Author Interview: Jeff Hein / The Cimbri Appear
JMR-Welcome to the
Books Delight, Jeff. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun and
what does the perfect day look like?
JH- I live in Medford,
Wisconsin. I grew up a couple hours north of here and after my service in the
military I am so happy to be back home where we can enjoy all the beautiful
seasons, the fishing and outdoor activities, and our wonderful neighbors and
friends. I love to read and research but my best relaxing time is when I get a
chance to go fishing or just boating on our pontoon with my wife, especially
when we can get the kids and grandkids along. My perfect day is waking up just
after dawn on a cool autumn morning, on the flowage where my wife and I go
camping. The forest is waking up and the smell of woodsmoke drifts by as we
prepare to cook breakfast on an open fire. Then a little trip on the pontoon
for some fishing and a mid-day shore lunch, then sitting around the campfire
after dinner, talking and watching the sunset while enjoying s’mores.
JMR-What’s your
favorite historical time period? Why?
JH- Iron Age Europe. I
am fascinated by the cultures that existed throughout Europe prior to the
influence of Rome. I think many people tend to assume that before the influence
of what is normally referred to as civilization arrived, there was no culture,
science, technology or sophisticated knowledge. Though detailed written
histories of these cultures have not survived, there are many bits and pieces
scattered about thanks to the ancient Greek and Roman historians. In recent
centuries, archeologists have pieced together a pretty accurate picture of
these cultures. These clues are what I have used to frame the story of “The
Cimbri Appear”.
JMR-Who is your
favorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what would
it be?
JH- Well of course that
would have to be my main character Borr, who will grow into the Cimbri tribal
king Boiorix. He was a real person who severely defeated Rome in several major
engagements. But because we don’t know much about him except his name, most of
what I wrote about him is fiction. So, I’m going to pick another important
character in my book, Gaius Marius, the Roman general and consul who eventually
defeated the Cimbri. Marius is a fascinating character who I believe has been
under-represented in literature. He totally revamped the Roman Army to meet the
changing threats facing Rome at the time and was proven correct when he wiped
out the Germans that had ridden roughshod over Gaul for more than a decade and
annihilated three Roman armies. His changes led to the legions being more loyal
to their commanders than to the senate, and significantly contributed to the
civil wars that followed, ripping Rome apart from the inside. Marius is often
credited with laying the groundwork for the end of the republic and the
beginning of the empire. His nephew, Julius Caesar, captures most of the
attention in popular literature, but Marius deserves a significant place in
history.
JMR- How did you come
to be a writer of historical fiction?
JH- I have always loved
to read about ancient history and devoured whatever books and films I could
find. I was stationed in the Army in Germany in the 1990s and came across the
story of the Cimbri. I was fascinated and sought more and more information
about this compelling story of an entire nation that wandered throughout Europe
for two decades, nearly bringing Rome to its knees on more than one occasion,
yet always turning away. The reason they began their journey, what happened
along their journey, and why they always chose to turn away when they had Rome
against the ropes are answers that have never been answered completely and I
have tried to use the actual historical facts to create a framework within
which I created a fictional story that filled in the blanks.
JMR- You spent a lot of
time in the military and moved around the world. What influence did this have
on your writing?
JH- My family is German
by descent, and I had always had an interest in ancient German and European
history. While I was stationed in Germany, I took the opportunity to travel a
little bit and use local resources. That’s when I came across the Cimbri’s
story. To the best of my recollection, I didn’t decide to write a book until
many years later, but the seeds of the story were sowed during this time.
JMR- Did you visit
anyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to your
characters?
JH- I was able to visit
Denmark, their ancestral home, and traveled throughout Germany, along the Elbe
and the Rhine rivers and into the Alps and visited historical sights and
battlefields. I was also deployed twice from Germany to Bosnia where I traveled
along the Danube through Austria, Croatia, and Hungary, all locations in the
story. I was able to walk on the same ground of many of the scenes in my book
and cross the same formidable mountains and rivers that they would have had to
cross on their journey, imagining what it would have been like to walk over
these great obstacles and distances in a time before roads, bridges, and
vehicles. At the time it was simply a preoccupation with a fascinating story.
But when you walk the same ground that people of the past have tread, you begin
to feel the ghosts. It brought the story into reality for me, and I began to
develop the story in my mind.
JMR- Jeff, tell us
about your new book, The Cimbri Appear.
JH- It tells the story of the Cimbri, a Germanic
tribe living in today’s Denmark. When a jealous god sends a final cataclysmic
tidal wave that destroys their homeland they are faced with a momentous
decision.
The Cimbri nation
embarks on an unprecedented migration that will take them on a twenty-year
quest for a new homeland.
Borr, the son of the
Cimbri chieftain Haistulf, grows from a sickly young man into a warrior and
leader of renown, and during this time of peace he marries his childhood love
and is blessed with a son.
When a devastating
plague takes his parents and many of his tribe, Borr is thrust into the
leadership of his clan, something he does not know if he is ready for.
Guided by a mysterious
prophecy and responding to a sign from Donar, the Germanic thunder god, the
Cimbri select Borr as the chieftain of the entire Cimbri nation. Despite his
reservations, Borr promises himself that he will never again let his people
suffer. But their rampage in Noricum has attracted the attention of the Roman
republic.
It’s available on Amazon,
Barnes and Noble and Target.com
JMR-What projects do
you have in the pipeline?
JH- The Cimbri Appear
is the first in a series of four or five novels. I am currently working on book
two, Rise of the Red Wolf. At the end of the first book, the Cimbri hand the
Romans a devastating defeat at the battle of Noreia. In book two, Rome is
anticipating the Cimbri will attack, but they unexpectedly turn away from Italy
and cross the Alps, rampaging throughout Gaul for four years until once again
they come into conflict with a Roman army.
JMR- Tell our readers
how to find you on social media and the web.
JH-
www.facebook.com/JeffHeinAuthor
JMR- What question were
you hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
JH- Several of my
favorite authors: Bernard Cornwell: The Last Kingdom series; Conn Iggulden: the
Genghis and Emperor series; Steven Pressfield: Gates of Fire; and Steven Saylor:
Roma. Readers of these authors will enjoy The Cimbri Appear.
JMR- Thank you, Jeff for
stopping by The Book’s Delight, it’s been lovely chatting with you and getting
to know more about you and your writing. Readers, I know you’ll want to check
out Jeff’s books, so I’ve included an Amazon link below.
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