Today, we’re talking with Mike Weedall, about his book War Angel: Korea 1950.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I worked for thirty-plus years promoting energy efficiency. With the programs I managed and was involved in, the amount of electricity we reduced meant four power plants weren't built.
Why do you write?
Digging into the fascinating stories of individuals in history has been a passion of mine all my life. Getting the chance now to discover and write about courageous and fascinating people is a dream come true.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
I love to discover people who did amazing things, but never have gotten recognition. The women of the US Army who served in the Korean War did so when regulations prohibited men from serving in that function. Being right behind the frontline fighting and dealing with horrific combat wounds in selfless service is a story more people should know about.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
The stories never cease to amaze me. E-mail me, and I'll share a few that you'll shake your head at.
How would you describe your writing process?
It's hard. I usually have far too much material to make a book pace well. I hate to look at what I leave on the cutting room floor.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Sharing the stories other people would never have discovered on their own.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Hang in there. It's hard working alone, but when you get to reading how readers love what you've done, it's all worthwhile.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I work with a professional. I want to ensure that the prospective reader sees a vision of what is between the covers. For example, with my current book “War Angel: Korea 1950,” look at the conditions that nurse must put up with. And that's her downtime that might have followed ten-plus hours of surgeries.
What's your next step?
Check out the term “Maroons” in Wikipedia. The largest one in North America was in The Great Dismal Swamp. The story of the brave fugitive slaves who lived there is my next book.
What book do you wish you had written?
David McCullough's “Truman,” or any of McCullough's books. The way he gets inside the heads of his characters is fascinating.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
They have typically been good, so it's usually a positive for me. When I do see the occasional negative review, I have to resist wanting to explain to the reviewer what they missed. Instead, I have to take the negative and learn from it.
