Q&A: Andie Newton, Author of ‘The Girl From Vichy’

We had the pleasure of chatting to author Andie Newton about hew new release, The Girl From Vichy. Recently released, Andie chats about her novel, its inspiration, what she’s currently reading, and more! Plus she even gave us an excerpt from the first chapter, which you can read at the end of the Q&A!

Hi, Andie! Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi there! Thank you for having me! I’m an American writer living in Washington State with my husband and two kids. I write female-driven spy novels set in WWII. My debut, The Girl I Left Behind, was released in October 2019, and my new book, The Girl from Vichy, is out August 13^th. Both are published by Aria Fiction, an imprint of Head of Zeus, London.

With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day?

I feel lucky that nobody in my family has contracted COVID-19. In fact, I don’t know anyone who has, and I live in a hot state. So, I try not to complain about the inconveniences when so many others have lost loved ones. I just try to stay positive and thankful for each day we are well.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I never thought I’d write a book. Ever. But I had an idea, and after letting that idea take root, I decided I should write some of it down. That was October 3^rd, 2009. After that, I couldn’t stop the steady stream of words pouring out of me. I wasn’t very good at writing in the beginning, I have to say. I just knew the story was good. So, I wrote a little bit each day, learning as I went. Once I had a first draft, I spent years editing. I love the editing phase. That, for me, is where the manuscript becomes a book.

Your novel, The Girl from Vichy, has just released today! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Ooh, five words is hard! I’d have to say… It’s a thrilling spy novel.

Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?

You can expect on the edge of your seat writing. Just like in The Girl I Left Behind, The Girl from Vichy starts out with some action and keeps moving at a steady pace throughout. There is a lot of suspense, danger, and a little romance.

What inspired you to write this novel?

I’m asked this question all the time. I was inspired after reading an out-of-print memoir by Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, leader of the French Resistance network “The Alliance.” I already knew some history about Vichy, but after reading her book I learned a lot more. I ended up reading several books about women in the French Resistance, and quite a few more about Vichy. I was intrigued by the political divisiveness inside the Free Zone, where politics not only divided the people as much as the country, but also entire families. Marshal Philippe Pétain, the leader of the Vichy regime, was France’s WWI hero and many people looked up to him, if not trusted him completely. Knowing this, while drafting the outline for this story, there were a few questions I had that drove the narrative: Once the collaborationist policies of the Vichy regime became clear, how hard was it for those who supported Philippe Pétain to admit they were wrong? More so, what would it take to bring a family back together? Would the wronged be willing to forgive? The Girl from Vichy was my way of exploring the complexities of Vichy, with the Milice and with the French police, and give readers a story that highlighted a different aspect of the war. Plus, I had already written The Girl I Left Behind and I wanted to write something different.

Did you face any difficulties while writing, such as writing a scene or conducting research?

Yes! Although this is a work of fiction, it was important for me to write a plausible story. A lot of the story is set in Creuzier-le-Vieux, a country commune on the outskirts of Vichy. Logistically, it was perfect. I only needed to prove there were vineyards there since Adèle’s family owns one, and it is a major component in the story. It took many emails and a lot of research for me to prove that vineyards existed there during that time, but I was victorious! The old Vichy Vines, as they were called, were mostly small vineyards passed down through families. The Vichy regime diverted the aquifer away from these vineyards to serve German interests, and eventually they all dried up.

Without spoiling too much, is there a favourite moment that you absolutely loved writing?

A third of this story is set in a convent, and I love those scenes. However, I loved writing the scene where Gérard (collaborator boyfriend) takes Adèle on a date.

What do you hope readers will take away from your novel?

Ooh, that is a tough one. I think everyone is going to walk away from this story with something different. I hope readers will find the struggle to forgive a compelling element in the story, and something worth thinking about long after they’re done reading.

Can you tell us about your publishing journey for The Girl from Vichy?

Oh, I have a long and sorted publishing journey that includes hundreds of rejections from agents and publishers. I was represented in the US many years ago, but now I’m represented by Kate Nash in the UK. The short version: It took me ten years of writing before my debut was published last year. However, The Girl from Vichy is the book that got me my publishing deal, and it was the 2^nd book I wrote (started it in 2013). Basically, never give up if you’re a writer who wants to be published.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

I just got done reading one of the most hilarious books ever. Murder Ahoy! By Fiona Leitch. It’s part of a self-published murder mystery series that reminds me of the TV show Murder She Wrote, but with a sweary (and cool) Jessica Fletcher.