Night of the Cossack, by Tom Blubaugh and the 10 Day Study Guide, by Theresa Franklin

Tom Blubaugh was the very first author I interviewed on my blog site earlier this year. I am so excited to have him back today to talk about his new project.

His book Night of the Cossack was released in 2011. It was inspired by the life of his grandfather who was captured and forced into the life of a Cossack soldier. Since its release he has been busy promoting his book which has received a solid 5 start rating on Amazon.

Night of the Cossack is a compelling adventure about a teenager who is forced to grow up quickly. The main character, Nathan Hertzfield faces many life or death situations during his saga. Join Nathan on his suspenseful journey through parts of Russia and Europe during the early 1900's. Don't miss this entertaining and intriguing story, Night of the Cossack.

Today Tom is here to talk about a 10 day study guide that Theresa Franklin wrote based on his book.

This lesson plan covers Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies plus discussion questions concerning Moral Dilemmas.

This Literature Based Curriculum Guide and 10 Day Lesson Plan was specifically designed for home school participants by Theresa Franklin. However, it is a wonderful tool for book clubs and family discussions.

This is a companion to the historical fiction book by Tom Blubaugh. Theresa Franklin said in her amazon review of Night of the Cossack, "I highly recommend this book for teachers of any grade over sixth and reluctant readers."

How did the study guide come about?

Theresa read my novel and wrote a review as you mentioned above. She is a retired school teacher and she saw the value of the book as a teaching tool. What is interesting is the fact that I have had a desire to make my book available to the homeschool community. I tried to contact homeschool associations, but had no success. My publisher took it to a meeting in Kansas City, but was unsuccessful. I had put it on the back burner and then I got an email from Theresa asking if it was okay to write the study guide. You know how God works, Salena.

Why did you decide to publish it?

I started to say it was an answer to prayer, but I’m not sure I specifically prayed about this. I think it was just a desire that wouldn’t go away. I believe there are strong lessons in the story and I want young people to discuss and learn from them. I want to be very transparent here—I was a felon at age 15. I was going down a path that would have destroyed me until a bookkeeping teacher intervened in my life in the eleventh hour. Her name was Charlene Jeffers and she passed away last year. I believe to this day that the Lord put her in my path. She came to me at the end of my senior year of high school and told me that all of the other teachers had signed off on my grades for my diploma except her. She went on to tell me that she wasn’t going to until I made up every assignment and took every test I missed when I cut her class. I ended up sitting in her class room for five days meeting her requirements. Half way through the week, she stamped her foot on the floor and said, “Tom Blubaugh, you will never be a bookkeeper.” Her face was red and there was no doubt she was angry. I received my diploma and joined the Navy. My test scores in boot camp were very high and I was placed in leadership. I advance to the maximum rate I could in the four years I served. Almost thirty years later, she sat beside me at the funeral of a high school friend. After the service was over, I introduced myself. She remembered me. I asked her if she remembered that day and she said she didn’t. I was surprised because it was indelibly etched in my mind. She asked why it was so important to me. I told her I did become a bookkeeper and went on to be an office manager, an accountant, an auditor, a business manager, an insurance agent, a financial planner, and a registered investment manager and I told her, “I think it’s all your fault.” We both laughed and then we both cried. I told her that she was the only teacher who cared enough about me to confront me and make me accountable for my irresponsibility. I realized on some level that her anger meant she cared about me. She has held a special place in my heart all these years and will forever. Over the years I’ve wanted to work with young adults, but I didn’t really know how, but when I wrote this novel, the desire was very strong. I still didn’t know how to pursue my desire. Then Theresa wrote this study guide. I had no idea all of what she found was in my novel. Suddenly it looked as though the door was open for me and the homeschool arena is the conduit. I have a vision of moms and dads sitting down with their children and discussing the moral dilemmas in my novel. I can’t help but wonder how it would have helped me if I had this opportunity with my parents when I was a young adult.

What do you hope readers will gain by using this study guide?

My hope is that young adults will like my story well enough that they will put themselves in Nathan’s, the protagonist, place. That it will prompt them to deepen their relationships with their parents and siblings; choose their friends carefully and wisely; be aware that not all situations are black and white; that life can be dangerous; and that they are in the easiest place for learning that they will ever be in. When their education is finished and they go out into the world, they will no longer study the lesson before the test—they will learn the lesson after the test.

WOW! I never thought about it that way before, but you are so right!

How can this study guide help others? What is your vision?

I’m not sure how it can help others. I suppose anyone could learn from it. My vision? I’m not sure I can put it into words. I see myself speaking with young women and men about my book and why I wrote it. I know I’m old enough to be their grandfather and possible their great grandfather. I think this is part of the beauty of it. I was creating a grandfather I didn’t know when I wrote the novel and now I’m a grandfather of fourteen. I have a lot of experiences, stories and I love sharing things that will make a difference in their lives.

Salena, you have tested me with this interview. Thanks for the opportunity to share what’s in my heart. I never thought I would be this alive at sixty-nine.

Thank you for coming by today. I hope everyone will consider buying a copy of the book as well as the study guide which comes in eBook format. They are both excellent books. It is not often you find this subject touched upon. It would make a great gift!






Tom is giving away one SIGNED copy of Night of the Cossack. Please leave a comment with an email address to be entered. Winner announced January 11th, 2012.