Annette Oppenlander's Blog, page 7

Surviving the Fatherland

The cover of my new WWII novel.

In a few weeks I’m going to release my new novel, SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND (now on pre-order at Amazon). It’s been fifteen years in the making, an emotional journey of sifting through the messy past of my family. Set in war-torn and postwar Germany, SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND tells the story of my father and mother coming of age in Hitler’s Reich, the most horrific time of German history. Despite its harsh setting and struggles, it is a story of adventure, of love and hope, and ultimately of triumphing against the odds.

The story has gone through many changes and dozens of revisions. In the original story, I included several chapters about Lilly’s father, Willi (Vati). To be able to write authentically I read a number of books about Russian gulags. As it turns out, none of those chapters made it into the novel.

My mother and father around 1950

I also contemplated adding more photos to the novel. In the back matter, you’ll meet all the major characters. These portraits are not nearly as interesting as some of the group photos I found in my parents’ albums. One of my favorites shows my parents around 1950 when my mother was eighteen.

I’m also planning to add study guides because I think that much of the information in the book is worthy of discussion. Each character’s struggles and conflicts are not only real, they show some of the lasting effects of growing up as war children.

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A True WWII Adventure

47 DAYS – A novelette about two teen boys defying Hitler’s Reich

I’m thrilled to share with you the release of 47 DAYS: The True Story of Two Teen Boys Defying Hitler’s Reich. 47 DAYS is a 13,000-word novelette, an excerpt from the upcoming full-length novel, SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND.

Based on my father’s experience as a youth in World War II, the story takes us into the last months of the war. The ‘Reich’ is crumbling, but Hitler frantically throws the last warm bodies into battle: old men, the injured and feeble, and all 15- and 16-year old boys. With the Allies and Russians spreading across German soil, it is a wasted effort. Hitler well knows it is too late and that the war is lost. But in his insane mind he justifies discarding the youth of the country. If Germany can’t win, they can all go to hell.

Guenter ca. 1940

Helmut, ca. 1942-1943

My father, Günter, and his best friend, Helmut, were among those teens, drafted in March 1945. They were told to travel 200 kilometers south to report to the Hitler Youth Office in Marburg and jointedly defend the fatherland. Without training, without weapons. My father and his friend decided it was a bad idea. They chose to think for themselves and disobey. The cost was their lives because being caught meant certain execution.

At the time nobody knew how much longer the war would last. And so the task of hiding and eluding became a race for survival. Not to mention the turmoil, Günter and Helmut must have felt every single day. Had they done the right thing? Would they get caught? Well, they almost did. And they almost died.

I chose to publish this novelette separately because I wanted to share the conflict and threats these boys endured for disobeying orders. If you are interested in historical action/adventure and the state of Germany in the last months of World War II, this story may be of interest. I also believe it would be beneficial for high schoolers studying German history.

Pre-order an ebook or paperback at your favorite retailer.

 

The post A True WWII Adventure appeared first on Annette Oppenlander.

The Adventure Begins

47 DAYS – A novelette about two teen boys defying Hitler’s Reich

I’m thrilled to share with you the release of 47 DAYS: The True Story of Two Teen Boys Defying Hitler’s Reich. 47 DAYS is a 13,000-word novelette, an excerpt from the upcoming full-length novel, SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND.

Based on my father’s experience as a youth in World War II, the story takes us into the last months of the war. The ‘Reich’ is crumbling, but Hitler frantically throws the last warm bodies into battle: old men, the injured and feeble, and all 15- and 16-year old boys. With the Allies and Russians spreading across German soil, it is a wasted effort. Hitler well knows it is too late and that the war is lost. But in his insane mind he justifies discarding the youth of the country. If Germany can’t win, they can all go to hell.

Guenter ca. 1940

Helmut, ca. 1942-1943

My father, Günter, and his best friend, Helmut, were among those teens, drafted in March 1945. They were told to travel 200 kilometers south to report to the Hitler Youth Office in Marburg and jointedly defend the fatherland. Without training, without weapons. My father and his friend decided it was a bad idea. They chose to think for themselves and disobey. The prize was their lives because being caught meant certain execution.

At the time nobody knew how much longer the war would last. And so the task of hiding and eluding became a race for survival. Not to mention the turmoil he and Helmut must have felt every single day. Had they done the right thing? Would they get caught? Well, they almost did. And they almost died.

I chose to publish this novelette separately because I wanted to share the conflict and threats these boys endured for disobeying orders. If you are interested in historical action/adventure and the state of Germany in the last months of World War II, this story may be of interest. I also believe it would be beneficial for high schoolers studying German history.

Pre-order an ebook or paperback at your favorite retailer.

 

The post The Adventure Begins appeared first on Annette Oppenlander.

Fifteen Years in the Making

In 2002 I recorded my parents’ stories about their experiences during WWII. By 2009 these stories had turned into a novel. Not a good one because it was my first, but a record of eyewitness testimony.

Helga, ca. 1940

Guenter ca. 1940

Though I worked with an editor and revised, the story needed work. It wasn’t ready because I wasn’t ready. Since then I proceeded to write and publish four full-length novels. Actually, a fifth is written and looking for a literary agent. Meanwhile, I wrote and rewrote the WWII story again and again. I took it to two weeklong Don Maass seminars in 2014 and 2015. I ran it through writing groups. I studied, wrote and read. A lot.

Last fall I hired an independent editor to set me straight and uncover any weaknesses. I needed an objective reader, one who understood fiction and knew what was missing. After receiving the edited manuscript, I went to work one last time. And finally, after fifteen years, I feel that I’ve arrived at the story that needed telling.

So without further ado, soon to be available at your favorite store:

SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND

A True Coming-of-age Love Story Set in WWII Germany

A sweeping saga of family, love, and betrayal against the epic panorama of WWII that illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the children’s war.

SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND tells the stories of a boy and girl struggling with the terror-filled reality of life in the Third Reich, each embarking on their own dangerous path toward survival, freedom, and ultimately each other. Based on my own family and anchored in historical facts, this story celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of war children.

Well, there you have it. Stay tuned for the release.

P.S. Sorry, no cover yet.

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A New Year’s Letter to My Readers

Whenever a year ends and a new one begins, we tend to look back to what’s happened as well as look ahead. It’s as if we have this need to analyze and review the past to help us determine how to make the future better. Maybe learn something from our experience. Maybe help us cope. Because hope is a powerful emotion.

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve had a pretty tumultuous year because of the election. And while I don’t want to make this a political post, I can say that the hostile climate in the country really zapped my creative energy. I found myself reading posts and articles, get angry, get sad and do it all over again the next day. All that emotion made it difficult to function as a writer.

Two Books Released in 2016

Thankfully, much of the turmoil didn’t happen until later in the year, so with the help of my publisher, Lodestone Books in the U.K., I was able to get my second book in the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy, THE KID, published in February. Then in December, the last book in the trilogy, AT WITCHES’ END was released. It amazes me to look back at a visit of an old ruin in May 2012 and after four and a half years have an entire trilogy completed and out there in the world. It’s a pretty cool feeling that is hard to describe.

I also began sharing my fiction writing knowledge, I’ve been accumulating since the late 1990s, with other writers through workshops. I taught classes at the library, did some workshops at high schools and will begin teaching at Ivy Tech later this month. I was also accepted as a presenter at the Historical Novel Society National Conference, a cool project I very much look forward to.

Upcoming Novels

Albert “Al” Capone will be in my new manuscript.

Two more manuscripts have been completed. One is currently at an editor, the other is being shopped with literary agents. My new project for the year is a story set during prohibition. This time I’m using a female protagonist, slightly older, and with a hefty dose of romance. Yes, sex is in it too. I don’t know if it’ll be enough romance to fall into the “Historical Romance” genre, but I’m trying things out.

George Remus, King of Bootlegging in Cincinnati

I also accepted a German to English translation project for a murder mystery party book which has been a blast. I’m always amazed how my brain figures out how to word things in English. It feels like I’ve got this giant computer on my shoulders. You throw German sentences in and get English ones coming out. Cool!

Looking Ahead to 2017

New stuff for 2017 includes trips to Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and Chicago because my new story takes place there. I’ll be teaching workshops, attending author fairs and conferences, book clubs and bookstores. Of course, I’ll be reading and writing up a storm.

My old buddy, Mocha.

My dog, Mocha, is getting old, her little face is all gray and she’s having trouble climbing stairs. So, I’m trying to brace myself for her departure to the happy hunting grounds. I don’t know what else the year has in store for me and my family, but I’m prepared to face whatever is coming head on.

And finally I’m grateful for so many things. I sometimes pinch myself that I’m able to write fulltime without having to work a job someplace. I’m grateful for my loving family and friends, and I’m humbled to have readers who choose to read my books. It’s such an honor.

In closing I want to wish you a peaceful New Year that brings you success and happiness. And while hope is good and often keeps us going, maybe you’ll try something new this year, something daring and different. Maybe you’ll go after your dream. Keep hope in your heart, but also take action and make it real. Remember, it’s never too late.

Sending you peace and kindness,

Annette

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Holiday Special Offer

If you’re looking for a great gift for your hard-to-buy-for teen or your Uncle Joe who loves historical adventure, I have just the right offer.

Autographed and personalized copies of books one, two or all three of the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy, shipped to you* or the address you specify (sorry, continental U.S. only). As a thank you I include a hand-illustrated map to accompany books one and three.

ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: THE DUKE’S WRATH (Book One) $8.00 
ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: THE KID (Book Two) $10
ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: AT WITCHES’ END (Book Three) $10
Complete ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy $25 
A DIFFERENT TRUTH $8
Map only $2.50 (includes shipping)
Book Plate only $1.50 (includes shipping)

To place an order please contact me and specify the first name of the recipient. I’ll write a personalized message. Payments via PayPal to annette(period)oppenlander(at)yahoo(dot)com.

*Books shipped media mail within 24 business hours, shipping cost $3.00/book, $6/trilogy

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The Day Has Come

When I visited Castle Hanstein’s ruins in Thuringia in May, 2012, I never dreamed I’d create a trilogy based on its history. Four years later I’m proud to share the news of the release of ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: AT WITCHES’ END, the third and final book in the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy.

It’s been a long journey. Finding and letting go of a literary agent, finding a publisher, going through edits and revisions, and stumbling my way into world of authorship. If I’ve learned one thing, it is to never give up and that there is always something positive waiting around the corner even if today may not be so great.

I’m often asked what inspired me to write Max’s adventure. Finding Castle Hanstein was a big part of that because the ruins are so amazing even today. Learning about Knight Werner von Hanstein’s feud with Duke Schwarzburg over a beautiful woman added to the fascination. Time-travel has always been one of my favorite storylines and we all know how realistic today’s computer games are. But, of course, they’re virtual. So I mused what it would be like to make the computer game real and actually send a gamer to play a ‘live’ game in the past. And voila, the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST plot was born.

At first, I didn’t realize that I wanted to write a trilogy. The story ended with one book. But at the end of that story, the game issue and the evil game developer, Dr. Stuler, remained unsolved. Then I thought of creating multiple novels similar to the Magic Tree House series for middle grade readers, sending Max to the French revolution or World War I. Somehow that didn’t make sense because I wanted to resolve the present day portion of the plot, Max realizing he’d been used as a test player, Dr. Stuler’s plans to sell the game to millions of teens and the resolution. Well, I won’t say more—find out about the story or purchase a copy—but the format of a trilogy made the most sense.

And now it’s time to wish AT WITCHES’ END a happy birthday.

 

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What’s Next?

Here we are trying to pose.

Have you ever been involved in a project that you really loved or were deeply connected to? Do you remember how you felt when it was finished?

It’s a void, a kind of emptiness. At least that’s what I’m feeling right now after completing BROKEN JOURNEY, a manuscript set during the American Civil War. In addition I hired a professional editor for my WW2 story, A SORROW IN MY HEART. I’m super excited about that last move because it’ll finally allow me to finish a manuscript that seized me in its clutches for ten plus years.

Now what?

Yes, there’s marketing to be done, author fairs and readings to be held this fall. But my brain is used to tangling with story, like plot, characters, arcs and setting. Right now I’ve got none of that. Instead I’m researching a new time period. And when you write historical fiction that takes a while.

My chosen era: prohibition. I read a couple of novels set during prohibition, one in the Mississippi delta during the 1927 flood, the other a gangster story taking place mostly in Florida. I’m also reading LAST CALL: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent, a 480-page tome that details the political, social and economical fallout and the myriad things that were wrong about the 18th Amendment.

Fresh air is wonderful…

So, I guess that’s it. I get to read…for work. I’m so lucky. I’ll pick up a few more books as I’m beginning to develop characters, decide on a couple of towns to set the story in. Slowly. I need lots of walks with my dog, Mocha, yoga sessions, fresh air and more books to read. Always more books.

I almost forgot. I’ve got to pick a genre. It’s historical, yes. But should I write another YA action/adventure or try my hands at historical romance? I don’t know yet. That’s what I find so fascinating about the work of a writer. Our brains are black boxes, and out of these black boxes flow stories onto the page. I’ll probably look back at this post next year, amused about me not knowing how the story ends.

Time will tell.

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What Fame and Fortune?

Attention NetGalley Readers

ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: THE DUKE’S WRATH (Book One) and AT WITCHES’ END (Book Three) are currently available for review.

And now about my blog…

I just read an article on Writer Unboxed (WU) about the life of an author and money and feel the urge to piggyback onto it. I agree with the writer that there is a lot of misconception out there, not only among readers and the general public, but even authors themselves.

It’s human nature that we most remember the big book deals where a debut author is handed a six-figure check, then sells the movie rights and becomes filthy rich overnight. If you’re a new writer/first-time author and expect such success, you may want to put down that pen or set aside that typewriter.

I’ve got news. You’re in it for the wrong reasons. While immediate success does happen once in a great while, it is rare. Most authors never see close to those figures, not even with their second, third or fifth books. Which brings me to the main reason for my blog. If you’re considering the career of an author, you’ll want to dig deep into your soul and find out if you’re passionate about spending thousands of hours researching, writing, editing, discarding and restarting.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s definitely cool to write a book. But to write a good one, you’ll need to pay your dues and that, my friends, takes time. What I’m trying to say is that a true writer doesn’t care so much about the money. It’s great when it comes in, but it is not a determining factor to be a writer. Ask a painter why he paints, ask a musician why he plays, they’ll tell you because they must. It’s no different for an author. We must.

So while it’s wonderful to envision fame and fortune, I’m going to put my nose to the grindstone and write another novel. Something set during the prohibition. Not sure yet, but my brain will lead me there. Ask me in a few months.

In other News
Blog Tour

To prepare for the release of the last book in the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy, I’m currently doing a blog tour for ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: THE DUKE’S WRATH. Here is the schedule:

September 27, 2016 – My name is Sage: Review
September 28, 2016 – Freda Hansburg: Interview
September 28, 2016 – Books, Dreams, Life: Book Spotlight
September 30, 2016 – Indy Book Fairy: Book Spotlight
October 2, 2016 – Jessica and Gracie’s Tree: Review
October 3, 2016 – The Book Adventures of Emily: Review
October 6, 2016 – Celtic Lady’s Reviews: Book Spotlight
October 7, 2016 – Laura’s Interests: Review
October 10, 2016 – Book Reviews and More by Kathy: Interview
October 10, 2016 – Reeca’s Pieces: Interview

Author Fairs/Readings

I hope to see you at one of the author fairs this fall. I’ve been really enjoying meeting readers and book lovers, chatting about the background of my novels, historical research and the writing life. I just spent a great day at the Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, Indiana. Nathan and Anne are great hosts and very passionate about books. Scroll down and see the lineup of events.

Teaching/Presentations

Here are a few places I’ll be presenting or teaching.

October 7, 2016 – Mad Anthony BookFest: The good and bad of living in the Middle Ages
November 13, 2016 – Monroe County Public Library: FREE Workshop: Dialogue in Fiction
January – April, 2017 – Ivy Tech Community College: Three consecutive workshops on various aspects of fiction writing and publishing
June 2017 – Historical Novel Society: Going Medieval: How to Infuse the Middle Ages into your Novel

 

 

 

The post What Fame and Fortune? appeared first on Annette Oppenlander.

Fame and Fortune

I just read an article on Writer Unboxed (WU) about the life of an author and money. I agree with the writer that there is a lot of misconception out there, not only among readers and the general public, but even authors themselves.

It’s human nature that we most remember the big book deals where a debut author is handed a six-figure check, then sells the movie rights and becomes filthy rich overnight. If you’re a new writer/first-time author and expect such success, you may want to put down that pen or set aside that typewriter.

I’ve got news. You’re in it for the wrong reasons. While immediate success does happen once in a great while, it is rare. Most authors never see close to those figures, not even with their second, third or fifth books. Which brings me to the main reason for my blog. If you’re considering the career of an author, you’ll want to dig deep into your soul and find out if you’re passionate about spending thousands of hours researching, writing, editing, discarding and restarting.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s definitely cool to write a book. But to write a good one you’ll need to pay your dues and that, my friends, takes time. What I’m trying to say is that a true writer doesn’t care so much about the money. It’s great when it comes in, but it is not a determining factor to be a writer. Ask a painter why he paints, ask a musician why he plays, they’ll tell you because they must. It’s no different for an author. We must.

So while it’s wonderful to envision fame and fortune, I’m going to put my nose to the grindstone and write another novel. Something set during the prohibition. Not sure yet, but my brain will lead me there. Ask me in a few months.

In other News
Blog Tour

To prepare for the release of the last book in the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy, I’m currently doing a blog tour for ESCAPE FROM THE PAST: THE DUKE’S WRATH. Here is the schedule:

September 27, 2016 – My name is Sage: Review
September 28, 2016 – Freda Hansburg: Interview
September 29, 2016 – Books, Dreams, Life: Review
September 30, 2016 – Indy Book Fairy: Book Spotlight
October 2nd, 2016 – Jessica and Gracie’s Tree: Review
October 3rd, 2016 – The Book Adventures of Emily: Review
October 5, 2016 – Books by the Ton: Interview
October 7, 2016 – Laura’s Interests: Review
October 10, 2016 – Book Reviews and More by Kathy: Interview
October 10, 2016 – Reeca’s Pieces: Interview

Author Fairs/Readings

I hope to see you at one of the author fairs this fall. I’ve been really enjoying meeting readers and book lovers, chatting about the background of my novels, historical research and the writing life. I just spent a great day at the Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, Indiana. Nathan and Anne are great hosts and very passionate about books. Here is a lineup of events.

Teaching/Presentations

Here are a few places I’ll be presenting or teaching.

October 7, 2016 – Mad Anthony BookFest: The good and bad of living in the Middle Ages
November 13, 2016 – Monroe County Public Library: FREE Workshop: Dialogue in Fiction
January – April, 2017 – Ivy Tech Community College: Three consecutive workshops on various aspects of fiction writing and publishing
June 2017 – Historical Novel Society: Going Medieval: How to Infuse the Middle Ages into your Novel

 

 

 

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