Good morning, everyone!
As October draws to a close, I hope that all of you had a nice start to the fall season. And hopefully, November will be even better.
This week, I have an interview to share with author Dale Hall, whose published novels include My Appalachian Trail and Compelled: From the Yazoo Pumps to Polar Bears and Back, The Evolution of Natural Resource Conservation and Law.
Now, without further ado, please enjoy the following Q&A with Dale Hall!
BOOKMARKED: What inspired you to become an author?
DALE HALL: When I was a young man, I asked my mother's parents, both born in 1898, "What was life like when you were growing up? Telephones and cars had just been invented, and you were in Appalachia where little in the form of modern conveniences existed. What was it like?"
Their answer was a bit frustrating: "Oh honey, we just got by." While I fully accept that my parents' generation was "the greatest generation" and would never want to encourage anyone to believe otherwise, I began to see significant changes in the world as a young boy. New highways were being built, discoveries in the human genome were changing the way we looked at medicine and health, we were putting men in space, and society was beginning to understand that the color of one's skin provided no information about their character or abilities.
I wanted my children to have a better answer than, "Oh honey, we just got by," so I began collecting articles about science, government, and the advances we were making. As I entered my career in fish and wildlife conservation, I kept duplicate articles, memos, court decisions, etc., regarding the changes taking place in natural resource conservation and the laws that governed their management. When I retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then Ducks Unlimited, I began going through the 40 boxes of material I had accumulated and knew I needed to share that history with any who might be interested. I first wrote Compelled about the evolution of conservation, and then My Appalachian Trail to honor the people of eastern Kentucky and Appalachia for their rich culture and history.
What would you like potential new readers to know about your book, Compelled?
I hope the readers of Compelled learn, as I did through the different conservation and environmental challenges, that the fish, wildlife, water, and air in our great nation belong to the people, and that it is only by respecting and listening to each other that solutions are found. My time in government taught me that any decision rendered by the government has a profound impact on the people, positive or negative, and that the responsibility of government is to carry out the laws following what Congress has directed, but implementing those directives with wisdom.
Policy should be done by listening to all points of view, gathering as much information as possible and then seeking solutions that will be fair to all. As I went through my career, I discovered that when the outcomes of controversial environmental challenges resulted in one side "winning" and another side "losing," then the issues would simply resurface again when shifts in power occurred. However, when compromises resulted in solutions that both sides "could live with," those decisions had long lives. I am hopeful that the power of listening and seeking solutions is seen as a recurring theme of the book.
How would you describe your novel, My Appalachian Trail, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
My Appalachian Trail is the story of a young boy from Harlan County, Kentucky, and the wonderful culture of love, respect, and hard work that is the foundation of hill country communities. When I read Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance, I was touched by the story of love that truly described my little community but was also saddened that the story seemed to focus on the negatives of drug abuse and hardship. My experience growing up in a home with a totally disabled WWII veteran and a short order cook/maid left me having no idea I was poor by economic standards, because I knew our family was wealthy in terms of love, faith, and the things that really matter in life.
I hope readers see the "never give up" attitude that permeates Appalachia and the determination of a people that have always looked to the gifts from their Creator to carve a path forward. Living off the fish, forests, and wildlife. Working the fields and mines. Loving deeply and being there for their neighbor. And always a foundation of deep faith. I hope readers see the evolution of that young boy from believing he was alone in the world to knowing that the unseen hand was constantly guiding him on the path that would have him find his intended purpose, and that the setbacks were merely course corrections to remind him that a higher power was in charge.
What's something you wish more people knew about wildlife and natural resource conservation?
One of my greatest wishes is for the readers of Compelled and My Appalachian Trail to understand the uniqueness of the United States of America, where all natural resources belong to we the people and not a king or government. The fish, wildlife, water, and air are held in trust for the people by the governments, both federal and state, but the citizen's right to use those resources was recognized in the Declaration of Independence to have been given by our Creator as a substantial part of the pursuit of life and happiness.
The hunters and anglers of America began taking responsibility for ensuring the health and continuance of the fish and wildlife resources in the late 1800s with the abolishment of commercial hunting. They stepped up and asked, during the Great Depression, to be taxed and have those tax monies go to support fish and wildlife. From there, hunters and anglers have pushed to see that "fair chase" is the standard and that no one should take more than their "fair share." This great scheme of wildlife management is known as the North American Model of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and is the envy of the world. This is our legacy, and also our responsibility to ensure its continuance.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors hoping to get their manuscripts published?
My best advice to aspiring authors is to contact Jan-Carol Publishing! It can be frustrating and often difficult to get published in today's environment, but I found Janie Jessee at Jan-Carol to be a great listener, have a passion to publish good books, and a dedication to Appalachia. My main recommendation is to not give up. You have poured your heart and soul into your story, and it deserves to be read!
Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans and supporters of your books?
To those who have read my books and given me your wonderful support, I can only say THANK YOU! Every author downloads a piece of her/his soul into the story they weave. The ultimate hope is that their story touches someone and helps them along the way. That is certainly my wish, and for all your support, I am eternally grateful. Thank you!
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Thanks again to Dale for a wonderful interview and for participating in both JCP's blog and podcast this week! On Friday, you'll be able to hear Dale's podcast interview, and it's one you won't want to miss.
To our blog readers, thank you for continuously supporting Bookmarked, and don't forget to pick up a book!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Bookmarked
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