Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
As promised, here is a behind-the-scenes conversation with Anne Blankman, including advice to new novelists and a second chance to win the ARC of Prisoner of Night and Fog. Congratulations to Leanne Ross, who won last week’s giveaway through Talking Story.
Carol: Your characters are so deep and were very
real to me as I read your book. What helped you in the process of character development?
real to me as I read your book. What helped you in the process of character development?
Anne: Thanks! My process was very different
from that of many fiction writers–the majority of my characters were real
people, so I did a huge amount of research rather than a ton of brainstorming.
I read everything I could get my hands on–biographies, memoirs, psychological
profiles, you name it. I studied Hitler’s autobiography, Mein Kampf, and
his early speeches. Understanding his thoughts and his methods for presenting
them was vital. Primary sources, such as old maps and photographs, helped me
envision the setting. I also watched Nazi-era propaganda films, such as
“Triumph of the Will.”
from that of many fiction writers–the majority of my characters were real
people, so I did a huge amount of research rather than a ton of brainstorming.
I read everything I could get my hands on–biographies, memoirs, psychological
profiles, you name it. I studied Hitler’s autobiography, Mein Kampf, and
his early speeches. Understanding his thoughts and his methods for presenting
them was vital. Primary sources, such as old maps and photographs, helped me
envision the setting. I also watched Nazi-era propaganda films, such as
“Triumph of the Will.”
Hitler was the hardest character for
me to write. It would have been very easy to turn him into a caricature–a one-dimensional
villain, gloating malevolently and rubbing his hands with glee. I felt a
tremendous responsibility to present him as accurately as possible, not only
because he was a real person but out of respect for his millions of victims.
me to write. It would have been very easy to turn him into a caricature–a one-dimensional
villain, gloating malevolently and rubbing his hands with glee. I felt a
tremendous responsibility to present him as accurately as possible, not only
because he was a real person but out of respect for his millions of victims.
The more I learned about him, though,
the more I realized how complicated and multi-faceted he was. In fact, the
major Hitler biographers present different versions of him. According to some,
he was a misguided monster who truly believed genocide was the best solution to
solve the world’s problems; in others’ opinions, he was a fraud who didn’t even
hate the Jews but used anti-Semitic rhetoric as a platform to launch him into
power. I knew if I wanted to flesh out Hitler into a fully realized character,
I needed to draw my own conclusions about him. I read the biographies by Ian
Kershaw, Alan Bullock, John Toland, Joachim Fest, and Hugh Trevor-Roper and
other important works such as EXPLAINING HITLER by Ron Rosenbaum and what many
consider to be the definitive book on Hitler’s psychology, HITLER: DIAGNOSIS OFA DESTRUCTIVE PROPHET by Fritz Redlich.
the more I realized how complicated and multi-faceted he was. In fact, the
major Hitler biographers present different versions of him. According to some,
he was a misguided monster who truly believed genocide was the best solution to
solve the world’s problems; in others’ opinions, he was a fraud who didn’t even
hate the Jews but used anti-Semitic rhetoric as a platform to launch him into
power. I knew if I wanted to flesh out Hitler into a fully realized character,
I needed to draw my own conclusions about him. I read the biographies by Ian
Kershaw, Alan Bullock, John Toland, Joachim Fest, and Hugh Trevor-Roper and
other important works such as EXPLAINING HITLER by Ron Rosenbaum and what many
consider to be the definitive book on Hitler’s psychology, HITLER: DIAGNOSIS OFA DESTRUCTIVE PROPHET by Fritz Redlich.
Carol: I was impressed with how you
wove your backstory in, even as the story pushed forward. I think that is a
problem many new novelists have. Was that challenging to do? How did you know
where to begin the book?
wove your backstory in, even as the story pushed forward. I think that is a
problem many new novelists have. Was that challenging to do? How did you know
where to begin the book?
Anne: At first, I didn’t know where to start
the book! As writers, we always hear that old chestnut about starting in the
middle of the action, so that’s what I did–originally, the story opens when
Gretchen is waiting to meet with a mysterious Jewish reporter who claims to
have information about her father’s death. Perfect, I thought. An exciting and
intriguing opening scene–what’s not to love?
the book! As writers, we always hear that old chestnut about starting in the
middle of the action, so that’s what I did–originally, the story opens when
Gretchen is waiting to meet with a mysterious Jewish reporter who claims to
have information about her father’s death. Perfect, I thought. An exciting and
intriguing opening scene–what’s not to love?
The answer is, a lot! :) Happily for
me, that original version snagged both my dream agent and a fabulous three-book
deal. When I got my first edits, though, I realized how many problems there
were in my opening scene. My editor explained, in her very sweet, tactful
way, that starting the story after Gretchen has already begun questioning the
Nazi Party felt like a missed opportunity. She suggested starting the story a
little earlier so readers could get a sense of where Gretchen’s coming
from–what her beliefs are, what her daily life is like.
me, that original version snagged both my dream agent and a fabulous three-book
deal. When I got my first edits, though, I realized how many problems there
were in my opening scene. My editor explained, in her very sweet, tactful
way, that starting the story after Gretchen has already begun questioning the
Nazi Party felt like a missed opportunity. She suggested starting the story a
little earlier so readers could get a sense of where Gretchen’s coming
from–what her beliefs are, what her daily life is like.
It’s tempting to start your story with
your character’s major problem, but ultimately that doesn’t allow your readers
to connect with your protagonist–they’re too busy trying to catch up with the
plot! Rather than beginning with your story’s big obstacle, I suggest starting
with something smaller–an inciting event that leads to the big
obstacle.
your character’s major problem, but ultimately that doesn’t allow your readers
to connect with your protagonist–they’re too busy trying to catch up with the
plot! Rather than beginning with your story’s big obstacle, I suggest starting
with something smaller–an inciting event that leads to the big
obstacle.
Carol: I’d love to more about the process
of “assembling” this book. What was the genesis of the novel as well as some of
the different stages in your thought process as you wove it together? How many
drafts? What changes did you make in those drafts? What input did Tracey or
your editor have in shaping the book?
of “assembling” this book. What was the genesis of the novel as well as some of
the different stages in your thought process as you wove it together? How many
drafts? What changes did you make in those drafts? What input did Tracey or
your editor have in shaping the book?
Anne: The idea to this story came to me a
couple of years ago. I’d just had a baby and I knew I was going to be home a
lot and I’d better start reading quality non-fiction so my brain didn’t
dissolve into sleep-deprived mush. I’d been fascinated by World War Two for
years, so I picked up a book on Hitler and his beloved half-niece, Geli, by
Ronald Hayman. After I finished reading it, I couldn’t get Geli out of my head.
What had her life been like, sharing Hitler’s luxurious Munich apartment while
he campaigned for the presidency? How had he treated her? What had she really
believed?
couple of years ago. I’d just had a baby and I knew I was going to be home a
lot and I’d better start reading quality non-fiction so my brain didn’t
dissolve into sleep-deprived mush. I’d been fascinated by World War Two for
years, so I picked up a book on Hitler and his beloved half-niece, Geli, by
Ronald Hayman. After I finished reading it, I couldn’t get Geli out of my head.
What had her life been like, sharing Hitler’s luxurious Munich apartment while
he campaigned for the presidency? How had he treated her? What had she really
believed?
The lure of writing about a girl
ensconced in the Nazis’ hyper-masculine, violent world was irresistible. I
needed the freedom of having a fictional main character, though, so Gretchen
Müller was born. But how, I wondered, can Gretchen figure out what the Nazis
really stand for? How can she break free? Once I had my answers, I started
writing.
ensconced in the Nazis’ hyper-masculine, violent world was irresistible. I
needed the freedom of having a fictional main character, though, so Gretchen
Müller was born. But how, I wondered, can Gretchen figure out what the Nazis
really stand for? How can she break free? Once I had my answers, I started
writing.
I have no idea how many drafts I’ve
written in total–they’ve blurred together, partly because I was a walking
zombie new mom! I do remember that the first draft was 200 pages long.
Seriously. All I did was get the story–the basic mechanics of the plot–on
paper.
written in total–they’ve blurred together, partly because I was a walking
zombie new mom! I do remember that the first draft was 200 pages long.
Seriously. All I did was get the story–the basic mechanics of the plot–on
paper.
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Tracey Adams (who I met at at the mid-Atlantic SCBWI conference) loved the manuscript–I think
she suggested one word change and then sent it on sub about three days after I
signed with her–but my editor, Kristin Daly Rens, had lots of ideas. She’s one of those
wonderful editors who asks you questions that help you think about your story
in new ways. She’s a careful reader and constantly pushes me to dig deeper into
the story and the characters. I’m incredibly fortunate to get to work with her.
she suggested one word change and then sent it on sub about three days after I
signed with her–but my editor, Kristin Daly Rens, had lots of ideas. She’s one of those
wonderful editors who asks you questions that help you think about your story
in new ways. She’s a careful reader and constantly pushes me to dig deeper into
the story and the characters. I’m incredibly fortunate to get to work with her.
Carol: I can picture this as a movie.
Is there any talk of this, or is that too soon?
Is there any talk of this, or is that too soon?
Anne: I’d love to see PRISONER made into a movie. Fingers crossed!
Carol: What’s next?
Anne: I’m working on the sequel. Gretchen and Daniel are the main characters again, and it takes place right after Hitler’s appointment to the chancellorship. Once again, it’s full of murder, intrigue, romance and danger. I’m not allowed to tell more, not even the title! :) Ooh, I can give one hint though–readers should pay close attention to everything Hitler says to Gretchen in the first book. His advice becomes vitally important to her survival.
***********
Thank you Anne for sharing all of this backstory with my readers. Prisoner of Night and Fog (Harper Collins) will be available in April but it can be pre-ordered here. For a chance to win the ARC, just follow these rules:
1. Leave me a comment by January 25, with your email address if you are new to this blog.
2. For an additional chance to win a copy, share this blog post on your favorite social media site. Let me know what you did.
3. If you are a new follower of my blog, I’ll enter your name twice.
4. If you are a new follower and post to social media, your name goes in THREE times!
4. If you are a new follower and post to social media, your name goes in THREE times!
Thanks, Courtney. You're in!
FOlks–please leave me your email address if you are new to this blog! I want to be able to contact you if you win!
Absolutely amazing. I can't say it enough- I'm so excited to read this one. The interview completely confirmed what I already suspected … Prisoner is going to be epic.
Thanks, Em. Got your email address! And yes, A. Lynden. It is that good.
Beccaboo97200@att.net (I'm new to this blog) and super extremely unfathomably excited for this book to release!!!!!!!! Anything WWII related is definitely something I HAVE to check out!!! Plus that cover is simply beautiful!! I followed you via gfc and email!! :)AND tweeted (https://twitter.com/PIVOTBOOKREVIEW/status/426104187718348800)Thanks for the giveaway!!-Becca @Pivot Book Reviews
I'm SO CRAZY looking forward to this book!
Thanks Kimberly and Becca. Becca- you are entered three times. Welcome to my blog!
Pretty new follower to your blog and loving it so far!
Thanks, Susan. I hope you will continue to love the blog in weeks to come!
And yes, your name is in twice, Susan!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thanks, Cali, for tweeting and following. I'll enter your name three times!
Thanks for a chance to win! I'm a new follower by GFC – Susan Terendy. My email is sueterendy(at)hotmail(dot)comI tweeted: https://twitter.com/suekitty13/status/426175682184364032
Thanks, Susan. You're in 3 times!
This sounds like a very interesting book. I can't wait to get a copy. I have read many versions of Hitler and will enjoy reading a new approach. I have shared your blog on Facebook.Good job with your blog, Carol!!
Thanks, Sheri. You're in twice!
I want this book so bad!!! It sounds AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING and Anne is such a great person. Fingers crossed! Here's my email: fictionthenewreality (at) gmail (dot) com and I followed your blog! :) (new follower hehe) Thank you for the giveaway, Joyce!
Thanks for joining the fun, Jayne! Unfortunately, I had picked a winner about an hour before you posted your comment. But now you're a follower–and there will be more giveaways to come!