John M. Cahill Interview Published on: 22, Jul 2025

Living in and around Albany, the capital of New York, one is constantly reminded of the Dutch colonization of the area in the 17th century. I became fascinated with the fact that these Dutch people left their homes to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and make new lives for themselves in the wilderness along the Hudson River. Since this is a pretty much forgotten piece of American history, I decided that I would bring it to people’s attention by writing an historical adventure based on their experiences.

Social marketing and public relations, particularly in the area of public health promotion, require that you grab and hold the attention of your audience. The same holds true for novel writing and storytelling.

As a youngster, I always enjoyed telling stories. Also, I was a voracious reader. So, the groundwork had already been prepared.

When I graduated from university, I had a degree in journalism and, like everyone, debts. But, since newspapers paid poorly, I applied for and got a job in Public Information for New York State. Then, for nearly 40 years, I wrote news releases, educational brochures, TV and radio public service ads, posters, movie and cartoon scripts, comics and even two computer games.

But, always, in the background, was a desire to put my overactive imagination to work on a novel. Alas, I did not have the opportunity to do so until I retired.

Initially, the process was slow and challenging. For 10 years, while I was still in the Albany area, I spent my days in local libraries reading everything I could get my hands on about colonial New York and the fur trade.

However, it was not until I moved to Vienna, Austria, that my break finally came. I was in the Austrian National Library when I found John Romeyn Brodhead’s Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York procured in Holland, England and France, published in 1855. Broadhead had discovered that the Dutch archives were rich in original documents about the early history of New York. With support from the New York State Legislature, Broadhead gathered and interpreted documents relating to the state’s colonial history from archives in England and France, as well as the Netherlands. I had finally found exactly the information I had been seeking!

For the European colonial powers, I always build my stories around the foundation of primary resources found in the Brodhead collections.

For the Iroquois, I move carefully. Very carefully. I knew that the natives had long been portrayed as savages by the whites. And, I knew how Native Americans were insulted by this portrayal. So, again, I went in search of objective information regarding the natives who would play roles in my writing. My search led me to Cadwallader Colden. He was Colonial Representative to the Iroquois Confederacy in the 1700s. In that position, he took considerable interest in the Iroquois and, in 1727, published the first volume of his History of the Five Nations. This was the first English-language history of Native American peoples. A second volume followed 20 years later. As a result, Colden became known as the foremost authority on the affairs of Native Americans.

I take the actual events and historical figures and place my fictional characters within the context of the actual events. I have them interact with the historical figures while doing interesting or exciting things on their own while preserving the historical facts.

A well-written historical novel helps people understand the past by putting them in the period, among people who lived at the time and by giving them the opportunity to experience life at the time.

Perhaps, the most interesting thing I learned was that the Iroquois were and are a matriarchal society. Not only do they trace lineage through the mothers, the women also make the important decisions that impact the clans, villages and nation. For example, when the sachems would meet with colonial officials, the clan mothers would sit behind them and advise them on how to respond to any propositions.

Another discovery was that the Dutch fur traders did NOT go out in the wilderness to trade for furs. Rather, they sat in Albany and waited for the natives to bring their furs to them!

I rely on the way that they are described by their peers within the primary resources.

I think that it is sad that upstate New York in the 17th and early 18th centuries has been totally overshadowed by Massachusetts and Virginia. It is sad because the Iroqouis, Dutch, and English established a mutually supportive relationship that kept the French pretty well controlled on the New York frontier.Thus, on the surface, it appears much quieter than it actually was.

Being able to select what I am writing about is probably most rewarding to me. I am just glad that, since I have a pension, I am not dependent upon my earnings as a published author!

The biggest challenge is translating 17th-century English into a language that my readers will understand, and doing so in a manner that does not lose the flavor of the language.

The history of the Mohawk Valley totally shapes the themes and messages in my writing.

While I am very busy promoting and advertising the 2nd edition of Book 1 of The Boschloper Saga, Primitive Passions, I am also waiting for my publisher, Editingle Indie House, to complete publishing the 2nd editions of Books 2 and 3, Savage Wilderness and The Trail of a Traitor. In addition, I have begun work on Book 4, tentatively entitled Beyond the Frontier.

For more information about my work, visit www.john-m-cahill.com

I am not particularly certain that there is a value in using social media for marketing or promotion. So far, I’ve seen a lot of “likes” and a mind-boggling amount of spam from “social marketing experts,” but not a lot of sales.

I have found AllAuthor to be creative and very helpful. I am very pleased with what AllAuthor has provided me.

I would be happy to recommend AllAuthor to my writing friends.