The Debt of Free Men follows a young Basque soldier through Napoleon’s final campaigns as romantic ideas about warfare give way to its physical reality. Why did you choose a young Basque seminarian as the character through whom readers experience these events?

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with Napoleon as a historical figure, so when I decided to write my own novel set during this era, weaving in my Basque heritage felt like a natural choice. The seminary aspect comes from a deeply personal place as well—it was directly inspired by stories my father told me about growing up in the Basque Country. Placing a seminarian on the front lines allowed me to explore a profound internal friction.

​What parts of Jean-Pierre’s identity remain intact despite everything he experiences during the campaigns, and how does his religious background influence the way he thinks about killing, duty, and responsibility?

Even when forced through the crucible of war, Jean-Pierre’s faith and his deep commitment to his loved ones and friends remain the bedrock of who he is. That isn’t to say his faith goes untested—he questions it repeatedly as he witnesses the horrors of war. Balancing the strict moral tenets against the violent demands of military duty creates a heavy psychological burden. Ultimately, it is his loyalty to the people he loves that acts as his anchor. While his religious framework forces him to wrestle with the gravity of killing and responsibility, his devotion to his brothers-in-arms and family gives him the strength to endure and, eventually, reconcile the choices he made.

​What interested you about contrasting an enormous historical victory with the personal costs experienced by the people who helped achieve it?

As a history enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to grand strategy, sweeping troop movements, and the high-level politics that shape empires. But as a former infantryman, my connection to history is rooted in the ground level. I know what it means to be the person living through the mud, noise, and confusion of the moment. History textbooks often celebrate victories in broad, triumphant strokes, but those grand outcomes are paid for in the daily sacrifices of individual soldiers. I wanted to tell the story from the dust-level perspective—where victory isn’t measured in lost territory or glory, but in the human cost borne by those who fought.

​When readers finish The Debt of Free Men, what do you hope stays with them about freedom, sacrifice, loyalty, and the ordinary people who carry the consequences of history?

While I certainly had my own intentions and emotional goals while writing, I believe that once a book is in a reader’s hands, the experience belongs to them. We all view things through the lens of our own lived experiences, values, and perspectives. Two people can read the exact same ending and walk away with entirely different emotional truths. My hope is simply that the story prompts readers to look past the grand monuments of history and reflect on the quiet, ordinary people who actually carried its weight—whatever that reflection ultimately means to each individual reader.

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