1) Please tell us about your book.
The Summer Before the Storm is the first in an epic trilogy that begins in
1914 in legendary Muskoka – the summer playground of the affluent and powerful
in the rugged Canadian Shield. Amid the pristine, island-dotted lakes and
pine-scented forests, the young and carefree amuse themselves with glittering
balls and friendly competitions. This summer promises to be different when the
destitute son of a disowned heir joins his wealthy family at their cottage on
Wyndwood Island. Through Jack’s introduction into the privileged life of the
aristocratic Wyndhams and their social circle, he seeks opportunities and
alliances to better himself, including in his schemes, his beautiful and
audacious cousin, Victoria. But their charmed lives begin to unravel with the
onset of the Great War, in which many are destined to become part of the “lost
generation”.
2) What
got you interested in writing a book about World War I?
I wanted to evoke the unique lifestyle of Muskoka’s
Age of Elegance, and the war provided a perfect counterpoint. People live more intensely
and passionately in tumultuous times when death is unpredictable and
unprecedented. I also wanted to highlight the lesser-known aspects of that war,
especially women’s unsung contributions. They stepped from genteel drawing
rooms into the horrors of makeshift hospitals and dangers of driving ambulances
on the front lines – which are portrayed thoroughly in book 2, Elusive
Dawn. It’s not so much a war story, as a tale about a generation tested
by extraordinary times.
3) Please
tell a bit about your main characters.
Victoria
Wyndham is the feisty, tempestuous heroine who rebels against the stultifying restrictions
of her Edwardian life. But she’s neither a suffragette nor a bluestocking, like
her cousin Zoë. Mad cousin Phoebe has an uncanny knack of seeing and telling
the truth, which others rarely appreciate. Their families are firmly ruled by
Grandmother Augusta Wyndham, but charming, ambitious cousin Jack disrupts their
complacent world.
Augusta is
determined that sensible Justin Carrington should marry Victoria, since he
should be able to control her impetuous nature. Also vying for Victoria’s
affections is charismatic Chas Thornton, who’s trying to find a path for
himself in a self-indulgent world.
Doctor
siblings Blake and Eleanor Carlyle annoy Augusta with their socialism and middle-class
sensibilities. The “downstairs” life is seen through the eyes of the parlour
maid, Molly, who is not all that she appears.
A
supporting cast of friends and relatives – including artists and gold-diggers -
helps to bring the era to life.
4) What
sort of themes do you explore in your book?
Love and
betrayal in different guises – familial and romantic.
The
contrast between the rich and the poor, as seen through Jack’s experiences as
well as through the servants’. There’s also the contrast between the free-spirited
Bohemians and the chaperoned young people continually pushing for freedoms that
scandalize their elders.
Family
dynamics are explored, exposing that things are not always as they seem. Some
people are living lies, and many have secrets. Madness is brushed aside as
immaturity. There’s also a great burden of duty to family as well as to country.
This was
a time of monumental change, particularly for women, who were invading “men’s realms”,
seeking independence, and eager to “do their bit” for the war effort.
Overcoming adversity is a challenge for many of the
characters. Obviously the war provides trials both physical and psychological. The
true impact of that cataclysm can be appreciated through the eyes of these
individuals.
5) What
sort of research did you do to help ensure you were accurately bringing the
period to life?
I really
need to immerse myself in all aspects of an era, from food to philosophy. I
read over 100 books, my favourites being memoirs and letters, in which there
are intriguing details about daily life as well as the actual voices of the
time, elucidating the language, morals, and values. They also provided
incidents that I used for my characters. For instance, flying with top ace Billy
Bishop and others helped me to understand the life of pilots, and the intensity
of aerial battles. I was thrilled when Bishop’s son said I got it right!
I visited
museums and archives, WW1 battlefields and cemeteries, explored hundreds of
websites, and joined three online war forums, where I asked experts about
obscure facts I couldn’t find anywhere else. I’m particularly fascinated by odd and often
unbelievable bits of social history. Notes at the end of my books assure
readers that these quirky events are true.
6) Is
there anything you feel people misunderstand about World War I?
There’s a
misconception that soldiers spent most of their time in the front-line
trenches. In fact, there were long periods when the men were safely behind the
lines. Tennis and polo matches, soccer and baseball games, dances and
entertainments were all part of the military experience in France. You can find
more on my website, Odd, Intriguing, Surprising Facts
about WWI,
7) Please
tell us about your other works.
Elusive
Dawn (Book 2)
and Under
the Moon (Book 3) continue to follow the lives, loves, and fortunes of
the Wyndhams and their friends through the war and the glittering Jazz Age.
A Place
to Call Home is a saga set in Canada’s less civilized pioneer past.
Moon Hall is a
Gothic tale of two women in different centuries.
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Thanks, Gabriele.
If you're interested in more from Gabriele or purchasing her novels, please visit http://www.themuskokanovels.com/.
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