Historical Fiction Author Keith Smith: “Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help.”
We periodically feature guest input from impactful authors we’ve worked with. Please enjoy this Q&A about the writing process with Keith Smith, author of An American Patriot: A Revolutionary War Soldier’s Fight for Liberty and Love.
SPIRITUS BOOKS: Tell us a little about your book and why you wrote it.
KEITH SMITH: My journey started out with a completely different goal: to join Sons of the American Revolution. While researching to prove direct descent from my fifth great-grandfather, I uncovered an incredible story. It’s the story of an ordinary man who answered an extraordinary call—one of service and sacrifice that helped bring forth a new nation. With this year being the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there was no better time to tell Thomas’ story.
How has writing a book helped you personally or professionally?
Writing a book was something I had always wanted to do, but I thought it was beyond my abilities. I knew there was no way I could do this by myself. I was not afraid to ask for help. By doing so, I have done something I am very proud of. I am considering writing another. I have several more fascinating stories in my family tree.
What was the best or easiest part of the process for you?
My favorite part of the process was the collaboration with Scott. I feel we had a connection from the beginning. I would start a thought, and he would be able to finish it with exactly what I was wanting—or something better. I would tell him of an idea I was having, and he would bring it to life.
What did you find the most challenging?
At the very beginning of the process, I overwhelmed myself by thinking there was no way I could ever write a book. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I had no idea what it took to write a book. But Scott took care of that and had the whole process mapped out. That put me at ease and made me think that I could do this.
What surprised you, or what do you wish you had known ahead of time or done differently?
What surprised me the most was how little I actually knew about the Revolutionary War. Really, all I knew is what I had learned in school, probably in fourth-grade American History. The battle of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s ride. The British surrender at Yorktown, and of course Valley Forge. I had no idea of the winter in Morristown. I had never heard of the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, or the Siege of Charleston.
What advice would you give to first-time authors?
Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Seek out people who know what they are doing. For first-time authors, don’t try to save a little money and do things yourself, especially when you don’t know what you are doing; your book will look like you don’t know what you are doing.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
My book was born out of my goal to join the Sons of the American Revolution. What began as research to prove my direct descent soon uncovered an incredible story—seven years of faithful service and sacrifice by my fifth great-grandfather, Thomas Elwell, during the American Revolution. As I traced the records of his enlistment, battles, imprisonment, and perseverance, I discovered far more than lineage; I found the story of an ordinary man who gave extraordinary devotion to the cause of freedom and liberty, helping secure the future of a new nation.
Keith Smith is a devoted student of history whose passion for genealogy shapes how he understands the past and himself. He looks beyond names and dates to uncover the lives, struggles, and choices of his ancestors. Committed to accuracy, he preserves their stories with integrity. With a special interest in the colonial era, the American Revolution, and military history, Keith honors those who came before him through dedicated research and writing.
Connect with Keith on Facebook.
