Christine F. asked Helen Simonson:

I must tell you, I am still processing your beautifully touching story. I read your first novel but this one is so special! I felt as though I was sitting in the garden with Hugh and his family at the lovely cottage. The descriptions of the war were chilling. I too am a writer. You might enjoy my novel - AN EVEN EXCHANGE. It is told in twovoices and is set inthe US and England. How did you research WW 1 info?

Helen Simonson Sorry I seem to have missed receiving this question and so am late to answer. Thank you so very much for your kind words. I did approach the novel as an exercise in time travel rather than a dusty recalling of history. I tried to write myself into 1914. I did research in the British Library as well as Sussex and New York libraries. The internet is both a godsend and a sinkhole for research. It can be like that mirror in Harry Potter where you get drawn in and never turn away! First person accounts and war diaries were particularly inspiring as were women's magazines of the day. Thanks for writing, Helen S.

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