Featured Interview With Annette Oppenlander
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Germany and came to the U.S. in 1987. I had just completed a master’s degree in marketing and was supposed to work here for one year. Attending a Super Bowl party, I happened to sit next to a fellow in a green shirt. Well, I’ve been to him for the past 29 years.
We now live in Bloomington, Ind. where I write full-time. My husband is retired. We travel a fair bit and we enjoy time with our old mutt, Mocha.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing in the 1990s. My first attempt was a children’s chapter book about a hedge hog. At the time we lived in the woods and so my story was set in a forest. Then in 2002 I interviewed my parents about their experiences surviving WWII in Germany as children. I also realized how much enjoyed writing and creating.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Of course, I love historical fiction because that’s what I write. But I read many other genres except for contemporary romance and horror. I love a good thriller or fantasy. Some of my favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, James Alexander Thom, Sara Gruen, Jane Austen, Ursula Hegi and many more.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
‘Surviving the Fatherland’ has been in the works for 15 years and is based on my own family. In 1940 my mother was 7 and my father 11. Both experienced the Third Reich and its aftermath as children/youths and I wanted to capture their unique perspective.
Writing the story was very difficult because it was so close to my heart and I wanted the story to be just right. I had an early draft completed in 2009, but at the time my writing was not at an acceptable level. I wanted this story to be the best it could be and so I kept working on it for eight more years. My father is 88 years old now and my mother passed away in 2004. I wanted this story to be known while my father was still with us.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles