Historical Fiction
Date Published: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Warren Publishing
Two young men come of age and fall in love, set against the backdrop of true events in World War II
It’s 1938. Bastian Fisher and Max Amsel meet at an American-Nazi camp, Siegfried. Neither have any idea what to do with their blooming, confusing feelings for one another. Before they can begin to understand, the pair is yanked apart and forced in opposite directions.
Five years later, during the heart of World War II, Bastian’s American army platoon lands in Salerno, Italy. Max is in Nazi-occupied Rome where he has negotiated a plan to hire Jews on as ‘extras’ in a movie—an elaborate ruse to escape the Nazis. Brought together by circumstance and war, Bastian and Max find one another again in Rome.
Exploring the true stories of Camp Siegfried and the making of the film, La Porta del Cielo, The Artist and the Soldier is intense, fast moving, and sheds light on largely untouched stories in American and Italian history.
Interview
What is the hardest
part of writing your books?
For me, the hardest
part of writing a book is starting. Once I am in the flow of a novel I usually
write pretty fast, but it takes a while to get into the world of the book in
the beginning. I also oscillate back and
forth on the editing process. Sometimes
I really enjoy it and sometimes it just feels tedious, however it always also feels
important and necessary as well.
What songs are most
played on your Ipod?
When I write I often
sit outside in my yard. In that case I
let the sounds of nature surround me. If
I write in public I will have my ear buds in and listen to music with no words
with piano or violin. When I am working
during the day I like to listen to folk music like The Wallin’ Jennies and when
I am driving I am partial to musical theater (as audio books!).
Do you have critique
partners or beta readers?
Yes, I believe
outside feedback in the writing process is of paramount importance. In the past
my editing process has gone like this: 1) Finish the novel and put it aside for
anywhere between a few weeks and months, 2) Reread it and make initial edits,
3) Give the book to 5-8 Alpha readers who read the whole thing and give
feedback on arc, storytelling, holes they see, and what they think of the
characters, 4) After I make the edits from the Alpha readers I will put the
book through Beta readers, which usually come in the form of my writing group.
During this phase we go chapter by chapter in the book and fine-tune the
details and the writing. My amazing
writing group disbanded this past year so I may have to find a new process with
my next book!
What book are you
reading now?
So far this year I’ve
read 64 books. My top picks thus far are: The Great Alone (Kristin Hannah),
Between the World and Me (Ta-Nehisi Coates), Circling the Sun (Paula McLain),
The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas), Beartown (Fredrik Backman), and Everything I
Never Told You (Celeste Ng).
How did you start
your writing career?
I started writing
creatively around age 8 when I penned a children’s book called “Jacob the
Dinosaur.” I started my first novel at
age 19 and it took me five years to finish it (through many, many edits). Then I wrote two other books before I started
“The Artist and the Solider.” So though
my first published book came out this May, I wrote three other novels before
that were not published over a span of 15 years. For any writer who is feeling like they are
failing, keep trying. Eventually it will
happen.
Tell us about
your next release.
I started working on my next novel at the start of the
summer. Thus far the whole book is outlined and the first chapter is
written. The main themes are identity,
mental illness, and the length we’ll go to protect the people we love. It takes place in the early 60’s and has
several strong female characters leading the story.
About the Author
Angelle holds an MA from Emerson College, and a master’s equivalency in Drama Therapy through the NADTA. She is a registered drama therapist and a PhD student at Lesley University. She works as a Drama Therapist at an Expressive Arts Center in Virginia called A Place To Be. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two delightful dogs, and one fat cat.
Contact Links
Twitter: @angellepetta
Purchase Links
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