Ask the Author: Susan Donovan Bernhard
Answered Questions (7)
Susan Donovan Bernhard
Hi Sonia,
Sorry it's taken me so ridiculously long to answer your question! Yes, I am working on a new novel! It's about two German sisters separated as children in the aftermath of WWII. The novel follows one of the sisters who is taken to America under false pretense, where she builds a life, but on a lie. I'm still working on the details but I love these characters—three generations of women—and their stories so much! Hope to have it done soon so I can get it into readers' hands. Thanks for the question! I hope you and yours are well.
Sorry it's taken me so ridiculously long to answer your question! Yes, I am working on a new novel! It's about two German sisters separated as children in the aftermath of WWII. The novel follows one of the sisters who is taken to America under false pretense, where she builds a life, but on a lie. I'm still working on the details but I love these characters—three generations of women—and their stories so much! Hope to have it done soon so I can get it into readers' hands. Thanks for the question! I hope you and yours are well.
Susan Donovan Bernhard
Ha! Glad you loved Winter Loon. And great question (mark)!
Susan Donovan Bernhard
Hi Mary,
I'm thrilled to hear that Winter Loon and Wes' story resonated with you! I still think of Wes and Jolene, and wonder where the story might have taken them. But, no, there won't be a sequel. (Spoiler Alert! Don't read further if you don't want to know how it ends!) The book ends with Wes finally free of the tremendous weight that he's carried with him for so much of his life. Any future I could imagine for Wes and Jolene together could definitely be filled with all sorts of joy but, in fiction as in real life, heartbreak comes with that joy. I didn't want to imagine any more heartbreak for Wes. I liked him there, back at Bright Lake, floating free, waiting for Jolene. It felt peaceful to me and I thought he deserved that. Thanks so much for the question!
I'm thrilled to hear that Winter Loon and Wes' story resonated with you! I still think of Wes and Jolene, and wonder where the story might have taken them. But, no, there won't be a sequel. (Spoiler Alert! Don't read further if you don't want to know how it ends!) The book ends with Wes finally free of the tremendous weight that he's carried with him for so much of his life. Any future I could imagine for Wes and Jolene together could definitely be filled with all sorts of joy but, in fiction as in real life, heartbreak comes with that joy. I didn't want to imagine any more heartbreak for Wes. I liked him there, back at Bright Lake, floating free, waiting for Jolene. It felt peaceful to me and I thought he deserved that. Thanks so much for the question!
Susan Donovan Bernhard
Hi Sonia! Thanks for reading Winter Loon. I'm thrilled you loved it. And yes! I am working on a new novel about three generations of women--sisters, mothers, and daughters-- who must reconcile with the past and the traumas of war before memories are lost to time, before important questions can no longer be asked. Not sure when it will be out in the world but I'm working as hard as I can on it. Hope you and yours are well. Take Courage!
Susan Donovan Bernhard
I set a reading challenge for 2019 of 100 books. I don't know how I thought I'd be able to do that! I read probably 3 or 4 novels a month. In addition to writing novels, I work as a bookseller in an independent bookstore so I'm trying to add more audiobooks so I can get more books into my head! I also read picture books which I love so I'm adding those to my book challenge when I really love them. I wish there were more hours in a day! Thanks for the question!
Susan Donovan Bernhard
While the story is about a 16 year old boy, it's told from a reminiscent perspective, a grown man looking back on this particular year in his life, living with his grandparents after witnessing his mother's death. I think older teens may appreciate the story but ultimately it's adult literary fiction. Thanks for your question!
Susan Donovan Bernhard
Every once in a (great) while, the words flow like they're being channeled. It's amazing sometimes that the story is locked inside at all so when it comes out like it's being summoned whole, it's pretty fun. I used to find it so pretentious when writers talked about their characters as if they were real people. But it happens sometimes. Characters get a mind of their own. I recently abandoned a project because the characters were too stubborn. I'd sit in my chair to write and I pictured them staring at me, arms crossed, leaning up against a fence. If I asked them to move or speak, it was like they just stared back at me, slowly shaking their heads, like, "Nope that's not my story." Even that experience, of the whole thing going sideways, is kind of cool. You can't force it, that's for sure. But that's the writing. The best part of being a writer is most definitely being part of a community of writers. Mine is generous, talented, creative, and funny. So many true and dear friends.
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