Could you tell us a little about where you grew up and what your childhood was like?
I was born and raised in the Borough of the Bronx, New York City. I was the youngest of three children. My father was a New York City police officer, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom for most of my growing-up years. She later became involved in local politics and started working as a clerk on the Board of Elections. Her interest, ability, and personality resulted in her eventually becoming a political co-leader of the district I grew up in. Our childhood was very normal. My older brother and sister looked after me. We were surrounded by aunts, uncles, and grandparents, as neighborhood living in those days was more connected and intimate than today.
What was the first story you ever wrote and did you ever publish it? If not, do you think you'll ever revisit the idea and try to mold it into something new?
The first story ever written was about the massive blackout in New York City in 1965. The story essentially was about how I discovered the dislocated feeder cable and put it back into its proper position, of course, restoring power. It was never published. No, I doubt that such a display of narcissism will ever again rear its head.
Who or what first got you interested in the history genre?
My interest in history was cultivated through teachers in both grammar and high school.
When did you start writing the book, Hughes?
The first Hughes book, Bishop John J. Hughes, His Church and the Coming of Age of New York's Catholic Irish, started as a research paper when I was in graduate school. the second Hughes book was an augmentation of the first, in addition to introducing new sections and material not used in the original publication.
If you could describe your book "Essays in American History" in three words, what would they be? How did you first get the idea for this book?
"You Must Question." Those would be the three words. I say that because historical interpretation can be very lopsided and one-dimensional. The essays in the book are expanded versions of papers I wrote as a graduate student for different coursework toward my degree.
Who is one of your favorite characters you've ever written and why?
My favorite character would be John Hughes. He was imbued with a fighting spirit, and a deep sense of justice, loyalty, and compassion. He was also a very flawed individual, capable of pettiness, suspicion, overbearing dominance, and unyielding combativeness. In this respect, he was every man, the quintessential human being. He was all of us at our very best and worst.
Which is your favorite poem in the collection titled "The Fading Light"?
My favorite poem is "Nantucket Waters." For me, it calls to mind hours of intense enjoyment and peace both with my family and on my own while vacationing on Cape Cod.
How do you decide the names, appearances, characteristics, etc, of your characters?
As a writer of history, the names, places, and people I typically write about have already been created for me. My job as a writer of history is to attempt to craft a narrative that illuminates or edifies my readers about the who, what, and why.
How often do you write in a week? Do you try to write a certain goal number of words or chapters a day or do you just go with the flow?
I don't have a set number of times during a given week that I write, however, when I do write it follows the same pattern, namely, spending a set amount of time, and setting goals to accomplish specific tasks like substituting various words and phrasing to enhance the clarity of thought. I do not encumber myself by saying I will complete a certain number of pages or paragraphs in a particular period. Writing can be an excruciatingly slow and tedious process. It could take hours to rework a paragraph or two to communicate what you're really trying to say.
What does literary success look like to you? Do you think you have achieved it after being an Amazon bestselling author?
As I have not yet achieved the status of an Amazon bestselling author, let's say my goal is to ultimately see my work put me exactly in that position.
Writing and finishing a series can take an immense amount of discipline. How do you keep yourself motivated and keep the dreaded writer's block from attacking?
What has always motivated me was seeing in my mind's eye the finished, published book. Writer's block is real, and I have experienced my share, even to the point of discontinuing work for weeks, even a few months. In the end, I suppose it has always been the knowledge of having produced a completed work, and the pride of ownership that comes with it that kept me focused and in the game.
Have you ever written a character that you hate?
Yes. Writing about myself, while I don't hate doing it, is the least desirable and preferential type of writing I have ever done.
Do you think someone can be an author without having discipline? Why or why not?
You must have a goodly amount of discipline to write. In my particular case, it is not just the writing, but the needed attentiveness to research, documenting, and notating. In the area of historical writing, there is a set of mechanics that are de riguer, and to wade through them requires steadfast adherence.
Which is your next book to be published? Tell us what it is about.
At the moment, I am contemplating a book about the cousins John and Sam Adams, and their mutual contribution to American Independence. It is just an idea for now. My most recent book, The Lost Legacy of American President was just released on December 18th, 2022. I am hoping that Allauthor will facilitate its chances for success.
What is your takeaway based on your experiences with AllAuthor? What is it about this site that you like and dislike?
All author has afforded me a first-ever portal to both authors as well as a wider readership. l feel it is too early to intelligently evaluate the program, however, I sense that things are starting to improve with respect to exposure, and I believe over the next 6-12 months, I will be better able to determine how effective it has been.
