Have you ever wondered what it would be like to finally see your words published and in print? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your book sold in bookstores all across the country? Have you ever wondered how to go about researching material for your book? Then you'll love this short, but insightful, interview with Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of Copper Star.

What was your path towards publication like?

Squeezed in between the responsibilities of raising a family (I have four kids and raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind) and a busy corporate guy kind of husband who has been transferred frequently (we even lived in Hong Kong for four years). Somehow, I kept persevering. Hold on, I should correct that. I keep persevering! Writing is a career that requires a great deal of determination. Humility, too. I still only make a dime an hour. And yet...I love this work!

Writing a WWII story requires background research. Where did you go for your research and what was it like researching that era?

I had been writing non-fiction articles for many years, so I had developed skills of research, checking facts, hunting down the right people for contacts, etc. To my surprise, those very skills translated into writing fiction, too. I wanted my readers to be able to finish my book and feel as if they were not only entertained, but that they learned a few things. For example, a deaf child plays a major role in my story. I tried to learn about what life was like for a deaf child in 1943 and how he would have been perceived by others. While doing some digging, I stumbled onto an amazing coincidence-the John Tracy Clinic of Los Angeles, founded by Spencer and Louise Tracy (yes! Spencer Tracy the movie star!), offered correspondence courses to families of deaf preschoolers. It began in 1942! The Tracy's first child, John, was born deaf. Louise Tracy was a woman ahead of her times, and refused to accept the idea that her son would have a limited life. She researched and discovered "oral communication." She had such success teaching him to lip read and speak that she created a foundation to help other children. I contacted the John Tracy Clinic, let them read my manuscript and make suggestions for accuracy. The Clinic could not have been more gracious and helpful. In fact, I ended up writing a magazine article about Louise Tracy, too. That's one of the perqs of the writerly life: One thing always leads to another!

Is there anything new writers should know when it comes to weaving in truth with fiction?

What a great question! I felt an enormous responsibility to be accurate with factual information in my story. The martyred theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer plays a role in this tale. He was the contact between my main character and the Presbyterian minister who agreed to sponsor her to wait out the war. My main character had worked in the resistance movement with Bonhoeffer. They had participated in plots to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer eventually lost his life for that involvement. Everything about Dietrich Bonhoeffer is true in this story. Every detail, even down to how large his hands were (he was a gifted musician and could reach an octave-and-a-half on the piano). I wanted to write a book that would honor him and encourage readers to learn more about him. I think my advice to historical fiction writers is to double-check your facts. Then go back and check them again. Even little things that make your story more realistic: Cheerios cereal used to be called Cheerioats, for example. I found that out by researching General Mills' history. Little details do matter; they help enhance your reader's experience to feel immersed in that era, so it's worth taking the time to do your homework.

Visit her at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/

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