KLM My current release is This Is a Chain Letter. It's my first novel (AW congratulations) and a YA historical fiction novel that tells the incredible true story of three ordinary German teens with the courage to stand against Hitler. They started their own resistance group, just the three of them and they were only 15, 16 and 17 years old. It really is an amazing story and I’m very excited to share it with everyone!
AW What first got you into writing and why?
KLM It’s been a bit of a circuitous route to get where I am today, but I have always loved stories. I believe they are the most effective way for us to truly learn and be changed as human beings. I love reading them, telling them and hearing or experiencing them being told! I actually got my degree in directing theater which is another form of sharing stories. After years spent directing other people’s plays, I began to realize that I, too, had valuable stories of my own to share, so I began writing my own. I loved it, but after I had children, it became harder to do theater and spend the time I wanted to with my kids, so I morphed to telling stories through books as well.
AW Your first novel is historical fiction, and because of the time frame, I would imagine you couldn’t just rely on your imagination. How extensive was your research for the book?
I really wanted this to be the true story, not just loosely based on these boys’ story. So I read a lot of books, listened to interviews and oral histories, dug into the archives, read Helmuth’s leaflets, read trial transcripts, talked with their families and friends and did everything I could to try and understand why and how they did what they did, what happened, and how they felt about it.
AW Fascinating! Have you tried/dabbled with other genres or writing for other forms of media?
KLM Yes, as I mentioned before, I started writing for theater, so I still write plays. I also write a historical podcast where I write and record dramatised interviews with famous figures from the past. And I have written and published inspirational non-fiction as well.
AW Famous authors such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas had a special space for writing. Do you have a writing shed of your own?
KLM I do! Well, it’s not a shed. But I do have my special writing room. Our house is over 100 years old so I have a little writing room with original wood floors and door etc. that I love. I have a vintage oak typewriter desk that sits in front of the window, and a vintage radio for mood music. I love it! But if the weather is perfect I will also write on the porch!
AW Sounds perfect! And finally, what would your eight-year-old self think, and say about you and your achievements today?
KLM I think my eight-year-old self would be so encouraged and in awe to know that she was going to grow up and do so many things she secretly dreamed about as a child. I hope she would be comforted to see that she could make a difference in her own way without having to be like anybody else. And lastly, I hope she would see that being quiet and unsure of yourself does not mean that you don’t have anything of value to offer to the world.
about the author ... Kathryn Lee Moss is an author, speaker and EMMY-nominated director who dreams of changing the world one inspiring story at a time. She holds a master’s degree in theater from the University of London, and has written plays, screenplays, radio dramas, podcasts, and books. Her work includes the history based My World My Time podcast, the award-winning feature film, Resistance Movement, and The Spiritual Resistance Agent Field Manual.
As a speaker, Kathryn has been invited to share messages of hope and courage at schools, churches, prisons and conferences throughout the United States.
A two-time black belt and mother of three, Kathryn lives in Virginia with her very supportive husband, happily surrounded by trees, birds and the ocean. When she’s not playing the ukulele or researching historical facts for her next book, Kathryn can be found curled up on the porch with a stack of books, dark chocolate, and the cats.
Helmuth has a coveted apprenticeship, a new girlfriend and big plans for his life. But when he discovers an illegal short-wave radio and learns that Hitler has been lying to the German people, his conscience won't let him alone until he shares the truth.
Enlisting the aid of his two best friends, the eternally optimistic Rudi, and the older more cynical Karl, the three teenagers embark on a dangerous mission to distribute anti-Nazi leaflets throughout Hamburg. They stuff them into mailboxes, slide them into stranger's coat pockets, and even post some on official Nazi party bulletin boards, certain they will soon be heroes. But when they are arrested and sent before the infamous "Blood Tribunal", they each must decide how far they are willing to go to spread the truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment