James W. Nelson: Author Extraordinaire and Hubpages Member, An Interview

Introduction

James W. Nelson is a dynamic writer who has several books published to his name. He is fondly known as Subron7 to his Hubpages friends. James writes on Hubpages about opinion pieces that are of grave importance to society, poetry, short stories and excepts form his novels.

James knows how to wield a story, if you don’t believe me take a look at excerpts from his latest book.

Capital Punishment: One Theory

Capital Punishment: One Theory Part 2

Capital Punishment: One Theory Part 3

Capital Punishment (1 theory) the novel

Official title: “The Light at the End of the Tunnel”

James W. Nelson was born in a little farmhouse on the prairie in eastern North Dakota in 1944. Some doctors made house calls back in those days. He remembers kerosene lamps, bathing in a large galvanized tub, and their phone number was a long ring followed by four short ones, and everybody else in the neighborhood could rubberneck. (Imagine that today!)

James has been telling stories most of his life. Some of his first memories happened during recess in a one-room country schoolhouse near Walcott, ND. His little friends, eyes wide, would gather round and listen to his every hastily-imagined word. It was a beginning. Fascinated by the world beginning to open, he remembers listening to the teacher read to all twelve kids in the eight grades.

He was living in that same house on the land originally homesteaded by his great grandfather, when a savage tornado hit in 1955 and destroyed everything. They rebuilt and his family remained until the early nineteen-seventies when diversified farming began changing to industrial agribusiness (not necessarily a “good” thing.) He spent four years in the US Navy, worked many jobs and finally has settled on a few acres exactly two and one half miles straight west of the original farmstead, ironically likely the very spot where the 1955 tornado first struck, which sometimes gives him a spooky feeling.

I have had the privilege of being friends with James since I joined Hubpages a year ago. He is very insightful and offers great feedback. He has become a mentor to me and I can always count on him for honesty.

A few months ago James published a book by the name of daughters which tells a story of a girl who got caught up in the sex trade and trafficking. The story is very touching as it delves deep into the world of the trafficking trade.

Now James has a new book published which is available on Amazon.com. The story is about a psychopath that was executed by the state, but unknown to everyone but the chaplain, was reincarnated into a newborn child who wrestles with his true self.

The book goes on to explain who Les Paul was in his original life and what turned him into who he has become. Readers are taken on an adventure as the Chaplain and his wife seek to find the child before he starts to wreak havoc on society.

The plot develops as they discover that the child has the mind of a mature killer and they cannot underestimate him. The couple retreats and has to undergo intense guerrilla training in order to find the boy.

We await the end of the story.

Q: Tell us, who is James? In a sentence or two.

A: A really good question, Carolee, and I don’t have a good answer, except that I live, I love, and I’m just trying to do the best that I can.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

A: I never really made a decision like that. Before the navy I remember loving school and learning, especially English class, where Mrs. Lahren introduced me to reading fiction. During the navy I started keeping a very sparse diary. Later, during my mid-twenties I finally began writing “thoughts,” not much. About age 28 I started writing my first, favorite, and longest novel “The Bellwether.” So, I guess I made that decision about age 28.

Q: What motivates you? Do you have a muse?

A: First I have to look in the dictionary to see what a “muse” actually is. Yes, I use the dictionary and thesaurus a lot. One meaning of muse is to ponder. I don’t ponder. If I have a problem either working or writing, I don’t really think about it. Seems like it’s something I just can’t do. I have to return to the construction project or the laptop and just start again, and then solutions begin coming. My best time to ponder is when I’m driving, but, again, I’m not actively thinking, but things, ideas, solutions, will just come in a flash, and I always have a pen and something to write on…”almost” always.

Q: How many books have you written?

A: Just finished #10, all fiction but one, my memoirs “Dying to Live.” #11 (a second nonfiction) is already begun but waits till I have time to tackle it. Plus I have paragraphs of ideas, but not enough time in my life to do them all.

Q: How many have you had published? I ask that because many writers have written lots of books but only publish those they like the most. Many authors are surprised at how much other people like what they thought wouldn’t sell.

A: I have had 10 books published. For thirty years I sent material to magazines and publishers. My wallpaper is made from rejection slips, some I waited to see for six months. The bona fide publishing world rejected me. The reading public has not.

Q: Tell us about your first book The Bellwether

A: Thanks for asking, Carolee, as that is my favourite:

Read about the Bellwether to the right (highlighted in blue) ↑

Q: What are some of the greatest challenges you have faced as a writer?

A: The one great challenge has been ignoring the rejection slips and keeping believing in myself.

Q: Would you consider yourself a full time writer?

A: Yes. Besides writing, I’m doing research on the internet, still learning how to operate my laptop (and the internet) and promoting my books. Yes, it’s a full-time job.

Q: When you are not writing what do you do?

A: I’m semi-retired, still building my house, and I love gardening and watching wildlife. Plus I do have quite a large family. Way too many to mention here.

Q: Is there another story up your sleeve?

A: Yes. I have never experienced writer’s block.

Q: What advice would you give to HP aspiring authors?

A: First, you must believe in yourself. Never stop learning your trade (including basic and advanced grammar and spelling) and never be afraid to ask questions of people more experienced than you.

Q: Leave us with your favorite quote.

A: I have written one quote, so I will use that:

“I have loved; I have been loved; should I never love again I am fortunate”.