Ask the Author: Annette Oppenlander
Answered Questions (13)
Annette Oppenlander
Hello Rhonda,
Thank you so much for reaching out to me with your question! I'm happy you enjoyed 'Surviving the Fatherland.' In 2002 I visited them in Germany and asked them to retell their stories. I recorded everything with a small old-fashioned tape recorder. Quite often I asked additional questions so they'd go deeper. They were very open about the actions and occurrences during these years.
At the same time, a lot of the emotion you experience in the book is my interpretation of what they felt. Particularly my mother suffered greatly under her upbringing and was not able to express everything. It took me 15 years to get this story written and I think one reason it took so long was, to write it in a deeply moving way. I think writing the book helped me understand my parents a lot better. Sadly, my mother passed away in 2004 at the age of 72. My father is still alive at 89.
Thanks for reading and reaching out!
Annette
Thank you so much for reaching out to me with your question! I'm happy you enjoyed 'Surviving the Fatherland.' In 2002 I visited them in Germany and asked them to retell their stories. I recorded everything with a small old-fashioned tape recorder. Quite often I asked additional questions so they'd go deeper. They were very open about the actions and occurrences during these years.
At the same time, a lot of the emotion you experience in the book is my interpretation of what they felt. Particularly my mother suffered greatly under her upbringing and was not able to express everything. It took me 15 years to get this story written and I think one reason it took so long was, to write it in a deeply moving way. I think writing the book helped me understand my parents a lot better. Sadly, my mother passed away in 2004 at the age of 72. My father is still alive at 89.
Thanks for reading and reaching out!
Annette
Annette Oppenlander
When it comes to the horror genre, I'm a weakling. I do not read or watch horror because it scares me. I physically get ill watching and I have nightmares. Nonetheless, I wish you a great horror week! All the best, Annette
Annette Oppenlander
I may try out Harry Potter's wizard world. Wouldn't it be great to be able to wield a wand and make things happen. No more annoying house work, no more lawn mowing. I'd also love to try out a broom and fly around my neighborhood or visit friends instead of waiting in traffic.
Annette Oppenlander
I'm going to dive deeply into WWII stories because I'm planning sort of a follow-up novel to 'Surviving the Fatherland.' The main character of the new work will be Lilly's father, Wilhelm, who goes off to war in 1940, thinking he'll be home within a year. Right!
So I'll be reading lots of non-fiction and fiction about that era. I started with a couple of eye-witness accounts from soldiers on the western front in France and the Russian front. Since I also read German, some of the books will be in the German language.
So I'll be reading lots of non-fiction and fiction about that era. I started with a couple of eye-witness accounts from soldiers on the western front in France and the Russian front. Since I also read German, some of the books will be in the German language.
Annette Oppenlander
Well, I wish I could say I've got lots of ideas. But after thinking about it for a while, I'm not coming up with much.
However, I did experience some pretty exciting episodes. One was a sailing trip on a 40-foot yacht in the mid 1980s. We were eight students - none of us knew each other very long - and only two knew how to sail this vessel. Our plan: sail around the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean.
We took off with great expectations, but soon found that a wind from the African coast was pushing waves extremely high. We had to crisscross for hours and each time, the boat was on top of a wave, the propeller was in the air. We took all sails down and hooked ourselves to the ship because the wind continued to increase. The western coast of Corsica is pretty rocky and offers few opportunities to get away from the wind.
To make a story short, this was the day I thought I'd die. When you're 24 years old, that's pretty sobering. I realized I was at the mercy of two young men who I hardly knew. And as you can see, we didn't die. We made it back after eight hours of sailing and I haven't been on a sail boat since.
I hope this little episode makes up for the lack of mystery ideas. :)
However, I did experience some pretty exciting episodes. One was a sailing trip on a 40-foot yacht in the mid 1980s. We were eight students - none of us knew each other very long - and only two knew how to sail this vessel. Our plan: sail around the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean.
We took off with great expectations, but soon found that a wind from the African coast was pushing waves extremely high. We had to crisscross for hours and each time, the boat was on top of a wave, the propeller was in the air. We took all sails down and hooked ourselves to the ship because the wind continued to increase. The western coast of Corsica is pretty rocky and offers few opportunities to get away from the wind.
To make a story short, this was the day I thought I'd die. When you're 24 years old, that's pretty sobering. I realized I was at the mercy of two young men who I hardly knew. And as you can see, we didn't die. We made it back after eight hours of sailing and I haven't been on a sail boat since.
I hope this little episode makes up for the lack of mystery ideas. :)
Annette Oppenlander
Of course, there are many contemporary fictional couples, but I am partial to an old classic, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars are my favorite couple because I love the back and forth, the confusion, the lost hopes and amazing happy ending. I don't read much romance, but when I do, it has to be a classic. Austen's and Charlotte Bronte's novels never get old.
Annette Oppenlander
Hi Jonnathan,
Thank you so much for stopping by. I typically start with a time period/setting because in historical fiction much is determined by the specifics of the era. In the case of the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy I visited Castle Hanstein in Thuringia, Germany by chance. Once I learned of Knight Werner and his brother, Lame Hans, who'd lived there in the late 15th century, I knew I had to write a story about them and the castle.
I'm a pantser, so I don't outline. But I do have a pretty good idea who my main character is. In other words I develop a detailed bio that tells me what my guy wants, what he looks like, what he fears and is proud of, etc.
Then I let go and the black box of my brain creates the story. Of course, there are multiple rewrites.
Best wishes for an awesome day!
Annette
Thank you so much for stopping by. I typically start with a time period/setting because in historical fiction much is determined by the specifics of the era. In the case of the ESCAPE FROM THE PAST trilogy I visited Castle Hanstein in Thuringia, Germany by chance. Once I learned of Knight Werner and his brother, Lame Hans, who'd lived there in the late 15th century, I knew I had to write a story about them and the castle.
I'm a pantser, so I don't outline. But I do have a pretty good idea who my main character is. In other words I develop a detailed bio that tells me what my guy wants, what he looks like, what he fears and is proud of, etc.
Then I let go and the black box of my brain creates the story. Of course, there are multiple rewrites.
Best wishes for an awesome day!
Annette
Annette Oppenlander
I don't experience writer's block very often. When I do I take walks with my dog, Mocha. Something always happens in my brain when I'm out exercising and breathing fresh air. Sometimes I simply push through by making myself sit down. Even a 100 words can feel like a success.
Annette Oppenlander
I love the freedom of creating a story, sending my protagonist into impossible situations. I also enjoy researching history and drilling down to the smallest detail. I get an immense sense of satisfaction from writing.
Annette Oppenlander
Keep writing, join a writers group, go to conferences, invest time into craft and learn from critique. Enjoy the process of writing without looking at the end result.
Annette Oppenlander
I'm working on two historical novels. The third book in the trilogy of "Escape from the Past," the second is currently in editing, and a historical novel set during the American Civil War about a farm boy and his best friend, a slave.
Annette Oppenlander
I find ideas in many places. Since I love travel I often come across some historic tidbit that arouses my curiosity. Sometimes it's the other way around. I travel after I've written a book to make sure I've got the details right, the atmosphere, the landscape, etc.
Annette Oppenlander
In 2012 I visited Castle Hanstein in Thuringia, Germany. Walking through the ruins I found a note about Knight Werner von Hanstein who'd feuded with Duke Schwarzburg over a beautiful woman in the late Middle Ages. I was hooked.
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