Author Guest Post with J. A. Boulet: Whichever Way The Road Leads

Be careful which road you take, you never know where it’ll lead.

Welcome to one of the July 29th stops on the blog tour for Whichever Way The Road Leads by J. A. Boulet with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

Little Piece of Research

Throughout the process of writing a book, I always stumble upon a character or a little piece of research that pushes its way into my book. While writing Whichever Way The Road Leads, one character with a fascinating background was American General Winfield Scott.

I had the original intention to stay politically neutral while writing the scenes of the War of 1812, so naturally, my research was focused on American historical accounts as well as the Canadian version of 1812.

Early in the War of 1812, Colonel Scott was a commanding officer in the first Niagara land battle at Queenston Heights in October 1812. He was an imposing Lieutenant Colonel, standing at 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighing 230 lbs.

As I started researching Winfield Scott more, it became apparent that this historical figure was an indomitable spirit, intent on making his name known in my book!

During the unorganized Queenston battle, it was Scott who had surrendered to the British. He quickly realized it was a mistake. There were 500 American militia hiding in the bushes awaiting his command (he was unaware of it at the time). The surrender was peaceful and the American army was taken in as prisoners of war, including Scott.

Weeks later, the British made the tactical mistake of swapping Scott in a prisoner exchange and the imposing Lieutenant was returned to the American side.

That’s where the story of the Lieutenant Colonel gains momentum.

Winfield Scott was quickly promoted to Brigadier General and returned to successfully attack and hold Fort George in May 1813, only 7 months later.

Scott was not only a physically large man, but also very intelligent. Winfield Scott had studied and practiced law in the early 1800s before commencing his military career. His father had died at a young age and Scott was raised, along with his siblings, by only his mother.

She must have done an amazing job because this man became a force to be reckoned with.

Winfield Scott’s name popped up over and over again during my research into the Niagara land battles. I was astonished when his name appeared yet again, in the infamous Battle of Lundy’s Lane!

This particular battle became a bloodbath. So many soldiers had been killed on both sides that the Lundy’s Lane Battle reached a stalemate.

Towards the end of the battle, even the British commander, Sir Gordon Drummond was shot in the throat! Medics tied a scarf around Drummond’s neck and he continued fighting against Scott! Both sides were exhausted and forces were so depleted that the Americans withdrew while the Canadians breathed a sigh of relief.

Here’s the twist.

General Winfield Scott was shot multiple times during the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. He was severely injured along with other commanders. His soldiers brought him back to America and he somehow SURVIVED.

After the War of 1812, Scott entered politics and went on to fight in many other wars! It seemed nothing could stop this man.

Finally, in 1841, he became the Commanding General of the United States Army, beating out his rival, Edmund P. Gaines for the position. Scott then successfully won the Whigs presidential nomination in 1852. The Whigs were badly divided but Scott remained so popular that in 1855, he received a promotion to lieutenant general, becoming the first US Army officer to hold the rank since George Washington!

General Winfield Scott went on to live to the advanced age of 79 years.

And 158 years later, his legacy weaved its way into parts of my book, Whichever Way The Road Leads. This General has garnered my immense admiration. Rest in peace, Winfield Scott.

Thank you for joining my book tour and I hope you enjoy reading Whichever Way The Road Leads.

About the Book

Whichever Way The Road Leads
The Eastman Saga
by J. A. Boulet

Published 20 June 2024

Genre: Historical Romance
Page Count: 313
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Meet Jesse Eastman, a young man from a powerful and wealthy American family. When he joins a group of rough fur traders on a journey to open up the American Northwestern Frontier, Jesse thinks his days are numbered.

The looming War of 1812 and a rugged farm woman from Upper Canada may prove him right.

Zee Collard and her father, George, are half-American, and half-Canadian. They will stop at nothing to protect their livelihoods in Upper Canada. The Collard’s family history goes back to the Revolutionary War and their past is not something many Americans are keen on.

Whichever Way The Road Leads will pull you into the lives of two American families on both sides of the border who struggle as war breaks out in 1812. This engaging and graphic first book of The Eastman Saga will take you through raging mountainous rivers and early Northwestern Frontier landscapes to the bloody Niagara battlefields of 1812.

Be careful which road you take, you never know where it’ll lead.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Excerpt

Jesse walked confidently to the group as the man spoke commandingly to him in the Arikaran language. Jesse looked at him in bewilderment.

“He said that he would take everyone into the village and save our lives in exchange for the bear pelt and the canoe,” the woman translated slowly.

The Arikara guard spoke again, quickly, almost jumbling over his words with passion.

“He also says that this is not a free stay. Everyone must work once they are healthy enough.” The woman explained the rest of the agreement and looked at Jesse for confirmation.

Jesse looked back at the stranded Overland Astorian group. They were probably three more days away from dying, he thought. Losing the bear pelt was nothing, but the canoe would be a huge sacrifice. “Tell him we will give him what he wants,” Jesse replied, rubbing his long beard. “But he must allow us to rebuild a new canoe with the surrounding trees. It is our only survival to return to St. Louis.”

The woman frowned, turned to the Arikara guard, and relayed the message in their native tongue.

The Arikara man’s mouth frowned in deliberation. Then, a half smile graced his face. He spoke rapidly to the woman, then turned to his group of guards, gesturing for them to grab the canoe and bear fur. They began approaching the Astorians as the native woman spoke to Jesse. “They have agreed,” she translated, with a funny grin on her face. “He also said that you are stupid and young.”

Jesse laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Thank you,” he said. “You saved our lives.”

“No,” she replied. “You did, Jesse.”

About the Author

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of six historical fiction novels. Raised in a Hungarian refugee family, J. A. was born and grew up in Canada with a strong moral foundation, which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. Her university studies ranged from photojournalism to accounting. After decades of working in accounting, J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually.

She lives in the Niagara region of Canada with her two sons, a crested gecko, a large Doberdor dog, and a small orchard of fruit trees.

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Giveaway Alert!

J.A. Boulet will award a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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