When Teira Palmer's company relocates her from Utah to Denmark, she can't wait to see the magical place she heard so many stories about as a child. After visiting the castles of Copenhagen, Teira finds it hard not to dream of finding a prince charming. And Christian Tanner definitely fits the description-tall, dark, and handsome with a smile that could melt the North Pole. But he is her boss. Would his smile fade if he knew the biggest reason Teira came to Denmark had nothing to do with her job?

She wants to discover more about her grandfather, Soren Pedersen, who died in WWII as an accused traitor to king and country, casting a shadow of shame on his family. Even through her bitterness, Teira is determined to learn the whole story of what her grandfather did. But when strange and frightening things start happening to her, it becomes apparent that someone doesn't want the past uncovered.

1. How can we overcome negative influences so they don’t hold us back?
 
2. What is it that causes a country to ban together in times of distress and adversity? How can we help those in need?

3. How important is it to have faith and trust in those we love?

4. How can we show our loyalty to our country when there is opposition against it?

5. How can we have the courage to do the right thing, even when it is life threatening?

1. What caused you to begin writing this book?

Before my mother passed away, I decided to interview her and get as much of her history on tape as I could. She recalled her experiences of growing up in an occupied Denmark during WWII. This book, though certainly fictional, came from some of the accounts she shared with me on those tapes. It seems my own grandfather, as well as some of his family, was somewhat involved in the underground, though it’s not certain to what extent. It’s something that was never discussed in their family, except one time my grandfather had a talk with my mom after she witnessed an envelope being dropped off. He told my mom that if she ever talked to anyone about what she had seen it could cost him or his family their lives and that it was never to be spoken of again. So it wasn’t. Her stories intrigued me. After my mother passed away, I began to think about my Danish heritage and realized how very little I knew of my mother’s family and her homeland. This book was my way of researching not only my Danish family and that particular time in history, but also the history of the land my mother was born in and loved. My biggest regret was that I didn’t write this book while she was alive. 

2. Did you have any interesting experiences while writing this book?

I sure did. I never had such a wonderful experience doing research for a book! It had always been a dream of my mother’s to live long enough to see a Temple in Denmark. It turned out that she passed away just before the Copenhagen Temple was to be dedicated. So my dad took us back to Denmark to see the temple open-house. With the temple meaning so much to my family and me, it had to be mentioned in the book. While there, we visited with my Danish family. My grandmother, whom I based the grandmother in the book after, turned 97 this year. We visited with my aunts and uncles and saw all the places my mother grew up in. I bought a Danish history book, which helped tremendously with research. Many things written in this book we actually saw or experienced. Not only that, this book is filled with little personal touches that mean the world to my family and I. For example, the ship that Teira’s mother came to America on is the SS Stockholm. That is the ship my mother came to the USA on when she was first converted to the Church. The doily that her mother gave her is one of our most prized possessions, as it is a gift we each have from our grandmother, who crocheted them before she started going blind. I could go on and on. The recipe included in this newsletter was a family favorite that my mother always made for us. So of course the grandmother and Teira made it together. What I wouldn’t give to have my mother here to make it for us now… 

3. Briefly describe your usual writing process.

Normally I would say that I am more of a plotter— one who knows the ending, even if I don’t know exactly how the story will get to that point. However, this book was written in a completely different way. It was more like a trailblazer. I just dug right in and figured it out as I went along. I wrote the whole story with the main character not knowing what something significant to the plot meant. As the writer, I didn’t even know the meaning. It wasn’t until I had to reveal the information that I had to figure it out for myself. Then I had to go back and fill in the holes to make it all work. It was fun, though a little (okay, a lot!) nerve wracking for me to write it that way. 

 4. What do you hope people come away with after reading your book?

I think there were quite a few points I was trying to make in this book. I didn’t want to get into the political aspects of the war. That wasn’t the story I was trying to tell. War is ugly on all sides. I hoped to bring out an appreciation and respect for all the war heroes along with the difficulties many faced during that time.

Before the main character knows much about her history, she had some real issues with her past. I wanted to make the point that we may not be particularly proud of everything in our past, but it doesn’t have to determine who we are. We have the power within us to be whomever we choose to be. Something unfavorable in our history does not mean we are destined to be unfavorable people. We can be as great as we strive to be. At the same time, I also hope it brings out the importance of appreciating all that our ancestors have done for us. Many gave up and sacrificed everything they had for their families.

While writing this book, two quotes kept running through my head. The first is by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He said, “Be true to yourself and the name that you bear.” To me it was a reminder to make your name stand for something honorable and trustworthy—that people not only now but in future generations will know you had integrity and that you did nothing to bring dishonor to the family name.The second quote, by Reverend Peter Marshall, Senate Chaplain, says, “Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Stand up for what you believe in. Have the faith and courage it takes to stand by your convictions. Somehow I hope that those messages are conveyed within the lines of this book. 

5. What is the next project you are working on?

I’m writing a medical mystery. For now it’s called Intensive Care, but of course that could change. I’m enjoying the challenge of writing this one. It’s like no other I have written, and right now even I don’t know for sure what will happen next. Stay tuned!