Denise: Your interest in World War II is evident with three of your novels: "From Dust and Ashes," "Night Song," and "Dawn of a Thousand Nights." I' d like to know about them all. Tell us a little about each plot and its characters.
Tricia: I love World War II. Here is information about my novels.
From Dust and Ashes takes place at the end of World War II. Peter is one of the men of the 11th Armored Division who liberates a Nazi concentration camp in Austria. Helene is the abandoned wife of an SS guard who has fled to avoid arrest. Overcome by guilt, she begins to help meet the needs of the survivors. Michaela is one of the prisoners Helene helps, yet it's through Michaela that Helene, through the process, she finds her own liberation - from spiritual bondage, sin and guilt.
Night Song weaves together the stories of Evie, a privileged young Austrian woman, drawn into the Austrian resistance against the Nazis; her fiance, Nick, the American medic who will do anything to find her; and Jakub, a teenager who joins a concentration camp orchestra in hopes of saving his life. Not only must each character fight to save their lives, but they also must work together to rescue a priceless violin, keeping one step ahead of a demon-crazed Nazi who will do anything to find it.
Dawn of a Thousand Nights focus is the South Pacific Theater of conflict. Starting in Hawaii shortly before the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the story focuses on pilots Libby Conners and Dan Lukens. Libby is working as a flight instructor on Maui. Dan is a hotshot Army Air Corps pilot. Their paths cross at a local beach and their romance heats up on the island. When the war separates the two, the years that follow provide grueling tests of endurance --- physical and emotional --- for both Dan and Libby. Captured by the Japanese, Dan experiences the brutal Bataan Death March and years as a POW. Meanwhile, Libby becomes part of WASP--Women Air Service Pilots, ferrying planes all over the United States. Yet though the years pass, they do not give up hope in each other.
Denise: Let's focus on your newest book, "Dawn…" We know that Daniel Lukens loves combat flying for the Army Air Corps and Libby Conners, a female pilot. How did they meet? Were there female flight instructors at the time?
Tricia: Yes, there were a few female flight instructors prior to World War II. In fact, this novel was inspired by female pilot, Cornelia Fort, who actually lost her life during her work ferrying planes for the American Army. Cornelia was a female flight instructor in Hawaii before the start of the war, giving lessons to many soldiers who hoped for advancement.
In my novel, Libby and Dan meet on a Hawaiian beach after she almost drowns him...how romantic is that?
Denise: The greatest conflict of your book's era is Pearl Harbor. Where are your characters when it's bombed? What do they endure to survive?
Tricia: As the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Libby actually finds herself in the air during a flight lesson. Her first hurdle is to make it to the ground and then she must do her part to help the injured.
At Clark Field in the Philippines, Dan finds their airbase also under attack just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Caught on the ground, Dan is one of the few pilots to get into the air to fight back against the Japanese.
Yet, these conflicts are just the first of many that these characters face. Air battles, a death march, capture and injury are some of the many struggles that follow.
Denise: As a Christian author do you find it more difficult to stay in the perimeters of what is acceptable in this genre or does it comes natural?
Tricia: There are a few challenges I face in writing these novels. The first is the level of intensity. I write about some very horrific events. The balance is relating truth, and yet not telling too much as to make the readers not want to continue reading. I want to honor truth, yet do so through a story that readers can't put down.
The second challenge deals with foul language. I've interviewed dozens of veterans who relate their stories. All of them are excited about the books. They feel I do a great job with true-to-life characters and the events during that time of history. The one complaint I have is the lack of foul language. Because I write for a Christian publisher, I'm not allowed to use curse words within my text. This means my dialogue is actually cleaner than GIs talked during that time, which is a challenge at times when I'm trying to relate emotion.
Denise: What inspired you to write these novels?
Tricia: All the ideas for my novels came from World War II veterans and historians. In fact, I got my first novel idea when I was in Austria. I met a historian who told me about twenty-three American soldiers liberating a concentration camp and the first person into the camp offering help--a Nazi wife. I knew then it was a story I had to write!
The first thing I did when I got home was check to see if any of the liberators were still alive. And I found six men who were! They were willing to share their stories. They also invited me to attend their WWII reunions--which I did.
Since then I 've been to Europe again for research. I've also interviewed dozens more veterans. In the future, I plan on staying away from World War II, but I will always continue to write stories inspired by real people and real experiences.
Denise: Tell us about "Life Interrupted," which you state is about your own experience as a teenage mother. Who is the main character and what is she up against? Does she find balance and peace in her life?
Tricia: Life Interrupted is a non-fiction book for teen moms. The needs of teen moms are numerous and unique. Speaking from my own personal experience, my goal was to share valuable nuggets and take-home messages, stories and quotes from other teen moms, tips and suggestions on how to handle being a kid and raising one. I encourage young moms to establish a support network, developing time-management and general parenting skills, plus tons more.
Helping young moms is part of my personal story. Every week I meet with young moms at a group called Teen MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), to provide support and encouragement. My goal for this book was to encourage young moms by sharing my story and providing advice I would have appreciated when I was a new mother at seventeen!
Denise: Are you still living in Northwest Montana? Tell us about your family and all about Lilly. When do you find time to write? Do you have your own office?
Tricia: I live in Northwest Montana with my husband and three kids ages 16, 13, and 11. Lilly is our dog and my personal foot-warmer as I write! In addition to my writing, approximately three books a year, I also homeschool my children. We all share an office and each one of us has our own computer. I work on my "deadlines" and they work on theirs. They are smart and independent kids...and we enjoy spending our days together.
Denise: How do you promote your books? Do you promote only the latest one?
Tricia: I've tried many things to promote my books. I have a bi-monthly email newsletter that anyone can subscribe to by sending me an email (fromdustandashes@hotmail.com). I also send out postcards and bookmarks to readers, reading groups, bookstores, etc. I used to travel twice a month for speaking events and booksignings, but I've found it's just too hard to do while also writing and homeschooling. My goal lately has been to do as much as I can without leaving home.
Denise: What have your experiences with acceptance, editing and publication been like?
Tricia: I wrote for seven years before my first novel proposal was accepted. Before that time I wrote articles for national publications, a family dinnertime devotional, Christian mission's curriculum, and Bible Study notes. In 2003, my first novel From Dust and Ashes hit the shelves. Since that time I've been under contract for both fiction and non-fiction books.
This year, I'll have two new books hit the shelves, Arms of Deliverance is my fourth WWII novel with Moody Publishers. I also recently wrote a parenting book for Generation X parents (born between 1964 and 1979), which I am! (My birthdate is 7/17/71).
Just to keep things hopping, I just signed a contract with Moody for three more novels to be written in the next 1 1/2 years. And I'm most likely going to write another non-fiction book too on Gen X Marriage.
Denise: What are you currently writing? When will we see it on the bookshelves?
Tricia: I just turned in my parenting book...today! It will hit the bookshelves this Fall 2006. Arms of Deliverance will be out July 2006.
After that my three-book series will be out in 2007 and 2008. The series is about The Spanish Civil War, which took place right before World War II in Spain.
Denise: Did you create your own website? Tell everyone the URL and what they can find there.
Tricia: My brother-in-law is my web designer extraordinaire. Readers can go to www.triciagoyer.com or www.thegoyers.com/dustandashes/
Please come and visit me!
--Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com.
January 23, 2006
c D. Fleischer & GWN
