Tag

WWII

History, Journalism, Non Fiction

Jan 18: The Nazi Conspiracy with #1 NYT Bestselling Author Brad Meltzer

The Nazi Conspiracy_BradMeltzer_ConversationsLiveVickiStClairThe Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill

Brad Meltzer’s books are full of twist and turns, intriguing characters, and little known historical details. And it’s those delicious details that make The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill so compelling.

Brad shares how he discovered this true Nazi assasination plot that, had it not been thwarted, would have changed the world. We discuss what surprised him most during his research, how this part of history informs today’s landscape, why Brad says we need to feel uncomfortable, and much more.

 

About Brad Meltzer

BRAD MELTZER is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and over ten other bestselling thrillers, as well as the Ordinary People Change the World series. He is also the host of the History Channel TV shows “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded” and “Brad Meltzer’s Lost History,” which he used to help find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero. Brad coauthored The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill with JOSH MENSCH – a bestselling author and award-winning TV documentary producer.

Continue reading
Fiction, History, Writers on Writing

May 05: NYT Bestselling Author Jenny Lecoat

Based on a true story of a courageous young Jewish woman trapped under Nazi occupation on the Isle of Jersey in WWII

Considering her background, fate may have decreed Jenny Lecoat’s first novel would spark a bidding war between two major publishers and become a New York Times Bestseller.

The Girl From the Channel Islands is based on the true story of Hedy Bercu. We discuss why Jenny told Bercu’s story via fiction versus nonfiction; where she took creative license and why. How Jenny’s background informed those decisions and shaped the story.  Jenny also shares some of the true anecdotes she encountered during her research. And what it took to go from successful screenplay writer to successful novelist.

About Jenny Lecoat

Born in the Channel Islands, Jenny Lecoat was raised among family who passed down their own stories of life in German occupied Jersey. Jenny dove into screenwriting following early career turns as a stand-up comic and writing features for periodicals.  Her feature film, Another Mother’s Son, was released in 2017.

Continue reading
Fiction, Writers on Writing

May 19: The Woman With The Blue Star by NYT Bestseller Pam Jenoff

A testament to the power of friendship & extraordinary will to survive

Today’s guest says, “After 25 years of studying World War II and the Holocaust, when I find a story that makes me gasp, I know I am onto something that will make my readers feel the same way.”

Pam Jenoff returns to Conversations Live to share how Jewish tunnel dwellers, hiding from Nazis, inspired The Woman with the Blue Star. We discuss why Pam had to rewrite her entire first manuscript–and how she did it during the height of a pandemic. How she used the themes of isolation, connection, and unlikely friendships to shape her story. And why she teaches fiction storytelling techniques to her law students.

About Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff is the author of 11 novels of historical fiction, including the international bestseller The Kommandant’s Girl. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs, a master’s in history, and a JD. Jenoff’s novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland.

Continue reading
Fiction, History, Writers on Writing

MAR 17: The Girl From the Channel Islands with NYT Bestselling Author Jenny Lecoat

Inspired by the true story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the Isle of Jersey under Nazi occupation in WWII

Based on her background, maybe Jenny Lecoat’s first novel was destined to start a bidding war and become a New York Times Bestseller.

The Girl From the Channel Islands is based on the true story of Hedy Bercu. We discuss why Jenny told Bercu’s story via fiction versus nonfiction; where she took creative license and why. How Jenny’s background influenced her; and how the book sparked a bidding war with two major publishers.  Jenny also shares some of the true stories she ran into during her research. And what it took to go from successful screenplay writer to successful novelist.

About Jenny Lecoat

Born in the Channel Islands, Jenny Lecoat grew up with family who passed down their own stories of life in German occupied Jersey. Following an early career in stand-up comedy, and writing features for periodicals, she became a screenwriter. Jenny Lecoat’s feature film Another Mother’s Son was released in 2017.

Continue reading
Fiction, History, Thriller, Writers on Writing

FEB 24: Steve Berry with The Kaiser’s Web

New York Times & #1 International Bestselling Author

Steve Berry returns to Conversations Live with his latest book, which happens to be #16 in the Cotton Malone Series, and Berry’s 20th novel — The Kaiser’s Web. When a secret dossier from a World War II-era Soviet spy is exposed, it could rewrite history and impact Germany’s upcoming national elections, forever changing the political landscape of Europe.

Since Steve is an avid historian and travels extensively for his research, how is he handling pandemic restrictions? How did this impact background material  for The Kaiser’s Web? And what is Steve’s most important piece of marketing advice for authors?

About Steve Berry

History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. His title’s include The Kaiser’s Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, and others. Berry’s books have been translated into 41 languages with 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times,USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. And in 2010, a NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written.

Continue reading