Welcome back, Gail. Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
The World War II bug bit me HARD right after my memoir was
published. I can’t explain it, but my first character taught me so much about
what I’m to write. At the time, I didn’t realize my genre was Women’s Fiction,
but that understanding dawned on me over time.
My heroines (and heroes, for that matter) travel an uphill
road toward claiming their voices and their God-given dignity. The obstacles
they face come in many forms, but they always do their best with what they’ve
been given. They don’t necessarily see what holds them back, because it’s often
an inner belief that’s false and emotionally debilitating. But they strive on!
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Hmm…that’s a draw between our wedding day and the births of
our two children. But I couldn’t choose between these three with integrity,
because I always felt no one would ever be interested in me. So to have the joy
of marriage really surprised me, and then to bring delightful human beings into
the world—well, it just didn’t get any better than this.
How has being
published changed your life?
The journey to publication has increased my confidence. The
poor self-concept with which I entered adulthood took decades to shed. It’s
tough to put your work out there for all to see when you think deep down that
you have nothing worth saying. So it took quite a while to build the confidence
that I had something to offer readers—that’s why I call my website DARE TO
BLOOM. There’s a lot of excitement in blooming, but for some of us, also a
tremendous amount of trepidation.
What are you reading
right now?
I’m always reading something World War II-ish. Right now
it’s Coffin Corner Boys, but I’m also
into an Old West resource book.
Most of the
non-fiction I read is research, too. What is your current work in progress?
Another author and I are compiling two non-fiction World War
II books about food and about celebrating Christmas. Also, I’m working on an
1860’s story that I started about ten years ago. It’s set in Arizona Territory
and becomes richer every time I plunge back into it.
I’m interested in
both of those books. Let me know when they are published. What would be your
dream vacation?
This one is on my bucket list. I’d like to follow the route
the American troops took through Sicily , up
the boot of Italy , north
through France and into Belgium to the Battle of the Bulge. And I’d like to have
some serious readers with me, so we could discuss the fateful World War II
battles along the way.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
The historical settings choose me. If my heroine leaves the United
States on a ship and crosses the Atlantic in a zigzag to avoid torpedoes, lands
at Casablanca and heads out in the back of an Army truck across the wilds of
North Africa, the setting changes with her activity, and I have to do more
research. If she spends much of her time in evacuation hospital tents tending
the wounded, and for a treat, takes a dip in the Mediterranean
when the Allies drive Rommel back in Tunesia, I have more to learn about both
settings. This may be a way of saying that the setting becomes almost a
character. For example, if the weather is terrible, everything can turn upside
down in short order.
I love books where
the setting is such an integral part of the story. What are your hobbies,
besides writing and reading?
I love learning and miss teaching, so something comes alive
in me when I get to facilitate a workshop. Connecting with people and
encouraging them in their writing is pure joy. I wanted to be a cheerleader in
high school but didn’t get elected, so this is my chance—LOL. I love to walk
and spend time with our grandchildren, too. They’re getting older, so that
doesn’t happen so often any more, but usually baking takes place when it does.
I also enjoy watching British history and detective dramas on PBS with my
husband of 42 years, and we like to haunt historical sites together.
All of our
grandchildren are in their late 20s and early 30s. Thankfully, they live close.
We enjoy our time with them and the 7, soon to be 8, great-grands. What is your
most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
I’m too verbose. This winter I re-edited my very first book
that found a publisher. Would you believe that minus 40,000 words, it emerged a
much more powerful story? I think we have to learn to trust our readers to
figure things out—we don’t need to repeat the same info three different ways
for them to “get it.” I’m also a great one for using two actions instead of one,
when one would do just fine.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Edit. Edit again. Then let your work rest a few weeks or months
before re-editing. After that, find a really good editor to edit your
manuscript. Throw away your pride. Incorporate the suggestions and keep going
down into each scene until the very best story you can possibly write shines
through. Be aware that this will take a long time!
Tell us about the
featured book.
Look out world, here come Dorothy Woebbeking! A real-life
WWII nurse from Iowa ,
Dorothy seems “bigger than life.” Her story gripped me, even though it
challenged me to write about someone with a real family waiting in the wings.
How would they feel about my treatment of her incredible service as a surgical
nurse during some of the war’s worst battles?
I shouldn’t have worried about that—from the very first
pages, Dorothy’s story took on a life of its own, and her exploits taught me so
much! How do you improve on a gutsy young woman who took flying lessons in a
C-47 cargo plane during her off-duty hours? Can a person get more “make-do”
than stitching a swimming suit by hand from a parachute silk she found in the
desert? And above all, how could anyone survive the daily gruesome work these
nurses performed…caring for the dying and severely wounded, making
life-and-death decisions, enduring thirty-six hour stretches without a break? I
stand in awe of them and their vital contribution to the war effort.
At the same time I learned about Dorothy, another World War
II situation came to my attention, and simply would not let me go. This was the
worst civilian disaster of the entire war that took place in London ’s East end. I couldn’t get the terrible
tragedy out of my mind and realized how during this horrible time of death and
destruction, it was the constables, the police, and the clergy that held
communities together. Then a question occurred to me: could I possibly tell
both stories in the same novel?
The short answer is that I took on this task, and what
all-consuming work it became! Learning how to mesh the two tales with a single
thread connecting them presented a huge challenge, but was so satisfying.
Hearing readers testify that it worked brings all the satisfaction I need.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
March 1943 French Morocco
“Sent Jerry packin’, didn’t we?” Still focused on the
battle, a burly sergeant ignored his wounds.
“You showed 'em what we’re made of today.” Dorothy slipped
the doctor’s order of meperidine solution into the sergeant’s mouth when he
opened it again.
He sputtered, “Yeah. The Kasserine Pass
taught us a couple things. Next time, we’ll—”
“You’ll soon be back in the thick of it, but this shrapnel
has to come out first. Open your mouth, Sarge.” She stuck a thermometer in and
he closed his eyes.
The GI on the next litter mumbled, “No use fightin’ her.
She’s the one those pilots took to...”
Dorothy checked the sergeant’s pupils and dabbed grit from
his face as the other soldier continued, despite his severe shoulder injury.
“I hear she even navigated a C-47.”
The sergeant fought to
maintain control as Dorothy checked his temperature. Here in the Eleventh Evacuation Hospital ,
tough guys rarely went down easily.
“You...you’re...” The medication took hold, and Dorothy
moved to the next casualty.
“She’s cute too, and man, is she ever stacked.” She
had half a notion to scold the mouthy GI, but her training took over. Deep
down, he was scared to death.
I love your writing,
Gail. How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson
@GailGkittleson
@gailkittlesonauthor (Instagram)
Thank you, Gail, for
sharing this book with my blog readers and me. After that first page, I’m sure
most of them will want to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.
Until Then - PaperbackUntil Then (Women of the Heartland Book 5) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. If the winner is in the US, it will be a print book. If there is a winner outside the US, it will be an ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us
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10 comments:
Thank you, Gail and Lena, for this interview! I always enjoy getting to know more about an author. WWII is one of my favorite time periods to read. Gail, your book UNTIL THEN, sounds so good! I have the first 2 books in this series and am looking forward to reading the others. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of one of your books!!!
Alison from MI
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
I was right there in the hospital with Dorothy & the GI's. I love when a story draws me in like that! WWII era was such an interesting, horrible, wonderful time to read about. Thank you for sharing! Stay safe Y'all!
Robin in NC
This sounds wonderful. I remember when I read Clara Barton in grade school, many many years ago, it was my favorite book for a long time. Now, coincidentally Dorothy is my mothers name and we I was born and raised in the Sioux City, IA area, just across the river in Nebraska, and have returned 'home' after 18 years in Florida. So I am really looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and the chance to win a copy.
Wendy in Nebraska
wfnren at aol dot com
This sounds like a must read as I love WWII novels. Thank you for the interesting interview. Blessings from WV.
Sounds like such a great book Love to read these books Thank you for the chance From Waterloo Ohio
I love reading books set during WWII. Thank you for the opportunity.
Melanie Backs, TX
Sounds great. Love historical books. Thanks! FL
World War II books have always been of interest to me since my Dad served in the Army during the war. Plus the fact that I am from Iowa!
Beth from Iowa
Enter me in your awesome giveaway for the paperback copy!!
Conway SC.
Hello, Gail! So nice to see you on Lena's blog. Dorothy sounds like a fascinating woman! I'd loved to read about her in North Carolina!
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