Lebensborn children were conceived during the Second World War as part of a Nazi experiment to create a superior race. The children were fathered by high-ranking German officers and genetically-viable women of Scandinavian descent.

Marta Tandori – 25 January 2015

The Back Flap

It’s been eight years since the Second World War has ended – long enough for people to forgive and forget – but feelings of hate run deep in Norway against people like fifteen-year-old Katya Holberg and her family. Separated from her father when the Allies liberated Poland, Katya and the rest of her family are sent to an internment camp in Oslo where they’re eventually rescued by a Norwegian war hero. After four tumultuous years together, he brutally murders her sister, forcing Katya and her mother to seek refuge with her grandmother in faraway Droeback where Katya’s mother is murdered by villagers soon after their arrival.

Fearing for her safety, Katya’s grandmother sends her to Klindenspiel, the only circus of its kind in Europe, where all of the performers are children. Once there, Katya quickly learns that all of the young performers share her terrible secret, making them more like her than she could ever have imagined. Things become complicated when Klindenspiel’s artistic director pairs Katya with Aleks, a good-looking but secretive seventeen-year-old, who’s skilled in acrobatics and dance. Curious about, and attracted to her new partner, Katya secretly follows him one night and learns the horrible truth behind Klindenspiel’s magic. With the curtains about to rise on Klindenspiel’s newest show, Katya and Aleks must give the performance of a lifetime – both on and off the stage – because their lives, and those of their fellow performers, are depending on it.

About the book

What is the book about?

Last Stop Klindenspiel is about fifteen-year-old Katya Holberg and the terrible legacy of shame she bears as she struggles for survival in post-Holocaust Europe.  Separated from her father when the Allies liberated Poland, Katya and her mother and sister are sent to an internment camp in Oslo where they’re eventually rescued by a Norwegian war hero.  The only problem is that he hates everything Katya and her family represent so he abuses them for years which finally culminates in the death of her sister, who he brutally murders.  Although Katya and her mother are able to seek refuge with her grandmother in faraway Droeback, her mother is murdered by the local villagers shortly after their arrival.  Fearing for her safety, her grandmother sends Katya to Klindenspiel, the only circus of its kind in Europe, where all of the performers are children.  Once there, Katya quickly learns that they all share her terrible secret and her hopes for a safe haven at Klindenspiel are soon destroyed when she learns the truth about Klindenspiel from her good-looking partner, the very talented seventeen-year-old Aleks.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing the book in June of last year.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me about three months to write the book and then another month to edit it.

Where did you get the idea from?

A long time ago, I watched this documentary on the History channel about Lebensborn children and I became intrigued by the subject matter.  Lebensborn children were conceived during the Second World War as part of a Nazi experiment to create a superior race.  The children were fathered by high-ranking German officers and genetically-viable women of Scandinavian descent.  In a continent torn apart by war, where starvation and sickness were rampant, the women who agreed to give birth to these Lebensborn children were treated extremely well, being given good food to eat and comfortable accommodations, etc.  However, when the Third Reich was overthrown, the women were ostracized and/or murdered while their children were either abandoned or orphaned and left to fend for themselves or were thrown into mental asylums.

Simply put, I wanted to give these children a voice.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There are many areas of the book where I struggled, especially when it came to describing some of the abuse the children had to endure.  There had to be a reality to the situations my characters found themselves in and I wanted to portray the state of my characters’ lives truthfully, even if it meant dealing with subject matter which upset me.

What came easily?

Writing about the relationship between the main character, Katya, and her sister came easily because I have a sister so I was able to draw on the relationship we had as children and that pretty much guided me along.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Several Lebensborn children grew up to become famous.  One of them was Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the brunette singer from the seventies pop musical group, ABBA.  Although my characters are entirely fictitious, I did think of her often when I wrote my book.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Several authors have influenced the way I write but I think my biggest influence has got to be Tess Gerritsen.  I’m a H-U-G-E fan of her work and aside from the fact that she writes great books, Tess has exceptionally wide scope as a writer.  In other words, you never know what to expect with her books; one can be set in space (Gravity), another deals with alternating time periods (The Bone Garden), while others are medical dramas (Harvest) or police procedurals (Rizzoli & Isles series).

Whenever I write a book, my characters tend to be from every walk or life or profession.  I think it makes the book more interesting and it gives readers a chance to see another facet of your writing.  For me, the ultimate compliment was having my writing compared by a reader to that of Tess.  Let me tell you, it made my day!

Do you have a target reader?

Last Stop Klindenspiel  is targeted for a YA audience or for any reader who likes reading books about the Holocaust.  I characterize the book as combining the survival instincts made famous in The Hunger Games with the intensity of The Book Thief.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

First and foremost, I have to have a general idea as to what the book will be about.  However, before I can write it, I have to more or less “see” it unfold before I can put fingers to the keyboard.  By that I mean that I have to close my eyes and “see” the story play out like a movie in my imagination.  Only then can I begin to write it.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I tend to do chapter outlines, about a paragraph in length, just to keep me on track as to where the story is going.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I will quickly read through what I wrote the day before and correct any obvious errors/anomalies and the chapter outlines keep me on track in terms of where the story goes.  However, I don’t start with the actual editing until the story is finished.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I have a great editor as well as two terrific beta readers.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I’m one of those writers who don’t like distractions of any kind.  I like to cocoon myself into my basement office and shut out the world while I write.  Some writers find it extremely solitary.  Quite frankly, I kind of enjoy it.  When I need to think about my plot or a new book, I go to the lake where I’ll sit on a rock and stare at the water lapping at the shore.  I find it very soothing and it gets my creative juices flowing!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I had jumped on to the self-publishing bandwagon a bit late in the game, around October, 2012.  I figured there would be a huge learning curve – which there was, and is – but it was something I had heard so many great comments on that I knew I had to try it.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I always have my covers and formatting professionally done.  Unless you’re a pro at it, you have to give it to the pros to do for you.  Just because your work is indie published doesn’t mean that a reader will expect less professional product.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I am currently running a giveaway for Last Stop Klindenspiel on Goodreads and LibraryThing and have sent out an announcement about the book to all my readers who have signed up for my newsletter.  For all my books, I usually commit to the KDP Select program for the first three months as I find it has more impact that way.  After the first 90 days, I’ll release the ebook to other retailers.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

As an indie, you wear many hats and I think the most important one is book marketer/promoter.  The book market, regardless whether indie published or legacy published, if full of good books and bad books.  The only way a reader will have a chance to notice your book is if you take the time to market it.  Successful marketing takes time, patience, creativity and above all else – homework.  Be prepared to put in the sweat equity.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Novi Sad in the former Yugoslavia.  I grew up in and around Toronto, Canada but went to school in New York City.

Where do you live now?

I live in the suburbs of Toronto.

What would you like readers to know about you?

If you need someone to count to ten in seven different languages, then I’m your gal but if you need something assembled and all you’ve got is a set of instructions and an Allen wrench, then we’re both in trouble!

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the next book in my Kate Stanton mystery series called The Crossing at Blaisdell Park which should be published sometime early this year.

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Last Stop Klindenspiel from Amazon US or Amazon UK.