When I read about this blog tour I was interested in participating for two reasons. One, the author has written a WWII novel, and two, the author grew up in Othello, Washington. I know where that is because it’s close to where I grew up. Lynne Allen graciously answered a few questions for me. But first, here’s the blurb for her new book, The Tulip Resistance.
Pulled into a war she doesn’t understand, Marieka Cordoven is just a Dutch girl who wouldn’t dare resist the Germans. But helping a wounded German soldier- a deserter- changes her mind about everything. This tense historical drama delves into the intricacies of the Dutch resistance, its grit to defy orders, and its plan to do what is right.
What was your inspiration for this book?
Two answers. First– I am in the Utah League of Writers group in Logan, Utah. I was writing children’s and middle grade books. One of the men in the group sort of made fun that my stories were not intellectual enough, for the genre so I thought I would step it up with a novel or YA. But what to write it on. I like WW2 stories. Not the bad stuff but the good things like the stories of the heroes and the honor and integrity of so many people who put their lives in jeopardy for the sake of others. Second– I watched a biography once where Audry Heburn was in the resistance in WW2 when she was fourteen years old. So I looked up her story and decided to write a story of my own based on a fourteen year old girl in Holland who ran notes for the resistance.
How did creating this book affect you?
I loved all of it. I loved the writing, I loved to see what happened next as I wrote, it just came out my pen surprising even me. I loved the research, the internet can take you anywhere in the world and oft times I would find I was in another time and place with my research. It touched my life, it opened new worlds of learning for me, an excitement that I have never known.
What are your writing goals?
I am at this time working on the sequel to this story. I didn’t have any intentions of writing a sequel when I finished the first book it ended well but so up in the air. What happened to this group of people? Where did they go? Where they able to help the war effort further or sit it out in retirement somewhere? I started to wonder all these things and more so I decided to write a sequel to find out what happened to them. I have also written several children and middle grade books. I would like see them published. My goal is to work on them and get them published because I have people begging me for my books.
List five movies you LOVE:
After the Sunset
Down Periscope
The Parent Trap (with Haley Mills)
Guns of Navarone
Ever After
What are your favorite books?
Lynn Austin’s Candle in the Darkness
The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom,
Work and the Glory series, by Gerald Lund
A Town Call Charity, by Blain Yorgeson
Harry Potter
Favorite book from when you were younger?
Wrinkle in Time
Items you’re willing to splurge on:
Fabric, ink for my printer, crafts, food
Can you tell us a funny story from your childhood?
I told all my cousins I was adopted and my mother was the Queen of England. They all believed me and ran to ask my mother if it were true and she said, “Sure.” We all had a good laugh about it later.
List three people you admire and explain why.
My best friend Karen. Because I think she is an angel, she is in tune with the spirit and always has a positive attitude. Erkel. Because he has a great opinion of himself and doesn’t let what others think of him destroy his self esteem. He is who he is and he likes himself. John Wayne, because he is a man of principle. He stands for right and doesn’t let others sway his beliefs and opinions regardless of the outcome.
If you had a time machine, when would you like to visit?
My freshman year in college. It was the best time in my life. I had lots of friends and adventures and was carefree and loving.
How do you come up with ideas for your books?
Inspiration, dreams, stories I used to tell my kids when I took them to school. I have a great imagination.
What type of readers would like your book?
All ages. I have given my childrens books to adults and they love them. I give them to children and they love them. The Tulip Resistance, adults, teenagers and even ten years old love this book and the hardest critiques of them all, MEN. Got lots of wonderful comments from the men.
What is your favorite thing about writing?
Words. I love the words, how you can put them together for one meaning but change one word and it means an entirely different thing. I also love the stories, the way they unfold into a beautiful story. I do not outline, I write from the hip and I love what it turns out to be.
Thanks, Lynne! You can learn more about Lynne on her Facebook Page.
A. L. Sowards 