What inspired you to write Remembering You?

In 2000 I was on vacation with friends when I heard an heart-breaking story. For those familiar with World War II history, concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen are well discussed. But there are also many lesser-known concentration camps. One of them is Mauthausen, named after the nearby village.

As early as 1940, prisoners started arriving at the small train station at Mauthausen. A full two years before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this once peaceful community was already experiencing the horrors of war. And by January 1941, the Mauthausen-Gusen camps became the only ‘Category I’ camps in Third Reich history, meaning “camp of no return.” The first American US GIs at the camp were the 41st Recon Squadron, 11th Armored Division, Patton’s 3rd Army. The men opened the gates and brought the prisoners what they never expected—freedom—followed by food, clothes and the care of medics.

When the camp’s historian, Martha, told me about these men, I knew I wanted to meet them and to hear their stories.You see, my grandfather was also a WWII veteran, but I’d never taken time to sit down with him and hear his stories. I was afraid the stories would upset him. I didn’t want him to have to think about those times any more. It was hard for me to connect my sweet grandfather with someone who fought in war so long ago. What I forgot was that he was young once, and his fight helped secure my freedom.

Meeting the men of the 11th Armored Division, I was given a second chance. I saw their tears and quivering chins as they told me the stories of battles in Bastogne and the Siegfried Line. I saw their drooped shoulders and heavy hearts as they explained what they lived through when they liberated Mauthausen and its subcamps. I’d lost my grandfather, but God gave me 100 more grandpas. What a gift. And because of my relationship with them I knew I wanted to share that in a book. Ava’s story in Remembering You came out of that. Her growing relationship with her grandfather is similar to my relationship with the men I interviewed.

Give us a brief overview of the plot-line and main characters in Remembering You. Did you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

35-year-old Ava Andrews’ dream job is interrupted by an unusual request–fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather’s last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe . Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own–to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.

As if juggling these two things isn’t hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again … twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe , only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they’re on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa’s best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava’s first love.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava’s videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn’t just for them … it’s for her too–especially for her heart.

As for a special character, I especially loved Grandpa Jack. In so many ways he reminds me of my grandpa who passed away in 1999.

 In what ways do you think this book speaks to those with loved ones serving in the military or who have served?

So many times we don’t know how to relate to those who served. We care but we’re afraid to ask too many questions. We are worried we’re going to stir up bad memories. The truth is that those memories are there. I hope it will encourage family members to sit down and ask questions. I hope it helps family members relate to each other. I think it’ll speak to their hearts because they can relate.

You mention you’ve interviewed hundreds of World War II Veterans about their experiences in preparation for writing this novel. What were some of your most memorable interviews?

The very first interview I did was with Arthur and Charlie. They wanted to be interviewed together. As they talked they finished each other’s sentences. They only saw each other ones a year–at their reunion–but their friendship was still strong because of what they experienced together 60 years prior. I also enjoyed meeting Robert Winter. I was traveling the country doing interviews of men from the 11th Armored Division and one of my husband’s co-workers said, “I think that was my Grandpa’s division. He lives here in town.” Sure enough, it was his division. He lived only 5 miles from me. When I went to his house I said, “I had no idea someone from the 11th Armored lived so close. Robert had read about my interviews in his divisions newsletter. He just nodded, smiled and said, “I knew you’d figure it out sometime.” I thought that was great!

Did you discover anything about World War II when you were researching the book that surprised you?

I was surprised by how much I misunderstood German citizens. I met a man who grew up as a child outside of Gusen concentration camp. He talked about how his family tried to help the prisoners but a Nazi officer put a gun to his head and said if they didn’t stop he’d kill their whole family. They stopped feeding the people but they didn’t stop caring or praying. It made me realize that many German citizens were victims too. This is something I didn’t understand until I started interviewing many who lived through the horror.

At the beginning of the novel, Ava wrestles with her own desire to get a good story for her network versus her Grandpa Jack’s more private quest to reconcile some of his memories. Did you feel this tension yourself between wanting to research a good story while respecting the privacy of some of the veterans you interviewed?

Great question! I absolutely feel this way. In my mind I know what type of information I want to hear and sometimes the veterans want to talk about other things. What I’ve discovered is that I just need to be patient and listen. These veterans aren’t there for me to get gritty stuff or fact for my novels, rather I am there for them. God wants me just to listen and care. Sometimes the veterans share things I can use. Sometimes they won’t share the really hard stuff because there is too much pain. I listen and I use what I can in my novels, but mostly I just become a friend to them.

In your “Author’s Note” at the end of the novel, you include a wonderful narrative about a girl named Hana. Would you share it with us? How is this an example of some of the themes that thread through “Remembering You?”

After I wrote From Dust and Ashes I got an email from a woman named Hana who was looking for a US medic who saved her during the war. I only had the contact information for one medic, but I passed his name and phone number on, hoping LeRoy would be able to connect her with the right man. Well, it turned out LeRoy WAS the medic who saved her life! How amazing is that?! This reunion inspired one of the threads in Remembering You. The theme of “remembering” ties into all the character’s journey. There are fellow soldiers we remember, and past loves, but there are also those we impact and wonder, “What ever happened to her …”

What message do you hope your readers will take away from “Remembering You?

I hope first they’ve be entertained and be swept away in its pages. I also hope that readers will be encouraged to listen to those God places in their lives. We don’t truly understand until we listen, and we can’t love completely until we understand.