An Interview with William Auman
William Auman is an award-winning novelist and author of If Trees Could Testify… and Pioneer Paddling Colonial Carolina, in addition to numerous articles and his current release, Pioneer Paddles of the Colonial South. He is a retired trial attorney, college professor, tennis pro, and basketball coach, but has now evolved into the realm of HillbillyBeachbum. He spends his time in both New Port Richey, Florida and the mountains of North Carolina with his wife of over forty years. He is the proud father of two and grandfather to three.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
I have been paddling since my parents gifted me my first boat at age twelve back in 1973. Since that time, I have kept a data base that now numbers over 400 bodies of water. As a colonial history buff and nature lover, I wanted to share time-traveling journeys in the southeast within the historical context through which the stories of unfold. Pirate history, the plight of Indigenous peoples, frontiersmen and Revolutionary War battles all play a role and are included in family-friendly adventures.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
It was relatively easy given that I needed to update my initial paddling book and wanted to expand it to include a total of six states.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
The first that comes to mind would be Wasn’t Born to Follow by The Byrds. I guess I’m dating myself!
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I am now reading Anamnesis by Noel Zamot and Deadly Bloodlines by Elke Feuer. Both are authors affiliated with the Tarpon Springs Writers and Author’s Guild, as am I.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I was a trial/appellate attorney for forty years and handled over seventy murder cases during that time. I taught political science as an adjunct professor for twenty-five years at both UNC-Asheville and Mars Hill University. Before that I was a USPTR tennis professional, coach, and a high school/AAU basketball coach. Some say that I traded one court for another and then another!
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I have been writing most of my life. My mother was an English teacher who made sure that I did it the right (write would be a good pun here) way. Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac are my two favorite authors, and their style and spirit has provided influence and inspiration.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I like to sit at an outside table at our mountain property with a backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, which promote quiet and comfort.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
That’s a tough one. Writing has an ongoing learning curve that you really can’t short circuit. It helps to listen and learn from those more experienced, such as my good friend John York.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
As for the current book, I hope they come away with an appreciation for what remains of our wilderness areas and the historical connection that we all share. With regard to the novel, I hope they recognize how important it is to seek and promote justice within a system that values constitutional rights.
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