WHERESOEVER THEY MAY BE - Terri Wangard - One Free Book or Ebook

Welcome back, Terri. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I completed a rough draft on Christmas Day. Unlike my four published books, this is not World War II. Right now, my project is set in 1915, but I see myself going farther back in time.

Tell us a little about your family.

Shortly after I graduated with an MLS degree, my dad started publishing Classic Boating magazine. My mom, brother, and I were his crew. I left my library job after a few years, because they needed my full-time help. My mom died in 2011, and my dad is partially retired during the winter while he’s in Florida, but my brother and I are still full-time at it. I have a sister in California whom I rarely see.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I tend to critique as I read novels. And I seem to read more nonfiction, especially biographies and memoirs. That may have started with research, but I don’t limit myself to the time period I’m writing.

If a novel grabs my attention to I don’t critique, then I know it’s a very good story. What are you working on right now?

I just complete a draft on the Lusitania, and plan a companion story about World War I in Wisconsin.

What outside interests do you have?

I loved to travel around the world, although lately my travels have been confined to Florida and writing conferences. For many years, I’ve been involved with child sponsorship and presently sponsor five girls in Central and South America. And I enjoy genealogical research. My ancestors give me story ideas.

The ideas for my second novel by Heartsong came from my ancestors. The first three books in that series were published in a collection titled Brides of Minnesota in December 2017. How do you choose your settings for each book?

For my WWII series, I chose Ridgewell Air Base in England for my B-17 navigators because it is one word and easy to pronounce. In keeping with writing what you know, most of my characters live in Milwaukee. For Wheresoever They May Be, I chose Long Beach, California, because of the war factories and the coast.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Marguerite Lamiraud, my tenth great-grandmother, born around 1645. She moved to Quebec from France to marry one of the settlers already there. What was it like to move so far from everything familiar to a land where Indian attacks were common, and she was expected to marry someone she just met?

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

What a long, difficult road it is to be published. You’ve written what you think is a great novel, but surprise, surprise, no one else thinks so! 

Or maybe you haven’t found the right publisher yet. What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Be open to new directions. I went through a rough stretch last summer, and then I read a blog post on why do you want to be published. I questioned whether I should continue writing. I still am, but if I don’t have another book published, that’s okay.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Be very patient, join a critique group, and attend conferences.

Tell us about the featured book.

After writing about B-17s in my series, I wanted something else. My characters are a sailor, his Rosie-the-Riveter wife, her WAC sister, and a grasshopper pilot.

Frank Swanson has plans. He has good job prospects, maybe even broadcasting in Hollywood. The war is an interruption to a good life he’s eager to get back to.

Lily Swanson longs to be a mother. Soon Frank should be home for good and they can furnish a nursery. Maybe even find a bigger house.

           

Joe Gallagher grew up in a small house with plenty of siblings. He loves the solitude of flying, but the war has dragged on for so long. He’s ready to go home.

           

Susan Talbot has a bad attitude. She’s estranged from her family and she doesn’t attract friends. But war can bring out the best in people and Susan’s surprised to realize she’s happy.

           

They all do their part in striving for victory in World War II. Sometimes, though, the danger can be hard to identify.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Lily

Chapter 1

Sunday, September 4, 1943

“Tomorrow’s the big day.” Lily Swanson joined her friend in the crowd funneling into church. “I hope we aren’t making a mistake.”

Charlotte cast her a wide-eyed glance. “A mistake? Nonsense. The men can’t win this war by themselves. They need us women to make their airplanes. Don’t forget, this was your idea.”

With her Bible tucked under her arm, Lily kneaded her hands. “I know, but factory work! Seems like such a rough-and-tumble business.” She jerked her hands apart. She’d ruin her lace gloves twisting them like that. “Building airplanes is a lot different than clerking at the department store.”

 “You did well in training. And it looked okay on our walk-through. Just noisy. Incredibly noisy.” Charlotte repositioned her tiny straw hat as they entered the foyer. “I’m going to have to find some ear plugs. All that racket gave me a headache.”

Lily nodded, distracted by Charlotte’s hat, tilted so far forward that Lily expected it to fall off. She patted her head. The beret she’d fashioned from a Good Housekeeping pattern sat snugly where it belonged.

“I’m not concerned by the outcry that we’ll lose our femininity, or even about the men giving us a hard time. I guess it’s the scope of what we’ll be doing.” Lily nodded to an acquaintance. “If we make a mistake on these airplanes, men in battle could lose their lives.”

“Poo foo. The factory gives them quality control checks before sending them out. How many times did we hear that on our walk-through?”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.terriwangard.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/

Twitter: @terriwangard

Thank you, Terri, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for my copy to arrive.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Wheresoever They May Be - Paperback
Wheresoever They May Be - Kindle

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