An emotionally compelling tale of love and mystery set in the publishing world of World War II London, When We Meet Again tells the story of a mother searching for her stolen child, and illustrates the unbreakable bonds among families, lovers, and readers under the shadow of war.
We chat with author Caroline Beecham about When We Meet Again, as well as writing, book recommendations, and so much more!
Hi, Caroline! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I was born in England and have lived in Sydney for the last twenty years, although I consider both places home. I have two teenage sons and we live in a great suburb called Balmain, where we love to go out on the harbour and enjoy the great beaches and restaurants. I used to work as a TV writer/producer and then found a new way of storytelling through fiction, which I now do full time. I have written four novels set in the 1940s so I think that I might have accidentally become a bit of a history buff!
How has the first half of 2021 been for you?
To be honest it has been a bit of a rollercoaster; incredibly exciting with my US debut and working on a new novel, but also challenging finding the emotional energy after last year. We have all had to get used to the ‘new norm’, and there have been issues with the kid’s schooling and it’s been tough not to see our family in the UK, although we are really lucky compared to so many countries, so now I consider how much I’ve learnt about resilience and looking out for other people’s welfare.
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!
I remember reading The Little Princess and how deeply sad and then happy it made me feel. I was probably seven or eight, and although it wouldn’t have been the first book I read, I was surprised that a book could affect me so much. The book that made me want to become an author was Perfume by Patrick Suskind; I was fascinated by how the senses could be brought to life on the page and how that could invoke such wide-ranging emotions. It seemed impossible to imagine how to do, so I suppose I set myself a challenge! It’s also a book that I continue to think about for that reason…
When did you first discover your love for writing?
Working in film and TV involved a lot of writing; treatments, proposals and some scriptwriting, although I never had any formal training; my undergrad was in Economics and Social Policy. I realised I loved writing when I was offered the chance to write the novelisation of a film I was working on; I wrote a sample chapter for the publishing house and got the job! I started writing again when I had kids and discovered that fiction offered so many more opportunities for storytelling, especially when it came to untold stories of pioneering women.
Your new novel, When We Meet Again, is out July 20th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Surprising, compelling, uplifting, heartbreaking, hopeful
What can readers expect?
When We Meet Again is a mystery about a woman’s search for her stolen child. Its inspired by real events, and set in the publishing world of London and New York during the Second World War. It’s the story of a young woman, Alice Cotton, who shows extraordinary resilience as she manages to cleverly combine her search for her missing child with the challenge of creating much needed books during wartime. Readers will be taken on a journey with interesting and despicable villains, and some great animal stories too, and they’ll also discover how important books were during wartime for the public as well as for the servicemen and women.
What was the inspiration behind When We Meet Again?
When I found out that a relative from the 1940s had a baby that was sold to a childless couple in a nearby town it sparked my interest in these illegal options and baby farming. It sounded so cruel but when I looked into it and found out how commonplace the illegal adoptions were and how difficult it was for women with so few options, it made me certain there was a story to follow. I had also read about the importance of books in wartime, and how hard they were to create, so thought it would make an interesting and dramatic setting for the novel.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
It was difficult not to be able to travel to some of the locations in the book; I did a lot of research in 2018/2019 but never made it to Book Row, or the locations in New York. Visiting real settings provides so much inspiration on how to convey the sense of place through the five senses, although I have been lucky in that I have travelled a lot in the past, so I try and draw on memory. I can’t wait to get back to the US though and visit Book Row, as well as do some shopping and visit some museums and restaurants!
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I knew little about the choices open to women who became pregnant out of wedlock in the 1940s, and so many did because of the war. It was fascinating learning about the social advocates who worked on their behalf and that’s why many of the characters in the book are based on real people. And of course, the stories about London Zoo in wartime and the animals are true and were fun to research and write about, and provide some light to balance some of the darkness of the story.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best advice is to read a lot and widely and the worst advice is anything that’s too prescriptive. There is no right way to write and you need to do what works for you, from discovering what inspires you to finding the writing process and routine that fits with your family, lifestyle and creative energy.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a novel inspired by the untold true story of a woman who helped rescue thousands of refugees from mainland Europe prior to and during the Second World War. I don’t want to give too much away except that it’s a dramatic and heart-breaking story and there is a remarkable legacy from the diaspora she helped to save.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I am a bit late to the party but I’ve really enjoyed reading Paula McLain’s novels, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, as well as Meg Clayton White’s The Last Train To London and Beautiful Exiles, and of course fellow Australian writer, Natasha Lester’s The Paris Secret. All these books entertain, inform and transport the reader with great characters and compelling storytelling and are really inspiring for a writer!
You can find Caroline on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as at her website.
