Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Elmer Fuller!
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
As I approached retirement, I decided to write a novel based on the stories my father told about growing up in the Ozarks during the Great Depression. As a child, I listened to him tell about the crazy things he did with his friends and brothers, like catching a buzzard. When I retired, an author friend pointed me to the American Christian Fiction Writers, and I began my journey of writing faith-friendly historical fiction.
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Writing a novel has a similar pleasure to reading one. Both allow you to enter an imaginary world and experience it along with the characters. Add to that the satisfaction you receive in solving a puzzle. Crafting a story requires solving problems. What motivates my main character? What problems do they face? How has the past shaped them?
What does your writing space look like?
A small desk holding a laptop sits at a window overlooking my front yard. One side is cluttered with books and papers, but I also always make room for a coaster and a cup of coffee! The books include a Bible and whatever I need for my current work-in-progress. Currently, a Bible atlas and two books on manners and customs of the Bible complete the stack.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I have one book published, though I’ve written three novels and a novella. As for my favorite, it seems to be whichever I’m writing at the time.
What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?
I’ve learned from discussions with agents that I need to ask two questions. First, is my idea a story? Is
I’ve learned the second question to ask is whether a market exists for the story. I may find a story idea fascinating, but readers may not.
What was your inspiration for the story?
I was researching a different story when I got the idea for Kate’s Crucible. The story was set in 1855 during the early settlement of the Kansas Territory. If you know your history, settlers were racing to Kansas, not simply to claim land, but to determine whether slavery would exist in the new state. People favoring slavery were moving from Missouri and Kentucky, while those wanting the state to be free flocked from New England.
An organization in Boston called the New England Emigrant Aid Company recruited and led settlers to Kansas, traveling by rail to the Mississippi River, then by steamboat to Kansas City, where they loaded wagons and entered the territory. I came across this company’s lists of settlers during my research.
The list included names, occupations, and departure cities. Most of the names were men traveling alone, though some took their families. A few women were listed who were traveling west to join their husbands who had staked a claim earlier. The name of a single woman stood out to me. I began asking questions about why she would travel to Kansas, and the questions grew into the novel.
How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?
Once I have my main character, I look for historical characters in the setting I’ve chosen. I also begin to brainstorm other fictional characters I need. I try to fill story roles like antagonist, sidekick, mentor, or love interest.
Once I have the major characters, I complete a worksheet that includes physical description, personality type, quirks, and habits. For major characters, I list their goals and backstories, including any traumatic events that have shaped them.
I read the reviews of my book and consider it an important way to listen to my readers. I know my readers appreciate historical details and accuracy as well as a good story. I’ve also received a few emails and a couple of letters. One woman wrote about the characters she liked and wanted to see in sequels.
What is your next project?
Birth of a Warrior will release in early September. Haunted by his father's rejection and branded a coward, seventeen-year-old Benaiah must prove his courage on the battlefield as a member of King Saul’s army and overcome the shame that threatens to destroy him. I know men drawn to the warrior ethos and women drawn to a redemptive arc will love it.
Social Media Links
Website with blog: https://www.elmerfuller.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElmerFuller
X (Twitter): https://x.com/E_Fuller_author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32095288.Elmer_Fuller
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elmer-fuller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fullerelmer/
About Kate’s Crucible
Would you leave your loved ones to fight slavery?
In 1855, pro-slavery and free-state people flock to the Kansas Territory bent on winning the slavery issue for the new state—the conflict dubbed "Bleeding Kansas." Nineteen-year-old Kate Collins leaves family, safety, and a suitor in Boston, convinced God has called her to fight slavery by teaching in the wild territory.
Constant problems challenge her, and the schoolroom she crossed the country to lead always seems out of reach. If God truly called her to teach in Kansas, why does he keep closing every door she tries to walk through?
Will Kate sacrifice love for her calling, or discover that God can redeem both?
Set against the turbulent backdrop of pre–Civil War America, Kate's Crucible is Christian historical fiction for readers who love:
- Strong yet vulnerable heroines who wrestle honestly with faith
- Frontier settings where courage is tested, and convictions cost something
- Clean, hopeful romance woven into real historical events
- Stories that explore justice, calling, and the power of perseverance
Photo Credits:
Author photo and book image: Courtesy Elmer Fuller
Computer: Pixabay/Markus Spiske
Chalk faces: Pixabay/Adrian
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