Kitty Schmidt: My Life As A Prostitute follows a young woman whose only option to pay for her grandfather’s burial is with sex, sending her on a path to becoming the madam of a high-class brothel for the Nazi in WWII. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I had read a magazine account of Kitty’s life and how the SS refused to let her leave Germany, instead ordering her to work for them. I wanted to know more about her impoverished background that, unbeknownst to her at the time, served to help her manage a brothel for the inner circle of the Third Reich.

In addition, I thought it was important to draw attention to the exploitation of women before and World War II. Kitty Schmidt is a fascinating character who does what she must do to survive during a time when women were not valued as highly as men. She used her position to get information to expand her mind and her portfolio to improve her life and the lives of those around her.

What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?

Two scenes stand out. First, we see how a young child witnesses her mother’s murder at the hands of her alcoholic father. How does a young child process such a situation ? Does it scar her for life? She goes to live with her elderly grandparents who are in their last day, but she won’t have it. She finds paint and brushes and begins to work on fixing their house which has fallen into disrepair. In the second scene, in order for Kitty to pay for her grandfather’s funeral, she must sell herself to a pathetic undertaker. That is when she realizes she has power over men. This power helps her pay for her groceries, her clothes, and household repairs. It opens up a world that she had not known existed.

What draws you to the period of WWII and makes it ripe for you to write such a great historical fiction novel in it?

The WWII generation witnessed many heroes and heroines who in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice. I have written several novels centered on that generation: Brazzaville, The Reluctant Nazi, and Sunrise Over Casablanca. They all embrace a theme of personal growth and self-awareness and sacrifice in the midst of external struggles as well as in their own personal conflicts.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

On the Wings of Flying Tigers tells the story of a young man named Albert who always wanted to fly to feel free. That love grows when he watches flying circus performers in the 1930s. Then his uncle gives him a one-man plane to build.

Through hardship and self-sacrifice, Albert joins the military and moves up the ranks to become a member of the Flying Tigers, a volunteer Air Force branch of the Chinese Army. His time in the air indeed makes him feel free, but that freedom comes at a price. We expect to enter the publishing stage of this book in the coming weeks.

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