NK Chats To… Georgia Hunter

Published December 13, 2017 | By Laura

Hi Georgia. Thank you for joining me today to talk about your book, We Were The Lucky Ones. What was the writing experience like for you considering this book was based on family history? Did you feel a certain responsibility toward the story?

I felt a huge sense of responsibility! It was important to me to do everything I could to capture my family’s experience in a way that did them—along with the time period—justice. I tried not to leave any stone unturned in my research, and I thought long and hard once the research was complete about how best to bring the story to life. I was nervous, to be honest, to share the finished product with my relatives, as there was no audience whose feedback mattered more to me! Luckily, the family has been incredibly supportive, and has responded to the book with nothing but love and appreciation.

What is your writing process like – are you a planner and how do you approach the editing of your novel?

With a story of such broad scope (the Kurcs’ paths spanned seven years and five continents), I knew I’d need to take a methodical approach to my writing process. I began by dropping my research findings into a timeline, which I color-coded by relative so I could track who was where/when. From there I created an outline for the book, then chapter summaries, then finally began the process of putting the story to paper. I kept the manuscript close for years as I edited and polished before finally gathering up the courage to pass it along to a few close acquaintances, then to a freelance editor, and finally to an agent.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I love to write in the mornings, once my son is off to school. I also enjoy wearing headphones while I work. Even when I’m alone in my office I’ll slip on a pair, as I find the extra bit of quiet puts me in the proper headspace to write, and helps to drown out the annoying little voice in the back of my mind that likes to remind of the (non-writing) to-do’s I’ve chosen to ignore. If I’m in a writing rut, I’ll try working at a coffee shop, or on my sofa (if I have the house to myself), or in the library—often a change of scenery is just what I need to boost my creativity.

If you were only allowed to own three novels, which three would you pick and why?

That’s a tough one! If I had to pick, I suppose I’d choose City of Thieves by David Benioff—a fast-paced and brilliantly-told story of the author’s Holocaust-era family history that inspired me years ago to tackle my own book. I’d also pick Wonder, a Y/A novel (although I’d argue one equally suited for adults) about a young 5^th grade boy with a facial deformity, struggling to fit in. And finally, at the risk of sounding self-centered, I suppose I’d pick my book, so I could share it someday with my children (and their kids, and so on). I’ve read We Were the Lucky Ones more times than I can count, but I find with each pass, my own everyday “problems” seem a whole lot less daunting, and I’m reminded of just how lucky I am to be here. I hope someday my children (and future generations) will take away a similar perspective and sense of gratitude.

What is the best and hardest part of writing your first novel?

My family has always been tight, but the best part about this book is that it’s brought us even closer. I’d like to think we all share a greater sense of respect and appreciation now, not only for what our ancestors went through to survive, but also for each other. The hardest part of writing the novel was the patience it required. The family history was complicated and remote; it required years to unearth. Whether traveling to collect interviews or waiting for outside records (sometimes it took up to a year to get a response from a query), I had to remind myself constantly not to feel overwhelmed or discouraged, but to take it day by day and appreciate each step forward, however small.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

At the moment, I have a few ideas for a second novel. I love the historical fiction genre. And I love a protagonist who perseveres, despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds. We’ll see where that takes me!

What advice do you have for someone trying to write their first novel?

First and foremost, make sure that your story moves you (in any way—it could inspire you, infuriate you, sadden you). If it doesn’t move you, chances are it won’t move readers. When it comes to the writing itself, take your time. Let your first drafts be messy. Know when you work best and create a few writing rituals. If you are a project-oriented person, give yourself a daily word or page minimum. If you’re sharpest in the mornings, save your chores for the afternoons. Finally, let your first editors be people who know and love you, who will offer you constructive feedback. I shared my earliest pages with an incredibly supportive writing group, and chose my husband, my mother, and a dear friend and fellow writer as my first three editors when I felt the manuscript was ready. These trusted readers offered me great feedback, and most importantly, the encouragement to keep at it.

More about Georgia…

When Georgia Hunter was fifteen years old, she learned that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. We Were the Lucky Ones was born of her quest to uncover her family’s staggering history. Hunter’s blog, weweretheluckyones.com, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the extensive research this project has entailed. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and son.

We Were The Lucky Ones was released in paperback on 21st September 2017 by Allison & Busby and is available in most UK bookshops. Click on the link to view on Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Were-Lucky-Ones-Georgia-Hunter

About We Were The Lucky Ones…

The Kurc family shouldn’t have survived the Holocaust. In the spring of 1939 three generations are living relatively normal lives in Poland, despite the hardships Jews face.

When war breaks out and the family is cast to the wind, the five Kurc siblings do everything they can to find their way through a devastated continent to freedom.

Addy, a musician, charms his way into possession of a Brazilian visa and into the first class piano lounge on a ship full of refugees bound for Rio; Jakob marries the love of his life in an abandoned house to a soundtrack of air sirens; Mila hides her daughter in a Catholic convent outside of Warsaw, only to return weeks later to find the convent in ruins; Genek endures a brutal winter in a Siberian gulag before embarking with his wife and newborn son on a year-long exodus through Persia to fight for the Allies; and Halina attempts to flee over the Austrian Alps on foot – while pregnant.

All this, across continents and often in ignorance as to the fate of the rest of their family, while the wheels of war turn.