Interview: Author Jeanbill of "Almost A Millennium

In today's interview we sat down with author Jeanbill of Almost A Millennium, a historical fiction book that has brought together two individuals who lived almost a millennium apart and tether when one discovers the almost 1000-year-old journal texts of the other, a monk witness to the Christian Crusades of his time. The monk’s accounts later cause the protagonist to question his beliefs. 

About "Almost A Millennium"

Almost a Millennium, by Jeanbill, is an eclectic novel about the unlikely connection between an English monk and an American physician that lived nearly 1,000 years apart, one of today and one in the medieval period. It begins at their birth, traveling through time to their adulthood. 

Using cryptography, Paul, a monk at Llanthony Abbey in Wales, writes a four-page document about his life and a harsh critique of the crusades. He places his writings in safekeeping in the hope that it will survive the crusades and eventually land in the hands of someone who can decipher his secrets. When Fred unexpectedly comes across Paul’s book and ciphers Paul’s cryptic message, he has no idea that four pages of millennial history will challenge him to rethink Christianity.

Interview with Author Jeanbill

The author, who goes by the pen Jeanbill, explained to us how he came up with the idea of this unique historical fiction novel and what inspired the idea. 

1. How did you come up with the idea of connecting two characters that lived almost a millennium apart? 

I wanted to write about a man who believes in God, attempting to change a man who does not.  In the year 1999, the coming millennium was newsworthy that gave me the idea of having the two men live 1000 years apart.  

2. What would you like potential readers of this book to know the most about the context of the crusades and its influence on this book? 

I needed to have the character who lived 1000 years ago be part of the happenings at that time.  He had to be maneuvered about to be at the disaster at Glastonbury, the Mainz disaster during the crusade, and the beginning of the construction of Llanthony Priory.  I reported what happened at the First Crusade, not ignoring all the facts.  The Christians in Eastern Europe were thankful and the Jewish survivors in Western Europe were not thankful at the time of the First Crusade.  The crusade happened to be one of the happenings at that time, so I had to delve into history books and literature to find out all I could about the crusade.

3. What inspired you to write this book? The topic is different from what is currently on the market and seems to be touching a subject that captures your historical passion. What inspired you to bring this knowledge to the public?

A man of God had to influence our atheist by contacting him somehow. The use of cryptography and the contact with God by Paul had a strong influence over the atheist. Before writing this book, I did not have any passion for history, but I did have passion for research, probably, from my medical background.

As authors submit their debut works, we like to ask them whether or not they’d be interested in branching out into opposite genres and how they’ve fared navigating the waters of the publishing industry.

4. Would you consider yourself to be a predominantly historical fiction author, or do you have plans to delve into nonfiction or other genres of literature?

Historical fiction was fun, for I had to do research and found to my surprise that some of the historical “facts” were contradictory.  I am not an author of historical fiction; I can claim after writing this book that I am just an author.  At the present time, I am finishing a book about our autobiography.  Afterward, I plan to write about the problems with science and philosophy.

5. Is this your debut novel, if so, how has your experience been in publishing this book and working with professionals in the field of publishing? 

This is my first book.  I had difficulty working with the professionals in the field of self-publishing.

6. How much research went into the creation of this book to add historical credibility to the fiction?

Much research went into the historical aspect of this book.  One-third of the book is strictly history that is factual.  The other third uses this history to blend with the story about Paul, the monk. 

7. Do you have plans to publish anymore books in the historical fiction genre or in the genre?

Not at the present time.

We delved into the controversial aspect of this book, from the accuracy of the book’s history to the concept of touching Christianity’s less than tolerant history. However, the author wants readers to know that Almost A Millennium is not a political statement, just a work of art by an author who loves historical fiction and inventive concepts. 

8.  What would you want readers to know before they pick up this book? 

I have been criticized for the history, which is as accurate as it can be.  If a reader does not like history, then he or she should not waste money or one’s time to read it.

9. Is this book an attempt to address religious topics regarding the controversial actions the Catholic Church took in order to ensure the expansion of their faith? Is this a political statement?

I had to address the religious topic of the crusade, because it happened in the time period of Paul’s span of life.  The Pope had to make a decision about saving the Christians in Jerusalem, reviewing the history of the two previous wars that involved the Roman Catholic Church, he decided on saving them, but appealed only to the knights, not to the people.  If only the knights went on the crusade, then no Jews would have ever been killed.  He had to take ultimate responsibility for the actions of Peter the Hermit.  I place myself into the character that I am writing about.  Placing myself into Pope Urban II, I would have done the same thing he did.  I try to be non-political, and my book was, definitely, not a political statement.

We asked the author about his personal opinions about his book's plot and where he'd like the book's reach to go.

10. Are you based in Europe or the US? For either, are you open to expanding your audience to the other continent? If so, what steps have you or your publicity agency taken to expedite this?

I am a US citizen residing in the state of Washington. The book is now in the hands of Amazon and a few books have been purchased in Great Britain and Canada.

11. We recently reviewed a book, Shell Shock by Dr. Steve Stahl, that touched  the concept of connecting characters many years apart from each other. This concept has also been seen in motion pictures, such as The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock; what about this concept do you feel makes stories more compelling? Does this introduction of two time frames add drama or depth to plots?

It is difficult to have much intimacy between characters living an ocean away and living a thousand years apart.  But, if written correctly then I believe that it could add drama and depth to the plots.

12. What is your favorite book/author/publisher?

I have no favorite author or publisher.  The recent The Book Thief and Constant Gardener were books that I enjoyed.

Almost a Millennium is available for sale on Amazon in kindle and paperback.

About Author Jeanbill

Jeanbill has been associated with medicine for more than 50 years, practicing as a general practitioner. He studied many hours in the medieval library of University of Notre Dame, researched and wrote over a period of 20 years in his spare time. 

His debut novel Almost a Millennium was published in January 2015 and is available for sale on Amazon. Genres: Historical / Fiction / Medieval / Religion / Theism

Jeanbill resides in Lynden, WA. Married to his other half for 57 years until cancer separated them, he has four children and 14 grandchildren.

Readers can connect with him on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.