Podcast
Podcast Interview Script: The Clove Blog Podcast
Episode Title: The First One, by Walter Earl
(Intro Music: “My Song 1” fading out after a few seconds)
Nathan: Welcome to “The Clove Blog Podcast,” the podcast that explores the history behind the writing of the Clove Novel and a companion to the Clove Blog.
The Host is (actor, writer, improviser, and Denver VIP) Nathan Earl, and the guest today is Walter Earl, author of The Clove.
Nathan: The guest today is my father, Walter Earl, the author of “The Clove.” Walter is writing a historical fiction novel based on some amazing events surrounding our family during the American Revolution. Welcome to the show, Walter!
WCE: Thanks for having me! It’s a pleasure being here.
INTERVIEW
Nathan: Writing The Clove has been an interesting project for you. Not only does the story take place in the beautiful Hudson Valley, where we both grew up, but it also includes members of our family.
WCE: That’s right, Nathan, the story is about a group of domestic terrorists in colonial Orange County, New York, who rob their neighbors to support the English. Our GGGGrandparents were victims of the gangs.
Nathan: What sparked your initial interest in this story?
WCE: I think our family’s interest in history, especially my father, and the area I grew up.
Nathan: How so?
WCE: Well, as you know, our family has lived in that area for centuries. Our folk’s interest in the history of the region went beyond just casual. My grandparents were town clerks who kept the ledgers and old files going back to the 1700s; my dad worked for West Point as a photographer, often in collaboration with the museum there. I grew up with those influences. Also, since the events in the book took place within 50 miles of my home, it wasn’t a stretch to imagine colonial times; many of the places still stand.
Nathan: Tell me more about your father’s influence.
WCE: He was really interested in the history of the area, and the genealogy of our family. He kept family documents and photos of documents relating to the family going way back. The stories of the Clove gangs and legends surrounding them are well known in the Hudson Valley, and since the Earls were part of that story, I’m sure it inspired him to do his own research on it. He got me interested in it, although I don’t remember him actually discussing it with me.
Nathan: Just what is “The Clove”?
WCE: Just as the Hudson River was the primary means of transportation into the interior of the country, the Clove was a natural valley that runs parallel to the river between the mountains, all the way from New Jersey to Cornwall, New York, where I grew up. Since the mountains were obstacles, the Clove valley became an important inland route with villages along the Clove Road springing up with mills, taverns, and farms. The British navy patrolled the river so the American Army used the inland route.
Nathan: It sounds like you have had to do your homework. How has the research experience been for you?
WCE: I love it! I have enjoyed doing the research way more than I expected. Being able to visit all the locations, the many museums, and running down documents online, it’s all like doing detective work. Even my encounter with the bear was fun.
Nathan: You had a run-in with a bear? How does this happen in the course of researching a historical novel?
WCE: I was investigating a mountaintop hideout for the gang and found a bear enjoying it. The story of the encounter is on the Blog that accompanies this podcast.
Nathan: So, The Blog is actually not you sharing the Novel, correct?
WCE: Nope, it is me sharing the research and my experiences writing the novel. Since I was going to fictionalize some of the events, I wanted to honor the actual events. There has been so much written about the crimes ever since they happened. Much of it was presented as fact that was entirely fabricated. I’m not ashamed to be doing a fictional account. The Clove may be a bit more plausible than some, I hope. The Blog and this Podcast will deal with what facts are available and how I found them.
Nathan: What makes your version more plausible?
WCE: Well, I think the real story is compelling enough that I don’t need to make up a lot of exciting nonsense.
Nathan: Some people love exciting nonsense.
WCE: OK, there is plenty of exciting nonsense, but based on hours of research… and bears.
Nathan: This all sounds like a fun read! When do you expect to publish it?
WCE: That is the $100 question! I keep saying I am in the middle of the process, and the middle keeps moving. Hopefully, I’ll have a draft by the end of the year.
The Blog and the Podcast will help share info on the progress, and hopefully be a great way to interact with interested folks.
CLOSING:
Nathan: Thanks for sharing your time with me today. This has been a fun discussion about The Clove. I am looking forward to reading it when it comes out.
WCE: Thanks, Nathan, for having me. It was my pleasure.
Nathan: For listeners who want to find out more about The Clove, where can they go?
WCE: You can find the Blog at https://snapurl.blog/ (https://snapurl.blog/) and we provide links on the site for social media.
Nathan: Thank you again.
Outro Music (same song) fades in with Nathan’s remarks over top.
Nathan: That concludes the first episode of “The Clove Blog Podcast.” Join us next time as we explore more of the background history leading up to the confrontation between the Smith Gang and the Earl Family.
Until then, Huzzah!, everybody!
Music fades out…
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