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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR, BRAD MELTZER
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First, congratulations on your newest release, The Lincoln Conspiracy: The First Secret Plot to Kill America’s 16th President—and Why It Failed (Flatiron Books). After your last book co-written with Josh Mensch, The First Conspiracy, was so widely acclaimed, it looks like readers can expect very much the same thing from The Lincoln Conspiracy just a year later. Did you know you would be writing about this first “secret” assassination attempt of Abraham Lincoln when you released The First Conspiracy? What made you choose this moment of American history as the next story to examine more closely?
We’re sneaky. We knew all along that after the secret plot to kill George
It’s been said that, “Not only is this a story few people know, but in 2020 (especially in 2020), there is no better subject to study than Lincoln. As the book opens, the Republic is deeply divided, each half of the country hating the other. Sound familiar?” How much of today’s sociopolitical climate in the US affected the way this book was written?
Like you said, this assassination plot takes place at a time where the country is completely divided. Each half of the country venously hates the other. Sounds really familiar, right? This is the start of the Civil War and it’s exactly where we are now as a culture. We need to do better. In The Lincoln Conspiracy, you’ll see that greatest leaders don’t divide us – they unite us. As Lincoln understands: Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.
You’ve co-written multiple historical novels with Josh Mensch. Tell us what it’s like to collaborate as a team with such a detailed and still entertaining topic as one of America’s most iconic presidents.
Our secret weapon is Josh Mensch [Meltzer’s executive producer on Lost History]. Josh is one of the best researchers I’ve ever met, so when it comes to digging for the good stuff -- be it the handball game Lincoln was playing before he heard that he’d been elected…or his last-ever visit with his stepmother, who thought at the time that she’d never see Lincoln again (she was right) -- Josh and I always look for those moments when you see just how human Lincoln was. That’s the best part of this collaboration. We love that same stuff.
Was there anything that surprised you during the research process in writing The Lincoln Conspiracy?
First, the details of the murder plot – and of the secret society trying to kill Lincoln… those were all surprises. But here’s another I loved: When Lincoln gets told that someone’s trying to kill him, it’s clear that he needs to change his schedule. But instead, Lincoln says that he won’t change anything until after he goes to Philadelphia. What’s in Philly? Lincoln is going there to commemorate the birthday of his hero, George Washington, by raising a flag over Independence Hall. At that moment, Lincoln’s life is at risk. But he refuses to miss that. That’s how much Lincoln wanted to honor George Washington.
Of course, with any historical work and especially the novelization of a true historical moment, a fine balance between historical accuracy and storytelling craft is required for such highly acclaimed work as The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy. How did you manage to find this balance in creating works hailed as “A brilliant combination of edge of your seat history and superb storytelling.” (James L. Swanson, bestselling author of Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer)?
I know this is actual history, but our goal is to always have it read like a thriller. And it’s why political thrillers can be so gripping. Presidents are powerful. The stakes are high. So if the story is done right, you’re not just revealing who the murderer is – you’re revealing something about how our society really works. Plus in this case, you get to answer: Who would try to kill Abraham Lincoln?
You’ve delved into a little-known story of “Abraham Lincoln. Secret Societies. A deadly plot. And it all really happened!” (Brian Kilmeade, bestselling author of Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers). What was the most exciting part for you personally during the writing of The Lincoln Conspiracy?
I love private detectives. There’s something subversive and cool about them. So I loved the parts of the story where we see the famous Allan Pinkerton, America’s first true private eye. (The name literally comes from his logo, which had a giant eye in it.) Pinkerton and his detectives swoop in and tell Abraham Lincoln the truth: a secret society is trying to murder him. Then they do the best thing of all: they fight back.
Also, Kate Warne is my hero. She’s America’s first female private detective – and she’s afraid of nothing. I won’t ruin it, but just wait until you read the scene with her meeting Abraham Lincoln. History has never been as thrilling.
It goes without saying that a shared love of both history and can’t-put-it-down writing are necessary prerequisites for authors turning historical moments into engaging page-turners. Was there anything about the process of writing The Lincoln Conspiracy that you didn’t enjoy?
I know we all know the ending of the Civil War, but as we painted the hatred that the South had for Abraham Lincoln, it was sometimes just heartbreaking to see. The venom. The bile. They hated him. It just makes you wonder will anything ever change?
On the heels of The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington and now The Lincoln Conspiracy, do you have any plans for delving into other “secret plot” histories revolving around other US Presidents? If so, will these also be co-written with Josh Mensch?
We’re already working on the next one. (Didn’t I tell you we were sneaky?)
The release of such a highly acclaimed book, especially right now in America, is an exciting and powerful moment in your career as an author. What are you most looking forward to after this book’s release on May 5th?
In one month, we put out both The Lincoln Conspiracy, our kids book I am Leonardo da Vinci, a new PBS KIDS cartoon show based on the kids books, plus working on the sequel to my thriller, The Escape Artist. When this is done, I just need a nap.
What tips would you give other authors and writers out there wanting to fictionalize historical moments with as much meticulously honed craft and diligence to both historical accuracy and engaging writing as you’ve achieved with The Lincoln Conspiracy?
Write what you love. That’s the X-factor on every page: Does the writer love what they’re doing? If you do, every reader will know it.
