An Interview With Ohio Author and Historian, Kathryn Haueisen

 

An Interview With Ohio Author and Historian, Kathryn Haueisen

 

It is a rare gift to be able to weave the threads of history into engaging narratives that resonate with readers across generations. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with an extraordinary author whose talent for bringing the past to life has captivated many. Kathryn Haueisen specializes in historical fiction, with a unique focus on the courageous journey of her ancestors who sailed on the Mayflower. Through her meticulously researched and richly detailed novels, she transports readers to a time of discovery, hardship, and hope.

 

In this interview, Kathryn shares her inspiration behind diving into her family's history, her writing process, and the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with storytelling. Join me as I explore the fascinating world of a writer who not only honors her lineage but also brings untold stories of the past to the present, offering a fresh perspective on the enduring human spirit that shaped the early days of America.

 

Welcome, Kathryn!

 

GM: Can you share the initial spark that ignited your journey into writing?
KH: My writing journey started on a porch swing. I was the only girl on my short street and isolated from others my age. I spent a lot of time reading on a swing on our front porch. I was greatly inspired by what I read and realized in my early teens I wanted to write as well as they did. Plus, my best grades were always in classes where I could write essays.

 

GM: What is your favorite part of the writing process and why?
KH: I have two favorite parts of writing. I equally enjoy researching new information and then writing about what I discover. Nearly anything sparks an idea for an article or addition to a book in progress. This is how I experience life and process what I experience.

 

GM: How do you handle writer's block?

KH: When I have writer’s block or dry spells, I grab the leash and take the dog for a walk. Being outside always sooths any anxiety or boredom I may experience. I also read until something I’ve read sparks an idea I’d like to write about.

 

GM: Could you shed light on your research methods for your books?
KH: My research methods for books varies a great deal. I read a wide range of essays, articles, and books with differing perspectives. I do in-person interviews, when possible, phone or zoom interviews when that is not feasible. I rely a lot on help from libraries and librarians. I visit museums and their websites.

 

GM: How do your personal experiences influence your storytelling?
KH: My storytelling has been influenced by places I’ve lived and visited. I have been fortunate to live and travel in a variety of places. In each one I learn a little bit more of the rich diversity of foods, traditions, slang, and dialects. I draw on all of these when I’m creating a character or describing a setting.

 

GM: What themes or messages do you most aspire to convey in your work?
KH: The central message I try to deliver through whatever I write is that we all belong to one human race and live in one global village. My overall theme is that good people are doing great things in our global village every day.

 

GM: Who are some authors or works that have significantly inspired you?
KH: One author who greatly influenced me both with her writing and her life was Pearl S. Buck. Other authors who’ve inspired and influenced me are C. S. Lewis, Martin Luther, John Grisham, Danielle Steele, David Baldacci, and Mary Higgins Clark.

 

GM: Can you discuss any challenges you’ve faced in the publishing industry?
KH: The challenge in the publishing industry that continues to confound and constrain me is the rapidly changing nature of the publishing world. I no sooner think I understand and can master the latest thing when I discover that it is already out of date and the industry is on to something else.

 

GM: How do you develop your characters to ensure they resonate with readers?
KH: When I’m developing a character, I am getting to know this character the same way I would any stranger I meet that I’d like to get to know better. I don’t actually have the reader in mind. I’m picturing the character and carrying on an imaginary conversation with him or her. They introduce themselves to me and I write what I learn from and about them. Every character I write about consists of bits and pieces from real people I’ve known.

 

GM: What do you hope readers take away after finishing one of your books?

KH: I hope readers of my books come away with a sense of hope and purpose, reminded that most people are basically very decent and most of us do want to be friends and help one another out through the assorted challenges we will encounter on this journey called life.

GM: What advice would you give aspiring authors trying to break into the industry?

KH: The advice I give aspiring writers is three-fold. 1) Don’t go it alone. Make friends with authors, editors, publishers, librarians, and others who know things about both the craft and business of writing. 2) Be a life-longer learner through conferences, classes, webinars, books, and articles about the craft of writing, publishing, and marketing. 3) Be kind to yourself. Rejection and discouragement are part of the process.

GM: What are you currently reading?

 KH: I just finished reading “The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson. Before diving into another book, I’m reading short essays in the “Just Say Yes” edition of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

 

From the Author:

I’ve long preferred to learn my history through a combination of narrative non-fiction and well researched historical fiction. I draw inspiration from learning more about the challenges and circumstances of those who came before us. It is part of the logic behind naming my website “How Wise Then.” Our ancestors have valuable information that can inspire and inform the choices we face today. I have chosen to focus on the stories behind the Mayflower voyage as at least two of the passengers on that ship are part of my personal biography. Additionally, three of my grandchildren have that heritage plus Native American heritage through their father’s family. His family has introduced me to a part of American history I never learned in school. The more I learned about the first peoples to dwell in this remarkable continent, the more I was drawn toward seeing history through their perspectives, in addition to the version I’ve learned from my English ancestors and traditional American history classes. I wanted the people who encountered one another on this land four centuries ago to communicate with one another, That compelled me to write two historical novel versions of what I imagine their lives must been like. My research took me to New England, England, and the Netherlands. I interviewed Native Americans as well as established English genealogists and historians to tell compelling stories that I hope readers will enjoy as much as I enjoyed doing the research.

 

About the Author:

Kathryn Haueisen launched a freelance writing career after graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in journalism and before becoming a Lutheran pastor. She has invested her retirement years researching and writing about historical events that continue to impact us today. Thus far she’s published two historical fictions, based on real events, real people, and realistic conversations. Mayflower Chronicles: The Tale of Two Cultures and Mary Brewster’s Love Life: Matriarch of the Mayflower are available wherever books are sold. She also writes articles and short stories that focus on good people doing great things for our global village. She frequently speaks to groups large and small about places she traveled and things she learned while doing the research.

 

Connect with Kathryn…

Kathryn M. Haueisen, Freelance Author, Pastor, Speaker

Website: HowWiseThen 
Facebook: AuthorKHaueisen  
Instagram: kathrynhaueisen8
LinkedIn: AuthorKHaueisen
Mayflower Chronicles: The Tale of Two Cultures
and Mary Brewster’s Love Life
Now available wherever books are sold, including:
Bookshop.org
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Blue Willow Bookshop
Gramercy Books Bexley