Christina Gonzalez is the author of two novels for young adults — “The Red Umbrella,” which is based on the real events of Operation Pedro Pan where more than 14,000 Cuban children were sent to the United States between 1960-62; and the recently released “A Thunderous Whisper,” set in Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The following is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Why?
I’ve dreamt of being a writer since I was a 10 year old girl hanging around in her tree house reading books… but it was a secret dream. Everyone knew I loved to read, but the idea of being a writer seemed so far-fetched and impractical that I didn’t tell anyone. It wasn’t until I saw that love of reading blossom in my own children that I decided to follow my dream and share some of the stories floating around in my head.
Why do you write for young people?
I write for young people because it’s a time in your life when everything and anything is possible. My characters (like many of my readers) are facing critical decisions which will set them on certain paths for the rest of their lives. It’s also a time when you are leaving the safety of childhood and forging your own destiny… that, in and of itself, is a great adventure!
Where do your ideas come from?
I’m never quite sure. It seems that I stumble into my inspiration and my muse is definitely fickle…never providing me with ideas from the same source! It can come from my own family history, a news article, daydreams, art, music, tv shows, movies… almost anywhere.
Specifically, where did the idea for “A Thunderous Whisper” come from?
The idea for “A Thunderous Whisper” was initially inspired by Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica”. A friend of mine was talking about the importance of this work of art and I felt embarrassed to not know anything about it, so I googled it. I was amazed to learn about Hitler’s bombing of this small town and how Picasso’s painting is considered a testament to the atrocities of war. That provoked an interest in the Basque region (my family has roots there) and, when I stumbled upon an old photo of a sardinera (a woman who sold sardines door to door), the entire story flashed into my head. Like I said, my muse is crafty— never giving me a story when I expect it.
Why did you choose to set the story in Guernica?
It was where the true historical events (Hitler’s bombing) occurred.
The events of WWII are often hard to read about. Was it hard to write about?
The story takes place just before WWII, during the Spanish Civil War, and I found it fascinating to research and write about this time. Perhaps it was because I knew WWII was just around the corner, but my characters do not yet see this, that I found it so intriguing.
How much research was involved?
There was a lot of research involved as I was writing about a foreign country, a different time and such important historical events. I had to make sure that I was as accurate and authentic as possible.
What were the challenges writing “A Thunderous Whisper”? The highlights?
One of the biggest challenges was making sure that I was authentic in my use of Basque culture and language. I asked several Basque friends for help and the highlight was getting to travel to Guernica to see the city and it’s people for myself. I am forever grateful to president of the Guernica Historical Society and the curator of Guernica’s Museum of Peace for showing me around the city and telling me what it was like during the bombing. I even got to go into one of the air raid shelters and really get a sense of what it was like during those times.
Why do you think your books appeal to young readers?
I think it’s all about the characters. Whether a story is historical or contemporary, there are certain issues that transcend time and place. Readers can relate and identify with the characters and then they themselves can become lost in the story.
Looking back, how has your writing evolved?
My writing is constantly evolving because I am constantly reading and learning from others.
What are you working on now?
I am working on something very exciting and new, but it is in such an early stage that I’m going to remain secretive about it…for now.
Is there a book from your own childhood that still resonates with you?
A Wrinkle in Time is my favorite book from childhood because it introduced me to a whole genre of books (science fiction) which, up until then, I didn’t think I’d enjoy. It made me rethink all sorts of books and soon I was venturing into historical fiction and fantasy.