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Effects of Combat
P is for Pickelhaube follows a man fighting internal battles with love, hatred, addiction, and abuse who also has to deal with the physical battles of the war. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the theme of my story came from a mixture of sources. As a lifelong student of history, I have studied countless accounts of combat ranging through the ages, and have always been keen to learn the effects of combat on the individuals directly and indirectly involved. I also was a living historian for a decade, and in my journeys met many individuals who had actually served in the military and had experienced extensive combat. Learning their personal accounts helped shape my understanding of combat in ways not available in textbooks. And finally, having experienced trauma in my childhood and knowing the ways in which these experiences have manifested in the decades that followed, I was curious to explore the combination of the different types of traumas and their effects on my set of characters.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
I believe I achieved the thematic goals that I set forth when beginning my novel, and have left some further development of the characters that I wish to use in future writings.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was important for me to explore the pain that one suffers mentally when experiencing traumatic events, especially pain and anguish that an individual has buried in their own psyche as a defensive measure.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The follow-up to my novel, P is for Pickelhaube, is titled S is for Stahlhelm, and will serve as a direct sequel to the first novel. As for a timetable, I’m afraid that I cannot comment directly on my progress, but hope to have something moving towards print in this coming calendar year.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Streets of Tears
Streets of Tears by Larry J. Hilton chronicles the trials and happenings of the Baur family during World War I. It is a work of historical fiction portraying life in the trenches of warfare, as well as the rise of the Nazi party and impending dictatorship under Hitler, and the events that eventually led to the Holocaust. Following the perspectives of multiple characters throughout, each chapter contained crucial outlooks on the war and its subsequent effects on the economy. The story highlights Depression-era struggles while also shedding light on the viewpoints and mentalities that are shaped by the horrors of war, and its aftermath.
Streets of Tears was an enjoyable read, with likable characters and a captivating storyline. I particularly enjoyed how each chapter was from the stance of a different character or plot line. The story was woven together with humor, heartache, and horror, leaving me wanting more at the end of each chapter. What I enjoyed the most was getting to know characters through the viewpoint of other characters, as well as within their individual chapters.
As a work of historical fiction, it was delightful to see the ideologies of characters and the causes they were fighting for. This allowed for an open minded outlook on why people believed what they believed, and gave me a chance to reflect on what it is I believe. Another thing this book did was give me a glimpse into the lives of the women of the Nazi regime, and why it is they were involved in the first place. This was fascinating as it is not something you see very often in books that revolve around this time period. More often than not, you are given a look into the eyes of those affected by the Nazi party.
Streets of Tears by Larry J. Hilton is an eye opening perspective on life during World War I and under Hitler. A riveting piece of historical fiction for readers that enjoy period pieces, ideologies of war, and psychological fiction as it pertains to people individually and as a society as a whole.
Pages: 399 | ASIN : B08LQYH77S
LITERARY TITAN 