In the book, the Order of the Seven – a Scottish terrier, a West Highland terrier, two cats from France and Ireland, a British mouse, a Swiss mountain goat, and a lamb from Judea - need to help create one nation under God, entering the lives of the Founding Fathers. They make sure that Patrick Henry uses his voice, that George Washington is safe and becomes a strong leader, that Ben Franklin keeps his sense of discovery, and ensure the alliance of France.
It's an imaginative take on historical facts. Reading historical fiction can inspire kids to learn more about the time periods, making a dry, dusty era come alive, and encouraging them to do further research on the actual events themselves. I know I wasn't a fan of history when I was growing up, but I've always been intrigued by historical fiction and still find myself drawn to it.
I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.
What was your inspiration behind creating this book?
This is my seventh novel in a series of historical fiction titles beginning with Noah's Ark, going through Biblical history and up through the fall of Rome. I've actually been setting up several plot lines for this new book on Patrick Henry and the Revolutionary War throughout the previous six titles! I love God, history and young people, and have a passion for instilling a love for history in kids. With The Voice, the Revolution, and the Key, I especially wish to help kids fall in love with America.
How do you hope this book inspires kids to learn more about history?
I hope by bringing the history of America's founding to life that kids are going to be excited to learn even more about the incredible generation of children who grew up to become the founding fathers. I chose to tell the story of Patrick Henry and other founders beginning when they are children. Kids will be able to see that these great men were once just kids, just like they are. They'll see how 7 year-old Patrick Henry faces bullies, loves fishing, camping, hunting, mimicking bird calls, playing the fiddle and flute, and even tipping canoes on his cousins. They'll see him struggle and fail at everything he tries as seeks to figure out his life's purpose. Kids will see how hard these "founding children" worked, read and studied history themselves to understand how men and governments work across time. As Patrick Henry finds his "voice" to rally a nation to Independence, I hope kids will also seek to find their voice in HIStory.
What are some over-looked ways that religion played a role in our nation's creation?
Well the struggle for religious freedom was a catalyst to spur patriots on to fight for liberty! Many assume that the pilgrims left Europe to come to America and were able to automatically have religious freedom. Not so. Religious freedom was not a given, as the Church of England was the "official church" for those royal colonies, and to practice any other faith required a license. Many faiths were persecuted (Baptists, Methodists, etc.) for preaching the gospel. Young Patrick Henry had a war for religious freedom raging under his own roof! He was named for his uncle, the Reverend Patrick Henry, who was a parson in the Anglican Church in Hanover, Va. Patrick's father John and Uncle Patrick were staunch members of this traditional Church of England. But Patrick's mother, Sarah, joined the Dissenters that followed the Great Awakening movement that had its epicenter in Hanover, Va! She took Patrick to hear Presbyterian Rev. Samuel Davies at Polegreen Meeting House, and it was by listening to Davies that Patrick learned how to be an orator. Many of Patrick Henry's speeches are laced with scripture, and he learned from Rev. Davies. When he became a lawyer, Patrick frequently represented Baptist ministers who had been thrown in jail for preaching the gospel. He even anonymously bailed out a Baptist minister and the minister didn't know who had paid his fines for twenty years. Patrick Henry was a champion for religious freedom, and was a key author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights that specifically protected religious freedom. This document was the model used to form our national Bill of Rights.
How can historical novels such as yours blend imagination and historical fact to be fun and educational?
“GIVE ME FACTS, OR GIVE ME DEATH AS A CREDIBLE HISTORICAL AUTHOR!”
It is vitally important to me that I share with you background information on my research that fills the pages of my books, and the liberties I take to tell the stories. The genre I write is historical fiction fantasy, in that order. This means the first layer I begin writing is the history. This foundation layer must be rock solid historically, down to the most minute detail. I exhaust my sources of books, online research, site visits, and interviews with historical experts on people, places, and events. Once the bedrock history is laid, I then add the layer of fiction which must be plausible. For instance, the fictional words I put into a character’s mouth, as well as his actions, must match his character and the cultural setting. Once the historical fiction is as pure as I can make it, I add the layer of fantasy where the animal characters come into play. I look for those “unknowns” in the story of things that did happen (but we don’t know how or why) or that could have happened. I allow my animals to affect the events of the story without ever giving away their true identities, which makes it fun. Once all three layers are set, the book is an accurate, educational, enjoyable (I hope) read intended to make history come alive for the reader. In the back of every book I have a section entitled, "A Word from the Author" that contains a great deal of background information that I hope you will find fascinating and that will fill in some details I cannot possibly cover with an already lengthy manuscript. To me, it is one of the most important parts of my books, and I hope it will inspire you to go hunt down the real history behind the fiction.
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