Author Heidi Eljarbø and I connected through historical fiction quite a few years ago. Heidi lives in Norway and is the author of a World War II series (among other series and novels) – well, let’s hear from Heidi directly about the origin of this series and how it differs from others.
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Growing up, I always thought World War II was far into a distant past, a time long before I was born. Now, that I’m older, and I realize how fast the years go by, I’ve “discovered” that that war ended only fourteen years before I came into this world. Fourteen years! Today, that doesn’t seem that long.
My parents lived during that time. They were engaged at the beginning of the war and were married in Oslo in 1944. Norway was occupied by soldiers of the Third Reich, and my parents had a hard time finding a non-Nazi priest who could unite them in marriage. The enemy even brought their families to live in Norway, and housing areas were built to accommodate the growing number of Germans in the country.
I am fascinated by what happened in Norway and the world during the years 1940-1945, and I try to imagine what life was like for my parents and for my husband’s family, as well. They lived, loved, and tried to stay positive as they endured the turmoil all around them, and even after the war had ended, daily life was affected by what they’d experienced. Food was scarce, and ration cards were used seven to eight years after the occupants had left the country. My aunt filled a whole cupboard with soap, as she never wanted to relive a day where she had to wash herself in coarse substitute soap made from hardened fat from herring oil.
My mother never wanted to play Monopoly with me when I was young.
“I had enough of that during the war,” she’d say.
I can imagine my parents sitting in their Oslo apartment; blackout curtain installed on the windows, not being able to go outside after nine in the evening because of the curfew, not being allowed to have a radio, and with popular music banned, there was nothing to listen to other than my mother’s guitar and their own singing. Reading and playing board games became a common pastime.
What about the significant role members of the resistance played during WWII? I am in awe of their perseverance and enormous courage.
These thoughts and numerous stories my mother told me coupled with my passion for and studies in art history gave me the idea of writing a novel about an art historian in Oslo who joins the underground movement to preserve precious art and protect it from the Nazis. I named her Soli Hansen―my mother’s name.
The first novel Of Darkness and Light, was followed by three more books to complete the series; The Other Cipher, Hidden Masterpiece, and Brushstrokes from the Past. What makes this continuing story different is that it’s combined with a dual timeline that goes back to the seventeenth century. In the secondary stories, the protagonist is a Jewish Italian woman, and we learn about her connection to three famous baroque master painters. These two women―Soli and Fabiola―although separated by more than three hundred years, are linked through their love of art.
Mary Anne Yarde, author of historical fiction, explains how Of Darkness and Light is different from other WWII novels.
“There are moments of trepidation, fear, and violence, but they are not grotesquely graphic. Likewise, Eljarbo demonstrates how the Nazis deceived not only their own people but the world as to the fate of the Jews. Soli knows that some of the paintings come from Jewish households, but as to what has happened to the painting’s original owners, she remains blissfully oblivious. The Nazis in this book are feared, but Eljarbo also touches upon the subject of the women who fell in love with the young German soldiers.
There are several antagonists in this novel, but they are not always obvious, so therefore I am not going to say too much about them. What I will say is that they were masterfully drawn and wonderfully portrayed.”
Deborah Swift, historical fiction novelist, says: “Heidi Eljarbo has certainly given herself a challenge – to write two historical periods in one novel which flow seamlessly from one to another, but the narrative works well and the two timelines inform each other beautifully.
As well as finely drawn detail within WW2 Norway, we are taken back to 17th Century Valetta, Malta, to the studio of Michelangelo known as Caravaggio, and his model Fabiola, again all described in sumptuous detail. If you love the art world and a good mystery, you will really enjoy this well-written book which has plenty of excitement and intrigue… ”
Other than a cast that varies from the eidetic [person with a photographic memory – had to look this up!] art historian Soli and her close friends in the covert resistance group to both German and Norwegian Nazi sympathizers, the award-winning Soli Hansen Mysteries presents plenty of mystery and historical elements. How and why it all works out is for the reader to find out.
Many thanks, Heidi. By the way, the prequel to the Soli Hansen series will be out in September. It’s called The Resistance Art Club! Heidi will return to tell us about that!
On her website, Heidi says: “I have always loved history. Art history. Clothing history. Stories of lands and people throughout the centuries. And every time I visit a castle or ruin, how I wished I could hop through time – just for a while – to see what it was really like to live there. As a teenager, I started genealogical research for my own family and have often wondered about the lives my ancestors lived.”
Heidi was on the blog several years ago with Witchcraft in the 17th Century.
Of Darkness and Light by Heidi Eljarbo
Soli Hansen Mysteries #1
In this first book of a new historical mystery series, a young art historian faces a tough choice in German-occupied Norway.
Oslo, 1944. Soli Hansen’s passion for art history is and always has been a way of life for her. While she spends her days working in an art shop, WWII is taking its toll on everyone. Apprehensive of the consequences, Soli avoids becoming entangled in the war resistance efforts. She closes her eyes in hopes the enemy will retreat and leave her beautiful country for good.
But when a woman is found dead in the alley alongside the art shop and a painting from the last auction goes missing, Soli is thrown into the thickest of the fray involving both Nazi art theft and the Norwegian resistance.
Once Soli finds her courage, there’s no turning back. Her personal life is turned upside-down with danger, lies, spying, and an incredible discovery.
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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook or on her website www.mktod.com.
