Blog Archives
Bravery of Women
Lottie Beauchamp’s War follows a woman searching for information on her great aunt who served in the Women’s Auxilary Air Force during WWII. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Thank you for inviting me to interview. A few years ago I read about women serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce (ATA) and found their stories fascinating. From there, I began to research other areas where women’s contributions were significant to Allied success in WW2. Their bravery can never be underestimated. It made me think how incredible it would have been to have worked with these women.
From these wonderful accounts, Lottie Beauchamp’s War began to evolve. I wanted to combine fiction with some fact and my research began.
Lottie’s life is fascinating, and you included so much detail readers will be able to experience life during WWII. What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I read a lot of books and searched internet archives about the lives of the women. I also delved into as much detail as I needed for authenticity, for example, what transport was available, what certain streets looked like, the time the moon rose on a certain day in France, etc! It’s amazing just how much information is out there. I should stress, Lottie, her personal story, all dialogue and representation of the people who existed, is fiction but I’ve tried to make the story as authentic as possible within the historical setting.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
To celebrate the astonishing bravery of women in WWII and highlight some of the inequality that existed in their roles.
What is the next story that you’re writing, and when will it be published?
I’m just beginning research on another area of history…
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon
Her great-niece, Charlotte Beauchamp, visits the care home where she’s spent her final years.
Despite the family connection, Charlotte’s never met her great aunt.
The manager tells Charlotte what little she knows about Lottie and gives her a box of belongings.
Charlotte feels compelled to find out more about the secret life of Lottie.
The Thread Of Life
White Cat unveils the intricate life of a centenarian through letters and artifacts, weaving a tapestry of history, emotion, and mystery across eras like World War 2 and the approach of apartheid-era South Africa. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Initially, a family connection made it important: Barbara was my aunt and the last of her generation, and, during her last years, shared with me a lot of family history and anecdotal material which, I suspected, no other family member had been aware of. The instigation for the actual writing was her disclosure of her extra-marital relations with the army spy whom I have called Hugh in the book. In fact, she refused to tell me his real name, which I put down to the unwavering wartime sense of duty of her generation. She suffered for this relationship and it became important to me to witness to the resilience and courage – evidenced also by her own wartime actions – of the person she was. Then my therapist persona jumped in and I realised that I had the material for a favourite theme of mine, namely, the passage of our lives through our heredity mixed with our contacts with others, the strands from which the thread of life is spun.
Can you elaborate on the real events that inspired “White Cat” and how you balanced historical accuracy with creative storytelling?
Wars, in this case, the Boer War in South Africa and World War 2, provide grand tableaux which, if we are not careful, distract us from the reality that it is the lives of the people which make up the picture. I knew that my grandfather lost a leg in an engagement in the Boer War, that a granduncle drowned in South Africa in undocumented circumstances and was ‘disappeared’ by his family, and that Barbara’s paramour, the military spy, vanished in Vienna. The great events provided a stage on which to play this out, but the real drama was about the lives of individuals. I had considerable material from my firsthand acquaintance with many of the individuals. I also had family anecdotal evidence of the personalities of the generation before, enough to be able to ‘write back’ some family traits which I knew of from my own day. So the narrative of the story grew also from what I could believe or impute for the characters concerned. This formula, such as it was, gave me enough scope for creativity in storytelling. The one enigma was Harry, my granduncle, and, whilst I offer a therapist perspective on his death, I leave it for the reader to decide.
The book’s narrative structure, weaving together elements of historical fiction, memoir, and mystery, is unique. What challenges did you face in crafting this multi-layered story, and how did you overcome them?
This was a challenge. I knew how I was going to start and I knew where the book was going to end. In fact, I wrote the final chapter not long after the first and I changed it very little. I knew I had two main storylines, the love story of Barbara and Hugh, and the tragedies of the family in South Africa: they were roughly 50 years and 10,000 miles apart. That in itself intrigued me. It was the letters that gave me the answer. Within my cast of characters over four generations, there were enough people who either did, because I had some letters, or plausibly could have, written to each other across the generations, for this to provide the continuity and create for Barbara the pivotal role in the overall drama.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The first sequel to White Cat is already out. It is called And Then There Are The Stories. It follows the fortunes of Hugh and Nobomi, starting in Vienna and then moving back to South Africa, ending in the Drakensberg mountains on the border between Eastern Cape and Lesotho. It is largely fictional – I was unable to find any trace of a likely Hugh in the National Archives once he moved from his military unit to the FSS. But there is one scene in Vienna for which I found sufficient family material to make possible a reconstruction. I have adopted a different format in this sequel, the main storyline being carried by the accounts given by a series of ‘outside’ characters, whose lives become involved in different ways.
I am now working on the third and final sequel, which is more or less present-day, though with allusions to some material in White Cat, as well as to the two main characters of the first sequel. The two figurehead names of White Cat reappear, though they might not be related to their namesakes there, but they continue my theme of the thread of life. This final sequel is called River.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | www.life-counselling.co.uk
This family saga begins at an end, with the death of Barbara at 104, the last of her generation, and the end of an era. She was the custodian of memories and memorabilia from four generations – her larger-than-life grandfather converted by a Quaker nurse, a father in the Boer War in South Africa, an uncle who mysteriously drowned in the Indian Ocean, his African girl-friend and the child he never saw, Barbara’s own paramour a spy in post-war occupied Vienna…and her own heroism in that war.
The reader passes through the abandoned rooms of her house, as the story unfolds by way of narrative and letters which create an immediacy, even intimacy, with the various players in the drama.
“… a confusion of sets and settings when the action moved, sometimes you could see it but sometimes it was offstage and reported, and then you have to trust the word passed down across the terraces of history, the hardships, the joys, the resentments, the hopes, the terror, the humanity, the resilience… and somewhere back along the way, still tolling, the bourdon bell which marked the tide of war.”
The White Cat? – no, six in all, and a question left unanswered.
A Heart-Rending Letter
_w250_h/IMG_2131%20(2)_12310254.jpg)
Not My War follows a young woman who returns home to Paris to find it under Nazi occupation and slowly realizes the horrors they are committing and how it impacts her life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a teenager in England during World War II, my mother had a French pen pal– a girl of about her own age, who lived in Paris. Shortly after the German occupation began, my mother received a heart-rending letter from her friend, describing her grief and fear as she watched hundreds of Nazis triumphantly enter the city in long columns with their weapons fully on display. My mother held on to this letter for decades. It was so emotional, I couldn’t read it without crying! My mother died of Alzheimer’s’ a long time ago, and after her death I searched through her things for hours, looking for that letter. I never did find it, which is a pity because I thought it should belong in a museum. But I did incorporate a similar scene in ‘Not My War,’ when the protagonist witnesses that very same event.
Louise just wants to enjoy her newfound freedom after returning from boarding school, only to discover the truth about the occupation of her homeland. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Louise is by nature fun-loving and impetuous. When the harsh realities of the occupation start to affect her and her family, she puts her head in the sand, becoming willful and totally self-centered. Her behavior becomes so outrageous that she starts losing her friends. Only when she is mistaken for a Jew, and is treated as such, does she finally realize the error of her ways.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I did a great deal of research before I started to write, and came across some useful first-hand accounts of how atrociously the Jews were treated—not just by the Germans, but also by the French police. I wanted to convey how miserable the lives of ordinary people became under the occupation, many of them slowly starving to death because of the harsh rationing. Also important to me was to convey the sense of fear predominant at the time. Many ordinary people chose to turn a blind eye to the atrocities they witnessed because they were afraid for their own lives. I did my best to remain as close to the truth as possible, and many of the events that take place in the book actually happened—things so truly awful that I could never have made them up.
What is the next book that you’re working on and when can your fans expect it out?
No more Nazis for me, for the time being anyway. I need to get my thoughts away from that dreadful time. I’m working on a new series set in Victorian times at the start of the Industrial Revolution. It focuses on the lives of women working in a corset factory. One of the characters becomes a serial killer! I’m only partway through writing, so it probably won’t be published until the fall.
Author Links: Goodreads | Website
Finally free from her stuffy English boarding school, the fearless and fun-loving Louise is eager to embrace her future. But after she returns home to find Paris under Nazi occupation, she’s quickly dragged into a war that she wants no part in.
Reluctantly plunged into the secretive and dangerous world of the French Resistance, her hopes of fun and excitement are crushed beneath the grueling realities of war. And when she meets the young, handsome Nazi officer Hans, Louise becomes increasingly torn between her loyalty to her family and her newfound feelings for the charming officer.
As tensions rise and emotions threaten to boil over, Louise realizes she won’t be able to ignore the war forever – and when she stumbles upon the horrifying truth behind the Nazi occupation, she’ll be forced to question her deepest beliefs and take a stand for what’s right.
Step into a gritty and authentic historical fiction novel that captures your imagination with larger-than-life characters and thrilling historical details. Not My War is a page-turning read that focuses on the lesser-known stories of the brave men and women who fought in Nazi-occupied France. Scroll up and grab your copy today …
Till I Bleed No More
Embark on an exhilarating journey with Casper and Fletch, two resilient souls who find themselves marooned on a captivating island. This unexpected twist of fate unfolds after a gripping showdown on the high seas against a formidable crew of pirate hunters. As the dust settles, Casper and Fletch realize they stand as the sole survivors from their crew, setting the stage for a tale of survival, adaptation, and an unexpected opportunity for retribution.
In the heart of this 18th-century narrative, author Alexander Ellis weaves an enchanting tapestry of historical fiction centered around the world of piracy and its intriguing demise. Ellis channels the perspective of our protagonist, Casper, immersing readers in a vivid and enthralling experience.
The success of this book lies in Ellis’s ability to paint scenes so vibrant; you can almost feel the salty breeze and taste the adventure in the air. He effortlessly guides us through a spectrum of emotions, from poignant moments that tug at the heartstrings to pulse-pounding battles that gleam with a touch of visceral excitement.
Ellis’s storytelling technique caters to each narration to the precise essence of the scene. Whether it’s a pause for introspection or a captivating clash, Ellis ensures every narrative beat resonates with readers. He achieves this while maintaining a graceful simplicity that keeps readers engaged and absorbed, avoiding unnecessary distractions.
While I enjoyed the novel, I feel that the dialogue could benefit from some refinement. Nevertheless, Ellis’s innate knack for storytelling carries the day, inviting readers to explore a world where revenge roars as fiercely as the ocean waves. Dive into Till I Bleed No More for an exhilarating expedition into history, survival, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Pages: 352 | ISBN: 0645764108
I Want Mary’s Story To Come Alive
The Chosen One: Mary’s Story follows a young Jewish girl caught on the brink of marriage as she discovers her divine calling to give birth to the son of God, in a narrative that weaves ancient events with modern-day language. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I began to think of Mary as a young pregnant unwed teenager. Today that is common. In those days, it meant death. I wanted to portray her thoughts and fears – and yet her strength in her faith in God.
How did you approach making this ancient narrative accessible to contemporary readers?
I wanted to show Mary with close friends and a loving family. I attempted to show her interaction with contemporary thoughts while still adhering as close as possible to Jewish traditions and values. My goal was to make the story come alive for many who may have never heard it.
The characters are portrayed as multi-dimensional. How did you go about developing them to show the human side of these biblical figures?
I did a lot of research for this book through Jewish history and mythology, as well as scriptural references. It is thought that Mary was only around 13-14 when she gave birth to Jesus. Joseph may have been much older. Jewish history gives a lot of detail to places and the timeline of Mary’s visit to her relative, Elizabeth, as well as the birth of Jesus and what drove them to Bethlehem.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on a YA thriller about child trafficking that will hopefully be out in 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
When the angel appeared to her, she knew there would be consequences. What would people think? Her act of obedience could become her death – and yet, she willingly accepted her mission. She only hoped Joseph would understand….
The Chosen One – Mary’s Story is Mary’s account from her perspective. It will take you into her thoughts and hopes from her betrothal up through Jesus’s birth and flight to Egypt. Through biblical history, Jewish history, myth, and legend, the story will bring new revelations to this age-old Bible story.
The Silent Hen
Helen Montague Foster’s historical novel, The Silent Hen, offers an evocative journey through the tumultuous eras of World War II and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The narrative explores the intertwined lives of its characters across time and space, from the war-ridden landscapes of Cairo and Yugoslavia to the heart-rending realities of the modern era.
The novel’s protagonist, Lucy, a fervent Virginia woman, eagerly serves her country during the Second World War, enlisting in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Following an intense training period, Lucy is deployed to Egypt, falling deeply in love with a fellow operative, Gordon. This passionate backdrop sets the stage for an unexpected and tender narrative that unfolds when Gordon, dispatched to Yugoslavia, encounters Bella – a young Jewish girl hiding from the horrors of the war with her pet hen, Tisina. Now orphaned, Bella forms an unforeseen bond with an American soldier and a Virginia spy, a connection bearing an uncanny resemblance to the relationship with her late mother.
Foster’s The Silent Hen is an homage to the bravery and dedication of the author’s parents and all OSS members who risked everything during this tumultuous period of history.
The narrative ingeniously interweaves two distinct timelines – the upheavals of war from 1943 to 1945, contrasted with the devastating effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. The early timeline presents a potent exploration of Lucy, Gordon, and Bella maneuvering through the labyrinth of religious, cultural, and political complexities of the war. Simultaneously, the latter timeline unveils the poignant revelation of Lucy grappling with dementia, with only her comrade, Hart, maintaining the clarity of their shared past.
The narrative is punctuated by two principal characters: Lucy, the fearless operative, and Bella, the innocent child. Amid the pervasive sorrow and loss that mark the pages of the novel, Foster expertly weaves threads of hope and idealism into her characters’ personas.
The Silent Hen is captivating not only because of this juxtaposition but also due to Foster’s adept storytelling. Her suspenseful narrative keeps the reader on the edge, continually questioning the connection between the two timelines and the eventual unfolding of later events. This novel serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, all while delivering an engrossing tale that reverberates with historical significance and emotional depth.
Pages: 330 | ASIN: B0CDSJVRWQ
A Delicate Marriage
In Margarita Barresi’s captivating novel, A Delicate Marriage, readers are immersed in a riveting narrative, shedding light on the unlikely union between Marco, a man of humble origins with soaring ambitions, and Isabela, the privileged daughter of a successful businessman. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Puerto Rico in the tumultuous 1930s, the tale offers a keen exploration of the intertwined destinies of these two characters.
Will Marco manage to convince Isabela’s father of his worth? Can Isabela transcend her sheltered, superficial lifestyle to discover a deeper sense of contentment? A nostalgic, romantic ambiance infuses the narrative as readers find themselves instinctively championing these characters. Moreover, the development of Puerto Rico – navigating the journey from a colonial outpost to an industrialized state – constitutes an engaging subplot interwoven with the central romance.
Barresi’s A Delicate Marriage skillfully etches each character with minute precision, providing an immersive reading experience that allows the audience to traverse through their vicissitudes. Isabela, in particular, is depicted as a remarkably human character, prone to errors as any of us, which only enhances her appeal. The author meticulously describes the exotic locale without overindulging in detail, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative.
Despite its merits, I think the novel could have benefitted from a more in-depth exploration of its secondary characters. I think that delving into their perceptions of the unfolding events and their roles within the broader narrative would have enriched the story. And I think greater usage of internal monologues would have added more depth to the motivations driving each character.
A Delicate Marriage, with its blend of glamour, charm, and a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, promises to uplift readers’ spirits on even the dreariest of days, inviting them to revisit the tempestuous yet enchanting landscape of Puerto Rico. This delightful romantic saga, with a touch of Latin American flair, is likely to enthrall readers, particularly those with a penchant for compelling love stories.
Pages: 352 | ISBN : 1639889302
LITERARY TITAN 
The Unbroken Horizon
Aug 15
Posted by Literary Titan
The Unbroken Horizon by Jenny Brav delves into the captivating journey of Sarah, a compassionate humanitarian nurse. The narrative commences in Sudan, where Sarah diligently carries out her crucial work. However, a profoundly tragic event compels her to return to her homeland, the United States. It is upon her return that Sarah seizes the opportunity to unpack her own life, embarking on a therapeutic exploration and delving into her family’s intricate history. A striking revelation awaits readers as they discover that, much like many individuals, Sarah had been employing her work as a protective shield against the tribulations of her personal life.
What distinguishes this remarkable tale is the presence of a parallel storyline intricately interwoven with Sarah’s profound voyage of self-discovery. This parallel narrative revolves around a captivating character named Maggie, whose exploits unfold against the backdrop of early 1900s America. Immersed in this facet of the story, readers encounter a plethora of historical references, particularly in relation to the experiences of Black Americans during that era. Remarkably, the novel extends beyond its primary genre by seamlessly incorporating significant historical events. The deliberate connection between historical events and the narrative grants the story a multifaceted quality that elevates it beyond the ordinary. Through this lens, readers gain insightful perspectives on historical and political events, witnessing their profound impact on the characters’ careers, relationships, and overall mental well-being. One particularly enchanting aspect of this book is its skillful infusion of poetry. Although not typically a fervent admirer of poetry, I found myself captivated by the poetic style employed, reminiscent of the profound verses released during the Harlem Renaissance. This infusion of poetic artistry adds yet another layer of historical depth, lending the story a heightened sense of authenticity and resonance.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Unbroken Horizon to anyone who relishes stories infused with historical elements or narratives that deftly intertwine parallel characters. Jenny Brav has masterfully crafted a captivating tale that enlightens readers on various historical and social perspectives, while simultaneously offering a richly layered reading experience.
Pages: 400 | ISBN: 9781639888061
Share this:
Posted in Book Reviews, Five Stars
Leave a comment
Tags: author, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, contemporary fiction, ebook, goodreads, historical fiction, indie author, Jenny Brav, kindle, kobo, literary fiction, literature, nook, novel, poetry, read, reader, reading, social commentary, story, The Unbroken Horizon, women's fiction, writer, writing