E771 - Corinne Hoebers - Tethered Spirits - A Historical novel set in 18th-century Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia)

EPISODE 771 - Corinne Hoebers - Tethered Spirits - A Historical novel set in 18th-century Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) In this episode, author Corinne Hoebers shares the deeply personal and historical roots behind her writing, tracing her journey from an interest in genealogy to crafting richly layered historical fiction. Living in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, Corinne reflects on how her curiosity about her German ancestors, who arrived in Lunenburg in the 1700s, sparked her first book and eventually led to a much larger creative path. Corinne describes herself as a lifelong reader whose tastes evolved from nonfiction to historical fiction, inspired in part by powerful storytelling and her parents’ own tradition of sharing family stories. That foundation shaped both her imagination and her desire to explore identity, history, and human connection through writing. She speaks candidly about her creative process, including the challenge of managing an active imagination and the intensity of inhabiting her characters and time periods. Her featured novel is set during the French and Indian War and follows two siblings navigating complex relationships between their German settler family and the Mi’kmaq people. Through alternating perspectives, Corinne explores themes of loyalty, cultural conflict, and empathy. A central goal of her work is to encourage greater cultural awareness and understanding, emphasizing that fear of those who are different is not new, but remains relevant today. To ensure authenticity and respect, Corinne worked closely with historians, linguists, and Mi’kmaq elders, incorporating feedback from sensitivity readers throughout the writing and editing process. She shares how this collaboration shaped the final manuscript and strengthened its message. Corinne also reflects on the realities of publishing as an unknown author, the importance of persistence, and the value of taking time with the creative process. She is currently beginning a new project inspired by her own childhood in the 1960s, blending personal experience with historical context. Key takeaway: Meaningful storytelling comes from patience, curiosity, and a willingness to understand different perspectives, and when writers focus on authenticity rather than expectation, their work can foster empathy and important conversations. “As moving and profound as the people at the core of her story, Corinne Hoebers’s Tethered Spirits brings to vivid life the dual histories of Nova Scotia in the mid-1700s: that of the Mi’kmaq who were here since time immemorial and that of the new arrivals, especially German settlers attracted by land grants and failing to question whose land was being granted. Hoebers sensitively and realistically portrays women and men from both of those intersecting histories and the violent brutality of ensuing conflicts. She weaves a complicated cast of three-dimensional characters, including Europeans who embraced the Mi’kmaq and their teachings and in the rarest cases resisted and struggled against European encroachment and violence. The result is an engaging work of historical fiction, engrossing and enlightening.” Chris Benjamin, author of Indian School Road – Legacies of the Shubenacadie Residential School “Tethered Spirits is a deeply moving historical novel set in 18th-century Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), tracing the story of Bear Cub—a young German settler who is taken in by a Mi’kmaw family and gradually comes to see their land, language, and ways as his own. As someone who values stories of reconciliation and belonging, I found Bear Cub’s inner struggle between two identities—colonial and Indigenous—both heartbreaking and profoundly resonant. The novel doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of displacement, violence, and cultural loss, but it also celebrates kinship, resilience, and the enduring wisdom of the land and its first peoples. Tethered Spirits is not just a historical account—it’s a spiritual journey that lingers long after the final page.” Honourable Leah Martin, member of Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia Minister of L’nu Affairs “The most important work of historical fiction is to bring to life the parts of our history that are not often taught or told. In imagining the lives of and connections between German settlers and Mi’kmaq people in 18th century Nova Scotia, Tethered Spirits vividly illuminates this little-known aspect of Atlantic Canadian history and offers a powerful and necessary reminder of whose land we live on. Hoebers’ deep knowledge of and care for this history is evident on every page.” Trudy Morgan Cole, author of The Cupids trilogy; A Roll of Bones, Such Miracles and Mischiefs, A Company of Rogues https://corinnehoebers.mywriting.network/ Support the show ___ https://livingthenextchapter.com/ podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/ Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks! https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca