Storytelling often grows from the intersection of memory, observation, and the courage to confront difficult truths. For author Michael A. Heines, that intersection becomes the foundation of his debut novel, True Freshman, the first installment in a coming-of-age mystery series set on a Midwestern college campus in the early 1980s. Drawing inspiration from real tragedies involving students at The Ohio State University and the sobering reality that many college women face sexual violence, Heines crafts a story that blends nostalgia, suspense, and social awareness. Through the eyes of an eighteen-year-old freshman navigating independence, friendship, and the uncertainty of young adulthood, the novel explores the fragile moment when innocence begins to give way to experience. With emotional depth and a keen sense of place,
Heines invites readers into a world where the promise of college life collides with the harsh realities that can shape, and sometimes shatter, the journey into adulthood.
True Freshman is rooted in real events and social realities. What first compelled you to transform these painful histories into a coming-of-age mystery rather than a purely factual account?
We are so accustomed as a society to hearing about murder and or sexual assaults every night on the news, totally inundated, and not making any comments or expressing personal feelings. I was listening one evening to the news on a murder that happened at Ohio State. Being a graduate made me sad, and I took it personally. My experience there was so positive, and this hurt. This is my own way to get the word out, create a call to action to start a conversation, and hopefully educate.
The novel is set on a Midwestern college campus in the early 1980s. Why was this specific time period important to the story, and what does that era reveal about youth, freedom, and vulnerability?
This story is set prior to social media. Landlines and innocence. In some ways, the world is now way bigger with the internet; it’s been transformed. That’s the reality we live in today. The personal touch is slipping away, and I believe some students are still vulnerable and naïve with the world at their fingertips; however, they will continue to confront problems and growth. I wanted the story to be about my college years, with a personal connection. That time is relatable to me and allows me to tell the story my way with nostalgia. People like nostalgia.
Daniel Campbell is introduced as “very average and very unprepared.” What drew you to create such an ordinary protagonist, and how does his ordinariness shape the emotional impact of the story?
Every kid going to college at some point is ‘average and unprepared’. You can go to college as the homecoming king or the nerd or whatever you were in high school, and college is a clean slate. In college, no one cares who you were in high school. It is the ultimate growing period. Even kids who do not go to college welcome the fresh start. It’s life’s beginning.
The transition from innocence to experience is a central theme in True Freshman. In your view, what is the most fragile moment in that transition for young adults?
Most kids leave home and have never been away, living by themselves, responsible for their own actions, without mom or dad or a guardian. One can go to class or sleep all day. One can party all day. The decisions are theirs and theirs alone. This is when the transition begins. This is when personal newfound responsibility begins along with personal discovery, which can be overwhelming.
Campus safety and sexual violence remain urgent issues today. How did you balance telling a compelling mystery while honoring the real-world gravity of these experiences?
The current stats are unacceptable. Maybe my story can help with that. Today, call stations, cell phones, tracking, and services are more prepared than in my day. There is always room for improvement. The story hopefully captivates young adults, their parents, and even adults out of school who are not yet married. NO still means NO, and that story needs to be repeated.
When Daniel’s best friend becomes a victim, his world shifts dramatically. What did you want readers to understand about fear, responsibility, and moral courage through his response?
Not to give up. Not to give up on friends, family, and or relationships. Not to give up on school, or if not in school, work or a career. Continue the fight to learn and succeed.
Nostalgia plays a strong role in the novel, yet it is contrasted with darkness and danger. How do you see nostalgia functioning in the story—does it comfort, deceive, or awaken awareness?
Everyone likes nostalgia in a story. From quoting movie lines to talking about past sporting events to even past trips or experiences. We live, laugh, and grow from these experiences. There is no deception or discomfort, just enhancing the story. This was a positive time in my life, and I believe this will resonate with the reader and ground the story.
Looking back at your own freshman year and the person you were then, what do you wish someone had told you about courage, awareness, and taking care of one another?
Several things took me a while to sink into my thick brain. Thick. Thought I knew everything, but I was sometimes cocky, which I didn’t and wasn’t. Having dated in high school, thought I also knew everything. Not even close. Had good friends growing up, then college friends, which I have been able to keep for life. I wish I had made more of an effort on some of those relationships. A relationship is two-sided; I needed my side to step up. Sometimes I forgot what was important. I was always a strong person, but age makes you more aware and wiser. Finally, the way I valued an education was skewed. Yes, it was important, but I should have valued it more than I did.
Your professional background is far from fiction writing. How did your life experience, observation, and years of collaboration shape your voice as a novelist?
My work experience is ‘way far’ removed from fictional writing. Writing was (is) a hobby and part of my alone time. It calms me down and allows me to be creative in my own way. I do enjoy the history of real estate. I collect architectural salvage. It allows me to have a personal connection with what I’m doing on that piece of property. For example, the door handle, the window frame, or even just a box of old tools from the basement tells a story.
True Freshman speaks to both young readers and older generations who remember their own college years. What conversations do you hope the book sparks between generations?
Parents, their kids, their young adults, grandparents, families and in between generations should all view this novel with adult discussions. Being alone for the first time comes with the responsibility to yourself. How to take care of yourself and take care of friends with respect for others. Learn community responsibility along with building your personal self as an adult.
As this is the first novel in a new series, how do you see Daniel’s journey evolving, and what deeper questions about identity, safety, and adulthood do you hope to explore next?
This is the first book in a series. Dan not only evolves as a student and as a young adult, but also as a Federal Agent. The series takes you through his journey. I cannot spoil the story.
Writing about fear, loss, and vulnerability can be emotionally demanding. Was there a moment during the writing of True Freshman that stayed with you or changed the way you see your own past?
I have gotten emotional throughout the writing. It was personally kind of strange. Didn’t expect it. There are always experiences I wish I either didn’t have or could change. There were dumb decisions, young decisions that my grown adult probably would not have made. We all make those and learn from those. In life, that’s how we learn, and that’s how Dan learns and grows to be what he becomes.
Michael A. Heines, author of True Freshman, lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has over 35 years of local and national real estate experience, specializing in the acquisition, renovation, zoning, and construction of commercial and residential properties. While his career includes writing contracts, bids, and government grants, he has spent many years working with industry professionals on developing and editing the story and manuscript. Mr. Heines has a Bachelor of Business Administration from The Ohio State University and an Ohio Real Estate License.
Comments