Q&A with Paul Letters, author of "A Chance to Kill" and "The Slightest Chance"

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Starting on Monday 16th December - Please join in a Q&A with the author, Paul Letters, who has published two historical WW2 novels; "A Chance to Kill" and "The Slightest Chance."

Paul lived in Hong Kong from 2001 until this year (now on the Gold Coast of Australia). He has written a couple of WW2 novels. The first; "A Chance Kill", is set in Europe (Poland, Paris, Prague, London) and the second, "The Slightest Chance" has just been released and it set in Hong Kong and China. It's published by a small traditional publisher based in Hong Kong.

Both novels were researched in situ, with help from some of the world's top professional historians. He has also written nonfiction history articles, as well as opeds and features for the Sydney Morning Herald , South China Morning Post etc.

The novels follow real events closely, sometimes using nonfiction characters, sometimes composites. This is from the HNS review of the latest novel:

“This novel evokes the phenomenal grit and vivacious spirits of men and women like Max and Gwen…The Slightest Chance is romantic, thrilling historical fiction, a great read based on actual facts of war, death, and survival.” Historical Novel Society

For more information on both books:
https://paulletters.com/

A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance: When Your Enemy Is Your Best Friend... by Paul Letters

[Paul]

Hello all,

I'd be pleased to answer any questions about my writings or about our family podcast series, Dad & Me Love History. I used to present a history show on state radio in Hong Kong, and my son and I have produced this new show which answers the big questions from world history and includes several episodes related to WWII. Please see https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

I look forward to your questions,
Paul

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Paul,

First question - what motivated you to start writing your two WW2 novels?

[zed]

Hi Paul. I am keen to read your book on Hong Kong. Is it available in Brisbane book shops? I tend to like to support retail. I am off to Hong Kong in April next year for a few days. Will I be able recognise any of the places in your book or has Hong Kong changed far too much? Anywhere you would recommend to visit in terms of WW2 history?

[Paul]

fourtriplezed wrote: "Hi Paul. I am keen to read your book on Hong Kong. Is it available in Brisbane book shops? I tend to like to support retail. I am off to Hong Kong in April next year for a few days. Will I be able ..."

The Slightest Chance is being carried by stores including Dymocks, Bookface, QBD Books and online eg Angus & Robertson, Booktopia, Book Depository, Amazon. For physical stores, phone ahead to see if they have a copy in stock - I never know which branches actually stock it and which don't.

You will certainly be able to visit places which are in my novel and which were centres of action in WWII - eg the Gin Drinker's Line of fortifications, the Peninsula Hotel (has a historical archival display which was and hopefully still is open to the public), Stanley (parts of the internment camp and cemetery), Aberdeen Harbour (where HK's 'great escape' began) and Sai Kung Country Park - home of the Red Guerillas and a key part of the Allied escape route. Plan ahead and join the Battle of Hong Kong Facebook group.

And check out https://paulletters.com/battle-of-hon...

[Rona]

I'd be interested to know the topic / read some of your past WWII nonfiction articles if they are available.

[Paul]

Hi Rona and thanks for your interest. The "History Articles" tab on my website is the easiest place to start. For those interested in Hong Kong in WW2, start here:
https://paulletters.com/battle-of-hon...

[Paul]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Paul,

First question - what motivated you to start writing your two WW2 novels?"

The Slightest Chance (my second novel) was motivated by the incredible stories of real people. I interviewed some of them and their descendants. Gwen Priestwood was the only female to escape from Japanese captivity in Hong Kong; Admiral Chan Chak led an escape of 75 men by motor torpedo boat; Morris "Two-Gun" Cohen was a cockney Jewish civilian hustler who became Sun Yatsen's bodyguard and was made a General in the Chinese Army; Colonel Lindsay Ride was the Australian army medic who set-up the Allied spy network in China; Kyoshi Watanbe was a Japanese soldier/interpreter who risked his life helping POWs with medical supplies etc....And so it goes on.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

In regards to your research for your novel set in Hong Kong, did you come across any one book that you would recommended for further reading on the battle?

[zed]

Paul I just read an interview with you on a Hong Kong site and it gave me the impression that there are cross over characters from your 2 novels?

[Paul]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "In regards to your research for your novel set in Hong Kong, did you come across any one book that you would recommended for further reading on the battle?"

Philip's book wasn't out when I performed my research. Tony Banham's 'Not the Slightest Chance' was the benchmark on the military aspects of the battle, Philip Snow's 'The Fall of Hong Kong' is interesting on the wider aspects - like the Triad plan during the battle to massacre all Europeans (which features in my novel as it did in reality). Personally, it was the many memoirs of those who were there that I found most interesting.

[Paul]

fourtriplezed wrote: "Paul I just read an interview with you on a Hong Kong site and it gave me the impression that there are cross over characters from your 2 novels?"

One character overlaps towards the end of the novel; it's a very loose series, not necessary to read in order.

[Liz V.]

I have read a number of books about women POWs, most notably We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese by Elizabeth M. Norman. I wonder whether there is anything comparable for women taken in Hong Kong.

[Paul]

Hi Liz,
No, there’s not. But there are some great memoirs. My novel is closely based on the experiences of Gwen Priestwood, who wrote up her adventures in ‘Through Barbed Wire’. Published in 1944, Gwen was careful to omit place names (which made research more challenging!) because she didn’t want to endanger those who helped her and who were still living under Japanese occupation. Barbara Anslow, who I interviewed several times, wrote her war diaries up into a book: Tin Hats and Rice. We have very little on the Chinese side - who were persecuted but not imprisoned - as the culture dictates silence over wartime rapes.

[Liz V.]

Thank you Paul.

Marked Tin Hats and Rice: A Diary of Life as a Hong Kong Prisoner of War, 1941-1945 by Barbara Anslow (2018 publication) to-read, as well as both of your books.

Unfortunately Gwen Priestwood's book isn't on GR, which may make finding a copy difficult.

[Paul]

Yes, Gwen’s book is hard to get and confusing geographically, unless you do a ton of research!

[Paul]

Emily Hahn wrote a good memoir - ‘China to Me’.

[Liz V.]

Thank you Paul.

[Derek]

Paul wrote: "Hi Liz,
No, there’s not. But there are some great memoirs. My novel is closely based on the experiences of Gwen Priestwood, who wrote up her adventures in ‘Through Barbed Wire’. Published in 1944, ..."

Although nominally allies, life wasn't too bright for expatriate German women living in the Japanese empire either. Many, in effect, had to choose between starvation and prostitution. Researching the career of the blockade runner Alsterufer for my last book, it was quite an eye-opener seeing the interaction of two deeply racist regimes meeting nose-to-nose.

[Jonny]

Derek wrote: "Paul wrote: "Hi Liz,
No, there’s not. But there are some great memoirs. My novel is closely based on the experiences of Gwen Priestwood, who wrote up her adventures in ‘Through Barbed Wire’. Publis..."

Oh schadenfreude....again.