Operation South Pacific traces how James A. Michener transformed wartime experience into Tales of the South Pacific—and how those stories became South Pacific, a landmark musical that dared to confront racism on the American stage. What drew you to James Michener as a subject for historical fiction?

I’ve followed the life of James Michener for over twenty years. I spent four years researching and writing his biography (2005). I have always been impressed and inspired by his dedication to his craft, and it was his duty in the South Pacific that launched his extraordinary career. Over the fifty-year span of his career and in many of his novels he explored the culture and history of the nations of the world. It was his beginnings in World War 2 to the debut of the musical South Pacific that I find the most compelling. Such a courageous ascent on his part was tailor-made for historical fiction.

What surprised you most during research about the Pacific theater?

One of the surprising things I found about Michener was the number of people he encountered during his tour of duty. He met Melanesians, Polynesians, Tonkinese, Japanese, naval personnel and civilians.

These diverse voices helped provide the depth and veracity of his first novel Tales of the South Pacific.

How did you balance documented history with imaginative reconstruction?

I was very careful to stick to the truth. Why? Because the truth in this case was far more interesting and surprising than any sensationalism I could have added to the scenes or dialogue. That is why I tried to balance the historical record of the war with the personal lives of his central characters.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Operation South Pacific?

Of all the writers I have studied, I have not found any backstory more engrossing than James Michener’s rise to fame. If there is one thing I would like to readers to come away with, it is this. If you want to be a writer, dive into the task, absorb as much as you can about your fictional environment, keep steady, believe in your mission, and don’t waste time worrying about becoming a best-selling writer. And who knows, you just might create something of value that readers love, and editors admire. Perhaps, like James Michener, unimaginable and wonderful results will come from your efforts.

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