Jack Cavanaugh is an award-winning, full-time freelance author of twenty-six published novels. A student of the novel for more than three decades, Jack takes his craft seriously, continuing to study and teach at Christian writers conferences. He is the former pastor of three churches in San Diego County and draws upon his theological background for the spiritual elements of his plots and characters.
His novels have been translated into
a dozen foreign languages, largely because of the universal scope of his
topics. Jack has not only written about American history, but about South
Africa, banned English Bibles, German Christians in the days of Hitler and
Communism, revivals in America, end times and angelic warfare.
His novel Death Watch has
been optioned to be made into a motion picture by Out Cold Entertainment, Inc.
Songs in the Night trilogy
THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF A NATION
How much evil can one generation of
Christians endure?
Germany. 1933-1989. Less than the
span of a single lifetime. Yet during that time Christians in Germany faced the
rise of Hitler, the unholy blitzkrieg of World War II, and Communism behind the
Berlin Wall. Why didn’t they speak out? Many of them did. Arrests, labor camps,
and executions drove them underground. Songs in the Night is their story.
What inspired you to write your
novel?
When I set out to write a historical
novel, I look for eras when the faith of Christians was severely tested. While
writing The Victors (Book 7 in the American Family Portrait series), I
created a character, a German soldier, who was a Christian. The idea of the
plight of German Christians during World War II intrigued me. The Germans have
such a rich Christian history, how could they allow a man like Hitler to rise
to power like he did?
I researched the topic further and
discovered that the first prisoners of the internment camps were pastors who
spoke out against Hitler and the Third Reich. Further research revealed that
the first victims of the gas chambers were Germans, the elderly and disabled
children. And I knew I had to write their story. The Songs in the Night trilogy
follows a generation of German Christians before World War II, during the war,
and under communism behind the Berlin Wall, believers who never bowed a knee to
Hitler.
The concept of German Christians
surfaced again in a stand-alone World War II novel about an American nurse and
a German soldier who were caught in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge, Dear
Enemy.
I think I’m done writing about
German Christians during World War II now. Then again . . . .
Wow, I've always been fascinated with this time period and historical events surrounding Hitler's Germany. Chilling reminder that America may not be far from this scenario. Thanks for tackling this topic!
What is one fun thing my readers might not know about you?
On the weekends, when I’m not
writing, I like to draw and paint with oils. I’ve dabbled with oil painting on
and off since High School, and have recently taken it up again. I know just
enough about the craft to be in awe over the skill of master painters.
I have also started designing my own
book covers for my ebooks. I did the ebook covers for the Songs in the Night
trilogy.
How vital for writers to tap into other forms of creativity to refuel their idea arsenal, and to simply debrief and relax with another art form. Thanks for serving as a good example of this!
To learn more about Jack and his writing, visit the following:
Website www.jackcavanaugh.com
Twitter: novelistjack
Facebook: novelistjack
Jack is giving away signed copies of the Songs in the Night trilogy (When Mortals Sleep, His Watchful Eye, and Above All Earthly Powers), so leave a comment to enter the contest!
