Because I was following true historical events and wanted to stick to the actual timeline and chronology of what happened, I relied heavily on my outline.

Jacqueline Friedland – 1 September 2023

The Back Flap

The book is based on the true story of female abolitionist Ann Phillips and her connection to Anthony Burns, a young man who briefly escaped American slavery and rocked the nation with his astoundingly heroic story.

A passionate advocate of abolition from her earliest years, Ann’s activism was derailed just before her twenty-fourth birthday, when she fell sick with a mysterious illness. In order to protect her fragile health, her husband, the famous abolitionist Wendell Phillips, forbade her from joining any further anti-slavery outings. Even so, when fugitive slave Anthony Burns is apprehended in Boston, Ann is determined to help him, no matter what it costs her.

With a particular focus on the predicament of nineteenth-century women who wanted to effect change despite the restrictions society imposed on them, The Stockwell Letters— takes a deep dive into the harrowing conditions of the antebellum South and the obstacles faced by abolitionists who fought tirelessly to eradicate slavery. A fast-paced, arresting recounting of America’s not-so-distant history— the story will stay with readers long after the final page.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book in 2020, shortly after COVID lockdowns began.

How long did it take you to write it?

From start to finish, the book took me about a year.

Where did you get the idea from?

When I was researching my first book, Trouble the Water, I stumbled upon Anthony Burns’s story. I was immediately fascinated by the trajectory of his life and what an enormous impact he had on the historical period in which he lived. I was busy working on another book, so I eventually moved on from reading about him, but when COVID hit, and I had just finished another book, I started thinking about him again. When I delved back into the research, I discovered that Anthony had connected with many other interesting individuals, including once-famous abolitionists Ann and Wendell Phillips. As I got to know the story of Ann Phillips’s life, I saw how deeply intertwined her personal path was with Anthony Burns’s, and I realized it was so important to bring Ann’s story to life.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I was intent on making sure that I got every last historical detail right, so oftentimes, I would struggle with a scene if there were details I didn’t yet know about the time period—for example, did the icebox yet exist, how quickly can a horse travel, and so on. I made sure to learn all this information before putting anything into the book, and it definitely did slow me down.

What came easily?

Stepping into the psyches of my characters Ann and Colette felt very natural. I could see their worlds and understand their motivations very clearly, making it a pleasure to be able to tell their stories.

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

So many of my characters are based on real people, including Ann and Wendell Phillips, Anthony Burns, William Lloyd Garrison, Maria and Ben Chapman, Richard Henry Dana, and Henry David Thoreau. The list goes on and on.

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 think every writer I read influences me a little, but at the end of the day, all voices I portray must come only from me. It’s very important to me to cultivate my own style in any genre I write.

Do you have a target reader?

My target reader is anyone who wants to read a good story.

About Writing

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

I find that with each book I write, I have a different process. Sometimes I start with days, weeks, or months of research. Other times, I just jump right in and then take a break to research issues as they arise.

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

I don’t typically outline. I generally craft the story in my head and then see where the characters take me. However, with The Stockwell Letters, an outline was essential. Because I was following true historical events and wanted to stick to the actual timeline and chronology of what happened, I relied heavily on my outline.

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

I edit as I go. I hate the idea of leaving myself a huge mess to clean up at the end of a first draft.

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

Typically, I do not listen to music when I write. The only time that changes is if my husband is working from home. We share a home office, and he spends much of the workday on calls. I need to pop in some headphones and listen to instrumental music to avoid simply listening in on his conversations all day.

About Publishing

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 chose to publish with SparkPress for many reasons. Most notably, my first book, Trouble the Water did not fit neatly into any genre, and I was having trouble selling it. I was advised by agents to make it more of a romance, or more of a historical fiction story, or more of a young adult book. I didn’t want to change the story or style just to cram myself into a specific genre so that bookstores would know where to shelve it. I was happy with it as it was, and when I reached out to SparkPress, they were happy with it too. It was such a pleasure to publish with them that I have remained with them for my subsequent projects.

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

My publisher retains professional book designers for all their covers, and the covers they create are beautiful.

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

There is a lot of upside to being an indie author, like retaining more editorial control over your work and getting to know your small publisher well. For authors who have stories they are proud of, I would say the question is simply: do you want to publish your work? If yes, go for it!

About You

Where did you grow up?

I am a born and bred New Yorker through and through. With the exception of college and part of law school, I’ve lived here my whole life and plan on staying.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a dual timeline novel that I’m very excited about, but no spoilers!

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Stockwell Letters from Amazon US or Amazon UK.