Terrie Todd is my special guest today. She is a new to me Canadian author. Her newest release Rose Among Thornes releases August 31^st. Terri, thank you for being my guest. I always like to start with the author sharing a bit about their writing journey.

Like most writers, I enjoyed writing as a kid and had teachers who encouraged the gift. In my thirties and forties, I led a drama team at my church for which I wrote numerous scripts—some of which were later published. That led to articles, Chicken Soup for the Soul stories, and a column in my local newspaper. I started my first novel at age 50, in 2009. The journey to acquiring an agent took four years and then another three years after that until it was published. My fourth and fifth novels are releasing this year, and in 2020 I self-published a collection of those newspaper columns to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the column—which I am also still writing every week. But please know that the rejections over the years are too numerous to count, and I still receive them all the time. Even after my debut novel did well, it was never smooth sailing.

I can so relate, Terrie, we have a lot in common. Tells us about your latest project.

Rose Among Thornes has already released for Kindle. Everything else releases August 31, 2021.

War might be raging overseas, but Rose Onishi is on track to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a concert pianist. When forced by her government to leave her beloved home in Vancouver and move to the Canadian prairie to work on the Thornes’ sugar beet farm, her dream fades to match the black dirt staining her callused hands. Though the Thorne family is kind, life is unbearably lonely. In hopes that it might win her the chance to play their piano, Rose agrees to write letters to their soldier son.

When Rusty Thorne joins the Canadian Army, he never imagines becoming a Japanese prisoner of war. Inside the camp, the faith his parents instilled is tested like never before. Though he begs God to help him not hate his brutal captors, Rusty can no longer even hear the Japanese language without revulsion. Only his rare letters from home sustain him—especially the brilliant notes from his mother’s charming helper, which the girl signs simply as “Rose.”

Will Rusty survive the war only to encounter the Japanese on his own doorstep? Can Rose overcome betrayal and open her heart? Or will the truth destroy the fragile bond their letters created?

      Sounds so intriguing. What inspired you to write this book?

For years, I tried to let the idea go. A story about a Japanese Canadian girl relocated from Vancouver to a Manitoba sugar beet farm during World War II was obviously not my story to write. I’m not Japanese. I’m not a history major. I don’t have the experience required to do the copious research. When I realized this fictional girl would start writing letters to the farmer’s son, imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp—I knew for sure the story was not mine to tell. Good fiction must be historically accurate and believable. I’d be in so far over my head, I wouldn’t be able to see the sun.

Plus, I can be lazy.

So I fought it. Great idea for someone else. Not me. While I resisted, I wrote two other books. Meanwhile, the “big” story would not let me go.

Then, in June of 2018, I learned about a documentary called “Facing Injustice” in which my friend Terry Tully and his mom, Osono, appear. Osono was one of 20,000 Canadians interned during WWII because of her Japanese heritage.

I watched the film three times. I spent that summer reading books, some about the Japanese internment, some about prisoners of war in Japan, some about sugar beet farming. The more I read, the more I argued with God. The story remained far too big for me.

But through his knack for the impossible and a series of unbelievable “coincidences,” God revealed that this was, indeed, my story to tell. There’s more about that on my blog in a post called “From As-if to What-if.” www.terrietodd.blogspot.com

There are now several reviews on Goodreads from advance readers, and the things they are saying blows me away. God was certainly all over this project and I am so humbled and grateful.

      Can you elaborate on your research?

For this one, I read numerous nonfiction books where real-life people told their real-life stories. I borrowed from their collective journeys to give my characters similar experiences. I used the internet to verify dates, names, events, etc. The Veterans Affairs Canada website includes countless interviews with veterans preserved in written and video form. It’s important to remember that first-person accounts, while invaluable for the emotional impact, will not necessarily be completely accurate in their historic details and must be double-checked.

Can’t wait to read it. I have always had a soft spot for the Japanese-American’s in internments camps in America.  Now, I’ll ask another question I love to ask. When did you realize your calling to create words on paper to share with the world?

It might have been while standing at the back of the theatre, watching a play I’d written being performed on stage and hearing and seeing the audience’s response—gasps, laughter, tears. The power of story is boundless, and I feel so privileged to be part of such a great thing.

     Do you have a favorite verse that resonates with you?

“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me.” Psalm 138:8. The older I grow, the more God shows me that he’s going to be the one to work things out according to his plans. All I must do is obey him in the next step.

If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice for your younger self about writing what would that be?

Your part is to keep writing, keep learning your craft, and keep putting your work out there. That’s it. Who publishes it, who reads it, who likes it, who hates it—that is God’s department. Focus on your own part, which is more than enough, and never give up. You don’t want to miss what’s around the corner because you quit too soon.

Terrie, where is your favorite place to write?

When we bought our first “real” house, a 900 sq. ft. bungalow, in 2013, the previous owner had converted one bedroom into a hairdressing shop. I converted it into the office I always dreamed of. Besides my solid oak WWII army desk, the colorful room includes a cute reading nook, my piano, sewing machine, and of course, lots of books. I’m grateful for that space every day.

Some more about:

Terrie Todd is the award-winning author of The Silver Suitcase, Maggie’s War, Bleak Landing, Out of My Mind (nonfiction) and the soon-to-be-released Rose Among Thornes (August) and The Last Piece (November). She’s a playwright, a newspaper columnist, a blogger, and the recipient of the 2018 Janette Oke Award from Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship. Terrie and her husband Jon live on the Canadian prairies where her novels are set. They are the parents of three grown children and grandparents to five rambunctious boys. Terrie’s idea of embracing the harsh Canadian winters it to curl up with a good book and hot tea in front of her fake fireplace.

Terrie’s Links:

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Terrie-Todd/e/B00SW23QIQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Blog: www.terrietodd.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.todd.31

Twitter: @tjtodd2 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrie.todd.31/?hl=en

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12530691.Terrie_Todd

Buy links:

Amazon USA :   https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Among-Thornes-Terrie-Todd/dp/1645263045/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Rose-Among-Thornes-Terrie-Todd/dp/1645263045/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1620254458&sr=1-1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57957663-rose-among-thornes?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=73KxAgPtvi&rank=1#other_reviews

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/rose-among-thornes-an-inspiring-world-war-ii-historical-fiction-by-terrie-todd

Google books: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Rose_Among_Thornes.html?id=B1_AzQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rose-among-thornes-terrie-todd/1138520727

Angus & Robertson: https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/rose-among-thornes-terrie-todd/p/9781645263043

ChristianBook: https://www.christianbook.com/rose-among-thornes-terrie-todd/9781645263043/pd/263043?event=ESRCG

Shop the Word.com: https://www.shoptheword.com/product/rose-among-thornes-aug/

Giveaway:

I’d like to give away a copy of my book (paperback or eBook, winner’s choice), “Out of My Mind: A Decade of Faith and Humor.”  Here is the link to that if you/they want more info: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089YBXNZ7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i5

I’ll give everyone until September 3^rd to comment then I’ll draw the winner on September 6^th and Terri will contact them.

Terrie, thanks so much for visiting with my readers and sharing your story.