This week we’re welcoming my fellow Midwest Almanac blogger Johnnie Alexander to the story behind the story. She’s written in several different genres, including WWII. Today, she shares the story behind her book Where Treasure Hides. First, a little bit about the book. It’s a bonus for me, because it’s set in the Netherlands!
Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life.
Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow.
As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?
It’s such a good book, Johnnie. What inspired you to write it?
My fascination with World War II history began with a book.
While browsing through the stacks of my local library, I found an intriguing title: Hitler’s Soldiers in the Sunshine State.
What?!
Oh, yes, it’s true.
German POWs were imprisoned in Florida where one intrepid soldier tried to make a pet out of an alligator. He got bit.
Others collected snake skins.
Florida wasn’t the only state where German POWs waited out the war. But as a longtime Florida resident, these were the stories that fascinated me.
My interest in WWII grew. Eventually I came across two documentaries, both available on DVD, that sparked the story line for my debut novel, Where Treasure Hides.
The first documentary, The Rape of Europa, discusses the massive looting of Europe’s art treasures by Hitler and others. After watching it, I read everything I could on this topic, including The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by noted researcher Lynn H. Nicholas.
I also read The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel. The similarly named movie, starring Matt Damon, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Cate Blanchett, is based on Mr. Edsel’s book.
The second documentary, produced by PBS, is called The Hidden Child. It primarily tells the story of Maude Peper Dahme who was sheltered during the war by a Dutch Christian. Maude, who was six at the time, and her younger sister are two of the estimated ten percent of Jewish children who survived the Holocaust. (Such a sobering statistic.)
These two major wartime events—the hiding of art treasures and the hiding of children—touched a deep place in my heart. I knew I wanted Alison, the heroine of Where Treasure Hides, to play a part in protecting both.
As the story took on a life of its own, the art took center stage. But Alison managed to smuggle two young children out of Holland, and Ian, the story’s hero, also saved the life of a young Jewish orphan.
I’m still enthralled with WWII history and its aftermath. It’s an era of great pain and even greater courage.
Johnnie Alexander imagines heart-tugging stories in multiple genres whether she’s at home in Florida or Tennessee. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller which has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian. She’s also the author of the popular Misty Willow Series: Where She Belongs, When Hope Arrives, and What Hope Remembers.
Since talking about writing is so much fun, Johnnie hosts Novelists Unwind, which features videotaped interviews with inspirational authors, and Writers Chat, a weekly online show. She also teaches at writers conferences and for Serious Writer Academy. Johnnie also volunteers as marketing director for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference.
Sharing Johnnie’s vagabond life are Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her on her website or on her Facebook Author Page.
Thanks for joining us! I couldn’t agree more about it being an era of great pain and even greater courage. Johnnie is giving away a copy of the book. Follow the instructions below to enter.
Thanks so much for joining us, Johnnie!
Re older fiction I might mention Christy and Gone with the Wind. I also, particularly since I have done genealogy for about 15 years, find that a number of excellent non-fiction history books have enhanced my understanding of the US and the world. I have moved from the era of the earlier wars and am now focused more on WWII.
Hi, Cathy. I’m always intrigued by genealogy researchers. Other members of my family have taken on that task and it’s so fun to see what they find. Thanks for commenting!
I have been impacted by a lot of books since I try to be discerning about what I read. One that helped change the way I view things is Joy Anyway by Carolyn Lund. The main idea of this book is that we choose to be joyful, we have God’s joy in our life, even though we may not always FEEL the joy.
Hi, Pam. That sounds like a fascinating book. I love that concept–the difference between joy and happiness. Joy is lasting. Thanks for sharing.
Reading Five Times I Met Myseld by James Rubart impacted me quite a bit.
I’ve got that one in TBR stack. Perhaps I should move it closer to the top!
The Nancy Drew books really got me excited about reading & was the first series I ever read.
Hi, Robin. I loved reading mysteries when I was a kid but I didn’t read many Nancy Drew stories. It always puzzles me now–why didn’t I? I loved Encyclopedia Brown though and read all of his stories.
I enjoyed his stories too!!
This looks really good! I just wish books like this were priced better or could go on KU. I love WWII books, especially when there is Christianity in them. But they have to be priced right. Sorry for my rant! I still think it’s a fabulous topic you have chosen!
Hi, Susi. I just checked on Amazon and the Kindle price right this minute is only $3.03! LOL!
Seriously, I love this story and it’s gotten great reviews from readers. I think most WWII fans will love it, too.
Thank you, Johnnie! I just got it! You’re a doll!
Aw! Thank you!!!
Loved this book.
Hi, Ann! How good to run into you here! Thanks for that encouragement. You are such a sweetie and just brighten my day (so many of my days!).
Until I read Liz’s new book The Melody of the Soul not sure I had one that impacted my life. This book is outstanding it touched my soul. I have not had a book in a long time touch me like it did.
Blessings
Diana
It is an amazing book! Glad to hear it impacted you so much.
What a great endorsement of Liz’s book, Diana. I’m excited to read it.
Where Treasure Hides sounds so fascinating. I’ve read a lot of WWI and WWII fiction books lately. They’ve really opened my eyes more to what terrors and hardships people had to go through during those times. The Melody of the Soul sounds intriguing, too. I’m putting both of these on my wish list. Thanks for the post.
Winnie, thanks for adding our novels to your wish list. Like you, I was shocked and amazed at what people went through. It’s almost unbelievable–except we know it happened–that one person could wield so much destructive power for so long.
This looks amazing!!!!
Thank you, Danielle!
The one book that stands out to me that has impacted my life is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It was in a time of my life that I needed to hear what the message was in the book and God used it to break a very heavy chain I had been carrying around for years! I will never forget it 🙂 I love when an author shines Christ through their books.
Thank you for the author interview and giveaway chance, book sounds amazing!
That book is a classic! My younger daughter doesn’t read much fiction but she raves about this story.
Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke deeply impacted me.
Thank you for the great interview and giveaway.
I recently read Saving Amelie and absolutely loved it!
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyers really impacted me. Blessings
Hi, Lucy. Thanks for sharing!
I like Flourish by Paula. These books really help me a lot and she did add on books for Christmas and she is doing one for Easter. I can’t wait. Congrats on this book. It looks like a good book to get into.
Hi, Tammy. It’s always fun to find an author you love! Take care.
I think all books have been important to me, I like to think I learn something from everyone I read. I especially like books on WW2 because my father (b1931) was born and grew up in Glasgow, they survived some bombings in his city.
Karen, I believe there is truth to what you said–everything we read touches us in some way. Thanks for sharing about your father, too. That was such a frightening time. God bless!
I’ve seen this book on Tyndale a couple of times and love the cover. So dramatic!
A book that impacted me was Appointments With Heaven by Dr. Reggie Anderson. It’s tremendously uplifting and encouraging about the afterlife.
Hi, Dianna. I receive so many compliments on the cover but all the praise needs to go to the talented art department at Tyndale. They did a fabulous job. Thanks for sharing Dr. Anderson’s book.
I’d have to agree with Trixie. While I’ve read a lot of Christian Fiction, that is one that I recommend to other readers. That and Love Comes Softly.
I love WW2 books and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh, Amy. Love Comes Softly is such a classic. A sweet and wonderful story.
I hope you enjoy Where Treasure Hides, too, when you get a chance to read it. Thanks!