Interview with author Melanie Dobson

I recently read Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson and had to review it for you. I was captivated, delighted, and in awe of her writing skills and attention to story detail. As a historical writer myself, I enjoyed the creative expertise Melanie mastered in this novel, joining two fascinating story lines from the present and past that blend together to make a “can’t put it down” book. This story sure to please any contemporary or historical reader.

A woman searches for a little girl who lived during WWII. Her journey takes her on a path to discovery of many mysteries, the least of them concerning her own past.

Click on the picture – it will take you to Amazon where the book is on sale at the moment. I’ve invited Melanie for an interview, to share some thoughts by answering some questions I had for her. Below are her comments. Please feel free to comment and say hello.

What made you want to write this story?

A few years ago, I was working in my favorite place—an old house turned into a coffee shop—praying and thinking about my next novel. Outside the window was a giant weeping cedar tree, its silvery leaves draped over the people below, and a picture began to form in my mind of a boy and girl. They were playing in a treehouse in Germany, and for some reason, they had to run. That’s all I knew as I started the journey to write Catching the Wind. I was anxious to discover what happened to this boy and girl.

How much research did you have to do, and how do you research your books/story?

Research is my favorite part of this job! I’m actually in Holland this week, typing today as I ride a bus along a canal to research my next story. For Catching the Wind, I spent about a month researching World War II stories and then went to England to visit my main settings in the Kent era, interview people who lived during the war, and pour over the newly released “spy files” in the National Archives outside London to learn about British men and women who betrayed their country in the 1940s.

What is your favorite time period to write about?

My favorite time period is typically whichever era that I happen to be writing about at the moment! I’ve set books in almost every decade from the late 1700s until the present, and I have enjoyed learning about each of those different time periods. Right now, the 1940s are my favorite.

Is there a common theme running through all your books?

If so, what is it? I’m not intentional about writing common themes, but two threads seem to make it into most—and perhaps, all—of my books. The first is the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary, sacrificial things to protect others. The other is something that God continues to teach me—when we love and serve Him, He is continually working through even the most difficult of circumstances to ultimately bring good back into this world.

What projects are you working on now?

I’ve just finished my edits for my next novel Hidden Among the Stars (September 2018) and now I’m in the midst of researching and writing a time-slip mystery set mainly during the World War II era in The Netherlands. I really enjoy listening to people’s stories and then crafting a novel from all that I’ve learned! This next novel will be based on several of those stories.

Thanks so much Melanie!