Tall Ships Books Interview by George Jepson

Joseph L. O'Steen

Joseph O’Steen’s life is steeped in the sea, and this month he launches a new naval fiction series, Nathan Beauchamp of the Royal Navy, with the publication of Falcon’s Revenge.
 

O’Steen, who lives and writes in St Augustine, Florida recently responded to questions from Bowsprit in the run-up to the release of Falcon’s Revenge:

Have you always been interested in the sea?

I was first introduced to the sea at age three. My father was a commercial fisherman on the Banana River near Cocoa, Florida. He would take me with him on his daily trips. When he moved to the sea going shrimp business I would go with him on his trips to sea. We moved to Key West, Florida in the mid fifties and night-fished on the shrimp grounds of the Dry Tortugas. Most times I would cry to go on the two-week trips until he let me skip school and go with him. Because of those trips I did not have enough time in school to pass the first and third grades, but what boy would want to sit in school when he could play on the islands and keys around Fort Jefferson? So I guess you could say I’ve been in love with the sea for fifty years.

What moved you to write nautical fiction?

About three years ago I decided to take up reading again for relaxation. I had been away from the sea since I was discharged from the navy, so it was only natural that I drifted to nautical fiction. I was raised on power vessels, but found few novels about them. One day I picked up a copy of Patrick O'Brien’s Post Captain. I read every one of his that I could get my hands on, but found myself flipping past anything that did not deal with the ships and fighting them. Soon I discovered Alexander Kent’s books, and after only one book I was hooked on the age of sail. I could not get new age of sail books fast enough. I have been in love with the genre since then.

How did you select the Napoleonic Wars as the setting for Falcon’s Revenge?

I began studying the history of the British navy. I found the actual history of many ships to be much more fascinating than many of the books I had read. Some of the best ship actions took place during the Napoleonic Wars and there were plenty to choose from. I found that if I used these histories they could serve as an outline for some terrific stories. All I had to do is insert my characters and embellish events to develop some real good story lines.

What can you tell about Falcon’s Revenge, without spoiling it for readers?

Falcon’s Revenge is two stories told at the same time. The first story is about a young lieutenant and his journey from subordinate officer through his first temporary command and the lessons, which guide him there. The second story is about a Royal Navy ship taken by French privateers and used to attack her own kind. They come together as officer and ship to seek out those that used the ship against British merchant vessels. That is all I can say. You must read the book to see what kind of officer Nathan Beauchamp becomes and if he can give Falcon the revenge that she deserves.

What was the genesis of your protagonist, Nathan Beauchamp? What makes him different from other fictional naval heroes?

Actually Nate (Nathan) began as my character in the Heart of Oaks online role-playing game, a spin off of the Bolitho Discussion Group at yahoo. I developed Nate, not as me, but as a composite of certain traits of all the naval characters I have come to enjoy in the wonderful books I have read. Most of the actions he is involved in are, as I said earlier, based on actual histories, as I envision how the character, Nate, would react to the situation.

    I am not sure Nate is that much different from the other naval heroes other than he is a composite of the traits I admire the most. He has the human failures of Jack Aubrey, the cunning of Lord Ramage, the seamanship and daring of Richard Bolitho, the youthful energy of Adam Bolitho, and admiration for women just this side of Alan Lewrie’ s. If a reader is a fan of those particular traits of the naval heroes they will get along just fine with Nathan Beauchamp.

How far along is your planning for the Beauchamp Series?

I have researched and written synopsis for all six books. The background settings are to be based on actual historical events with my stories entwined around them.

How do you research your stories?
 

I search through as many archives as possible, then do a comparative cross check to validate interesting histories which fit my timeline and the area of the world my stories are to take place in. I use this historical data to develop my story and set up the next story.

Have you begun work on the second book of the series?

Oh yes, I am well into Pursuit of Honor. Like all series it picks up where Falcon’s Revenge stopped. In Pursuit, Nate is given command of HMS Hawk, a cumbersome merchant ship which he is tasked to convert into a man-of-war. He is then ordered to escort a convoy to the Caribbean with final orders to assist in stopping the French from reinforcing Martinique, but before he meets the French Admiral Skinner sends him on a mission to stop pirates from attacking British shipping. Can this cumbersome former merchant ship find honor as a King’s ship of war?

Do you spend time on the water for relaxation?

I’m afraid with my work and writing schedule my, days on the water are few and far between. Some times I go to the local beaches and I frequently go down to Matanzas Bay here in St. Augustine, Florida to watch the Spanish and Pirate reenactments or just to watch the sailboats come in, but most of the time I have to limit my seagoing to the books I read, the books I write, and the nautical and pirate groups I belong to on the web. I often think of those past days with the wind and salt spray on my face with fond memories.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Yes. Although four of my six books have pirates in them, somewhere down deep is a pure pirate tale just begging to get out. Perhaps when I’ve completed Nate’s story, or maybe somewhere between two of the Beauchamp books, I’ll get it down on paper.

 

 

 

Order by Mail Order your Signed Copy of Falcon's Revenge or Pursuit of Honor from the Author. Please include who the book is to be addressed to. $13.95 plus $2 Shipping each. (US and Canada)  Send Check or Money order to: Joseph O'Steen 755 Delespine Ave.  St. Augustine, Fl 32084

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