I traveled to Leningrad in 1979 as a college student and the most moving and impactful part of that trip was a visit to the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery where nearly 500,000 of the one million casualties of the siege of Leningrad are entombed. More civilians are buried in that single cemetery than the total number of Americans who died during the entirety of World War II. 

Suzanne Parry – 8 November 2022

The Back Flap

June 1941. Hitler’s armies race toward vulnerable Leningrad. In a matter of weeks, the Nazis surround the city, cut off the food supply, and launch a vicious bombardment. Widowed violinist Sofya Karavayeva and her teenage granddaughter, Yelena, are cornered in the crumbling city.

On Leningrad’s outskirts, Admiral Vasili Antonov defends his homeland and fights for a future with Sofya. Meanwhile, Yelena’s soldier fiancé transports food across the Ice Road—part of the desperate effort to save Leningrad. With their help, the two women inch toward survival, but the war still exacts a steep personal price, even as Sofya’s reckoning with a family secret threatens to finish what Hitler started.

Equal parts war epic, family saga, and love story, Lost Souls of Leningrad brings to vivid life this little-known chapter of World War II in a tale of two remarkable women—grandmother and granddaughter—separated by years and experience but of one heart in their devotion to each other and the men they love. Neither the oppression of Stalin nor the brutality of Hitler can destroy their courage, compassion, or will in this testament to resilience.

About the book

What is the book about?

Equal parts war epic, family saga, and love story, Lost Souls of Leningrad is a World War II tale of two remarkable women, grandmother and granddaughter, trapped in Leningrad when Nazi Germany attacks and blockades the city. It is a story of struggle and survival, but also of hope, devotion, love, and resilience.

When did you start writing the book?

In 2016.

How long did it take you to write it?

When I decided to write this book, my stepfather—author, environmentalist, and retired creative-writing professor—encouraged me to write a page a day. He said, “In a year you’ll have a book.” That’s exactly what I did. In fact, I had a rough draft of nearly 400 handwritten pages at the end of eight months. It was a VERY rough draft, but I had the basic story down on paper. Then the difficult work began. It took two additional years and many, many rewrites before it came together.

Where did you get the idea from?

I traveled to Leningrad in 1979 as a college student and the most moving and impactful part of that trip was a visit to the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery where nearly 500,000 of the one million casualties of the siege of Leningrad are entombed. More civilians are buried in that single cemetery than the total number of Americans who died during the entirety of World War II. A broad entrance led to a wide, 500-meter-long alley with flower beds down the center. At the far end was a large bronze Soviet-style sculpture of the Motherland. On both sides of the main pathway lay rows and rows of rectangular mass graves. It was quiet, somber, and deeply moving. Although it would be decades before I would write the book, the seeds were sown that day.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Many. As an inexperienced writer I found everything a learning experience. Establishing four distinct points of view was necessary to tell the entire story, but very difficult. It took me a long while to get the hang of moving from third-person omniscient into a close third perspective. It was important that the story be intimate, so I needed to learn how to bring the reader close to the characters’ experiences and emotions. Figuring out where and when to use narrative summary was also difficult—and still is.

What came easily?

I found it easy to decide which events of the siege to include in my novel. I wanted the story to be comprehensive so chose to incorporate numerous historical events such as the naval retreat from Tallinn, specific bombings such as Badayev and Gostiny Dvor, the children’s evacuation disaster, the inexorable decline in rations, the establishment of the Ice Road to try to save the city, and others.

The characters also came to me easily. They all appeared as I was plotting the story. I wrote some early history for Sofya and Vasili and that helped me get to know them, but Yelena and Pavel, the children, and even several minor characters appeared very clearly in the early phases. I didn’t begin writing until I had a nearly complete cast.

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

Both. I borrowed, especially for Sofya and Vasili, who have traits I’d noticed in friends of mine. The minor characters are entirely fictitious except for Sasha, the little girl Sofya and Yelena rescue. I gave little Sasha my own sunny, energetic, and persistent disposition.

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?

I’ve been a reader for sixty years and a writer for only six. Without a doubt, my long reading experience has made me the writer I am. There’s no doubt I learned a great deal about language and style from reading.

Part of becoming a writer is figuring out your own style and your own voice. I’ve read a lot of 20th century Soviet writers as well as the 19th century greats. I’m certain they affected my writing, but I also learned from many current American and other authors. I read a great deal of historical fiction, of course, and I learned from numerous popular authors how to affect the emotions of the reader. From others, like Roland Merullo, I learned about structure for a multiple point-of-view novel. I’m trying to learn how to write with just a bit of the beauty, elegance and clarity of the great Geraldine Brooks.

Do you have a target reader?

I think there are several specific audiences for this novel. Fans of World War II historical fiction are most likely to be drawn to it. It is a mixture of war epic, family saga, and love story and may have appeal beyond the historical fiction fan base. Readers who like family sagas will, I hope, be drawn to this novel. Many readers will be able to relate to the way hope, love, and family help the main characters survive. The novel is based on an actual event and much of what takes place in the novel actually happened, just not to my imaginary characters.

About Writing

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

Months of research, then sketching the plot and the characters. Then I begin writing. I write from the beginning and proceed in order most of the time. But there are always points in the novel that are difficult. Either I’m not fully certain where my character is going or I have changed my mind. So I do skip over difficult scenes or chapters, and then go back to fill in as things become clear.

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

Yes. I outline roughly by chapters. Sometimes that means just a few sentences, but other times I will write a skeleton of an entire scene.

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

I write a first draft with little editing. I want to have most, if not all, of the novel in front a me before I start fleshing out scene details and considering where specific chapters or characters might go. With subsequent drafts I go back and forth a lot, usually working on a particular issue with a certain character, or making sure something tracks properly through the novel. My initial drafts are messy. I do not yet know enough about writing in order to write cleanly. So, for example, in a first draft I may jump tenses in a single scene just hurrying to get the ideas down. My subsequent drafts are where the real writing work begins for me.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I hired a developmental editor after I had gotten some positive feedback from a couple of agents and wanted help in considering their perspectives and suggestions. It was a fascinating part of the process to see which of the agent’s preferences and ideas the editor supported (not many).

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

Only when music is part of the novel. So, for Lost Souls of Leningrad I listened to Shoshtakovich’s Leningrad Symphony dozens of times. I also listened to all the composers and pieces that are in the story multiple times. I listened to all the music I imagined Sofya playing. For my second novel, I almost never listen to music unless I’m trying to drown out the sound of a leaf blower or some other annoying piece of equipment. I like the silence of a quiet house. No distractions. When an idea comes, I am able to hold it easily in my mind.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I queried or pitched fifty or so agents and had initial interest from perhaps eight. Of those, three read the entire manuscript. Two of those thought it wasn’t the right fit (meaning they didn’t like it enough to take it on) but went to the trouble to make a few suggestions. One considered it seriously, but wanted substantial changes. Ultimately, I felt that those changes would not improve the novel. I then decided to go the indie/small press/hybrid publisher route.

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

It was a gradual process. Trying to find an agent when you are new to writing, and new to the industry is tortuous and time consuming. Without industry contacts, and when you are an unknown quantity, it is extremely difficult to find an agent willing to take a chance.

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

My publisher is She Writes Press. They are well known for their cover design staff and do a terrific job.

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

I started out with almost zero knowledge of marketing and had no problem admitting to myself that I needed help, so yes, I have a marketing plan.

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

I think it’s helpful to understand yourself. If you love the idea of getting into the weeds of design and marketing, you can go it on your own. There are more and more successful self-published authors all the time. But, if you’re like me, and not at all interested in spending the time and energy to learn how to do everything, then indie or small press, or hybrid publishing will do many of the publishing tasks for you.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was raised in rural, western New York State on a small, working farm. I loved growing cucumbers and red raspberries in our enormous garden. They are still two of my favorite foods.

Where do you live now?

I’ve lived in Portland, Oregon since 2001 and now divide my time between Portland and Washington, DC. I have two young grandchildren in DC and don’t want to miss out on the fun.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’ve lived in five foreign countries and would love to live overseas again. Once upon a time, I could get by in Russian, German, and French. Now, I’d have a hard time ordering a meal or telling a cabbie where I’d like to go. So sad!

What are you working on now?

My second novel takes a minor character from Lost Souls of Leningrad and follows her through World War II. Before the war, this prideful Communist Party bureaucrat accidently commits a terrible act of betrayal. She spends the war years fighting the Germans and looking for redemption, but also finds herself examining the Party she has worshipped.

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Lost Souls of Leningrad from Amazon US or Amazon UK.