I love grand epic tales, family sagas.  I’ve had to learn, though, that the lavish details and prose don’t cut it with modern readers.

Annette Ranald – 7 July 2014

The Back Flap

In April 1847, Louis Keseberg, the last survivor of the Donner Party, was rescued from a snow-covered cabin in a pass of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Surrounded by the dismembered bodies of his fellow-travelers and unhinged by hunger and isolation, it’s obvious that he consumed the bodies of his comrades to survive.  Money belonging to the Donner family was found in his possession.  Did Keseberg murder for food?  Why had he taken money belonging to George and Tamzene Donner?  Had he planned his “crimes” all along, refusing repeated opportunities of rescue so that he could remain behind and prey on weaker and more vulnerable victims?  Those answers lay with Keseberg and for decades, as speculation grew into rumor, printed in a host of books, articles and memoirs, the most infamous member of the Donner Party kept his silence.  In 1879, Truckee newspaper reporter Charles McGlashan tracked Keseberg down at the behest of Eliza, youngest daughter of George and Tamzene Donner.  She believed that only he could provide the details of her mother’s last moments and convey Tamzene’s dying words to her family.  Convinced that he might receive a confession that would bring the infamous cannibal to justice, McGlashan confronted Keseberg and obtained a statement.  In April, 1879, when Eliza Donner and Louis Keseberg met face to face, he swore his innocence of her mother’s death and, by extension, the other heinous actions imputed to him.  But did he give McGlashan and Eliza the whole story?  Was he a blood-thirsty, heartless fiend, or a deeply-flawed human being driven beyond desperation?

About the book

What is the book about?

Under an Evil Star is a first-person account of the Donner Party, as told from the perspective of the “villain,” Louis Keseberg.  He was a German immigrant travelling with his wife and two small children, and seems to have been blamed for a lot of what went wrong on the journey.

When did you start writing the book?

I discovered Louis’ story in 2009, began researching, and started writing during the winter of 2009-10.

How long did it take you to write it?

From the time I started research until I completed it took about six months, which is usual for me.

Where did you get the idea from?

I’d heard somebody on TV make a joke about the Donner Party and started looking around.  When I discovered Louis, my defense attorney’s instincts kicked in.  I began corresponding with a researcher from Utah, and gathering as much information as I could.  I’m into anti-heroes, or unlikely heroes, and Louis fit the bill.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The subject matter itself, cannibalism, is an uncomfortable one for anybody.  I decided to focus on why they ate it, rather than what they ate or how.

What came easily?

The easiest part for me was finding Louis’ voice.  I write a lot in first person.  My inspiration comes from Clay Jenkinson, a history professor in North Dakota who impersonates Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Meriwether Lewis and other characters and lectures from their perspective.  I think I write better and visualize better in first person.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I start with what is known of a character’s personality, attitude, characteristics, and use a real person I know to round out the persona.  My maternal grandfather was German-speaking, of German heritage.  His father had a horrible temper.  Grandpa was six-two, with blond hair and blue eyes.  He was a marksman in WWII.  That side of the family is filled with moody loners.  So am I.  Thus, the prototype for Louis was born.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’ve read history since grade school, and I love the old writers, Sir Walter Scott, Mitchner, Tuchman, Thomas B. Costain.  I love grand epic tales, family sagas.  I’ve had to learn, though, that the lavish details and prose don’t cut it with modern readers.  Trimming back the detail hurts sometimes, but has to be done.

Do you have a target reader?

My goal is to use fiction to get people of all ages and intellects hooked on history.  If you like my story and it makes you want to learn more, I’ve done my job.  I think we have a serious lack of historical literacy in this country, with people of all ages.  My goal is to entertain and hopefully inspire and educate.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

It starts with a character or idea that just won’t go away.  Then, I research it to death, online and through reading.  Next, I start writing, and researching some more.  I try to get the basic historical details right, and fit the story around them.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

No. An agent tried to get me to do that, just like teachers in school tried.  My stories never match the outline anyway, so it’s just busy work.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I’m a terrible editor, so after years of having to go over a manuscript until I’m sick of it, I’m learning to catch bad habits like run-on sentences, unnecessary detail, chatty dialogue.  I do that as I write and spare a few headaches later.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I do the preliminary edits, checking for passive voice, too many “ly” adjectives, etc.  Then, my mother, a former newspaper proofreader, takes over for spelling and punctuation.  My brother is a movie buff who can visualize scenes in his mind.  He looks the manuscript over for any scene mistakes.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I love Celtic, classical, soundtrack, and production music.  If I hear the right piece of music, the story lines start to spin.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I had an agent for many years to whom I’m deeply grateful for teaching me a lot about writing.  They just couldn’t get my work off the ground although they tried.  There’s a huge bottleneck in mainstream publishing which is hard to get around if you’re not an established author.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I decided to follow the old idea that if you want something done, you’d better do it yourself.  In January, 2014, I took advantage of the opportunity to get a low-cost website, told my agent goodbye, and the process took off from there.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The concept is mine.  One of the Donner Party survivors wrote a diary entry which documents the cannibalism.  “Under an evil star” is Louis’ own words to describe why he underwent the ordeal.  Vook.com created the cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Right now, I’m marketing through my website, Facebook, Twitter, and resources like this.  Any free resource is my plan for the time being.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t quit your day job.  This is still a long haul.  But don’t give up on your dream, either.  Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunity.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Arizona and, with the exception of a few years in Colorado as a child, I’ve lived here all my life.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I love history, and I enjoy trying to get others to like it, too.

What are you working on now?

I have a series about a 21st century Senator, descended of some Founding Fathers, who tries to bring the Revolutionary spirit back to D.C.  I’m also working on novel about a Loyalist midwife during the Revolution.  There’s a novel about Vlad Tepes’ second wife, a Bathory princess, in the rough stages, too.  One of Mary Queen of Scots’ half-brothers, Juana la Loca of Span, there’s several more ideas and drama where this book came from.

End of interview:

For more from Annette, visit her website or blog, follow her on Twitter, or friend her page on Facebook.

Get your copy of Under an Evil Star from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook), or Barnes & Noble.