Q&A With Ben Leman

Mickey Mikkelson has connected me with author of Between The Tines Ben Leman! 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Ben! Would you please give a brief description of Between The Tines? 

A: Scotland, 1642. Raised for battle, Arran Lamont believes himself ready to defend his clan—until war teaches him how fragile honor, loyalty, and life itself can be.

As Clan Campbell’s power rises, Clan Lamont faces brutal conflict, broken alliances, and the slow unraveling of everything Arran holds dear. From the misty covered Highlands to the blood–stained hills of Ireland, Arran must protect his family, his people, and the woman who captures his heart.

When devastation sweeps across Lamont lands, Arran must choose between dying for his clan’s legacy—or leading his people toward an uncertain future beyond the sea. 

Between the Tines is a sweeping Scottish historical novel of war, love, and survival at the dawn of a new world.

Q: How long did it take you to write Between The Tines? What lessons and reminders do you hope readers remember and learn as well as being entertained by a good story? 

A: The novel took a full year to write from beginning to end, but the research began years before I started writing. 

One of the underlying considerations of the novel I hope readers consider is the answer to the following question: What struggle was going on in the early colonists lives (regardless of what country they were from), that they were willing to pick up and leave everything and everybody they knew and start all over again in an unsettled land? What were they hoping to gain by moving to the colonies or later the United States? If the colonial men and women that stood up and fought in the American Revolution were the seeds of freedom, it is my hope the readers see the people like the characters in my novel as the fertile soil, without which the seeds would have never sprouted.

Another important concept I am trying to get across to the reader is to understand the evolution of thought the early colonists went through regarding their way of life in their homeland as their hopes and dreams for a better future caught wind and sailed them across the Atlantic Ocean.

Q: Will Between The Tines get a sequel, or are you writing another story with different characters? 

A: Between the Tines is book one of the trilogy, Forged in Blood. Book two, Behind the Mask, will pick up where book one left off and continue the same story.

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to Between The Tines? Whether they do or not, who would be your dream cast to portray the characters you created?

A: No, Hollywood does not have the rights. I own all rights to my novel. 

Given the serious depth and tone of the novel, I would want to see a cast that can match that tone. Regarding the main character, Arran Lamont, I think it would need to be a truly artistic breakthrough performance for an actor that is convincing as a Highlander. Although Jason Momoa does not appear to have any significant Scottish ancestry, someone similar in their acting ability would be ideal, but with a Scottish appearance. Although many of his acting roles are not what I consider to be dramatic or serious in nature, the serious supporting role he played in the movie Dune convinces me he has the depth of acting ability to be thoroughly convincing to an audience for the right part that fits him. Arran Lamont in Between the Tines is the perfect role for an actor similar in their presentation as Jason Momoa to have a serious breakthrough performance as the main character in a movie.

A slightly younger Josh Brolin would be a perfect fit to play Lain Faulkner in Between the Tines. A slightly older, more experienced warrior (although still formidable on the battlefield) that plays the mentor to the younger warrior, Arran Lamont.