Conecuh: A Civil War Novel by Herb Hughes

Author Herb Hughes worked in the computer industry for over two decades and then built a successful private business before retiring to write novels.

“I write in the present, but my stories are about the past and the future: historical fiction and science fiction. I find both fascinating.”

Interview

Conecuh won a literary award. What does that mean to you?

When you consider both the research required and the time spent writing, I’ve got well over two thousand hours in Conecuh. For an author, winning a literary award validates that level of effort. For a reader, it means you’ve selected a quality novel.

Historical fiction novels often require extensive research. How did you perform the research for Conecuh?

The internet is a wonderful, modern-day tool for authors. You can find virtually everything you need by popping up another window on your laptop. The days of getting up from your desk, getting dressed if you’re still in your robe, and driving to the library to rummage through the card catalog in the research room are over. You don’t even have to get out of your chair to answer historical questions. For instance, if I want to see what Washington D. C. looked like during the civil war, old pictures are readily available on the web.

If there is a book I need to read to provide background for my novel, I can purchase it, download it, then start reading immediately. And, again, all without leaving my comfortable chair. 

The internet’s convenience is amazing, but there is a drawback: There is much misinformation on the web. Almost anything and everything is out there, whether there is any basis in fact or not. So verifying your research by checking multiple sites is always a good idea.

It has been said many times that a writer should write every day. Do you?

Judging from the number of novels currently available, it appears a lot of people are writing every day. Nights, too. ☺

Perhaps I’m a little different, but my answer is “No.” If you’ve ever worked in a JIT (Just-In-Time) factory, you know that a bad component that gets past quality control can create a lot of trash (worthless product) in a hurry. It’s the same with writing. Some days you don’t have what it takes to create quality material. Since authors often have trouble removing material from their manuscripts, they can become “married” to something that is not essential to the story.

We’re all different. There is no “one size fits all” in creating a manuscript. Personally, when the video starts rolling in my head, I’ll write. But sometimes the video player doesn’t turn on. When that happens, instead of trying to force it, I’ll clear my head by getting away from the project, usually by reading. Sometimes an hour or so of reading is all it takes.

I’m sure some people disagree, but I feel that reading every day is much more important than writing every day. Read the good and the bad. And don’t forget the ugly. Read it all. Learn what to do from the good, what to avoid from the bad. Don’t just pigeonhole yourself in your genre of interest. Branch out. It WILL make you a better writer.

What do you say to someone who gives you a bad rating?

Nothing. It is always best to ignore it and move on.

For instance, Conecuh received a one-star rating from a reader who quit reading when they reached a rape scene fairly early in the novel. The reader said the book was full of sex and vulgar language.

The truth is there is no vulgar language. I do not use obscene language or give God last names in my novels. Offensive words are simply unnecessary. The rape scene was handled with kid gloves as best I could, but it was necessary to establish the character of a soldier and further story development. I do not consider the novel “full of sex,” and, to my knowledge, neither does anyone else who has read it.

The records show that over 450 Union soldiers were tried for sex crimes during the war. Historians estimate that there were thousands, and quite possibly tens of thousands, of sex crimes that never went to court. Rape has been a harsh reality of war since we first began taking up arms against each other.

So I accepted the one-star rating as my fault for not pre-warning readers about the rape scene. At the same time, I don’t like spoilers, so it’s a delicate balancing act. 

If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would it be?

In his 1755 A Dictionary of the English Language, Samuel Johnson defined “Lexicographer” as: “a writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge…”

Seeing something of myself in that definition, I developed a relationship with the term Harmless Drudge. (It’s my ESPN username, for instance.) So I consciously try to keep myself out of my characters for fear they might become too boring for my readers.

But if I had to pick a character to play in a movie of Conecuh, I would select Thomas Rose, Emily’s father. He is a minor character in the book, but more like me than the others. He is hard-working, has an innate sense of right and wrong, can buck the crowd but does it quietly, is a little naïve, and is full of love for nature and the world around him.

I did not make Thomas Rose like me on purpose. I do not model characters after myself. That was the type of character I needed for the story, one who would, perhaps, spoil his daughter a little more than he should have.

A few of the characters in my novels were developed using fascinating people I’ve known over the years, but most were created purely from imagination, with bits and pieces of real people added here and there.

Be honest. How do you feel about Conecuh? How good do you believe it is?

Good question. And since I am being forced to be honest ☺, I have to say in all likelihood Conecuh is my best novel to date. I love the story, the depth of what is happening, and how the plot builds from a fairly innocent beginning to the full-blown reality of war and dangerous encounters with unscrupulous people. All for love.

Based on a significant amount of research, I believe Conecuh gives a very good reflection of what was happening at that time. For instance, many people do not realize you could buy freedom for a civil war prisoner of war. The higher the rank, the higher the price. As the war wore on, this practice became less common, particularly since southern POWs often returned to the front lines.

I must admit I fell in love with Conecuh’s storyline as it unfolded inside my head. But I am also thrilled with my latest science fiction novel, Infall. Perhaps it would be a toss-up between the two?

Historical fiction and science fiction? Yes. I write in the present, but I write about the past and the future. I find both fascinating.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us. It’s always nice to get a little deeper understanding of the book as well as the author. Best wishes on both Conecuh and Infall.

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