In Provenance of Ashes, a group of students in East Berlin finds themselves deep within an international espionage plot that spans decades. Where did the idea for this novel come from?

The idea sprung from two different threads. I was fascinated when reading about the case of Cornelius Gurlitt (the son of a famous Nazi art dealer), who had a hoard of paintings stashed in his apartment and was caught in modern times on a Swiss train after selling one of the paintings. I was intrigued that paintings with such a sordid past could be hidden for decades and surreptitiously sold in the new millennium. I’ve also done lots of global travel, in the course of which I met people who worked for (or used to, I think!) Israeli intelligence and the Stasi.

Which comes more naturally to you? The plot or your characters?

The plot/broader concept, and then my characters breathe life into the story.

What part of this book was the most fun to write?

Too tough to answer! Perhaps the reminiscing of Werner, the evil former Stasi agent and bastard son of the Nazi who stole and hid art at the end of WWII.

Can we look forward to a follow-up to this novel? What are you currently working on?

Absolutely–I am working on a new novel featuring Marco and Beryl, which will fit into the theme of a Married into the Mossad Thriller but not willing to reveal more just yet!

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