TERRY LYNN THOMAS WITH THE SILENT WOMAN

Today we continue with our Question and Answer series, introducing a Novel Points of View author and their writing. I’m delighted that it’s the turn of our American team member, Terry Lynn Thomas and her historical fiction novel The Silent Woman.

Hello Terry,

Let's begin with a little teaser of what readers can expect in The Silent Woman… 

Would you sell your secrets?

Catherine Carlisle is trapped in a loveless marriage and the threat of World War Two is looming. She sees no way out… that is until a trusted friend asks her to switch her husband’s papers in a desperate bid to confuse the Germans.

Soon Catherine finds herself caught up in a deadly mixture of espionage and murder. Someone is selling secrets to the other side, and the evidence seems to point right at her.

Can she clear her name before it’s too late?

1) Where did the inspiration for Cat’s character come from?

When I set out to write this series, I knew that I wanted a protagonist who was older and who lived outside the conventions of society. In The Silent Woman, when Cat is a suspect in her husband’s murder, she set herself up to be shunned by her friends and the social circles in which she runs. I spend a lot of time reading mysteries and fiction from the 1930s and 1940s, and I’m always taken aback by the way women are expected to take a certain subservient place in society. Even the most forward thinking people expect the woman to bow to her husband, not have a job, and not be too smart. I deliberately set out to shine the light on those issues, so I created Catherine Carlisle who is outspoken, sassy, sophisticated, intuitive, and — most importantly — doesn’t like to be told what to do. This sets the table for drama and turmoil surrounding her. The upside of Cat’s character is her commitment to helping others who are not as fortunate, be they man, woman, child, or animal. She really does have a soft spot.

I’m looking forward to letting Cat age through this series as well. Many writers leave their protagonists around the same age during the course and scope of their stories, but I’m going to let Cat grow old. This will allow me to explore social/economic conditions during and after World War II. I’m hoping to fashion her after the great spinster detectives of the past, namely Miss Silver and Miss Marple.

2) What drew you to this particular period, before the outbreak of WW2, when the powers that be choose to ignore Hitler’s flagrant violation of the Treaty of Versailles?

First of all, my father fought in World War II, so I have a soft spot for his generation. I also appreciate that during this time the people were united — and made sacrifices — to fight for freedom. I think a lot of things are happening now in the socio-political environment that we don’t know about. This is a scary time for the world in my view. And I don’t mean to sound trite, but the lessons of history are so important. I have a passion for politics, but the topic is so incendiary at this time that it’s difficult to have a cohesive conversation with anyone with whom you share a different point of view. This time period—long past—lets me explore issues that are relevant today without offending anyone. (True confession: I also love the clothes and the music.)

First in the Sarah Bennett Series

3) Compared to your Sarah Bennett mystery series, how much easier was it to research life in London in the 1930s? How do you prefer to conduct your research?

The Sarah Bennett mysteries were really easy to research because I lived and worked in San Francisco for a good portion of my life. My parents lived in the city, so I had stories handed down about the time. It was really easy for me to feel the vibe of San Francisco during the 1940s.

As for hands-on research, I read novels of the time, watch movies, plow through newspapers for nuggets, and let my imagination go wild. The secret is to gather all the historical data regarding day-to-day living, and then sprinkle it in with a light hand. It’s really important to be mindful of the reader in this regard. I don’t want to info bomb with historical facts and take away from the story. After I’m finished researching, my mind and my research binder are full of a lot of information that I will not use. It’s important to keep the research and history that I’ve learned relevant to the story.

4) What drew you to include characters with an interest in art?

I think I’m a frustrated artist. Someone once asked me if I could have any job in the world what would it be, and of course I said writing. But when I stepped away and thought about it for a while I realized how much I would love to get on a scaffold and restore works of art like the Sistine Chapel. So having characters in my books who are struggling artists is sort of a metaphor for me as a writer, and it also lets me explore my passion to create. I noodle around with pastel crayons. The result is horrible, but the process is very relaxing. At the end of the day, I love all forms of art and am inspired by those gifted with the ability to create it.

5) Which authors inspire your writing? Which books might we find on your beside table?

My favourite book by a living author is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. The story encapsulates all the things that make a story great for me: Gothic tropes, a love story, a mystery, superior sentences, and a twisty plot. I also love the way the author sets the book in a period before society was taken over by electronics, but she doesn’t specifically tells us when this is. It gives the book a haunting timelessness.

I re-read all the books by Agatha Christie (especially Miss Marple and the Beresfords), Patricia

Author, Terry Lynn Thomas

Wentworth, and (another author who is still alive) the Lady Julia series by Deanna Raybourn. I also love Susanna Kearsley, Rosamund Pilcher, and Maeve Binchey. I could keep going… My to-be-read pile is toppling. So many books. So little time. Since I broke my arm, I’ve been binge listening to audio books. I just listened to When Never Comes by Barbara Davis. It is rocking the best seller lists for good reason.

6) A little teaser about book two?

My writing came to a grinding halt after I broke my arm, but I am now mastering Dragon Naturally Speaking software and am dictating! I will tell you that Cat Carlisle just cannot seem to stay out of trouble. Can’t really say much more at this point, but followers of The Novel Points of View will be first to know developments about this book.

Thanks for hosting me, Rae.

You're very welcome, Terry. Thanks for providing us with an interesting insight into the inspiration for The Silent Woman and we look forward to following Cat's journey.

Join us next time when author and short story writer, Linda Mitchelmore will be in the spotlight.

Until then, happy reading!
Rae x

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