I hope you enjoy the interview!
Hello Terry and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about The Silent Woman!
To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?
Like most writers, I’ve always been an avid reader and held a secret desire to try writing a book myself.
What inspired you to write The Silent Woman?
I have always been so amazed and impressed by the quiet fortitude of the British people during the second world war. The world needs a reminder – in my humble opinion – of how much better things are when we are working together for some common good. When I set out to write The Silent Woman, I wanted to write a proper British mystery, but I also wanted to help people understand what it felt like to live in the time of war, with rationing, shortages, bombings, and the threat of invasion. Plus, I wanted to write a plucky female lead who scoffs at convention and has feminist leanings ahead of her time!
What research did you undertake when writing The Silent Woman?
Research is so important, not only to get facts correct, but to lend authenticity to my story. I generally read best-selling novels, listen to the music, read newspapers, diaries, and – thanks to the British online archive collection – cabinet notes and political documents. After I have my research handled, I then need to sprinkle it in with a gentle hand, so as not to bore the reader.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I wanted to be a writer at a very young age, but life go in the way so the dream had to be shelved. Looking back now, I realize that life experiences make my writing richer. I don’t know if I would have been able to tell stories – or if my stories would have had much worth – had I taken up writing when I was younger.
What does your daily writing routine look like?
I write in the mornings and try to do three fifty-minute sessions with a half-hour break in between. I’ve taken to walking between sets and I’m careful not to check social media, emails, etc., so I can keep my head in my story.
What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?
So many rejections! This business is not for the faint of heart. Each level of success – while wonderful – brings its own series of frustrations. At the end of the day, I write because I absolutely love it. I would write books even if they didn’t sell.
Who are your writing inspirations?
Since becoming published and meeting and networking with writers as part of my job, I have to say that the collective writing ‘Tribe’ amazes me daily. Everyone is kind, supportive, and utterly helpful. I’ve never experienced such professional generosity in my life. I can’t really choose one person, but my tribe is amazing!
What was the first historical novel you read?
Oh, I had to dig back for that one! Daphne DuMaurier’s Jamaica Inn is the first historical I read, and I probably read it when I was eleven or twelve.
What is the last historical novel you read?
Right now I’m reading The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr. (And it is so amazing! I’m reading it slowly so it doesn’t end.)
What are three things people may not know about you?
I’ve ridden in a pace car. I actually like to clean my house. I hate all the plastic in the ocean.
What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?
Writing about characters who don’t have cell phones! I am so sick of people texting while they walk, drive, and hang out with their families. I was in Starbucks the other day and this woman was texting like a fiend, while her child was standing next to her. Broke my heart.
What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?
I like 1850s through 1950s, but that is subject to change. I’m open to any good story.
What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
Historical cemeteries really rock my world. My husband and I like to travel to see them. We also like to walk in the woods. Sometimes I break out my oil pastels, but I’m not very good. I read voraciously, especially when I’m not writing. Lately I’ve been listening more and more to audio books.
Lastly, what are you working on next?
I’m 150 pages into the next Cat Carlisle book, book 3 in the series. After that, a new series is cooking. (Hint: It’s a mystery, set in California in present day.)
Thanks so much for hosting me.
Thank you for stopping by today to talk to us! Have a great tour!
The Silent Woman by Terry Lynn Thomas
Publication Date: April 11, 2018
HQ Digital
Paperback & eBook; 384 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Series: Cat Carlisle, Book One
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?
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About the Author
TERRY LYNN THOMAS grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, which explains her love of foggy beaches and Gothic mysteries. When her husband promised to buy Terry a horse and the time to write if she moved to Mississippi with him, she jumped at the chance. Although she had written several novels and screenplays prior to 2006, after she relocated to the South she set out to write in earnest and has never looked back.Terry Lynn writes the Sarah Bennett Mysteries, set on the California coast during the 1940s, which feature a misunderstood medium in love with a spy. The Drowned Woman is a recipient of the IndieBRAG Medallion. She also writes the Cat Carlisle Mysteries, set in Britain during World War II. The first book in this series, The Silent Woman, came out in April 2018 and has since become a USA TODAY bestseller. The Family Secret is slated for release in March 2019. When she’s not writing, you can find Terry Lynn riding her horse, walking in the woods with her dogs, or visiting old cemeteries in search of story ideas.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, April 29Review at Coffee and Ink
Feature at To Read, Or Not to Read
Tuesday, April 30
Review at My Reading Chronicles
Wednesday, May 1
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Feature at Clarissa Reads it All
Thursday, May 2
Interview at Passages to the Past
Friday, May 3
Review at Orange County Readers
Feature at What Is That Book About
Monday, May 6
Interview at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Tuesday, May 7
Review at Macs Books
Feature at The Book Junkie Reads
Wednesday, May 8
Review at Bibliophile Reviews
Thursday, May 9
Review at Passages to the Past
Review at Jennifer Van Hoy - Instagram
Friday, May 10
Review at Hooked on Books
Feature at View from the Birdhouse
Monday, May 13
Review at Comet Readings
Review & Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
Tuesday, May 14
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Wednesday, May 15
Review at The Lit Bitch
Feature at Just One More Chapter
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we will be giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
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The Silent Woman
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