Interview with Robin Lee Hatcher

Today, I have an interview with one of my dear friends, Robin Lee Hatcher. Robin writes both historical and contemporary fiction, but today we're talking about her wonderful WWII novel, The Victory Club! It's one of my favorite novels. (Hmm, maybe the WWII aspect has something to do with that?)

I think Robin's story shows us how current day events can be retold in historical scenes, proving our fears, hopes, and dreams never change, no matter how many years go by.

Here's a brief summary:

THE VICTORY CLUB (Tyndale, 6/05)

In 1943, the women of America banded together to make a life for themselves while their husbands and sons fought overseas. Even as the men engaged in war, these women faced battles of their own on the homefront.

Margo King: A woman whose past threatens to control her future….

Dottie King: One passionate mistake could destroy her dreams….

Lucy Anderson: Lonely and afraid, she turns to another while her husband is away….

Penny Maxfield: Desperate for a new life, nothing—not even her family—can hold her back….

Margo, Dottie, Lucy, and Penny never expected to face the hardships they must now find a way to conquer. But through the power of Christ, and the power of friendship, perhaps this Victory Club will achieve more than any of them could ever have imagined.

Tricia: Where did you get the idea for The Victory Club?

Robin: The genesis for this book came from the war in Iraq. It’s so easy to fall into fear of the future when the news is filled with stories of young men and women giving their lives to protect our nation. Then I began to think of the families of those who serve overseas, how much they sacrifice and the fears and loneliness that they must endure. I wanted to honor these people for those sacrifices, and writing this novel was one way I could do that.

Tricia: What interesting facts can you share with us about the airbase on Boise?

Robin: Gowen Field today is nothing like it was in WWII. One of its claims to fame, which I bring out at the opening of The Victory Club, is that Jimmy Stewart, the actor, trained there in 1943 before serving in the European theater of the war.

Gowen Field now serves as home for the Idaho Air National Guard. When I was a kid in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s, I used to ride my horse around the deserted barracks of the base where sheep would often be grazing. With the growth of Boise and the thriving air terminal that is connected to Gowen Field, that would no longer be possible.

Tricia: What impressed you most about the women workers on the base?

Robin: What impressed me was how people (not just women who worked on the base) pulled together on the home front. From scrap drives to meatless meals, people did their part in the war effort.

Of course, some things were forced upon them. Rationing was mandatory. But there was plenty of self-sacrifice, too. Today, those of us living in our comfortable homes in the U.S. feel few affects from the war in Iraq or the war on terror and can easily give it no thought at all unless we know someone serving in the military. Which is another reason I wanted to honor the families of our brave servicemen and women.

Tricia: What did you enjoy most about your research?

Robin: The Victory Club takes place in a twelve months period, beginning in February 1943. At that time, the Allies were fighting in North Africa (as well as the Pacific), and this was an opportunity to learn more about that part of the war prior to the invasion of Europe. I especially enjoyed reading a biography about Eisenhower and learning more about the man whom I remember only as the President.

Tricia: What can readers look forward to from Robin Lee Hatcher?

Robin: My next few books all have contemporary settings (1970’s to present). My 2006 releases include Another Chance to Love You (Steeple Hill, February); Diamond Place (Revell, April); and A Christmas Song (November). But I have always loved to write novels set in the past (The Shepherd’s Voice; Ribbon of Years; and Catching Katie, to name a few), so there are sure to be more historical novels to come. Stay tune . . .

Thank you, Robin!