Born and raised in Northern California, Nathan McQueen earned a Bachelor's in Literature and a Master’s in Creative Writing from Sacramento State University. In 2021, his family moved to Kona. Though he has taught at eight different colleges and universities in both California and Hawaiʻi, his favorite place to teach and work is Hawaiʻi Community College.
Why write about Armenian history?
Ask anyone, and they will have no idea what you're talking about when you mention the Armenian Genocide unless they are Armenian. I didn’t know about it until I was in my thirties, thanks to making friends with an Armenian family at church. I wanted to write about Armenian history to help bring awareness to the atrocity that inspired Hitler to do what he did against the Jews. His blueprint was from the Turks. I wanted to write about the Defense of Van because it is an amazing story of resistance and resilience, not just for Armenians but for human history.
What was required to write accurately about this topic?
Discipline in the research. When you have a story idea, it's tempting to jump in and start writing to see where it goes. I had to resist that if I was going to craft a compelling story that remained authentic. The discipline in writing in the first person, present tense was about placing myself in a 14-year-old boy's perspective, limiting what he knew, conveying his confusion and all that comes with the situation he is in.
How did you navigate the sensitivity of writing about a culture not your own?
Elie Wiesel talked about the writer's duty to "bear witness," and this mantra has informed my approach to writing fiction. Aside from touching on a pivotal event in world history, the story of resistance in Van in 1915 is meant to inspire and preserve Armenian history. Anytime you want to tell another culture's story, it is imperative to do extensive research, consult with members of that culture, and to convey the story with empathy and understanding. Otherwise, readers may see it as a means to capitalize on another culture's history or trauma. For Never Hide from the Devil, I read dozens of books and articles, interviewed experts and Armenian authors, and watched documentaries for close to a year before even writing a word.
Any advice for readers?
For adults and teenagers, don’t allow the endless distractions to deprive you of immersing yourself in a book. Set aside a goal to read 5-10 pages a day out of a novel or book that interests you. It’s a much-needed exercise for our brains.
Find Never Hide From the Devil on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bookshop. Order it at Big Island bookstores such as Kona Stories or Beach Dog Books.
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"The titular philosophy to never, never hide from the devil serves as the ultimate anthem for the Armenian spirit." —Milena Baghdasaryan, reviewer for Armenian Weekly Magazine.