Joan Hochstetler interview

Joan Hochstetler is the author of Daughter of Liberty, Book 1 of The American Patriot Series.

Published by: Sheaf House Publishers

Date: April 1, 2012

Joan is also the author of 3 other books, Native Son and Wind of the Spirit, books 2 and 3 of the American Patriot Series, and a contemporary novel, One Holy Night. Her website is http://www.jmhochstetler.com or www.theamericanpatriotseries.com


Joan, what got you interested in the colonial time period?

I was raised a Mennonite, and the history of the Hochstetlers is well known in the Amish and Mennonite community. You’ll find our family’s story on the Hochstetler History page on my author website. In 1757 my ancestors were caught up in one of the last Indian attacks on the border settlements in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. So that first drew my attention to the colonial era.

What really got me started writing about it however, was The Scarlet Pimpernel, a fabulous TV movie from 1982 starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. It was set during the French Revolution, and I absolutely adored it. ADORED it! I knew immediately that I HAD to write my own version of the story. Alas, I wasn’t in the least interested in the French Revolution, plus there was no reason to duplicate that setting. Luckily we had our own Revolution, and my hero turned out to be a girl. And so it began . . .

What inspired your latest colonial work?

My latest book, Crucible of War, Book 4 of the series, releases in September 2012, after the re-release of Daughter of Liberty and Native Son in the new Heritage Edition. In the course of researching the first volumes, I uncovered so much fascinating material that it quickly became apparent it would be impossible to do justice to our nation’s founding in only 2 or 3 volumes. Wind of the Spirit ends right before the crucial battles of Trenton and Princeton, which left that story yet to be told. And much, much more. That keeps me going. Every time I start to think I have to give up this crazy obsession, I look ahead to all the pivotal events still coming up, and I’m re-inspired. People today know so little about what our founding generation suffered and sacrificed, and I refuse to allow that legacy ever to be forgotten.



Do you have a favorite colonial place you like to visit and why?

Oh, Colonial Williamsburg, without a doubt. I’ve only visited there once in the flesh—someday I’m going to go back for sure—but I’ve been on their website many times. Living history just doesn’t get any better. The interpretation of the colonial and Revolutionary periods of this country is impressive. Every citizen of this country ought to take a pilgrimage there at least once in their lifetime.





If you care to say, you can tell readers where you live and what colonial places you have in your state or your home state if different.

I’ve lived in the Nashville, Tennessee, area for many years, and one of my favorite colonial/early American sites to visit is Rock Castle on the east side in Hendersonville. The home was built by Daniel Smith, a surveyor, captain in the Revolutionary War, United States Senator, and Indian treaty negotiator, among other accomplishments.

Joan also has a favorite colonial recipe she enjoys and would like to share with readers. It's called Iroquois Soup and you can find it Sunday, May 20, on CQ.

Thank you for being our guest today on Colonial Quills, Joan.
Thank you for having me! And, I’ll be giving away a copy of the new Heritage Edition of both Daughter of Liberty and Native Son.

Be sure to leave a comment to be included in a drawing for giveaways of Joan's books! They're available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com.