Author Interview: Elaine Stock: The Resilient Women of WWII

 

Welcome Readers, to The Book’s Delight. Today we are chatting with Elaine Stock, author of the Resilient Women of WWII series. See her full bio below!

JMR-Welcome to the Books Delight, Elaine. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun and what does the perfect day look like?

ES-Thanks, Jeanie, for hosting me on Book’s Delight. It’s an honor to be here. I live in eastern upstate New York, just a few minutes from the Massachusetts border. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, this rural area initially took a while to become accustomed to. Now all these years later, I consider myself more a country gal than city-oriented. There’s nothing like hearing a creek babble or watching a flock of wild turkeys parade through your backyard! As for fun, and writing inspiration, I enjoy taking long walks down nearby dirt roads or in neighboring state parks. With New England close by, my husband and I love to explore the many small towns with scrumptious eateries, fun antique shops, and, of course, bookstores. Plus, the scenic beauty of the Atlantic Ocean, and the historic troves of Boston, Salem, Camden, and Milford have lots to explore. However, the perfect day for me is to relax at home, go for a walk, read, cook a “comfort” meal, and of course, have an excellent writing day.

JMR-What’s your favorite historical time period? Why?

ES-I’m most intrigued by American history, especially in the New York area, from the pre-American Revolution through the 1960s, mainly because there were such historic changes and growth in society. However, what I read the most, and write about, is World War II. There’s something fascinating, inspirational, and never-boring about the brave people who were determined to live through this horror of madness. I believe we can all relate to this time, which is really not that long ago, and one that should never be forgotten about since history has an awful way of repeating itself.

JMR-Who is your favorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?

ES-Rather than choose one big-name historical figure, I’d like to know the Mary Janes or the Josephs that risked their lives to help their fellow countryman or the perfect stranger from harm’s way. In my mind, these nameless people are the true heroes. I would ask them how they braved facing their fears to help others.

JMR- How did you come to be a writer of historical fiction?

ES-I’ve written for years and entered the publishing world with inspirational fiction. Although I’d gained several readers, after much reflection, I’d come to realize that my author’s voice wasn’t a strong enough match to grow a solid readership. With a love of history, and having read historical novels ever since a teenager, I turned easily to the desire to write historical fiction. My paternal heritage from Brzeziny, Poland, however, was a clouded mystery. Missing relatives’ names and information—specifically a great aunt who was born deaf and left behind in Poland when the family immigrated to the US—speckled many years of darkness and longing for me until one day I decided to brave writing a fictional story of what happened to my family the years leading up and through the outbreak of the German occupation of Poland that triggered WWII. An amazing happening took place just as I wrapped up my story: a second cousin phoned me to say he’d completed a family tree of my paternal family, complete with names and dates. This story, We Shall Not Shatter, became the first book of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy. Although it is not a memoir, it is a fictional tale that was inspired by my Great Aunt Kate. The Trilogy was released by Amsterdam Publishers, the leading Holocaust publisher in Europe.

JMR- Did you visit anyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to your characters?

ES-Sadly, while writing and releasing the Trilogy novels, (Book 2 is Our Daughters’ Last Hope and Book 3 is When We Disappeared), the Covid pandemic was at its greedy worst and my husband and I opted not to travel. Then, this past year my husband experienced a health issue that had left him in much pain—thankfully, he has recovered. What I’d like to do one day is to visit Brzeziny and take a train that follows the same path as my relatives did when they fled Poland to the docks in Hamburg, Germany where they boarded a ship that took them to America.

JMR- Elaine, tell us about your new book, When We Disappeared.

ES-This is the concluding book of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy. In Book 1, there was a German family—Herta and Kurt Weber and their two daughters Edith and Krista—who had a minor appearance aboard the (true-life) M.S. St. Louis ship. Unlike the handful of people who were permitted to leave the ship in Cuba, the majority were Jews fleeing persecution, which included the (my fictional) Weber family who eventually made it to the Netherlands. Book 2 is the story of what happens to them. Book 3, When We Disappeared, is the story of the oldest Weber girl, Edith, and what becomes of her when she escapes a Dutch safe house that proves just the opposite for her. She meets Eric, who has a past that he also hides, namely a father who ranks high in the Nazi party. The twist is that due to an injury Edith sustains while escaping the safe house, Eric helps her back to his family home in Germany, not the greatest of places for a runaway Jewish woman who is determined to escape. At Eric’s home is another woman who is hiding in plain sight—Vonni, a Roma, who, like Edith, has been separated from her family and has been persecuted because of her faith and heritage. Together, Edith and Vonni, with the help of the last person these two women ever imagined would come to their aid, manage to leave this house along with Erich and a family servant, yet their journey out of Germany is questionable, considering who is chasing after them.

JMR-What projects do you have in the pipeline?

ES-Upon the completion of the Trilogy books, I’ve written another historical fiction title and am now trying to find a publishing home for it (my previous publisher is now only releasing memoir titles).

JMR- Tell our readers how to find you on social media and the web.

ES-Please visit my website, https://elainestock.com for more information about my novels (there are some book trailers (videos) on the Trilogy books that one might appreciate watching—turn up the volume for the music accompaniment!). Once at my website, please consider subscribing to my Author Newsletter. I promise your inbox won’t be flooded! Listed below are the other places to connect with me on social media, though my most active place is my Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaineStock.

Instagram: @elainestocklovestowrite

Twitter/X:  http://www.twitter.com/ElaineStock

Goodreads:  http://goodreads.com/ElaineStock

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elaine-stock

Amazon: amazon.com/author/elainestock 

 

JMR- What question were you hoping I’d ask but didn’t?

ES-Jeanie, you’ve asked some fascinating questions and I appreciate it. For fun, though, not that I believe in reincarnation, but if you were to ask me what I’d like to come back as I would say a Broadway choreographer.

JMR- Thank you Elaine, for joining us today. It's been a pleasure. Readers, I've included a link to one of Elaine's books below, be sure to check out her writing!

Elaine Stock Bio

When Elaine Stock penned the novel, We Shall Not Shatter (Book 1 of the Resilient Women of World War II Trilogy published by Amsterdam Publishers) inspired by her paternal heritage from Brzeziny, Poland, she discovered her passion for writing what she loved to read: historical fiction. Exploring the role of women who are courageous and gutsy (that’s courageous with added spirit and determination), she shares how all faiths, races, and belief systems are interconnected and need each other.

 

All 3 novels of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy have made Amazon Bestseller Lists and earned the Historical Fiction Company’s 5-star and “Highly Recommended” Review. Book 1, We Shall Not Shatter, is a 2023 Category Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Award. What pleases her the most is that readers from various countries have reached out to say that the Trilogy books have encouraged them to face their tomorrows. 

Elaine is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and The Historical Novel Society. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.