Annette Oppenlander's Blog, page 4

On the Hunt for the Next Story

Everywhere I go, I keep my eyes open for another story. It’s not even that I’m purposefully looking, it’s sort of an unconscious awareness that is ready to scream when something interesting crosses my path. You never know when you hit pay dirt this time it happened on a strenuous hike in South Tirol—Northern Italy.

At the entrance to the Gröden valley sits a little town named Klausen. And on top of the mountain almost flying above it, thrones Cloister Säben. On a whim my husband and I decided to pay the cloister a visit. After all, the sign said it was only a 20-minute hike.

Right. The trail began with a series of uneven steps and natural stones. Picturesque, yes, easy to walk, no. We scrambled our way up to the first vantage point at medieval Castle (Burg) Branzoll. Unfortunately, it is privately owned and we were not able to take a look inside.

So off we went toward the cloister which seemed to mock us from its heavenly heights. The trail meanders on uneven and natural rocks along vineyards and sheer cliffs. Each turn offers a new breathtaking view of the valleys below. As the roads, cars and people below turned to ants, we grew short of breath. Thankfully, a few benches offered moments of respite. All the way up there are small shrines with statues or old paintings depicting Christian figures. Some of them are decorated with flowers and candles. At last, we reached the first church which is located outside the cloister walls. You can refill your water bottle here, but the church was closed to visitors.

So we continued uphill along fifteen-foot walls, and what is called the pilgrim’s trail. These walls are so strategically placed that you can’t begin to guess what is behind them. The only way to know is to see photos from a distance, usually from the Internet or public photos.

At some point we came across a poster sign that told the story of Sister Magdalena Told, a Benedictine nun who showed outstanding bravery and is credited with saving Cloister Säben’s fate. Apparently, during the Napoleonic wars in the late 18th century, the cloister was taken over by hundreds of French soldiers. Most nuns had fled, but Sister Magdalena held her own. The French soldiers eventually left, but in 1808, Bavarians, who fought with the French, reoccupied the cloister. What made it worse was that the new government had decided to remove the status of the cloister as a Benedictine cloister. Its precious possessions sold to the highest bidder in the village below.

Sick about the destruction of the soldiers, Sister Magdalena dressed up as a soldier and hiked across the mountain to Bozen to complain to the local General. He not only listened, but promised to put a stop to the cloister’s occupation. Sister Magdalena proceeded to see the bishop in Brixen and pleaded for the reinstatement of the cloister. She got her wish.

What a woman! What a protagonist!

At the top of the hill we finally entered the oldest part of the cloister with the most amazing views I have seen in a long time. Flying is more like it when you stand up here above the valleys. Life as we know it is far removed. It is quiet except for the wind. You can almost imagine how it must be to live up here for a nun so close to her god.

The highlight of our climb that by the way took nearly an hour was the Holy Cross Church at the highest point of the mountain. Inside, time truly stands still. It is a small church with few adornments, a simple place that is more powerful because of it. I can almost imagine Sister Magdalena praying in one of the pews, asking for strength and wisdom how to defeat the French soldiers and save her precious cloister.

Sometimes it takes lots of effort to find a precious place. Sometimes such a place reveals a precious story. I hope I get to tell it one day.

When You Know, You Know!

After the lull I mentioned in my last blog post, I have found my new story. Well, as much as a pantser can know at the beginning of a manuscript.

Two Failed Tries

My grandfather Willi

I’d been thinking about a couple of narratives for a while. The first had to do with my grandfather, Willi, who also is Lilly’s father in ‘Surviving the Fatherland.’ He’s not a super likable character because he entered the war quite willingly and sort of abandoned his daughter (my mother) when he didn’t have to. In 1945, three days after Germany capitulates in Europe, he’s taken prisoner by the Russians and spends the next eight years in captivity.

After I began writing the manuscript, I noticed that I couldn’t get excited about it. The work didn’t flow and it was a chore to sit down and write. I think I’ve figured out why. I don’t particularly like my protagonist because my grandfather was a complicated man. To do this story justice, I’d have to step way back, create some distance and develop a character who isn’t so close to the real man. That’s extremely hard and potentially takes years as I had to do this with my parents in ‘Surviving the Fatherland.’

The second story I considered writing was a somewhat true happening about an ill-fated sailing tour in 1984. Because of a terrible storm, human error and plain naiveté, I almost died on that trip. However, this story did not feel right either. For one, it’s not truly historical and for two, it involves me.

My Next Novel

Courtesy Bundesarchiv 183-H30202, Hannover

So, I stumbled across another idea, I’d considered a while ago, but hadn’t had time to explore much. In September 1940, Hitler decided to send ALL German children from infant to age 14 to the country. The Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) or Children’s Evacuation Program was immediately realized and as early as October 1940, the first kids left. Officially, this voluntary program was to keep children safe from bombs, provide adequate instruction through accompanying teachers and assure fun activities, including sports, crafts and games. Unofficially, Hitler had other things in mind.

He wanted to separate children from the influence of their parents, from youth organizations, and churches.
He also wanted all-out access to the young minds to bend them to his will, indoctrinate the boys to become Nazi soldiers and the girls to become mothers to bear more Nazi soldiers.

Children’s Evacuation Program in WWII

Courtesy Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-B04116 / CC-BY-SA 3.0

The KLV was a monumental effort, and in many ways succeeded to keep children away from the ever-increasing bombings by the RAF and other Allies. However, many children did not want to go and were forced. Many parents did not want their children to go and were manipulated through media and outright threatened. Of the millions of children who went (it is estimated that more than 2 million children participated, but exact numbers are unknown), many suffered terribly as evidenced by eyewitness reports.

Courtesy Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-B03553 / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Bed-wetting, illnesses, lice infestations, cruel teachers and zealous Hitler Youth leaders, who btw were supposed to lead all camps for the 10-14 year-old children, are testament to the problems KLV children experienced. There are many others, including inadequate quarters, nomadic conditions, when kids had to move through four, five and even seven camps, and the lethargic oversight of the KLV organizations. Especially, in the later part of the war, those kids staying in camps in the east, often barely escaped the advancing Eastern front. Some never made it home.

As you can see, the KLV program provides ample ‘breeding ground’ for my next story. I don’t have a title yet, but I have my two protagonists, Hilda (13) and Peter (14), best friends and neighbors.

I will share a few tidbits as I go. For now, I’m having fun.

Happy Easter!

After the “Lull”

Sometimes after publishing a book, a certain inertia sets in, a kind of lull. Some authors don’t experience any pauses, others take months or even years until they return to writing. For me this ‘phase’ typically doesn’t last very long. Very soon, I’m antsy again and my brain searches for the next great story.

After publishing my seventh novel, and while I’m still researching my next project, I took advantage of the lull by deciding to repurchase the rights to my time-travel trilogy, Escape from the Past, from my U.K. publisher, Lodestone. Very soon I’ll share the new covers I’ve ordered. All three books will be republished as second editions.

Surviving the Fatherland Interview

Last month I had the honor of being interviewed about my award-winning true story, Surviving the Fatherland, on ManyBooks. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Lilly and Günter, ca. 1949

What inspired you to write a coming-of-age love story set in WWII Germany?

Growing up, I always felt there were a lot of stories hidden in my family. I’d hear bits and pieces, brief references or watch my parents nod at each other in silent understanding. As my interest in history grew, my curiosity grew with it. So in 2002 I asked my parents to share their stories. I spent several weeks visiting them in Germany and recording their memories. I remember one afternoon we were in the basement while my mother ironed. I’d ask questions and she’d tell me about the way her mother treated her. I still have those tapes though it’s hard for me to hear my mother’s voice. She passed away in 2004.

My mother always insisted that my father was the better storyteller. And while I agree that his activities were quite adventurous, my mother’s quieter side offered a lot of depth. And so I think the two characters balance each other out nicely.

We most often hear WWII stories from the allies’ side. Why did pick the “wrong side” of the war as the backdrop for your book?

Initially, I had planned to write short stories so my children could remember their grandparents. But then I realized there were few if any stories about Germany’s war children and the civilian side of WWII. Of course, we have excellent and moving stories about the Holocaust and the soldier’s war. There is no shortage of battle scenes. Yet, many battles were fought at home. They weren’t drawing as much attention, but they were just as heroic. I wanted to add complexity to the stereotypical portrayal of Germany during the Third Reich.

Guenter ca. 1940

This book has received multiple awards. What has the experience been like?

Humbling. I’m super happy Surviving the Fatherland has been so well received. I just wish my mother could’ve been here to witness the wonderful response to her life story.

Read more on ManyBooks

 

A Report about my Old Girl

For those of you who wonder about my old mutt, Mocha, who is prominently featured on my homepage, I’m happy to report that she’s still around. She had knee surgery in June 2017 and moved with us to Germany in September 2017. The following spring, her hind legs were getting weak and shaky, a common ailment of older dogs.

After some research I decided to try Chinese herbs that were advertised to help strengthen muscles and tendons. I’m happy to report, it worked. Within weeks, Mocha improved so much that she was able to resume walking twice a day again. She also has to climb stairs to our apartment several times a day. Mind you that she enjoys a bit of liverwurst with her medicine.

“Dumbo” Mocha’s First Bath

I’m telling myself that his can’t last. After all, Mocha is turning fifteen in June, truly old age for a cattle dog mix. Though there was this cattle dog in Australia – it has its own wikipedia page – who apparently lived for 28 years. Read the story about Bluey. I guess Mocha is determined to break the record. We’ll see. In the meantime I’m enjoying my time with her, even though it ties us down quite a bit.

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Change is Good – Most of the Time

Well, I thought I’d work ahead with my newest manuscript and get it listed online. I was still waiting for the editor to finish and sure enough, there came the news: she didn’t like the title of the book. Yikes. So I hemmed and hawed whether to go against my editor’s comments—and my husband’s who also didn’t like the title—or to give in. Too schmaltzy they said, too soft and romantic.

In the end I agreed with them. It took some doing, having my cover designer change the art, switch out all references to the old title, and make changes to the online sales platforms.  There is a saying in Germany: “Those who don’t have work, make some for themselves.” That is sometimes me.

It is really a drawback of the independent author to be in charge of all aspects of writing and marketing. While I sell only through national and international platforms—I don’t have time to package and ship books myself—there is still so much to do. And a new novel requires an extraordinary amount of preparation, often many months in advance. Publishers do this kind of work for the author, but they also leave an author with precious little royalty, often pennies per sale.

So, I am happy to announce the upcoming release of WHERE THE NIGHT NEVER ENDS. And I thank you, dear readers, for your continued support and your reviews. I look forward to hearing from you.

***PRESALE GOING ON: ONLY $0.99***

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A Happy New Year to All

I look back on 2018 with utmost gratitude. A year ago, my husband and father suffered strokes within the span of three weeks. I spent months worrying about their recovery, watched tentative steps grow into wobbly walks. Neither man is fully recovered, yet they’re moving, talking and exercising.

My father just turned 90 and is still able to live in his childhood home. And I’ve enjoyed spending time and taking care of him because for thirty years I lived 5,000 miles away and only saw him for a few days each year.

In June I was able to finish the German translation of SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND and I recently completed my seventh novel, A SPLENDOR IN THE HEART, a prohibition era historical romance (light on romance). After my editor gets done with it, the book is scheduled to release in March 2019.

I’m thankful for all my readers, many thousands who read my books, who have written amazing reviews and supported me. You make it possible for me to do what I love most. Thank you!

Looking ahead to 2019

My next project is the true story of my grandfather Willi (Wilhelm) who was taken prisoner by the Russians in May 1945 and spent the next eight plus years in gulags in Siberia and the Ural. To do a thorough job I’ve got to research life in a prison camp.

In the 1960s the German government commissioned a study about prisoners of war (POW). They looked at soldiers who’d spent time in French, British, U.S. and Russian camps. They analyzed food, social structure and behavioral changes in captivity. They researched how hunger affected men. Findings were collected in ten volumes of which I own several. Now it’s time to get busy and try to grasp what it was like to live or more accurately subsist in a Russian gulag.

I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and successful New Year!

It’s time to get busy.

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Exciting News!

New Literary Agent

I’m very excited to share that I’m now represented by literary agent, Dr. Dorothee Schmidt. As you know I recently translated my award-winning novel, Surviving the Fatherland, into German and I’m hoping this true story about my parents will be available in the German language market.

New Prohibition Novel

I’m putting the finishing touches on my upcoming historical novel, THE ITALIAN’S DAUGHTER. Next step is a complete checkup by my editor. Right now I’m anticipating a release date of March 2019. I’m also still on the fence about the novel’s title, so that may still change.

Like ‘Surviving the Fatherland,’ this novel is written from the points of view of Sam and Paul, the adorable and flawed protagonists. I’d call it a love story, but not in the sense of a historical romance.

Here is a short intro (subject to change):

U.S. Library of Congress

Cincinnati, December 1924: When feisty and headstrong Sam (short for Samantha) loses her mother in a freak accident, she decides to search for her brother, Angelo, who didn’t return from a business trip to Chicago six months earlier. It is the year 1924, the height of prohibition, and the city of Cincinnati is in the midst of a deep recession. Narrowly escaping a band of thugs, Sam meets Paul, a twenty-year old hobo with a big secret. Together they make their way to Chicago where Al Capone is building an empire.

During a raid Sam and Paul are separated. Sam is forced into a brothel while Paul is arrested. Trapped without money and decent clothes, Sam plots on how to evade the demands of her new profession and the inevitable that comes with it. She realizes that she doesn’t even know Paul’s last name and that she is on her own.

Because the judge is an old family friend, Paul learns during his hearing that his father, a wealthy inventor, is on his deathbed. The judge gives Paul an ultimatum. Go home now and see your father or go to jail. Reluctantly, Paul returns home and learns that his decision to run away seven years earlier was based on a terrible mistake.

Here is to all things new!

 

 

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Attention: Upcoming Workshop

For those of you who are living nearby in Solingen, Germany, I’m teaching another workshop at the VHS.

When: November 16 from 4 – 5:30 pm and November 17 from 10 am – 2:30 pm

Where: VHS Solingen, Mummstr.

What: How to write a first chapter that readers won’t put down

Writing a novel is difficult enough, writing a strong first sentence, paragraph, page and chapter often determines whether your story makes it into the hands of an agent and/or will be purchased by a reader. This workshop will teach participants on how to what to look for and how to develop a strong beginning.

I hope to see you there!

Annette

 

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New Reviews of ‘Surviving the Fatherland’ from NetGalley

Last month I offered NetGalley readers a chance to review my bestselling and award winning WWII novel, Surviving the Fatherland. Here are snippets of their reviews, which I have to admit, are great fun to read.

“Definitely 5 stars. I can see why this book is so loved. Very engrossing, deeply moving and character you will not forget. Everyone that loves a well researched historical will want this one.”
“Recommend to teens and adults. Highly readable.”
“I highly recommend it to anyone that likes coming of age stories or is fascinated with WWII as I am. This book should become a classic story of the German people during and after World War II because of the knowledge it imparts to each reader.”
“…this novel completely exceeded my expectations. It was heartbreaking, brutal, and beautiful. The fact that this is a true story, makes all of these characteristics stronger. I cannot encourage you enough to check it out!”
“This is a fascinating and in places a heartbreaking read. It is an honest, true, look at how two peoples lives were affected by World War 2.”
“…truly unlike any of this genre I have read and that’s a lot! A very remarkable book that everyone should read.”

German Translation of Surviving the Fatherland

I’m super excited to share that the German translation of Surviving the Fatherland, currently called Vaterland, wo bist du? will be represented by my literary agent, Dr. Dorothee Schmidt. This month she’s going to take the novel to the Frankfurt Book Fair. Please keep your fingers crossed!

 

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New Reviews of ‘Surviving the Fatherland’ from Net Galley

Last month I offered NetGalley readers a chance to review my bestselling and award winning WWII novel, Surviving the Fatherland. Here are snippets of their reviews, which I have to admit, are great fun to read.

“Definitely 5 stars. I can see why this book is so loved. Very engrossing, deeply moving and character you will not forget. Everyone that loves a well researched historical will want this one.”
“Recommend to teens and adults. Highly readable.”
“I highly recommend it to anyone that likes coming of age stories or is fascinated with WWII as I am. This book should become a classic story of the German people during and after World War II because of the knowledge it imparts to each reader.”
“…this novel completely exceeded my expectations. It was heartbreaking, brutal, and beautiful. The fact that this is a true story, makes all of these characteristics stronger. I cannot encourage you enough to check it out!”
“This is a fascinating and in places a heartbreaking read. It is an honest, true, look at how two peoples lives were affected by World War 2.”
“…truly unlike any of this genre I have read and that’s a lot! A very remarkable book that everyone should read.”

German Translation of Surviving the Fatherland

 

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