Featured Spotlight on Bookouture Author, Barbara Josselsohn's New Release "The Secret Orphanage"
- DK Marley
- 15 hours ago
- 9 min read
Barbara Josselsohn is a best-selling novelist and journalist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her newest book is The Secret Orphanage, a multigenerational novel about an American schoolteacher who becomes embroiled in the French Resistance and a present-day librarian compelled s to discover her grandfather’s wartime secrets. Her earlier historical novels include the Sisters of War series (Secrets of the Italian Island, The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, and The Forgotten Italian Restaurant). She is also the author of five contemporary novels: The Lilac House, The Bluebell Girls, The Lily Garden, The Cranberry Inn, and The Last Dreamer. Barbara has written hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: her husband, her three kids, and her rescue pup, a mini-schnauzer named Albie. She is currently at work on her ninth novel.
BOOK BUY LINK: https://geni.us/dDFqXBo
BOOK BLURB:
“Nobody outside the village knows the orphanage exists, Celina. We’re hidden by the mountains and everyone is sworn to secrecy. Please don’t give the soldiers a reason to come here…”
In a quiet village in German-occupied France, schoolteacher Celina ushers young Jewish children into her classroom. Watching their bright smiles as they learn how to write, she and sweet, handsome Remy promise to protect them. Every day she pretends to send them home, waving at the local police roaming the streets, as instead they sneak away to hide upstairs.
But Celina can’t stop thinking about the note left on her bedside table last night. Written in the secret code used by the Resistance, it told her a baby she’s sheltering could be reunited with its mother. Will Remy ever forgive her if she attempts to take the baby home? If she’s caught, they could discover the orphanage…
New York, present day. Haunted by a loss he refuses to speak about, Rachel’s grandfather is slowly losing his memories. Then Rachel finds a name scribbled into the old children’s book he used to read to her, which leads her to a French village with a dark and dangerous past.
Nothing can prepare Rachel for what she finds behind the orphanage’s crumbling façade. But as her own future becomes entwined with her grandfather’s wartime secrets, she will learn just how much courage it takes to follow your heart.
A breathtaking, emotional historical novel that will sweep you away to World War Two France, to the dangers of Nazi occupation, and the hope that prevailed in the darkest of times. For fans of Victoria Hislop, Soraya Lane and Fiona Valpy.
What readers are saying about The Secret Orphanage:
“Completely stole my heart from the very first page!… absolutely fantastic and had me hooked right from the beginning… perfect, emotional… brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. This book is a stunning, unforgettable read that I will be thinking about for a long time!” heidireadsitall, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved this book, it captured my heart from the minute I started reading it… I couldn’t put this book down… Highly recommend… absolutely brilliant.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow. I was taken in by this book… there was no stopping me… compelling… I got quite emotional… I’m so glad I got to read this… I can’t recommend this book enough… you must read this book. It’s a must.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. I found myself easily swept up [and] utterly captivated… I was moved to tears… an incredible read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterwards. Gorgeous.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved this book!… The most evocative and beautiful… Loved it!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pulls me in… powerful, heartbreaking, and beautifully told… I absolutely devoured this book.” Bookedwitherinlgore, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Heartbreaking!… will stay with you for a long time… Must-read!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Riveting and emotional all at the same time. This is the type of book you don’t want to put down… will fill your heart with many emotions including fear, love, compassion, perseverance, and hope.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“LOVED IT… Incredible… I adored this book.” Littleluxurieslibrary, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
Most recently I visited Jack London State Historical Park in Sonoma, California. It was fascinating learning about his short but very adventurous life, and his great love for Hawaii. What interested me as well was his wife, Charmian, a woman well ahead of her time, who went on to become an accomplished author after her husband died in 1916. I love hearing and reading about strong women who defy the limits society sets on them.
Tell us the best writing tip you can think of, something that helps you.
My favorite writing tip is to believe that you have something important to say. Self-doubt is the enemy of creativity! You know that your story belongs out in the world if that’s what your goal is. Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t!
What are common traps for aspiring writers? Advice for young writers starting out.
Self-doubt is a common trap, as is letting criticism derail you. If you give your writing to others – a writing friend, a workshop group, or a beta reader – try not to take any negative comments too personally. Assess the comments objectively – then apply what you agree with and discard the rest.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
It would be to enjoy the process! Getting lost in a story is so much fun. There’ll be plenty of time to worry about selling it later. Whenever I start a new book, I always remind myself to appreciate the hours I get to write!
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
I have a small but amazing group of writer friends. Some were initially my teachers, and I met some others through acquaintances we had in common. I’ve also met writer friends at classes and readings, and I met one good friend on a train heading to a writers’ conference! They help me by giving me confidence and encouraging me when I feel stuck or am certain that I took a wrong turn in my project.
Can you give us a quick review of a favourite book by one of your author friends?
A favorite book of mine is Her Father’s Daughter by T.M. Dunn. This author was one of my very first teachers. The book is a thriller, but also contains some gruesome scenes, so it flirts with horror. I don’t read horror generally, but boy, was I riveted when I read her book. A few of her scenes made it hard for me to sleep one night, I was so scared! Now, that’s good writing!
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It was thrilling for sure – but it also made me more aware of how much goes into the publishing of a novel after the writing is done. With my second book, I felt a great obligation to my agent, my editor and everyone involved in the production of my book to produce something wonderful. Now, that kind of pressure can be tough on a person! I had to remind myself to leave the outside world behind and focus on the story every day when I sat down at my desk!
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
The best money I ever spent as a writer was to go to London to meet my editor in person. I live in New York, so by the time I met her, she’d already published four of my books! It was so wonderful to be face-to-face after all that time, and that visit has definitely made us even closer in the years since!
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
One early experience was when I cried over Beth’s death in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. It still amazes me that words on a page can bring people to tears. That’s the power of great writing!
What’s the best way to market your books?
There are so many ways to get the word out about a new book – newspaper articles, social media, reviews, etc. – but my favorite is word of mouth. When someone loves a book and tells others they have to read it – that’s how a book really can take flight!
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
As a historical novelist, I like to do my research in person. My newest book, The Secret Orphanage, is based on stories I heard while traveling in the south of France – stories about people who were incredibly brave while under Nazi occupation. I took a ton of photos and brought home all kinds of keepsakes so I’d remember what I saw and felt. I always follow up this personal observation by reading as many first-person accounts of the historical period as I can. When I begin a book that takes place in a historical period that’s new to me, I’d say I spend three to four months on solid research before I get started on the writing.
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
Most recently I read A Family Matter by Claire Lynch, a gorgeous book about a family torn apart as a result of prevailing societal rules and norms. It didn’t make me thing differently about fiction, but it did remind me that “quiet” books – those without dramatic twists or huge action scenes – can be very impactful nonetheless.
What are the ethics of writing about historical figures?
I tend not to write about actual historical figures, because personally, I’m uncomfortable writing about people I’ve never met. So my characters are always fictional. I do, however, love to read about historical figures and to let their stories and personalities spur my imagination.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do read my book reviews. The good ones make me feel wonderful, because I’ve connected with another person. It’s quite an amazing feeling, knowing that the characters and situations that came from my imagination can move a person to feel sadness, anger, or joy. I know that books do change me, and I’m thrilled to hear that my books can change others. As for the bad ones, I take them in stride. Not every book is made for every reader, and I understand that. I do try to see if I can learn something from bad reviews – but mostly I don’t let them get to me.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
For me, the hardest part is getting started – seeing that blank screen as I start Chapter 1 and knowing I have as many as 300 pages to fill! But once I break past that moment, I’m in good shape. One scene at a time, I tell myself; embrace my characters and let them live their stories.
Tell us about your novel/novels/or series and why you wrote about this topic?
When I was in France last year, I learned about a small village that helped save more than 3,000 Jewish people, mostly children, during the Nazi occupation. I couldn’t stop thinking about these brave people: What accounted for their bravery? How did they manage their fear? Who were their leaders? What helped them move forward day after day? I wanted to explore such a story, and examine such themes, through fiction. This led me to create my cast of fictional characters: Celina, an American schoolteacher who finds herself in France during the worst days of World War 2; Remy, a French activist trying to escape a dark childhood; and Rachel, a young present-day librarian searching for answers about her grandfather’s hidden past – answers that appear to be stored within the pages of one of her old picture books. I love inventing stories about characters who prevail in the most difficult of moments.
What is your favourite line or passage from your own book?
My favorite line is this one: “Eventually she felt the ground become harder beneath her feet. Eventually the channel narrowed. And then, looking ahead, she saw faint bands of pink, orange, and peach starting to stretch across the sky. Dawn was breaking.” I don’t want to give too much away, but this is a moment that means so much to me – the promise that a new day holds, despite all that may have come before.
What was your hardest scene to write?
There is one awful scene involving a Nazi raid that was very hard for me to write. But it was essential to the story. I kept its significance in mind as I wrote and that helped me see it through.
Tell us your favourite quote and how the quote tells us something about you.
I have so many favorite quotes! So maybe I’ll offer my most recent favorite: “I would rather be ashes than dust! … I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” This is by Jack London, and made such an impact on me when I visited the museum dedicated to him in Sonoma, California. I guess what it says about me is that I’m moved by people who make a true, compelling, and positive mark on the world through their words and actions. What a great goal to aspire to!
Comments