Interview with Tina Boscha and Giveaway of River in the Sea (Closed)

I have another fantastic interview and giveaway. Tina Boscha has stopped by the blog to share some fun facts about her and her book, River in the Sea. Boscha’s story is a historical fiction novel inspired by her mother’s experiences during WWII. River in the Sea has received some great reviews, so don’t miss out on a chance to read the book yourself. Giveaway details are below.

Bio

Tina Boscha lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her husband and stepdaughters along with two nutty boxers and one silly black cat.  She has an MFA in fiction, is an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship recipient, and her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.  For her next novel, she is working on a good old-fashioned ghost story.  She teaches writing and YA Literature and in her spare time (ha!) she knits and sews.

Learn more about River in the Sea on Amazon and Goodreads.

Interview

Leen De Graaf is the main character in River in the Sea. Can you tell us more about her character?

Leen is near and dear to me, as she is heavily based on my mother, Linda Boscha.  Obviously I had to create my own version of her, and a teenage version to boot, which I’ll admit was initially pretty difficult. My mother was 41 when she gave birth to me, so I never knew her younger than middle-aged, and basing a character on someone who exists in the flesh – much less your own mother! – can be stifling to a writer. Perhaps ironically, I had to divorce myself from being as true as possible in order to get to Leen’s essential being.

Leen is in many ways a typical teenage girl, in that she is self-conscious, emotional, and sometimes irrational. But she is also headstrong, capable, and bold; she is someone who will worry and replay her own actions over and over but yet will not hesitate when it’s time to act or make the right decision. And she is spunky! Like my mother, she flouts conventions she thinks are restrictive. I think this makes her a strong character, in that she is flawed and vulnerable, but not helpless. I also love that she likes to get her hands dirty but wear red lipstick. That is my mother and Leen in a nutshell.

Can you tell us about some of the other characters in your book? Any favorites?

I loved creating Jakob Hoffman, Leen’s love interest and close mate of her brother, Issak (more on him in a bit).  Jakob is funny, outgoing, and also a little brash, and sees in Leen a kindred spirit, another misfit. He is better able to fit in than Leen, but yet he has his own secrets that set him apart.  It was nerve-wracking and fun to write the scenes with Leen and Jakob, because I really wanted to capture the awkwardness and excitement of teen romance without making it syrupy or inflated or distracting from the larger story.  Jakob is also there for Leen at some very heavy moments, and I’ve found that readers really gravitate to him.

Leen’s brother Issak is another favorite of mine, because he is so complex. He is angry and yet tender, resentful yet loving. You can be mad at him but then you are reminded of the huge weight he must carry; his story is not easy. I can’t really say more without revealing spoilers.

Minne Bosgra, Leen’s only female friend, was also very interesting to write. She is someone who ends up abhorred by the village in the book, but redeems herself through her own strength and action. She endures a brutal humiliation while challenging every second of it. It made my heart beat fast to write about her in that scene.

The book’s description says this story was inspired by your mother’s life. Can you tell us more about how your mother inspired this novel?

I have always wanted to write my parents’ story, most notably my mother’s, as they grew up during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during WWII.  During my childhood, I silently collected the stories my mom and dad told my siblings and me about what they experienced as kids during the war. They talked of hiding out in hollowed out potato heaps, surprise raids where soldiers took everything from jewelry to milk, throwing their bikes into the canal to avoid giving them to German soldiers, downed pilots ferried out to England by the Frisian and Dutch resistance.

It was mind-boggling that these events were something my parents lived through, and in particular, my mother’s father and brothers experienced events that most modern kids and adults just can’t fathom. Openly defying the orders of the German army and going into hiding? It’s amazing, dramatic, thrilling, and sobering. Studying World War II is one thing, knowing those who lived through it is another.

Can you give an example of overcoming a writing challenge?  Do you have any tips for writers and aspiring authors?

I could write pages on this! There are so many writing challenges, from finding time to confidence to specific problems with plot to getting published. There are many tips that helped me, and they aren’t very earth-shattering, but yet are profound when you finally take them to heart:

Don’t be afraid to do this. Keep going. Accept that your first draft will probably be crap. The only way to revise is one page at a time (this is where “keep going” really comes into play!).  If your time is limited, outline your plot and then write as little as 250 words a day. If you are stuck, set a timer for 15 minutes and type the entire time until the timer goes off, even if you start out writing “I don’t know what to write except that I like this one idea…” Trust your process, trust your gut, and for god’s sake, never accept that voice in your head (or anyone else’s voice) that says this will never amount to anything. With self-publishing a viable option, you really can have your work in the world and reach readers.

Do you have any interesting quirks and/or routines you follow when writing for preparing to write?

I have a playlist that I listen to over and over when I write; it’s something like two hours long and is titled “Moody Music” on my iTunes.  I honestly don’t even hear it anymore. It’s just background noise, and has everything from Coldplay to Nina Simone on it. My family probably wants to rip their hair out when it’s on, lol. I have also been known to play the same song – Erik Satie’s “Trois Gymnopedie” – on repeat. It’s 9 minutes and lovely and helps me focus.

I also go by word count – I set a goal for the day, from 250 words to 2,000 – and can’t stop until I reach it. It will nag at me if I don’t reach it.

Is there anything else you want to say to readers and fans?

Two things: First, this book will make you cry. But it won’t always be out of sadness.

Second, THANK YOU. Honestly, a hearty thanks to anyone who has picked up the book, read it, talked about it, reviewed it, mentioned it to their friends, rated it on Goodreads…. My dedication in the book is first to my parents, and second, to readers. I really mean it that this is my lifelong dream coming true.

Giveaway

The Prize

• 2 winners will receive either an ebook copy or a paperback copy of River in the Sea by Tina Boscha.

The Rules

• Contest is open internationally for the ebook and to domestic residents for the paperback.
  
• Ends January 14th.
• Fill out the form below to enter.
• Must 13 or older to enter.
• One entry form per person.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Winner must respond within 48 hours.

The Winners

Michelle C. and Ritesh K.