Today I have
the author, Doug Boren, talking about his array of swashbuckling tomes:
"The Alexander Family Chronicles"
Pirates Revenge, Patriot’s Point,
Beyond the Horizons, and
The Final Voyage of the Sea Explorer.
Towards that
end, his writings have focused on a particular family through the generations.
He informally calls them the Alexander Family Chronicles. From 1600's England,
to 1700's Caribbean, to the American Revolution, to the American Civil War,
right on up to present day, you can follow the exploits of these remarkable men
and women as they face their unique challenges and overcome incredible odds.
Questions:
(1) What actually inspired the
writing of your novel(s)?
Ever since I
was a teenager, I have loved reading.
Over the course of time, I felt like, “Gosh, I know I can writer as good
as that… maybe better.” So I have always
dreamed of writing. One day about 14 years ago, I was brainstorming about what
kind of scenario would make a good basis for a book. I finally came upon the idea of an isolated
individual beset by hostiles. This could
mean almost anything, but it eventually became a section of my first book,
Beyond the Horizons.This is set in the American Civil War, and shortly
thereafter, and I knew that historical fiction was the genre for me. My next
book saw more of the Alexander family, so I determined to write about a
different generation of that family. To
follow the adventures, the trials and tribulations of these remarkable people
in remarkable times.
(2) Alpha or beta hero
–profession/title/rank?– brief description!
My main
characters are very much the alpha hero, but there is a very generous addition
of many secondary characters who are in supporting roles, who are of various
types. And they all come to be admired,
even loved by the reader.
(3) Can you describe your heroine’s
personality- title/rank?– description!
Most of the
female characters are somewhat proper, maybe even a bit naïve, at least at
first. They all have an incredibly good
heart that easily sets them apart from their peers. But one female character was definitely nor
of that ilk. The Black Widow was the
Queen of a pirate nation, and she is as ruthless and daring as any man… maybe
more so.
(4) Are there secondary lead
characters with important roles?
The
incredible bond of friendship between the main character and the secondary ones
is a hallmark of my stories. There is
loyalty, and even love shared, and the reader comes to care as much for them as
they do the main character.
(5) Where is the novel (s) set? –
time-frame – country etc.
Pirates
Revenge begins in England in 1700, and progresses to the Caribbean for the next
three decades. Patriot’s Point is set
during the American Revolution in North Carolina. Beyond the Horizons takes places during the
America Civil War in New Mexico, and after the war, in Arizona, during the
Apache wars, during the 1870’s. The
Final Voyage of the “Sea Explorer,is set in the present day, in the Bahamas.
(6) What is it about your chosen
era/periods that you most enjoy?
I love
history. I always have. I like to make history come alive in the
imagination of the reader so they can be educated and see how people lived and
struggled in times not their own, but in reality dealing with many of the same
problems and emotions that we do today.
(7) Which if any of your characters
do you dislike, and why?
I have
written about some pretty despicable characters. Two in particular stand out. In Pirates Revenge, Ramirez is evil
personified. He is vile, sadistic,
ruthless, and cunning and you come to really hate him for all the terrible
things he does.
In Beyond
the Horizons, a renegade Apache named Chactoke slaughters countless people
wantonly, and tortures them with a vile sense of religious fervour. You can’t wait for him to be killed… or can
you?
(8) Do you avoid sex scenes, gross
violence or other in your works?
I usually
include one or two erotic scenes, if I think they will advance the story, and
edify the characters to the reader to the point of identification. I take great pains to make them tasteful, not
pornographic.
Gross
violence is certainly something I embrace. I write about some very rough and
terrifying times, places and people. To
avoid the real essence of that and water it down would be a disservice to the
reader. There is something to be said
for “shock value”.
(9) How would you rate your novel –
historical fiction, romantic fiction, tear-jerker, emotional drama,
swashbuckling adventure, or...?
The overall
genre is historical Fiction.
However, one
could safely say they are also action/adventure, thrillers, and often have
elements of a real tear jerker. Every
time I read Patriot’s Point I am brought to tears, and heck, I wrote the darn
thing.
Back
cover blurb:
Imagine a
fatherless boy, the result of a brutal rape, growing up in London’s worst slum
in the 1700’s. Think of him becoming a
man of the sea, knowing nothing but the company of pirates, as he becomes the
consort of the Black Widow, queen of the largest pirate fleet the world has
ever known. As the need for vengeance nearly consumes him, will he be destroyed
or will he find salvation from the most unlikely of sources? This is Rafe Alexander!
And what of
a young man growing up on the eve of a new nation, who is willing to give his
life for his beloved country, the United States of America? Deeply embedded in him are the
principles
of liberty, freedom, justice, and equality.
He wants nothing more than to live in a free country with his beloved
family, but will the forces that guide his life let him? Meet Trey Alexander!
The
descendants of these men navigate their way through turbulent times, reaching a
climax in the American Civil War.And even after surviving the horrors of that
conflict a certain young man must survive the most vile and terrible foe of all
as he tries to live with his beloved in the Arizona Apache Wars. This man cheats death in more ways than can
be imagined.You will marvel at Mace Alexander!
And finally,
what of the young man, just barely past being a boy, caught up in the
treacherous
currents of
intrigue in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas?Naïve to the forces that
are bearing down on him, the past of his ancestors catches up to him. He is
driven to honour them, if he can survive.
This is Josh Alexander!
Ladies and
gentlemen, I present to you the Alexanders. Remarkable people in remarkable
times.
Douglas’ profile page at Amazon where
you can view all his listed books.
Thank you,
Francine, for the opportunity to be interviewed by you.
Douglas
Boren
-------
Thank you.
