Historical Fiction
Date Published: 10-10-2024
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Amidst the devastation of World War I, a young American woman named Abigale Belorman discovers a profound calling: to restore hope to the WWI wounded soldiers. In France they were called ‘Gueules Cassees’, or ‘Broken Faces’. Using her sculpting skills, she begins crafting intricate masks that conceal the scars of war, offering a semblance of normalcy to those who have endured unimaginable suffering.
Colm Harp, a skilled metalsmith, is driven by his own wounds and a personal tragedy to join Abigale's mission. His younger brother, Danny, has returned from the war with devastating facial injuries, and Colm is determined to give him a chance at a life worth living. Together, Colm and Abigale embark on a journey of compassion and resilience, their work becoming a beacon of hope for countless wounded soldiers.
As they navigate the challenges of war-torn Europe and the limitations of early 20th-century medicine, Abigale and Colm discover the transformative power of human will. Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the enduring power of love, and the extraordinary lengths people will go to make a difference in the world.
War changes all their lives, but if you can improve one person’s life, is yours not for the better? What if you could help hundreds? What would you give up?
Interview with Jennifer Conner
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction? Many!
From Diana Gabaldon switching from 1st to 3rd person. Andone of her chapters/sections is like a mini book in itself. Stephen King: A master writer and storyteller and has written some of the best books I have read. Misery at the top and my favorite.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I hear names on TV or read one online and then write them down. I like unique names… ask my critique group.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
No. I did write a few books using the horrible experiences I had in the 30 years I ran a catering business. But, unless they recognize their story, like the man who murdered his wife a week after we did a cater for them, then I’m safe.
What was your hardest scene to write?
I wrote a story for my mom about the man she loved that was killed in WWII. I don’t think I realized until that moment how that must have been for her. So traumatic. But it made the strong woman she was, way before her time.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I have both. Some are series and some are stand alone. Some started as an anthology and then morphed into one longer book down the road (The Mac Brothers I cowrote with Angela Ford). I have written 80 books I like to mix it up!
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
I watched a short video about the real woman, Anna Coleman Ladd who made ceramic masks for wounded soldiers. To live in a time where there was no plastic surgery? She gave these men another chance at their young lives with masks to cover their wounds.
What inspired you to write Broken Faces?
My mother was always a voracious reader and loved to write 30-40 pages letters to people. When I was much younger, I wrote what would now be considered fan fiction about idols of the time but putting them into MY stories. Not too stalkerish, right?
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in the Starvation Heights series?
I'm currently developing a prequel screenplay to my award-winning horror screenplay, 'Starvation Heights.' This project, inspired by a true historical event that occurred only a mile down the road from me. It delves into the chilling story of a woman who lured wealthy women clientele to her establishment under the guise of 'curing their ailments.' Tragically, these women were subjected to starvation and ultimately met their demise, while the perpetrator profited from their life insurance policies. Fun times
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Broken Faces?
In Broken Faces Abigale Belorman discovers a profound calling: to restore hope to the WWI wounded soldiers. In France they were called ‘Gueules Cassees’, or ‘Broken Faces’. Using her sculpting skills, she begins crafting intricate masks that conceal the scars of war, offering a semblance of normalcy to those who have endured unimaginable suffering. Colm Harp, a skilled metalsmith, is driven by his own wounds and a personal tragedy to join Abigale's mission. His younger brother, Danny, has returned from the war with devastating facial injuries, and Colm is determined to give him a chance at a life worth living. Together, Colm and Abigale embark on a journey of compassion and resilience, their work becoming a beacon of hope for countless wounded soldiers.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Being able to co-write with my friend of many years, Chris Karlsen. I wrote a lot of Abigale and she wrote Colm until they came together and then we plotted the scenes as they grew as a couple.
About the Authors
Broken Faces is a collaborative new fiction from Chris Karlsen, the winner of the NYC Big Book Award and Chanticeer’s Global First Prize for historical suspense.
Jennifer Conner has over 80 books and has landed in the Amazon top twenty authors.
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6 comments:
Congratulations on your intriguing book.
Thank you, Nancy
Thank you to The Avid Reader for the opportunity to feature our book and for the interview offer. I would love to hear from some of your followers.
Thanks! Nancy.
Thanks for having our interview on The Avid Reader site and featuring our book Broken Faces.
What motivates you to keep writing, even on tough days?
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