'Let what you believe shine through every sentence'

“Be yourself.  Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.” – John Jakes

 

Born in Chicago on this date in 1932, Jakes gained widespread popularity with the publication of his Kent Family Chronicles, which became the bestselling American Bicentennial Series in the mid-to-late 1970s.  The books have sold an amazing 55 million copies and still are in print.

 

He also published several other very popular works of historical fiction, including the North and South trilogy about the U.S. Civil War, which sold 10 million copies and was adapted into an ABC-TV miniseries.

 

Jakes started writing while studying at DePauw University and wrote nearly the rest of his life. He died just short of his 91st birthday in 2023.  The author of 55 novels, he also penned 4 major works of nonfiction, including award-winning books on famous war correspondents and “Famous Firsts” in sports.

 

Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Jakes said, “Research is one of the best parts of doing what I do: I learn something new with every novel.  I always begin by reading general studies about the period . . . find events or specific subjects that interest me . . . and then weave many independent pieces of research into the final story.”