Blog Archives
A Dream From Years Before
The Hunt for The Peggy C follows a merchant ship captain who agrees to help a Jewish family escape Amsterdam during WWII. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Strangely, the inspiration for the novel was a dream from years before. When my daughter Allison was young, we watched a terrible action-adventure film together — I don’t remember which one — and I kept telling myself I could write a better screenplay. That night I had a dream, and when I woke up, I knew the first and last scenes and the name of the ship. That was all.
So, like Michelangelo used to say, I knew there was a figure in that block of stone — in my case, a story — and all I had to do was spend years trying to chisel it free. The “Hunt for the Peggy C” screenplay and other scripts and TV pilots I wrote attracted some interest in Hollywood but no sales. So, when Covid hit, and my wife Margo and I were stuck at home, I decided it was time to live up to the dream that had been the reason I had become a journalist: to learn how to write so I could become a novelist.
Miriam is a woman with strength. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Miriam, the oldest daughter of the Jewish family being rescued, was a medical student until the Nazi-occupiers kicked all Jews out of universities. She is a bookworm–like our hero and her love interest, Captain Jake Rogers–as well as a healer who is frustrated by men’s cowardice. She is the moral backbone of the story and the one who has to courageously save Jake and the others
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There is a fine line between honor and immorality. Does doing your duty and fighting for your country mean there is no limit to the atrocities you can commit? Does not doing your duty and defending your country mean you are a coward? And what are you if you refuse to make a choice and remain indifferent? The bottom line is that it takes real courage to do the right thing.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I stunned myself when I immediately started writing a sequel after selling The Hunt for the Peggy C to Bancroft Press. I was even more stunned when I finished what I’ve titled “Captain Rogers’ Long Watch,” which will be published by Bancroft Press in October 2024. I am now working on the third volume with many of the same characters in different phases of World War II.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
The normally aloof Rogers finds himself drawn in by the family’s warmth and faith, but he can’t afford to let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C., Rogers finds himself pushed to the limits of his ingenuity as he evades Brauer’s relentless stalking, faces a mutiny among his own crew, and grapples with his newfound feelings for Miriam, the young Jewish woman whom, along with her family, he must transport to safety.
When Rogers is seriously wounded, Miriam must prove she is as tough as her rhetoric to save everyone as the U-boat closes in for the kill. THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C is a masterpiece laced with nail-biting tension and unexpectedly heartwarming moments that any reader, not just fans of naval fiction, will enjoy.
The Hunt for the Peggy C
The Hunt for The Peggy C, authored by John Winn Miller, is an engrossing narrative set against the dramatic backdrop of 1940s Europe amidst the tumult of World War II. This adventurous story acquaints us with the central character, Captain Jake Rogers, the courageous commander of a merchant ship, The Peggy C.
At the outset, one might anticipate a simple wartime tale charting the trials and tribulations of a merchant’s life. However, Miller ingeniously transcends this expectation, offering a richer and more intricate narrative. Captain Rogers finds himself entrusted with a mission transcending his standard maritime trade – safely transporting precious human cargo. He embarks on a perilous journey to help a Jewish family escape from Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, a mission that thrusts his ship and crew into an unceasing whirlpool of danger.
This narrative uniquely distinguishes itself from the many wartime stories that focus primarily on the experiences of combatants or civilian victims. Instead, it provides a fresh perspective, unraveling the war through the eyes of an unconventional protagonist – a merchant mariner.
While the narrative pulsates with action and suspense, Miller expertly weaves in moments of respite, allowing readers a deeper understanding of the characters. These contemplative intervals amplify the emotional resonance of the plot, providing insightful character development and building suspense before plunging back into action. Despite its fictional status, The Hunt for The Peggy C serves as a window into a segment of wartime history, bringing to life the atmosphere and challenges of the period.
Miller’s storytelling brilliance is especially evident in his ability to sustain intrigue, ensuring readers eagerly anticipate every subsequent chapter. This gripping novel is a must-read for those drawn to historical narratives and those who revel in the thrill of fast-paced, action-filled tales. So dive into The Hunt for The Peggy C and be prepared for an enthralling literary voyage that explores uncharted territories of the human spirit during war.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0BHLDBP5X
LITERARY TITAN 