Bio: Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California and serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.
Sarah Sundin’s
name has become synonymous with her captivating and historically accurate World
War II novels. In a recent starred review of Until Leaves Fall in Paris
(February 2022), Library Journal stated that Sundin is “a master at her
craft” and that she “rises to the top of World War II fiction.” In her newest
novel, The Sound of Light, Sundin explores
one of the lesser-known facets of WWII, this time taking readers to
Nazi-occupied Denmark. Inspired by real-life events, The Sound of Light
offers a captivating story about ordinary people.
Please provide a
brief summary of your new book, The Sound of Light. In Nazi-occupied
Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt takes on a secret identity as a shipyard worker
so he can row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.
American physicist Dr. Else Jensen chooses to remain in Denmark so she can
continue her research, her life’s dream. When she makes the dangerous decision
to help print resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s
legendary Havmand, the merman. Henrik’s life depends on keeping his secret
hidden—a task that proves challenging when he moves into the same boardinghouse
as Else—who seems to see right through him.
In The Sound of
Light, you take readers to Nazi occupied Denmark. Why did you choose to focus
on this location for your novel? Although Denmark is a small country, the
stories that came out of Denmark during the war are huge—from the courageous
acts of resistance to the astounding way that the Danes managed to save almost
all of the Jews in Denmark by ferrying them across to Sweden. I wanted to tell
those stories.
Can you provide
more information on the Danish resistance? Each occupied nation has a unique
story. When the Germans occupied Denmark, they made the country a “model
protectorate.” They allowed the king and the government to remain in place, and
they gave the Danes, as “fellow Aryans,” freedoms unheard of in the rest of
Europe. For that reason, resistance was slow to develop in Denmark, but it did
develop—and well. In late 1943, the German crackdown on the Danish Jews
dramatically fueled the resistance, and the various groups united to form the
Freedom Council to coordinate their efforts, not only with each other but with
the Allies. By the end of the war, the Danish Resistance was extremely well
respected at home and abroad.
Both of your protagonists, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt and Dr. Else Jensen, choose to participate in the resistance movement in their own way. Can you explain how each character played a part in the movement? Henrik begins his resistance soon after the Germans invade. As a former Olympic rower, he works with his friend Svend, a vocal anti-Nazi who escapes to Sweden, to ferry messages between the Danish Resistance and Svend in Sweden—and Svend passes on this intelligence to the British. Meanwhile, Else, as a female physicist, is often roped into “feminine” tasks at work, like mimeographing documents. But this provides a convenient front for Else to clandestinely print copies of a resistance newspaper. Neither Henrik nor Else is aware of the other’s activities—but both are playing with fire.
The Sound of Light is based upon
real life events. Can you provide some insight on which of the events featured
in your book actually took place? I enjoyed featuring many true events in
this novel, from resistance attacks to the German crackdown to the inspiring
rescue of the Danish Jews. Henrik’s character was inspired by Knud
Christiansen, a Danish Olympic rower who rowed Jews to Sweden, and I chose to
make Else a physicist after hearing about Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr’s institute
in Copenhagen and the role Bohr played during the war.
The Sound of Light focuses on
ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances. Are there other
lessons or inspirational themes found in the pages of your novel? Else is a
kind-hearted woman who hates confrontation, but to succeed in her career—and to
aid the resistance—she has to learn to speak up. Henrik also needs to step up
into leadership roles, which he avoids out of fear of abusing power as his
father did. Both of them learn that sometimes silence takes great courage—and
sometimes silence is nothing but cowardice.
Your novels are
well praised for their historical accuracy. What type of research was required
for writing The Sound of Light? Each time I start a new novel, I think the
research will be easier because of the previous research I’ve done. Not so,
especially for The Sound of Light. The Danish Resistance was
small, because the nation is small, and Danish modesty means fewer stories were
transcribed. I had to do some sleuthing to find resources in English, but I
found them! I also found myself reviewing quantum mechanics—a source of
recurring nightmares for this chemistry major—but I also learned so much about
Danish Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr, who played a quiet but remarkable role during
the war.
What do you love
most about writing World War II novels? The era is full of dramatic stories, and
the war highlights both the utter depravity of humanity as well as the capacity
of people choosing courage and goodness and right at great personal sacrifice.
The war challenged ordinary people to make extraordinary decisions—and that
fuels amazing stories.
What are you
working on next? In
my next novel, Aleida Martens is separated from her young son when she flees
the Netherlands during the Nazi invasion. In London, the widow desperately
searches for her child. As German bombs set London on fire, BBC radio
correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports live on the Blitz and helps Aleida seek
the missing boy. But then they discover murders flaming among the ashes of the
city . . .
How can readers
connect with you?
I love hearing
from readers! You can find me on my website at http://www.sarahsundin.com or on social
media on Facebook (@SarahSundinAuthor), Twitter (@sarahsundin), or Instagram
(@sarahsundinauthor).
Thank you, Sarah,
for sharing this book with us. I’ve loved every book of yours that I’ve read.
Readers, here’s a
link to the book.
Leave a comment
for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these
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27 comments:
THE SOUND OF LIGHT by Sarah Sundin sounds like a marvelous book and one I'd very much love the opportunity to read and review. Really enjoy when a story is woven with true events bringing history interestingly to the forefront. Lovely cover too which to me brings to mind the era it's set in as well as mystery and intrigue.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy! Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.
Kay Garrett from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I love Sarah's books!
Abigail in VA
The Sound of Light interests me greatly because it is meaningful, profound, and a real treasure. Sarah's novels are extremely well written and unforgettable. The stories resonate with me and give me great enjoyment. A fabulous author whose novels have provided me with many hours of reading. Pearl-NM.
I've enjoyed reading Sarah Sundin's books in the past. Her grasp of the history surrounding WWII is stellar. I'd love to read this one!
Pam in OH
Sarah Sundin is one of my MUST read authors. I'm looking forward to reading The Sound of Light.
Caryl K in TX
The Sound of Light sounds unforgettable. My favorite era and the story is compelling. Anne in NM.
Sarah Sundin writes wonderful WWIi historical novels because she always captures some interesting historical details that you might be unaware of. For instance, I’ll bet you really don’t think much about Denmark for WWII historicals. I know I think of France and England and Germany but Denmark, probably not. It will be fun and interesting to see what kind of details she can dig up! I’ve read a dfw of books and am never disappointed.
Perrianne Askew
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
One of my favorite authors and my favorite genre. Thank you for sharing. Blessings from Lucy in WV.
Love the cover Thanks for sharing please enter me in this amazing giveaway Sarah T. from OHIO
This story sounds unique, suspenseful, and amazing. I also appreciate the less discussed WWII location :) . Definitely on my TBR!
- Madie
This sounds wonderful. I've enjoyed all of your books!
Nancy L.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Thank you for posting the interview and giveaway, Lena! And thank you, everyone, for all your lovely comments!
Janet from Wisconsin. Sarah is one of my all-time favorite authors. And my birthday is this week, so I really think I should win the free book.😊
I've enjoyed the well researched books by Sarah. She writes an amazing story with characters full of personality & heart and then seamlessly incorporates it into the WW2 time period.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Julie T.
Wake Forest, NC
Great review!
Stephanie
Texas
Would be thrilled to win a hardback/paperback copy of this book. Live in Northeast Pa.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Nichols SC.
I forgot to mention that I'm in central Texas!
Perrianne Askew
perrianne (FOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
Greetings from NC
I am from Deer Lodge, MT, and would love to win a print copy of The Sound of Light! Thank you for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! God bless! Lual Krautter My current email is: krautter62520@outlook.com
This Marylander loves to read Sarah Sundin’s books. I look forward to reading this one too! Since my dad was in WWII, I appreciate the historical fiction that Sarah writes.
This sounds like another great book by Sarah Sundin. I can’t wait to read it! I enjoy all her books. Tracy in Cookeville, TN
I love this kind of book!
~Melissa in TN
Sarah’s books are always fun to read. I would love a copy.
Oops, I forgot this is Kathy in Maryland!
I always appreciate the author's excellent historical research and interesting characters. Some years back I discovered a book from her first series, which is still one of my favorites, and I have tried to keep up with her writing. Enjoyed your interview very much! Catherine from TX
I have all her books! Susie, Ohio
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