An Interview with James Arnett, Episode 52

Donna Carbone
5 days ago
2 min read

In this episode, we sit down with James Arnett, acclaimed author of The Monmouth Manifesto and Bean Fate, two gripping works of historical fiction. Arnett opens up about the deeply personal inspirations behind his novels and how his legal career shaped the complex worlds he creates. From intense research to navigating the road to publication, Arnett shares the passion and process behind his writing. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation—and find out why these books belong on your must-read list.

SHOW NOTES:

Raised in Winnipeg, James (Jim) Arnett earned degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Manitoba and Harvard Law School. After brief legal practice in Ottawa and Winnipeg, and a stint in Toronto advertising, he focused on corporate law. He was a partner at Davies, Ward & Beck in Toronto and senior partner at Stikeman, Elliott in Toronto and D.C. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel, served on international legal organizations, and edited the Canadian Bar Review. Jim also served as CEO of Molson, Chairman of the Montreal Canadiens, and Chair of Hydro One. He advised Canadian and Ontario governments, chaired Toronto East General Hospital and Canada’s National History Society, and is part of the International Commission of Jurists (Canada). He and his wife, Alix, live in Toronto with their four adult children.

The Monmouth Manifesto” delves into the American Revolution through the eyes of Loyalists, revealing a gripping tale of two New Jersey farmers turned soldiers. Their daring exploits against the Patriots lead to deadly reprisals, shattering lives and igniting international tensions in a struggle for survival on the wrong side of history.

Congratulations on The Monmouth Manifesto! Can you give us a synopsis of this book and tell us what drew you to this story.
The book really dives into loyalty and moral dilemmas. How do you want readers to think differently about those ideas, especially when it comes to understanding people on both sides of a conflict?
How much research did you do for this book and your first?
Talk about the difficulty that you encountered in writing the dialogue for this book. It’s set 250 years ago. And obviously English today is very different.
Are there any historical figures or hidden truths from the Revolution that you wish more people knew about? Did you include any of those in your story?
Can you tell us about your first book, Bean Fate? What inspired you to write it, and how was the experience of getting started.
As a Canadian, what attracted you to telling stories about American History?You’ve had this impressive career in law and business. What made you decide to pivot to writing after retiring? What was the spark that motivated you to start storytelling?
What was your road to getting the book published? Did you face any surprises along the way?
What does your typical day look like as a writer/author?
What is something, as an author, that you learned the hard way?