Most of the authors I admire write books that I could never write. Rather than inspiring me to be more like them, they inspire me to be myself and write what comes naturally for me.

Tim Piper – 19 July 2024

The Back Flap

For decades, mountain men told tales of the exotic geography surrounding the source of the Yellowstone River, and Jubilee Walker, to the dismay of his fiancée, Nelly Boswell, can’t resist the opportunity to see it for himself. When Jubil joins an expedition to explore the region, he and his companions brave an unforgiving wilderness to find that the truth is even stranger than the legends.

But a year later, when Jubil returns with a survey crew, he finds ruthless men exploiting the region for profit. Will Jubil’s commitment to preventing the despoilment of Yellowstone’s geographical wonders get him killed?

Based on events of the 1870 Washburn Expedition and the 1871 surveys by Dr. Ferdinand Hayden and Captain John Barlow, the second installment of the Jubilee Walker series chronicles events leading up the passage of the bill that designated Yellowstone as America’s first national park.

About the book

What is the book about?

In this book, the second in the Jubilee Walker series, Jubil becomes involved in expeditions to explore the Yellowstone region and commits himself to join an effort to protect it from despoilment.

When did you start writing the book?

I began doing research for it in 2019 and began writing in 2020.

How long did it take you to write it?

I had a final edited version by the end of 2021, but chose not to publish it yet as I continued to work on the series.

Where did you get the idea from?

After I completed the first book in my series, The Powell Expeditions, I thought there was plenty of room to continue Jubil’s story. I researched events that were taking place at that time, and learned of the expeditions that led to the creation of America’s first national park. That seemed like something Jubil would have gotten involved in, and my series was born.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

My writing style is not especially florid or poetic, so I found it challenging to describe the geological wonders and the vast landscapes of Yellowstone in language that would convey how awestruck early visitors would have been.

What came easily?

The historical events involved in the expeditions and the political process to pass the Yellowstone bill provided me with much of the framework for the book. My challenge was to use all that in a way that made it part of Jubil’s life story, not just a historical retelling to which I had added a fictional character.

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

My protagonist, Jubil, and his family, the family of his fiancé, his business partners, and his nemesis are all fictional and not modeled after anyone I know. The characters named in the expeditions are based on the historical figures who actually participated in the events described.

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?

Most of the authors I admire write books that I could never write. Rather than inspiring me to be more like them, they inspire me to be myself and write what comes naturally for me. I admire all of the novels by Paulette Jiles, but I also enjoy Christopher Fowler’s Bryant and May mysteries, and everything ever written by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Do you have a target reader?

Fans of historical adventures will enjoy my books, people who like to learn about and vicariously experience exciting periods of the past.

About Writing

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

After breakfast, I go to work on whatever aspect of the writing process is called for at the moment—researching, writing, editing, thinking—and stay at it until I break for lunch. I may engage in some of these activities at other times of the day, but generally not with the same intensity.

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

I start with a series of bullet points, without considering chapters yet—a single bullet point may be a minor event or a major one. Then I expand each bullet point into a few sentences and write a short synopsis of the book. Once that seems to hold together, I begin to write the manuscript.

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

Both. I write slowly, trying to edit each scene as I go. Then at the end, I read and edit the whole manuscript at least twice before sending it to my editor.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, she is indispensable. No matter how polished I believe the work is that I send her, she always astonishes and humbles me with her line edits and developmental suggestions. At times I feel like I’m cheating by not listing her as co-author, but she tells me this is just what editors do.

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

I do not listen to music while I write. I find it distracting. Rather than hearing it as background noise, I find my mind drifting to some aspect of the music that I either enjoy or find annoying.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

After I completed the first book in my series, I began submitting it to agents, small publishing houses, and hybrid publishers. While I was doing that, I began the next book in the series. By the time I had finished the second book, I decided to change publishing strategies.

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

It was a gradual process. Eventually, I ran out of patience with the traditional publishing process of vetting submissions. I also began to wonder whether my personal goals and the expectations of the traditional publishing system really meshed well. I considered hybrid publishing, but then I decided if I was going to spend that much of my own money, I might as well manage the whole process myself.

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

I had the book cover and the interior layout done professionally. I used The Book Designers in San Raphael, CA (https://bookdesigners.com). They were great to work with, and I am thrilled with the results.

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

I contracted with Books Forward (https://booksforward.com) to handle publicity and marketing, and their sister company Books Fluent to handle the technical processes for distribution. They have done a wonderful job of making people aware of my work.

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

The channels and supporting services for self-publishing have become very sophisticated. If you are willing to spend the time and money, you can do a very professional job of publishing your own work and have full control over the timeline and process.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Benton, Illinois, which is in the southern part of the state.

Where do you live now?

I live in Bloomington, Illinois, which is in the central part of the state.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am retired from a long career in information technology, and I have been a hobbyist musician all my life.

What are you working on now?

The Northern Pacific Railroad, book three in my Jubilee Walker series, will be published January 15, 2025. I am currently writing a fourth book in the series, which will be published in July of 2025.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Yellowstone Campaign from Amazon US or Amazon UK.