Julia asked Ariel Lawhon:

Hello Ariel (I hope you don't mind my calling you by your first name). I am currently reading CODE NAME HELENE and I have so many emotions.. hope, heartbreak, rage. I do plan on reading up on some nonficion on Nancy Wake, but as I read, can I ask do you know if the scene with Olivia Sautine was fictional or did that actually happen? Thank you in advance, and I look forward to reading more of your books.

Ariel Lawhon Hi Juliaa! Thanks for you question. I'm delighted you're reading the book and that you're experiencing every emotion I had while I wrote. I'm sorry to say that the scene with Olivia Sautine really did happen. It was quite a bit worse in real life, I'm afraid. It was horrible to write and I imagine it is grueling to read. But I included it because I wanted my readers to understand exactly what Nancy was facing and what the stakes for France were if she failed. There are a handful of really difficult scenes in the book but I didn't make any of them up. Nancy lived through them all and I think having them in the book helps us understand her better.

I hope you end up loving Nancy the way that I do!

Warmly,
Ariel

flag