Following my review of her new book "Who By Fire," the author Diana Spechler graciously granted me the following interview:
What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I was inspired first by the time I spent in Israel (a summer when I was in high school and a semester during college), and then by the Kellerman family. Of course, the Kellermans are a made-up family, but I had written a short story about them in graduate school and I felt compelled to return to them. I wanted to understand the damage that had been done to them. I wanted to explore their dynamic.
The writing took four and a half years.
What hurdles as a new author did you face to publish it?
There were hurdles every step of the way. First, I had to write the novel. And rewrite it. And rewrite it. Many, many times. And I had to find a plot. Plot always comes last for me. But without a plot, you don't really have a novel. Then I had to find a good agent who was excited about the novel. Then I had to do deep breathing exercises and recite self-affirmation mantras while my agent went out into the publishing world to try to sell it. But in the end, the hurdles made the reward that much sweeter.
Did you have particular people on whom you modeled the characters?
Probably. It's hard to remember now because they're all just so…them. Now I think of the Kellermans the way I think of old friends with whom I've fallen out of touch.
Did you go to Israel to do your research? If so, were you concerned with safety while there? If not, how did you get some in depth knowledge used in Ash's Judaic transformation?
As I mentioned before, I'd spent quite a bit of time in Israel long before I knew I wanted to set a novel there. While I was writing Who By Fire, I went back to do research. In Israel, I rarely feel concerned for my safety. If you live in the States and listen exclusively to American news, you might imagine Israel as a stretch of desert where bombs explode everywhere, all the time, like a terrible fireworks display. It's not like that. People there are living real lives. It's a beautiful country.
Thank you, Diana! To learn more about Diana and watch for her future titles, see go to her website HERE! I know I'll be watching.
Great Interview. Thanks for the inspirations on writing.
Thanks Diana – I loved your book and am recommending it to all my friends who love a good story and great characters. Thanks for participating in the Silicon Valley Moms Blog book club!
Linsey
Four and a half years – wow!
It's a fabulous book and I'm thrilled I got the chance to read it for the SV Moms Book Club! Thanks for joining in with us!
Sue (DC Metro Moms)