Goodreads asked M.J. Webb:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

M.J. Webb I took an unusually long time to pen my fourth novel. I'm not sure on the exact gap between finishing my fantasy trilogy and beginning 'A Child of Szabo' (I could easily find out I suppose) but I would say it was a break of around ten years or so. And a decade is a hell of a long time to come up with one idea so it had to be worthy.
To be honest, in all of that time I considered numerous genres, plots, settings etc. I discarded many of the options because I thought they were not exciting enough, or not original, did not enthuse me to any great extent etc.
The actual idea for Szabo came about as a result of my fascination with the Second World War and a fervent desire to pen something completely different from my previous trilogy, which was written for my children.
I wanted a real break. I was searching for an antihero and a real action-packed, fast-paced page turner which would be hard to put down. Once I decided to link it to a genuine heroine of the Special Operations Executive, a mother, daughter and astonishingly brave woman who died for our freedom, I knew it would be a real labour of love for me. Something I would pour my heart and soul into.
I'm really proud of this novel and hope that readers enjoy it. Also, that they will hopefully reflect on the sacrifices of thousands of brave souls (many of them women) who never had the opportunities we enjoy to grow, live, love and enjoy the liberty they battled to preserve.
Lest we forget.

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