Interview with Anna Stuart! A Letter From Pearl Harbor

Interview with Anna Stuart on A Letter From Pearl Harbor

Welcome! Congrats on the release of A Letter From Pearl Harbor with Bookouture! (See my review here.)

Please provide an overview and the inspiration behind this triumphant story A Letter From Pearl Harbor that displays so well “the power of memories” ? 

‘Triumphant’ is a very flattering description of the novel – thank you so much. Since I started researching World War II, I’ve been looking out for unknown stories from curious corners of the war. I found one such corner for my first novel, The Berlin Zookeeper but with Pearl Harbor it was a little bit different. It’s a well-known event in history but the moment I learned that the first person to see the Japanese planes was a female flight instructor I was hooked. The more I learned about female pilots, in both American and Britain, during the war, the more fascinated I was and A Letter from Pearl Harbor grew out of that.

It is a dual time line novel. What is it about this format that works well for you in telling Ginny’s story?

There’s something about a dual time line novel that creates natural pace and intrigue, as you can hook the reader into key bits in both narratives and then leave them wanting more as you switch back to the other thread. That said, it also makes it a lot more complicated to write and throughout the whole writing and editing process I was very aware of how the information unfolded. I came up with the treasure hunt idea because I always loved a treasure hunt as a child. I was a little worried that it might seem a bit trite but once I got into Ginny’s character it really came to life. Readers also seem to have enjoyed it so hopefully it worked and it’s a rich way of slowly unfolding the past, whilst also giving the two sisters time to figure out their relationship in the present.

Tell us about the creative evolution of sisters Robyn and Ashleigh. How are they different or similar in personality? What makes them each unique?

In part, both sisters grew out of my own daughter as she’s done athletics for years and I’ve really enjoyed taking her to competitions and helping out with the officiating. I’ve seen, first hand, what goes into trying to make it in sport and the sort of people that succeed, and for me the main dividing line between Robyn and Ashleigh is that Robyn is confident enough in herself to give up the aim of being a top hurdler to follower other avenues. Ashleigh, however, perhaps because she was robbed of the chance by her accident but mainly because she’s the more fiercely competitive of the pair, is driven by sport and I wanted her journey to be one that took her back to doing what she loves.

Would you agree that having a historical thread in the novel meant a fair bit of research? If so, what resources did you find helpful?

Absolutely I’d agree but I love research – and sometimes find it hard to stop fact-finding and actually write the novel! Like many people, especially in the UK, I only knew a little about the terrible attack on Pearl Harbor so when I started looking into all the various elements of the lead-up to December 7th 1941 and how they combined to making the people on the island so horribly unaware of what was heading their way I was fascinated. With hindsight, there were small failures in so many areas that all added up to one big combined disaster, but hindsight is a wonderful thing and what really fascinated me was less the political issues around the attack and more how it impacted those who were there on the day. I focused my research, therefore, on the people and their personal stories, and many of those real-life figures are included in the novel – and discussed in a little more detail in my historical notes at the back.

What was the hardest scene to write in A Letter From Pearl Harbor?

Definitely the attack itself. Obviously it’s the cornerstone of the whole novel and was a huge event so I really wanted to do it justice and put readers into the heart of it. I went back to basics in writing terms, reminding myself to really use all the senses to show readers the day in 3D and I just hope that it helped them to experience it in a small way.

Which character did you most enjoy creating in A Letter From Pearl Harbor? Why?

Often when I’m writing, I find myself falling for one of the side characters, perhaps because there’s more leeway to make them quirkier. With this one, however, I have to confess that I really loved writing Ginny, the core protagonist. She’s everything I’d like to be – feisty and brave and not afraid to speak her mind. She also has a terrible secret in her past that makes her vulnerable and that made me feel very strongly for her. In fact, with the last of my four children passing their driving test two weeks ago my husband and I have treated ourselves to the little MX5 that I’ve wanted for years and I’ve named her Ginny for her sleek, elegant power!

Do you identify with any of the characters in A Letter From Pearl Harbor? And if so which one(s) and how.

I think Robyn is probably the most like me in that’s she’s quite matter-of-fact and can-do and more reticent than Ashleigh. Thankfully though, my sister is a total sweetheart (far nicer than me) so I don’t have an Ashleigh to contend with!

Is there any secret you can share (without giving too much away) about the book that is not in the blurb?

A key storyline that emerged as I was editing Pearl Harbor was that of Ginny’s brother, Jack. My editor liked him and was keen to bring him to the fore a little more so I got to give him more room on the page, a nice romance, and a big part in the day of the attack… 

What key themes or messages do you hope your readers will uncover in the book?

I suppose the key theme is not to be afraid to open yourself up to those you love and to trust them to forgive and help you. The sadness at the core of the book is that Ginny never feels she can trust her beloved granddaughters with what happened to her until she’s gone so they don’t get a chance to talk to her about it – and to tell her that they love her despite her flaws. That’s explored through Ashleigh too, who is so bitter about her accident – understandably – but retracts into herself instead of reaching out to those who can give her support. In the course of the book, I hope she learns how to let others in, and that is perhaps Ginny’s key legacy to her.

Female Pilots of World War II

Please share your journey to publication?

I wanted to be a writer from when I was very young. I was writing Malory Towers style boarding-schools books when I was ten and after I completed my English Literature degree I was keen to be a writer. However, I’d been poor for long enough and was all too aware of what a tough career writing is, so I took a job in factory planning! It was a little different, but I really enjoyed it and met some wonderful people – including my husband. Once we married and had our first child, I decided to try and make a go of writing in the hours between looking after little ones. It turns out there aren’t many of those, so it took a while! I secured my fabulous agent, Kate Shaw, when my daughter was ten but it still took us two more years to get my first publishing contract. Since then, I’ve published thirteen novels so things are finally getting going. Moving to Bookouture to write WW2 fiction has been a really big move forward for me. I’m working with my original editor, Natasha Harding, again and we make a great team so I’m loving it.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what life experiences shaped your writing most?

From a very early age I’ve been hooked into both books and history, so it’s the combination of those two interests that’s taken me forward as a historical novelist. I can still remember being taken to visit Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh when I was nine and seeing the blood stain on the floorboards of Mary’s bedchamber (presumably touched up!) where her husband, Lord Darnley, murdered David Rizzio on suspicion of having an affair with her. I was really caught by the fact that I was standing on the actual spot where such a dramatic event had taken place many years before. That sense of the very real presence of the past in our present has always fascinated me and I suppose that writing fiction is one way of bringing the two together – the closest thing we have to time travel!

What is your greatest dream as a writer?

I’d love to hit Number 1 in the e-book charts. All my WW2 novels have made it as bestsellers in their categories which is such an honour and last summer The Berlin Zookeeper got to #2 in America. I was over the moon but actually hitting #1 would be stunning.

What are your favourite activities when you are not writing? And favourite foods?

I live in Derbyshire so love going out walking in our beautiful countryside with our dog. I love reading, obviously, and going to the theatre when I get the chance. I’m a big water baby so I like swimming and I used to be quite a high level rower so perhaps I’ll go back to that if I ever get time! I love most food and am rather partial to a nice glass of wine or a lovely real ale. Derby is one of the brewing centres of the UK so I’m spoiled for choice there!

Like most writers and keen readers, you probably have a stack of books by your bedside! Are there any novels you have read recently you would recommend?

I’ve recently read Kate Thompson’s The Little Wartime Library which was a wonderfully warm, involving and fascinating book. It comes out next February and I’d highly recommend it. 

What authors inspired you to become a writer? Which books did you read in your younger years that planted the seeds of creativity? 

I’ve always been a massive reader. According to my Mum, I would sit in my cot for ages as a tot, as long as I had books around me and many photos of my early years show me with my face buried in a novel! I was a huge Enid Blyton fan. I know some of her attitudes leave a lot to be desired these days but her storytelling is top notch. I loved the Magic Faraway Tree series when I was young and later I devoured the Malory Towers and St Clare’s boarding school novels. I also loved Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt – classic historical novelists. Doing an English literature degree meant that I spent my early twenties chained to reading lists (though I read a lot of great books as a result) and I can still remember walking into a library once I’d graduated and being blown away by the fact that I could take out any book I wanted. Early influences then were Philippa Gregory, Nick Hornby, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Atkinson

Is there a physical location that inspired or haunted you so much it spilled into your novel settings?

There’s just something about the island of Hawaii, isn’t there?! It was more than enough to fill the novel. I was lucky enough to go there for a few days on my way to Australia when I was a student and got to go to a lovely Hawaiian beach (though not Waikiki!). My main memory is actually of being stung by a jellyfish but it was very beautiful too and researching the islands was inspiring so it was a real joy to capture them in both the present day and the past.

If you could meet and have lunch with a favourite author from the past or present, who would it be? 

Ooh – great question. I think it would have to be Thomas Hardy. I loved all his novels when I was doing my degree and still count Tess of the D’Urbevilles as my favourite of all time. I think he’d be a fascinating man to meet so if you could bring him back to life, I’m there!

Can you give us a little description of your next writing project?

It’s all a bit hush-hush at the moment but I can say that it’s still a WW2 novel, that it’s going to be all historical, rather than dual timeline, and that there will be babies involved…! Watch this space.

Thank you, Anna, for being my guest and sharing your wonderful answers and your talent in your novels!

Drop by Anna’s website and read more about her writing. See below her 3 books with Bookouture and pick up your copies from your favourite book seller!