mike’s shoulder. “The two of you sounded like little angels-” She stopped, her voice choking.
Mike could feel the heat rising to his face. To cover his embarrassment, he flipped open the worn cover and stared down at the inscription on the title page. No date, just the owner’s name: Frank McRae.
It was Mike’s turn to clear his throat. There was suddenly a lump in it despite his skepticism about anything that had to do with faith or religion.
“Well . . . cool. Thanks.”
Blinking back an unexpected prickle of tears, he glanced over at his mother, Maggie, who was thin and wan from surgery and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. His sister, Julie, hovered near her, still in her white nurse’s uniform after coming straight to the airport from the hospital where she worked. Behind her stood her husband, Dan, holding their daughter, Amy.
“I know you’ve got a lot to carry already, but-”
Mike waved his father’s words away. “It isn’t heavy, Dad, and who knows. You lugged it through all those battlefields, and you made it home. Maybe it’ll bring me good luck too.”
On impulse, he pulled a pen out of the breast pocket of his fatigues, clicked it open and added his name below his father’s, added the date too. Squatting down, he zipped open his bag and squeezed the hymnal in among his clothing.
When he straightened, his mother stepped forward to give him a fierce hug. “When you get there let us know you’re okay and what unit you’re assigned to. Write as often as you can.”
“I will, Mom.” He struggled to keep his voice from choking up. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“You get well, okay?” he whispered in her ear.
“I will. I’m going to beat this cancer, God willing.”
Inwardly Mike sighed, though for her sake he managed not to grimace. He and his mom had always been close, but he got awfully tired of all this God talk. On the other hand, if there really was a benign force somewhere out there in the universe, he supposed prayers couldn’t hurt.
Julie crowded in to put her arms around him as well. “I’m sure going to miss you, little brother.” She was crying openly, not making any attempt to brush away her tears.
“Aw, you’re going to be too busy with this little princess to think about me,” Mike returned awkwardly, reaching over to tickle three-year-old Amy under the chin.
She leaned out from her father’s arms, reaching for him. Dan surrendered the child, and she wound her arms around Mike’s neck, nestled her golden head against his shoulder, giggling, as he tugged on her braid.
Mike was relieved to see that Amy, at least, seemed not to comprehend the dangers he was heading toward or the length of the separation that lay before them. He turned to clasp Dan’s hand in a handshake he hoped would say everything he couldn’t.
Dan pushed his hand away and embraced him without speaking, pounding him on the back at the same time. Only Frank held back, frowning, as he stared through the windows at the plane.
Outside Mike could hear the engines revving up, signaling that it was time to board. The last of his buddies were heading outside. Hastily handing Amy back to Dan, Mike kissed his sister and mother, shook his father’s hand, then zipped up his parka and grabbed his duffel bag.
“Thirteen months,” he said, forcing a grin. “See you all back here next Christmas.”
“Don’t forget to tell Terry hello from all of us. Remind him Angie and the kids want him to stay safe and to hurry home. Give him a kiss from Angie,” Julie added with a wicked grin.
“Yeah, right!” Mike chuckled in spite of himself, then hefted his bag. “It sure will be good to see a friendly face when I get there. With luck, I’ll end up in Terry’s platoon.”
“It’ll be more than luck,” his mother said. “I’m going to pray about it. And we’ll be praying every minute until you’re home safe with us again.”
Mike gave her a crooked smile, then with a quick wave to all of them, turned and strode out the door and across the tarmac. By sheer willpower he kept his stride steady, refusing to let himself turn to look back at them. He knew that if he did, he’d never make it to the plane.
Every step of the way he could sense their eyes following him, and their love. When he reached the stairs, he ran up them, not letting himself think about what he was leaving behind or what lay before him.
Hurriedly he moved through the open door into the plane’s dim interior, feeling, like the severing of an embrace, the moment when he disappeared from their sight.
Read the Reviews!
“One Holy Night is J.M. Hochstetler’s fourth novel, and within its pages you will discover the most beautiful modern-day essence of Christ’s nativity, mercy, and grace you’ve read in a very long while!…She richly captures the turmoil surrounding the lives of those affected by the Viet Nam War, and the many emotional conflicts that raged on as a result of that war. I look forward to reading her other books, and I highly recommend this one to you!” —Kim Ford, Window to My World (berlysue.blogspot.com)
[...] post is from here. Visit the link to read more.Mike could feel the heat rising to his face. To cover his [...]
[...] post is from here. Visit the link to read more.Mike could feel the heat rising to his face. To cover his [...]
[...] Interview with J.M. Hochstetler, author of “One Holy Night … [...]
Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
Kicker
Thamks for the nice post. I always try to bookmark educational or book report related posts like this one.