I’m so happy to be part of Sally Stephenson’s blog tour. Sally has wrote a wonderful book, Wildflowers. It’s about two young girls struggling to survive just before World War 2 when Hitler was starting to get power and the camps were just being built to help those that didn’t conform to his standards.
I managed to interview Sally. I love talking to the authors and finding out what makes the tick.
Could you please tell me more about yourself?
I grew up in West Yorkshire, England and had a pretty normal upbringing. When I was 20 I decided to start travelling and headed to Australia for 12 months where I first had an agent show interest in my work – sadly it wasn’t to be and I’ve long since forgotten the premise of the novel – I came back to the UK to pursue my undergrad degree in American Studies during which I spent a year at Louisiana State University where I got to experience a writing community for the first time. It was this community that made me want to pursue writing again and kept me motivated. Since graduating, I’ve briefly taught English in Thailand and am now based in New Zealand
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always enjoyed stories and books and when I was set a classroom assignment at 6 years old I discovered the joy of writing. Mainly what inspires me though is literature that’s already been written and the thought that I’d love to be able to write as well as those authors one day
What made you want to write Wildflowers?
I felt like it was a story that hadn’t been told before. How many stories have there been about a lesbian couple set during WW2? As soon as I began to realize that I finally had a unique idea on my hands, I had to write it and see where it went. I also feel like there’s something of a void in mainstream literature for lesbian or gay characters (I am probably wrong and would love to hear suggestions on reading material). I also wanted to start writing in the LGBT genre and thought that this was a good way to start.
How did you come up with the title?
The book went through many titles before I settled with ‘Wildflowers’. It was originally called ‘Silent Soldiers’ and then ‘The Girls from Berlin’. Eventually ‘Wildflowers’ came from reading a poem by William Blake and the line ‘To see heaven in a Wild Flower’, I spent a lot of my uni career interpreting poetry and for me this line suited the two main characters perfectly. They see heaven in each other both literally in their darkest fears and metaphorically in how they feel for each other. So it seemed to fit in the end.
Where did you come up with the characters? Where some of them based in real life?
Characters mainly develop themselves as I’m writing, with my main characters Edith and Helena, I realized after writing that perhaps they were based on a few people I know who are in same-sex relationships. They have very positive relationships and I wanted to convey the positivity that they have to my own characters and try and move away from a ‘negative view’ that some may have about gay or lesbian couples. For the fathers of Edith and Helena, I feel that Edith’s father, particularly her emotions towards him, are based on my own feelings towards my father, who passed away at the start of writing this novel, Helena’s father however, is the complete opposite of Edith’s and completely fictional.
Do some of your characters seem to demand attention more than others?
In terms of personality traits I have one character, Gerty, who likes to be centre of attention – she was very fun to write and I wanted her to be like that as she’s very different to Edith and Helena. In her scenes she did seem to drag my writing away from Edith and Helena, but that was just because I enjoyed what she brought to the table.
What challenges have you faced getting Wildflowers published?
I queried around 70 agents, 2 came back to me, J.K. Rowling’s agent read a partial and another agent read the full. Sadly they both passed and I think this was the biggest challenge. Having to get over the disappointment and then figure out where to go next. Other than that the main challenge was editing, I’m trying to develop my skills as a literary writer and I think my prose still needs to have a lot of work done to it and so it’s a constant challenge to be better.
What is the toughest criticism you have had to face as an author?
That people don’t like what I’ve created. I’ve realized that author’s attach themselves emotionally to a piece of work and so I’m trying now to look objectively and from a different perspective. There’s nothing wrong with ‘loving’ your work but you have to remember that not everyone else will like it because it’s not something that came from them and they may not understand or appreciate your work in the same way.
What is the best compliment that you have received?
That people have enjoyed my work! I’m always skeptical about praise because growing up I never knew if it was genuine or how to react to it but when people tell me they enjoy what I’ve written that in itself is a great compliment!
What would you like the readers to know about Wildflowers?
That at its core it’s a love story, the WW2 story is a major theme but at the core I hope people take away the romantic element of the story and forgive any errors they may find with the WW2 information.
When can we expect the sequel to come out?
I’m currently writing the first draft of the sequel, hopefully it’ll be out next year or sooner!
Do you have any particular genera of books that you like to read?
I love literary novels and am trying to work on my writing so that I can eventually fit into that genre. I also like well written fantasy when I can get my hands on it!
Physical Book or e-Reader?
Both, e-Readers at the moment because of work and I’m travelling but I love making a collection of books on my shelves at home
Coffee or Tea?
Neither! I actually don’t drink hot drinks except for the occasional hot chocolate!
Sunny Day or Rainy Day?
Depends, I like rainy days if I’ve got nowhere to go and can stay in and be creative, but I like sunny days if I’m close to a beach or have plans made for the day
Cat or Dog?
Cats but I’m slowly turning into a dog person as I’m learning not to be scared for them. Then I go and get chased by two Thai dogs on the way to work and wonder why I ever thought I could trust them!
Favorite Food?
Ooh that’s tricky! I love a good pizza, or pasta dish and you can never beat a good cheese sandwich!!
Do you have anything that you would like to ask me?
What did you think the strengths and weaknesses of Wildflowers were? What would you like to see in Book 2 (without giving away any spoilers!)
Do you have anything that you would like to tell readers?
I love getting feedback, I can be found on most social media sites and would love to connect with them and other writers as well. And if you believe in something enough – go for it, don’t live your life by someone else’s check list, create your own and enjoy it! 🙂
More about Sally A. Stephenson from her Amazon authors page:
Sally A. Stephenson (1986) was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire. For the first 20 years of her life she resided in West Yorkshire before leaving for the shores of Australia. A year later she was back to study for her degree but her travels weren’t over and since Sally has lived in America, Thailand and now New Zealand.
She has a passion for poetry, is an advocate for LGBT rights, and has a life goal of finding the perfect sandwich.
Her work has been published by Des Moines University, ISEP, Apocrypha & Abstractions, Fight Apathy or Don’t, TEFL Bloggers and more.
Here’s my review for Wildflowers:
Wildflowers (Rage of Heaven Series – 1) by Sally Stephenson
5 stars
(Excerpt from Goodreads) During the Second World War, 100,000 Germans were killed due to their sexuality. As the death toll begins at the start of the War, Edith and Helena must not only come to terms with their sexuality but decide whether to fight Hitler’s new regime or life a lie in order to survive.
This is the dual story of Helena, the daughter of a high ranking Nazi general, and Edith, a Jew in hiding from the Nazi’s. Helena is sixteen years old and lives with her abusive father, abused mother, and domineering sister Freda. The story starts as they leave Berlin to move to a quiet cottage. Helena is supposed to continue her schooling and it is decided that a teacher will be provided for her. To keep her company, the teacher should have a child Helena’s age.
Edith has basically been hiding along with her family and a couple other Jewish families from the soldiers that are starting to gather up the Jews. Edith’s father works for the German government and has volunteered his wife and daughter to be Helena’s teacher and companion in the hopes of keeping both safe. Edith doesn’t want to leave because she has fallen in love with her best friend, Kaspar, and dreams of escaping to Paris so they can be married.
Things go rather well with Helena and Edith becoming closer until they decide to sneak out of the fence by the cottage to see the camp that is being built near by. Having heard rumors of reform camps, the girls want to know if Kaspar has been sent there. Instead they discovery Edith’s father and what will later be known as a concentration camp.
When they are caught, Helena’s father beats her badly. Having had enough, Helena’s mother plans on leaving him and helping Edith and her mother to escape his control. As the four travel throughout Europe trying to stay one step away from Helena’s father, the girls start bonding to each other. But they are both young and don’t understand what love is. When they learn of other people like the gypsies and homosexuals that are being taken away along with the Jews, they start to worry that their love for each other is wrong.
When Helena’s father catches everyone, Helena is taken prisoner while he tries to break her spirit and make her a Nazi. Her mother is sent out of Germany and Edith and her mother are sent to a concentration camp. Year’s later, after several horrors and surprising escapes, they meet up. But this is not the end of the story. Helena’s father is still searching for her and won’t give up easily.
I will be the first to admit that this is not a normal book that I would have read. On Sally Stephenson’s website, she has the first couple chapters up for a sneak peak and I decided to read them. Something drew me to this book. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it.
This is a wonderful story filled with love and heartbreak. It’s hard enough for the girls to deal with Helena’s father and the Jews being rounded up for the camps. But when they realize that they are in love with each other and how most people don’t accept such things was just so hard to read. I loved when they meet the two women running a local bar and learned that just because everyone else doesn’t accept their love should not prevent them from following their hearts. It’s also hard to read all the horrors that each went through.
I did not expect the ending. It flowed really well and now I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
I really think a lot of people will like this book, not only those that like stories involving the Nazi prosecution or homosexuality. Take a chance and read a great book. I really believe that a lot of people will enjoy this.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
You can get a copy of Wildflowers from Amazon $.99 right now.
It has been a pleasure reading and reviewing Sally’s book and being part of the blog tour. Check this book out. You won’t be disappointed!!
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