Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with relatable characters and biblical truth. Learn more and sign up for a free short story at booksbyjayna.com.
Visit Jayna Baas online
Patriot on the River: A Novel of the American Revolution
The fight he got wasn’t the fight he wanted. It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally. But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches Sunrising fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home. Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before his settlement goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first. Perfect for fans of Christian historical fiction and tales of bravery and redemption, Patriot at the River combines engaging characters, unfamiliar history, and biblical truth. Read now and step into an adventure of faith and freedom.
- ISBN: 1734717548
- Publisher: Indie Published
Interview with Jayna Baas 2025
Hi Jayna! Congratulations on your newest book Patriot on the River! As a descendant of patriots who were in the American Revolution at both Kings Mountain and Cowpens, I was particularly captivated by your story and have a lot of questions for you. So, let’s get started.
Patriot at the River is set during the American Revolution in 1780-81 in North Carolina. What inspired you to explore this time and place in history for your story?
I have a longtime love for less familiar parts of history—the fascinating stories that often go neglected. I also have a longtime love of the American Revolution, so exploring the southern front of the struggle for independence was a way to combine those interests.
Patriot at the River is the second book in the For Liberty and Conscience series. How does it connect to the first book, and can readers dive into this one without having read the first? What do you hope readers take away from your second book?
I had ideas for this book first and intended to circle back to the first book later. That changed when I got terribly stuck and a family member tactfully suggested I write the first book first. (What a thought.) Several characters from Preacher on the Run return in Patriot at the River, but each book can be enjoyed as its own adventure. My hope is for Patriot at the River to remind readers that although we’re powerless to change ourselves, all our victory is in Christ.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing Patriot at the River, whether in terms of research, character arcs, or weaving together the themes?
It’s a challenge to weave the fictional story around historical events in a way that is both authentic to history and true to the story—not taking liberties with historical fact but also bringing the story alive without slipping into “historian mode.” Given readers’ responses, I think I’ve succeeded.
How important is it for you to weave faith into your stories, and why?
My stories would be incomplete without Christ as their foundation. But my goal is always to show the truth in realistic, integral ways—neither shying away from it nor reducing it to a clichéd “Band-Aid” for characters’ problems. In real life, we would think something was wrong if a Christian never mentioned Christ, but we would also think something was wrong if a Christian read from a script every time spiritual things came up! I want readers to see the truth of Christ lived out on the page so they’re reminded of what they have in him.
Who will enjoy your books?
My books probably won’t appeal to readers who dislike history (although I’ve converted a few non–history lovers) or prefer books that are “clean” or “inspirational” rather than truly Christian. But readers who love authentic historical detail, vivid biblical faith, and what Laura Frantz described as “courageous flesh-and-blood characters” will discover these stories were written just for them. Readers can find details and get a free short story at https://booksbyjayna.com.
Could you tell us a little about your writing process for historical fiction? Do you start with research, characters, or the plot?
I start by visualizing a specific character in a specific setting. After that, it’s research time! I do a “flyover” of the historical era, then dive deeper after choosing events to highlight. I don’t work well with detailed outlines, but I need a little structure—James Scott Bell’s “Fourteen Signposts” from his book Super Structure are helpful for me. I usually finish by doubling down on characters’ internal conflict so I can weave those threads into the now-completed plot.
Besides being an author, you are also the director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. What does the editing process look like for you, personally?
I studied editing partly because I couldn’t afford professional editors and wanted to refine my own work. I still do most of my editing myself, but my stories also go through multiple rounds of beta reading and finish in the hands of a friend with a long career in writing and editing. I’m honored to be director of such a passionate group of editors, though, and I would recommend The Christian PEN and its sister organization Christian Editor Connection to anyone looking for a qualified Christian editor.
What advice can you give to young authors who may be just starting out?
Read a lot and write a lot. Reading a variety of well-written styles will help hone your ear, and the more you write, the better you’ll get. Also, keep a teachable spirit but don’t be afraid to think critically about popular advice. For instance, much of today’s writing advice ignores the interests of male readership, and most claims of social media book sales aren’t backed by statistics. What works (or used to work) for one author may not work for you, and that’s okay.
What’s next for you as an author? Are there more books planned in this series or other projects in the works?
I’m currently researching final novel of the For Liberty & Conscience trilogy. The western frontier of North Carolina tried to form the independent state of Franklin, resulting in rival court systems, conflicting Native American treaties, and even an attempted alliance with Spain. I’m in over my head on this one! I keep readers posted in my monthly emails—sign up at https://booksbyjayna.com/newsletter for updates and other fun stuff.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Writing, marketing, and editing (for myself and clients) take a lot of my time. But I also enjoy cooking, spending time with my family and church family, gardening as Michigan weather permits, reading good books, and watching adventure classics like the 1957 Zorro series and 1955 Adventures of Robin Hood series. (I’m convinced culture’s fascination with heroic champions is born of our innate knowledge that we all need a Rescuer.)
If you could only read one work of fiction one more time, what would it be?
What a hard question! If “one work of fiction” applies to an entire series, I’d probably choose Jan Karon’s Mitford novels. For a single book, it might be Davis Bunn’s Lion of Babylon or Louis L’Amour’s The Warrior’s Path. Something with a great storytelling style that makes me think.
_________________________________________________________________________________
At the age of thirteen, Kimberly Keagan discovered romance novels. Whenever possible, she ignored her chores in favor of a book she couldn't put down. In time, she earned a degree in accounting and enjoyed a brief career in investor relations, writing financial reports and press releases—terrific jobs, but not very romantic. By God's grace, she married her own handsome hero and raised two wonderful children, whom they homeschooled. Now, she is following her long-held dream of penning historical romance. Her debut novel releases in 2025.
Patriot at the River is set during the American Revolution in 1780-81 in North Carolina. What inspired you to explore this time and place in history for your story?
I have a longtime love for less familiar parts of history—the fascinating stories that often go neglected. I also have a longtime love of the American Revolution, so exploring the southern front of the struggle for independence was a way to combine those interests.
Patriot at the River is the second book in the For Liberty and Conscience series. How does it connect to the first book, and can readers dive into this one without having read the first? What do you hope readers take away from your second book?
I had ideas for this book first and intended to circle back to the first book later. That changed when I got terribly stuck and a family member tactfully suggested I write the first book first. (What a thought.) Several characters from Preacher on the Run return in Patriot at the River, but each book can be enjoyed as its own adventure. My hope is for Patriot at the River to remind readers that although we’re powerless to change ourselves, all our victory is in Christ.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing Patriot at the River, whether in terms of research, character arcs, or weaving together the themes?
It’s a challenge to weave the fictional story around historical events in a way that is both authentic to history and true to the story—not taking liberties with historical fact but also bringing the story alive without slipping into “historian mode.” Given readers’ responses, I think I’ve succeeded.
How important is it for you to weave faith into your stories, and why?
My stories would be incomplete without Christ as their foundation. But my goal is always to show the truth in realistic, integral ways—neither shying away from it nor reducing it to a clichéd “Band-Aid” for characters’ problems. In real life, we would think something was wrong if a Christian never mentioned Christ, but we would also think something was wrong if a Christian read from a script every time spiritual things came up! I want readers to see the truth of Christ lived out on the page so they’re reminded of what they have in him.
Who will enjoy your books?
My books probably won’t appeal to readers who dislike history (although I’ve converted a few non–history lovers) or prefer books that are “clean” or “inspirational” rather than truly Christian. But readers who love authentic historical detail, vivid biblical faith, and what Laura Frantz described as “courageous flesh-and-blood characters” will discover these stories were written just for them. Readers can find details and get a free short story at https://booksbyjayna.com.
Could you tell us a little about your writing process for historical fiction? Do you start with research, characters, or the plot?
I start by visualizing a specific character in a specific setting. After that, it’s research time! I do a “flyover” of the historical era, then dive deeper after choosing events to highlight. I don’t work well with detailed outlines, but I need a little structure—James Scott Bell’s “Fourteen Signposts” from his book Super Structure are helpful for me. I usually finish by doubling down on characters’ internal conflict so I can weave those threads into the now-completed plot.
Besides being an author, you are also the director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. What does the editing process look like for you, personally?
I studied editing partly because I couldn’t afford professional editors and wanted to refine my own work. I still do most of my editing myself, but my stories also go through multiple rounds of beta reading and finish in the hands of a friend with a long career in writing and editing. I’m honored to be director of such a passionate group of editors, though, and I would recommend The Christian PEN and its sister organization Christian Editor Connection to anyone looking for a qualified Christian editor.
What advice can you give to young authors who may be just starting out?
Read a lot and write a lot. Reading a variety of well-written styles will help hone your ear, and the more you write, the better you’ll get. Also, keep a teachable spirit but don’t be afraid to think critically about popular advice. For instance, much of today’s writing advice ignores the interests of male readership, and most claims of social media book sales aren’t backed by statistics. What works (or used to work) for one author may not work for you, and that’s okay.
What’s next for you as an author? Are there more books planned in this series or other projects in the works?
I’m currently researching final novel of the For Liberty & Conscience trilogy. The western frontier of North Carolina tried to form the independent state of Franklin, resulting in rival court systems, conflicting Native American treaties, and even an attempted alliance with Spain. I’m in over my head on this one! I keep readers posted in my monthly emails—sign up at https://booksbyjayna.com/newsletter for updates and other fun stuff.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Writing, marketing, and editing (for myself and clients) take a lot of my time. But I also enjoy cooking, spending time with my family and church family, gardening as Michigan weather permits, reading good books, and watching adventure classics like the 1957 Zorro series and 1955 Adventures of Robin Hood series. (I’m convinced culture’s fascination with heroic champions is born of our innate knowledge that we all need a Rescuer.)
If you could only read one work of fiction one more time, what would it be?
What a hard question! If “one work of fiction” applies to an entire series, I’d probably choose Jan Karon’s Mitford novels. For a single book, it might be Davis Bunn’s Lion of Babylon or Louis L’Amour’s The Warrior’s Path. Something with a great storytelling style that makes me think.
_________________________________________________________________________________
At the age of thirteen, Kimberly Keagan discovered romance novels. Whenever possible, she ignored her chores in favor of a book she couldn't put down. In time, she earned a degree in accounting and enjoyed a brief career in investor relations, writing financial reports and press releases—terrific jobs, but not very romantic. By God's grace, she married her own handsome hero and raised two wonderful children, whom they homeschooled. Now, she is following her long-held dream of penning historical romance. Her debut novel releases in 2025.
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