Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Mustful.
Hi Colin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2007 with a degree in history, I started writing academic essays about the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, an event that culminated in the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862. I wanted to learn more about what happened in my home state while also teaching others. But, as I found out, traditional nonfiction text wasn’t all that interesting to people. I wanted to reach a wider audience with this important history. So, I started writing a historical fiction novel. My goal was to create a compelling, engaging story about the U.S. – Dakota War that captured readers’ interest while also educating them about the real people and events of the past. I wanted to them to empathize with the past while connecting it to the present.
However, after writing and publishing three novels, I discovered that fiction is a craft, and crafts are complicated. Though I was sharing history through fiction, I wasn’t reaching as many readers as I could because I didn’t completely understand how to utilize the power of storytelling. I also received a lot of pushback from editors and potential publishers–pushback I didn’t completely understand. They told me that informational text within fiction is disruptive to the fiction dream. They also told me that fiction cannot have footnotes. That’s why, in 2017, I returned to school to study for an MFA in creative writing with a concentration in publishing.
My degree program was challenging. I had to overcome my assumptions about how to write fiction. More importantly, I had to overcome my stubbornness for the historical process–something for which I still have a lot of integrity. But, by the end of the program, I overcame those challenges and I finally understood fiction and how to harness its power.
As I neared the end of my degree program, I was also preparing to publish my next novel. This time, rather than publish my novel through a self-publishing service, I decided to start my own imprint called History Through Fiction. At this time, I realized I had both the experience and expertise to publish novels for other historical fiction writers. I also had what I perceived as an important, unique, and valuable niche–combining fiction and nonfiction in a way that captures a reader’s imagination through elements of fiction while maintaining a certain degree of integrity for the historical process through elements of nonfiction. Furthermore, I wanted to create a traditional, author-friendly press that publishes books at no cost to the author. I did this because, when signing my first book contract in 2012, I unwittingly signed a contract with a vanity press that exploited me and my work. It took me a long time to learn about the publishing process, and I made a lot of mistakes. That’s why I wanted to create a reputable, upstanding press that helped usher authors through the complicated process. In other words, I wanted to make authors’ dreams come true. Hopefully, I’ve accomplished that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can’t say that it’s been a smooth road, but it’s been a consistent one. I’ve been able to move forward one step at a time, always uncertain of where the next step would lead. But I’ve been lucky to be working, to be healthy, and to be able to pursue my dreams and passions. With that said, it’s been a lot of hard work and a huge commitment of time and money. Since the beginning of this journey, I have been working multiple jobs while trying to carve out time when and where I can to write, research, learn, and publish. At no point has this endeavor resulted in a financial gain, but I still believe it’s worth the early mornings of writing, the late nights of pizza delivery, and the unending commitment to conveying history.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I live a very eclectic life. I am a soccer player, referee, and coach. I’ve run ten marathons including a fifty mile ultra-marathon which took me 10 hours 31 minutes to complete. I spent 92 days hiking 2,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. I worked as an ice cream scooper at Yellowstone National Park. I worked as a pizza chef at Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont. At age 29, I successfully completed an internship at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. I played semi-professional soccer in West Virginia. For 23 years I’ve worked in the restaurant industry in one form or another as a team member, shift manager, and delivery driver. I love to travel and especially enjoy hiking and visiting national parks.
All the while I have pursued my dreams, passions, and interests. I’ve written five novels and published four of them. I started my own business which is now growing and soon, I hope, flourishing. I’ve managed and maintained two websites and multiple social media platforms. I’ve given public presentations to libraries, schools, churches, and historical organizations across the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. I’ve hired freelancers to help maintain and grow my business. I’ve been able to establish internships that are rewarding for both the intern and the business. And, most importantly, I’ve expanded my own understanding of what history is and how it should be conveyed. I’ve discovered my own limitations and blind spots about who I am and what I know. I’ve been given a broader perspective about our shared past, understanding that everyone’s voice must be heard and everyone’s perspective must be considered.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Success can be measured in many different ways. Don’t be discouraged by rejection or failure. Keep going. Accept that feeling of failure or discouragement, but then move forward gleaning what is valuable and letting go of the rest.
Contact Info:
- Email: editor@historythroughfiction.com
- Website: https://www.historythroughfiction.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historythroughfiction/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryThroughFiction/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HtFiction
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJKB4AoAhu-oRPjDfR8Akw
- Other: https://www.colinmustful.com/
Image Credits
Tom Pace
