When the Nazi occupation of Rome begins, two courageous young women are plunged deep into the Italian Resistance to fight for their freedom in this captivating debut novel.
We had the pleasure of speaking with debut author Kristin Beck about her novel Courage, My Love, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Kristin! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a former high school English teacher, which was a job I loved, but I always wanted to be a writer! I’m so grateful now that I can spend my days lost in stories. When I’m not writing, I can be found gardening, reading, and exploring the outdoors with my husband and kids.
After the chaos that was 2020, have you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they going so far?
I’m working on my third book currently, which is inspired by the true story of female doctors who established front-line hospitals in World War I. It’s a big, sweeping novel, so after initial research, I began to doubt my timeframe for finishing it by next fall. However, right now the draft is over halfway complete, so it looks like I’m on track! I’ve also set some personal goals after the upheaval of 2020, which mostly involve seeing people I love as it becomes safe, and always appreciating the ability to do so.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading is likely not the first book I read! However, I vividly recall reading The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, which is a fantastic picture book. A book that contributed to my dreams of becoming an author was Anne of Green Gables, which I read countless times throughout grade school. A book that I can’t stop thinking about lately is The Invisible Woman, by Erika Robuck. Powerful and gripping, it’s about OSS agent Virginia Hall’s undercover work in France during World War II.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I wrote numerous stories, attended “young author” camps and workshops, and dreamed of publishing a book someday. In third or fourth grade, we were given aptitude tests, which consisted of long bubble sheets of questions meant to predict future career paths. When I got to the end of my bubble sheet and my suggested career was not “author,” I was dismayed. So, I crossed out my result and added a line of my own: “Other – Freelance Writer.” Apparently, I’ve always loved writing!
Your debut novel, Courage, My Love, is out April 13th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Brave women change the world.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a fast-paced, moving story following fictional characters who are rooted in the true, historical events of Rome in 1943-1944. Rome during the German occupation was full of danger, wrought by both the Italian Fascists and the Nazis, and ordinary people summoned extraordinary bravery to survive and resist. This is a story inspired by their courage.
Where did the inspiration for Courage, My Love come from?
Courage, My Love sprang from the intersection of some of my long-held interests. When I was in my twenties, I spent a fair amount of time in Italy, living there first as a student, and later as a visiting teacher. While there, I learned quite a bit about World War II on the Italian front, which I found to be particularly interesting because three of my grandparents served overseas with the Allies. My grandmother, who I was quite close to, was a nurse with the Canadian army, working in field hospitals across Europe. I grew up hearing her stories, and I’ve been drawn to the unsung roles of women in the war ever since. When I first learned about the daring women of the Italian resistance, fighting for a future they could believe in, I was captivated.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
During the research process, I had to brush off my very rusty Italian to access several online and print materials. I haven’t had the opportunity to speak Italian for more years than I care to admit, so this part of the research was both fun and challenging! Now, I would really love to continue studying the language at some point.
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed seeing my characters evolve with the story. It sounds funny, because we create them, but characters tend to take on lives of their own! I loved exploring how both Francesca and Lucia find their strength over the course of the novel, despite the reverberations of their separate pasts. People are so complicated both in real life and on the page, and I love delving into that.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
After years of teaching and writing short fiction in the evenings, I decided that it was finally time to take the leap and try to write a novel. This “now or never” realization hit me when I was home with two very small children, so I began my writing journey in earnest under rather difficult circumstances! However, those early years of writing during naps, playdates, and preschool taught me a lot about economizing time, and I managed to finish a book and sign with my wonderful agent. Unfortunately, that first book didn’t find a home with a publisher. I forged ahead with a second book, and now I’m so glad that I did! That second attempt resulted in Courage, My Love.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best writing advice I’ve received is to learn to silence your inner editor when drafting new work. It can be very difficult to quiet that interior perfectionist and fact checker, but it’s essential in order to dive into a good creative flow. The worst writing advice I’ve heard is to “write what you know.” To some extent this is true, but I believe it shouldn’t be taken too literally. If I truly wrote only what I know, my stories would all be about English teachers becoming novelists. Also, if we only wrote about our own experiences, historical fiction, for one, couldn’t exist!
What’s next for you?
In early 2022 my second novel will release, which is called The Night of Wind and Stars. It’s a story based on real heroines of World War II, who worked for the Swiss Red Cross in occupied France and, through great bravery and ingenuity, saved the lives of approximately one-hundred refugee children from Austria and Germany. This story is close to my heart, and I’m extremely excited about its publication.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Always! Several recent books blew me away. Our Darkest Night, by Jennifer Robson, is another story set in World War II Italy, and it is breathtakingly beautiful. Kate Quinn’s fantastic The Rose Code is one that will force you to clear your schedule! Also, two upcoming books deserve places on everyone’s TBR list: The Social Graces, by Renée Rosen, is delightful and thought provoking, and it comes out on April 20th. Chanel Cleeton’s The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, available May 4th, is absolutely enthralling.
