Anita Abriel's new historical novel The Light After the War, based on her mother's life. Abriel has written many novels under the name Anita Hughes.From her Q&A with Deborah Kalb:
Q: How much did you know about your mother's life story as you grew up, and at what point did you decide to write this novel based on her history?--Marshal Zeringue
A: My mother told me a lot of stories when I was a child but I didn't always pay attention. It was when I was 12 that she told me something (which is in the book, but I won't give it away) that stuck with me. I've wanted to write it ever since.
I decided to write the novel a few years ago. It felt like the right time in my life to approach it and do it justice.
Q: How much research did you need to do to write the book, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?
A: I did a lot of historical research. One thing I learned was how many Hungarian Jews - half a million - were killed in the Holocaust, even though Hungary came so late into the war.
Also, the fact that Jews ended up spread all over the world - South America, Australia, Canada - was surprising. Many didn't want to...[read on]