Ask the Author: H.M. Holten
Answered Questions (3)
H.M. Holten
Working title: Woes and Wonders
My work in progress is set in multiple locations, spanning from Japan to Denmark. It is set in the times of the Great War and continues through the interim between the two world wars. The two protagonists see the world through different experiences. One goes to China in the first days of the Great war and survives six years as POW in Japan. The other grows up in Copenhagen in a sheltered situation. When they meet and fall in love, they must face the results of dealing with their distinctive ideals as well as their differing family histories.
The book is loosely connected to Snares and Delusions, my debut novel.
My work in progress is set in multiple locations, spanning from Japan to Denmark. It is set in the times of the Great War and continues through the interim between the two world wars. The two protagonists see the world through different experiences. One goes to China in the first days of the Great war and survives six years as POW in Japan. The other grows up in Copenhagen in a sheltered situation. When they meet and fall in love, they must face the results of dealing with their distinctive ideals as well as their differing family histories.
The book is loosely connected to Snares and Delusions, my debut novel.
H.M. Holten
Snares and Delusions, my debut novel, is set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It takes place mainly in Sweden and Denmark.
With regards to my inspiration and the reason I chose this period: it came naturally, partly because I find the Great War of interest today, partly because the Danish neutrality gave rise to peculiar incidents. Also, my family history raised many questions, which I haven’t found answers to. That gave me a free reign to invent actions and emotions. In other words, my ideas grew out of combined interest and a search for possible answers.
My work in progress covers the Great War seen from other perspectives and works its way through the interim between the two world wars.
With regards to my inspiration and the reason I chose this period: it came naturally, partly because I find the Great War of interest today, partly because the Danish neutrality gave rise to peculiar incidents. Also, my family history raised many questions, which I haven’t found answers to. That gave me a free reign to invent actions and emotions. In other words, my ideas grew out of combined interest and a search for possible answers.
My work in progress covers the Great War seen from other perspectives and works its way through the interim between the two world wars.
H.M. Holten
What are my inspiration triggers? As I write historical fiction, history plays a part. Not so much the dry facts, but the way people dressed, ate, spoke, and even what they believed, or how they spent their evenings. The list is endless. Here I must add that I research dry facts when necessary, but that is an exercise in patience. Naturally, facts are important when writing about a specific period. Also, they’re necessary for making characters believable: they lived with their historical circumstances.
For me, myths are important tools for finding inspiration. It may not matter which mythology, but I mostly see a relationship between the characters I want to portray and their preferred legends. As I see it, all myths are interconnected. Deep down they’re an expression of the collective subconscious.
Talismans are rooted in the dream world. They can take any shape or form. Again, it’s a matter of what resonates within. It is up to the individual, whether amulets work for them or not.
Personally, I can’t work with music in the background. My best guess is that it distracts me, because of years of musical training. I’m at my best when writing alone and in silence.
For me, myths are important tools for finding inspiration. It may not matter which mythology, but I mostly see a relationship between the characters I want to portray and their preferred legends. As I see it, all myths are interconnected. Deep down they’re an expression of the collective subconscious.
Talismans are rooted in the dream world. They can take any shape or form. Again, it’s a matter of what resonates within. It is up to the individual, whether amulets work for them or not.
Personally, I can’t work with music in the background. My best guess is that it distracts me, because of years of musical training. I’m at my best when writing alone and in silence.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more