Jack Robinson,
Gysgt., US Marine Corps, Retired
Jack, thank you for being with us for this interview and thank you for being part of Guerrilla Marketers’ Café.
It is I who want to thank you, for allowing me to talk a little about my book.
Jack, I know of your love for history, why don’t you tell us about your non-fiction book?
My book, I refer to it as a historical review, is titled, “Captain Otway Burns And His Ship Snap Dragon.” The book covers his entire life of seventy-five years and not only his tour of military duty as an American Privateer (not pirate) during the War of 1812, fighting against British Tall Ship Naval forces. He was also a North Carolina State politician, demanding businessman, and a man who enjoyed his ale and women. His life is filled with mystery, misunderstanding, and misguided information. My book covers various good and not so good adventures of Captain Burns’ life.
The research that went into this book took nearly seven years to compile. I started with only a few pages of material and through hard work, locating hard-to-find official documents, and meeting with direct descendents, I now have over 3,000 pages of data. Not only on Captain Burns’ life but, also official accounts of the War of 1812, in regards to both sides of the war. Three National Archives assisted in the research for this book.
Why did you decide to start writing Non-fiction?
I have always been fascinated in little known elements of history. I have found out that each community has history that is fading away due to the lack of correct preservation of the facts. Many more histories have been merged with folklore, mystery, and misunderstanding. I have written many research briefs and reports but, like other research projects that I have done over the years the legend of Captain Burns and his vessel Snap Dragon caught my attention. So I wanted to tell his story that had been nearly forgotten over the past one hundred and fifty years.
How did the book idea came up?
While attending college in the fall of 1999, I volunteered to conduct preliminary historical research on either a local gentleman from the 18th Century or another one from the 19th Century. I soon found interest in Captain Otway Burns, a War of 1812 Privateer who had been labeled a stubborn, ruthless, and squanderer of his riches type of a person. His legend of being a strong drinker and womanizer were also well known. After obtaining a few official documents on Captain Burns I soon realized, however, there was more to Captain Burns than what was scantly written in the local history books about his life. I felt I had to tell his story, the entire story, to set the story straight.
What inspires you?
Talking to Elders of a community who open their hearts and tell the stories of a bygone era. Listening to an elder living in a town of 25,000 describing how, as a child, they use to ride horse and mule on their downtown dirt streets. Talking about forgotten family members and how they help form the growth of a community is something I enjoy. It is very exciting and rewarding in preserving their stories. I take their comments and research the material that is not relatively known or properly documented.
The list of people or things that inspire me is way too long to list. My two sons are on the top of the list followed closely by my dearest friend. Local, national, and even international historians and authors who continuously give suggestions and assistance belong on the list as well.
How much time do you dedicate to writing?
This is a tricky question when it comes to historical research. Just as with fictional creative writing, it takes me days, weeks and even months to gather official material for my project(s). After compiling a proper quantity of data, most of which is primary information, I then spend hours and days analyzing the collected documents and photographs. I then spend a period of time taking “field notes” of my findings. Finally, I spend about fifteen to twenty hours a week doing redrafts, proofreading or, some other form of creative writing.
What are your favorite books?
A well-researched and written non-fiction book.
What would like to tell [beginning] writers?
I would like to suggest that no matter what form of writing they want to develop they first have to put it onto paper. I once had a professor who told me, “Close your eyes and see what you are writing.” Then put your pen to paper. Keeping a journal is old school but, it works. A thought comes to mind, put it into your journal. Often mentioned throughout the forums at Guerilla Marketer’s Café…Do not let your friends or family members critique your work, instead ask a semi-stranger, they will give you honest corrective criticism. A family member or dear friend will tell you, in most cases, what you want to hear.
Can you tell us about the success you have experienced so far.
2006 has been a year of growth for me and for my book on Captain Burns. Due to comments from various forums and authors of GMC, I have expanded my networking into cyberspace. I now have primary personal Internet sites: , my Internet bookstore, and lulu.com site. I have two of my books posted on Guerrilla Marketers' Cafe, too. Through the Internet site I was contacted by the editor of an Ezine tourism site to write a brief article on Captain Burns’ life. Since then, I am now a “contributing author” to this site that is reviewed by not less than fifty national (USA) major news agencies and nearly 60,000 “hits” per month.
In the summer of 2006, I was encouraged by members of Guerrilla Marketer’s Café and Lulu.com forums to make an account at MySpace to promote my book on Captain Burns. Within a week I was contacted by the editor of the Topsail Island Info Ezine Magazine. This is an Internet site that promotes tourism information for Topsail Island, North Carolina (USA). Topsail Island is one of the leading year-round tourist locations on the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern North Carolina. The Ezine recieves not less than 50,000 hits per month. I was asked to write an “Exclusive” article on the life of Captain Burns, since he often sailed his Tall Ship into the ports of Topsail during the mid-1800s.
The article, the first I had attempted for an Internet Ezine, was very well liked and I received many compliments. I soon was asked to become a “contributing writer for the Ezine Magazine. Since then, I have encouraged the editor to add an “local North Carolina authors” site within her Ezine. Along with this, I aided in the addition of an “author’s blogs” site. The editor hand-picks the self-published authors (NC authors only). Following the goal of Guerrilla Marketers’ Café, I encouraged the editor, at least for the time being, to provide this promotional tool for self-published authors, for free.
I have seen a steady increase of book sales while being involved with this Ezine Internet site. I have received numerous requests to be a guest speaker or featured author for local book signings. Each occasion brings more notoriety and book sales. I recommend self-published authors to seek out and submit to “quality” Ezine sites, ones that have a positive track record.
What are your plans for the future as a creative writer?
I am proud to announce that I have just published my first short story through Lulu.com printing. The story line is based on actual events that took place within southeastern North Carolina during the War Between the States (American Civil War). There was a freed slave who actually joined the Union Army, fought in battle against the southern way of life, and then returned to the same region of the county to live out the remaining years of life. He died at the age of 101. The first of three in a series deals with this gentleman’s release from slavery by the Union Army.
I am also starting a lecturing tour for 2007. I have already committed to three lectures between January and June, each will allow me to sell my books. I am also expanding my Ezine articles.
What message would you like to give to your book readers?
The known history of a community is interesting but, the unknown or forgotten aspect of a village, town, or city is even more intriguing. My book on Captain Burns will show the reader that he was a national hero, legend to many, and d by even more. His legacy is still being debated, praised, and challenged to this day. My book helps to secure a place in our local and national history where his adventures and exploits will not be forgotten a second time.
I want to wish you a lot of success with your book and commend you for your talent and dedication to the written word.
Thank you for all you are providing for beginning authors like myself. I have great plans for 2007 and Guerilla Marketer’s Café will play a vital role.
Jack Robinson's Website
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