Rebecca Neumanner's marriage is on the brink of collapse, as her desire to be a mother becomes an obsession. Then she receives news from her estranged family in Rhodes.
Called back to the beautiful Greek island of her birth, she realises how little she knows of the grandmother she has eluded for over a decade. Bubba has never spoken of the Nazi occupation during her youth, but there have always been whispers. What desperate measures did she take that terrible day in 1944 when her family was ripped apart? Can the rumour she had blood on her own hands really be true? But Bubba intends to take her secrets to the grave.
However, as Rebecca arrives on Rhodes, bringing the promise of new life, this broken family must come together. The time has come to tell the truth about the darkest of days . . .
Called back to the beautiful Greek island of her birth, she realises how little she knows of the grandmother she has eluded for over a decade. Bubba has never spoken of the Nazi occupation during her youth, but there have always been whispers. What desperate measures did she take that terrible day in 1944 when her family was ripped apart? Can the rumour she had blood on her own hands really be true? But Bubba intends to take her secrets to the grave.
However, as Rebecca arrives on Rhodes, bringing the promise of new life, this broken family must come together. The time has come to tell the truth about the darkest of days . . .
Title: Villa of Secrets
Author: Patricia Wilson
Published By: Bonnier Zaffre
Publication Date: 22nd February 2018
Author Q & A with Patricia Wilson
Hi Patricia, thank you for joining us today and welcome to our blog.
Sincere thanks to Sincere Book Angels for inviting me to your blog. I’ll do my best to answer your questions about Villa of Secrets.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
Well, I was thinking to write about female freedom fighters in WW2 in a sort of split time novel: now and 1945ish. I mean, there are thousands of books about men in one war or another, but not a lot about women. You know… it’s good to sort of… even up the balance.
Sincere thanks to Sincere Book Angels for inviting me to your blog. I’ll do my best to answer your questions about Villa of Secrets.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
Well, I was thinking to write about female freedom fighters in WW2 in a sort of split time novel: now and 1945ish. I mean, there are thousands of books about men in one war or another, but not a lot about women. You know… it’s good to sort of… even up the balance.
Anyway, I’d written a very successful novel, called Island of Secrets, which was based in Crete. Actually, it was based on the very house I lived in. I dug a machine gun up in the garden, and it led me to write about the village in wartime.
So, now that I live in Rhodes, it made sense that Rhodes should be the next location.
I just LOVE research! And also listening to people’s stories. So, I set out to find something extraordinary about women of Rhodes in the last war, and marry it with something extraordinary about present day life.
When a story develops, the whole process is thrilling!
While I was surfing stuff about Rhodes, and the war, I came across the story of a fifteen-year-old freedom fighter, a precocious young girl on a Greek island. It sounded like a good start to me; you know… seemed to have potential.
The girl was Jewish, so...
I googled; Jewish, Girl, freedom fighter, Rhodes, and ended up with: a love child, a holocaust Survivor, a freedom fighter, and the secret past a grandmother.
There had to be a story! Then, on one of the Jewish websites, I came across an article about Rhodes. A secret door in the police headquarters… locked for 70 years! A government minister (a woman) and an Italian historian, had tried for a decade to get the door opened. No way! I mean can you believe this was really happening? And so the story developed.
Did I always want to be a writer?
To be a writer?! Ha! My worst nightmare! I’m dyslexic. That’s like asking a person with an acute stammer if they always wanted to be the town crier!
But I love telling a yarn, love an audience, and I love seeing people smile. We don’t smile enough, you know.
What other jobs have I had?
I started life as a 15-year-old trainee Window Dresser in Ellesmere Port. I became quite good at it and worked as a mobile window dresser in Merseyside and Cheshire, and later in the Johannesburg area of South Africa. Then I did some modelling, then I started my own business in the UK.
I sold up and retired at 45, while I was still young enough to learn new skills.
How did it feel when my first novel, Island of Secrets, was published?
That was a magical day. It proved to me that a person can do anything if they put their mind to it.
Can I tell you a little about my publishing story?
Sure. Every New Year, I set myself a challenge and treat it like a part time job. I’ve managed quite a number of things over the years. Greek dancing, building, sailing, guitar, self-sufficiency, photography… after photography I decided to try writing a novel. Learn the craft, as they say.
What other books have you written?
Island of Secrets, of course, now Villa of Secrets; and I have half a dozen first drafts and ideas.
Have you ever had writer's block?
Writer’s block sounds quite drastic. I’ve been stuck on how to describe the situation, from what angle, in what mood, and so on. Then, I just empty my head, read other stuff, play candy crush, do some gardening, you know? Cook a nice meal, anything but write. It’s not long before I want to get back to it.
What motivates me to keep writing?
I don’t know… it’s another world. I can’t say I retreat into a world that I create, because although I plot, the story still leads me into unknown territories, then, more research sort of puts meat on the bones of it.
Where is my favourite place to write?
Here in my office, in the dead of night. If I carry on into the day it’s a bonus.
Do my characters moods ever affect my mood, and vice versa?
I think my mood – which usually comes from the research, effects my characters. If I’m shocked, or surprised, or saddened, or amused, I hope it come through in my work. And if I’m really upset, then I hope my reader sheds a tear. Likewise, if I’m amused, I hope my reader laughs out loud.
What three pieces of advice would I give to an aspiring writer?
I’ve got four, actually. Keep a notebook and pen at the side of the bed, embrace criticism, use as few words as possible, and last but most important, get a really good editor that you can really trust. My publishers do the editing now, but if it wasn’t for Tony Fyler of Jefferson Franklin Editing, I would never have found my fabulous Agent, and gone on to be published. He picked me up and gave me a verbal slapping in my darkest hour. We all need somebody like that.
Which authors inspire me?
All authors inspire me. Every writer that reaches the final line: The End, gives me hope that I, and many other writers can accomplish that same feat, again.
What am I reading at the moment?
I’ve just finished, The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, very good! I stole from a cruise ship library at Christmas, shame on me! But I was half way through, so I left three novels in it’s place and scarpered with the swag.
If Villa of Secrets was made into a film, you ask what song would I choose for the opening credits?
Definitely, O Mia Bambino Caro, sung by Sarah Brightman. All the way through Villa of Secrets, I imagined her as my protagonist, and if the novel was made into a film, I would love Sarah Brightman to play the lead.
What is my next book about?
Oooh! I’m very excited about this. I’ve got two on the go. One is about Santorini; love, antiques, smuggling, archaeology, murder, and revenge. The story has a split time line, a modern woman, now, and the eruption of Plato’s Atlantis, Santorini.
The other is about London and Rhodes, and involves some of the characters of Villa of Secrets.
Thank you so much, Book Angels, for allowing me to talk about Villa of Secrets. And also, thanks for your support when Island of Secrets was published last year. Really appreciate it!
Happy scribbling, happy reading, bye from me,
Patricia XX
Thank you so much for joining us Patricia, the book sounds fab and we wish we wish you lots of luck with it.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
How did it feel when my first novel, Island of Secrets, was published?
That was a magical day. It proved to me that a person can do anything if they put their mind to it.
Can I tell you a little about my publishing story?
Sure. Every New Year, I set myself a challenge and treat it like a part time job. I’ve managed quite a number of things over the years. Greek dancing, building, sailing, guitar, self-sufficiency, photography… after photography I decided to try writing a novel. Learn the craft, as they say.
What other books have you written?
Island of Secrets, of course, now Villa of Secrets; and I have half a dozen first drafts and ideas.
Have you ever had writer's block?
Writer’s block sounds quite drastic. I’ve been stuck on how to describe the situation, from what angle, in what mood, and so on. Then, I just empty my head, read other stuff, play candy crush, do some gardening, you know? Cook a nice meal, anything but write. It’s not long before I want to get back to it.
What motivates me to keep writing?
I don’t know… it’s another world. I can’t say I retreat into a world that I create, because although I plot, the story still leads me into unknown territories, then, more research sort of puts meat on the bones of it.
Where is my favourite place to write?
Here in my office, in the dead of night. If I carry on into the day it’s a bonus.
Do my characters moods ever affect my mood, and vice versa?
I think my mood – which usually comes from the research, effects my characters. If I’m shocked, or surprised, or saddened, or amused, I hope it come through in my work. And if I’m really upset, then I hope my reader sheds a tear. Likewise, if I’m amused, I hope my reader laughs out loud.
What three pieces of advice would I give to an aspiring writer?
I’ve got four, actually. Keep a notebook and pen at the side of the bed, embrace criticism, use as few words as possible, and last but most important, get a really good editor that you can really trust. My publishers do the editing now, but if it wasn’t for Tony Fyler of Jefferson Franklin Editing, I would never have found my fabulous Agent, and gone on to be published. He picked me up and gave me a verbal slapping in my darkest hour. We all need somebody like that.
Which authors inspire me?
All authors inspire me. Every writer that reaches the final line: The End, gives me hope that I, and many other writers can accomplish that same feat, again.
What am I reading at the moment?
I’ve just finished, The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, very good! I stole from a cruise ship library at Christmas, shame on me! But I was half way through, so I left three novels in it’s place and scarpered with the swag.
If Villa of Secrets was made into a film, you ask what song would I choose for the opening credits?
Definitely, O Mia Bambino Caro, sung by Sarah Brightman. All the way through Villa of Secrets, I imagined her as my protagonist, and if the novel was made into a film, I would love Sarah Brightman to play the lead.
What is my next book about?
Oooh! I’m very excited about this. I’ve got two on the go. One is about Santorini; love, antiques, smuggling, archaeology, murder, and revenge. The story has a split time line, a modern woman, now, and the eruption of Plato’s Atlantis, Santorini.
The other is about London and Rhodes, and involves some of the characters of Villa of Secrets.
Thank you so much, Book Angels, for allowing me to talk about Villa of Secrets. And also, thanks for your support when Island of Secrets was published last year. Really appreciate it!
Happy scribbling, happy reading, bye from me,
Patricia XX
Thank you so much for joining us Patricia, the book sounds fab and we wish we wish you lots of luck with it.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
About the Author
After running her own business for twenty years, Patricia took early retirement and moved to the Greek island of Crete.
When she dug up a rusted machine gun in her garden, and the inhabitants of her remote mountain village came with local stories of tragedy and triumph, she knew she had to tell their account of what really happened in September 1943, which became ISLAND OF SECRETS.
Patricia now lives on the island of Rhodes where she is researching and writing her second novel.
Author website: www.pmwilson.net
Twitter: pmwilson_author
Facebook: Patricia Wilson
When she dug up a rusted machine gun in her garden, and the inhabitants of her remote mountain village came with local stories of tragedy and triumph, she knew she had to tell their account of what really happened in September 1943, which became ISLAND OF SECRETS.
Patricia now lives on the island of Rhodes where she is researching and writing her second novel.
Author website: www.pmwilson.net
Twitter: pmwilson_author
Facebook: Patricia Wilson
