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Forbidden - An Author Interview
Author : Lisa M. Hendey
Forbidden – Author Interview with Wilma Wall By Lisa M. Hendey
A war is on between two bitter and powerful enemy nations. A
brave young man, persecuted at times because of his ethnicity,
steps forward to defend his new homeland. A young woman finds
herself conflicted over her love for this soldier, due to the
fact that her own community objects to the war and fears those
outside their own culture. Can the relationship survive and
prosper? Timely issues present themselves in Forbidden
(0825439477, Kregel, May 1, 2004, paperback, 316 pages), a novel
set amidst the backdrop of Central California during World War
II. First time novelist Wilma Wall tells the tale of this
inspirational romance in the past, but imbues it with issues
with have great relevance in today’s modern world.
LH: A special thank you to Wilma Wall, author of the novel
Forbidden, for this opportunity to interview you about your
faith and writing! Wilma, I've read that you spent many years
living in China. Please begin by telling our readers a bit about
your background and your family. WW: I was born in South China
to missionary parents, and when civil war broke out in the area,
we relocated north to an isolated village in Inner Mongolia,
near the Great Wall. Not having playmates my age, books became
my best friends, and I created a world of imaginary people.
When we left China and settled in California’s central valley, I
attended schools in the Reedley-Dinuba area through my junior
year at Dinuba High School, and then went with my parents to
Oklahoma where they served at a Comanche Indian mission. There,
my father died so after I graduated my mother and I returned to
Dinuba. I then attended Reedley College and Pacific Bible
Institute (now Fresno Pacific University) where I met and
married my roommate’s brother.
We have three daughters, eight grandchildren and one
great-grandchild. I taught piano in Madera, Hanford and Reedley
for over forty years, and for seven years, taught pre-school at
a day care center for migrant workers. I served as church
pianist, organist, librarian and Sunday School teacher, and
wrote skits, pageants and puppet shows as well as co-edited a
church newsletter.
Now I spend my time writing, and volunteering at a church-based
thrift shop where I manage the used books department. I know the
Lord put me there; whenever I need specific material for
research, miraculously something turns up in the donations
brought to us.
LH: Wilma, I too live in the Central Valley of California, so I
enjoyed Forbidden so much because it felt like I was reading
about home! Would you please briefly summarize the plot of
Forbidden for our readers? WW: College-educated Annie Penner is
expected to become a dutiful Mennonite farm wife, but her love
of music, literature and Bible discussion attracts the attention
of pre-medical student Donald Nakamura. Their budding romance is
cut short by war between the United States and Japan, and the
internment of all Japanese-Americans, including Donald and his
family. Even their correspondence stops, and each thinks the
other has found new interests within their own culture.
When the war ends and Donald returns, he and Annie realize their
love is stronger than ever. But medical schools have rejected
his applications, laws prevent inter-racial marriage, and
widespread prejudice threatens to destroy his family and their
livelihood. Annie’s family is horrified at her association with
a “foreigner.” Donald’s father, pastor of a Baptist church, has
a pretty Japanese girl picked out for him.
Donald finds comfort in his beloved psalms and Annie bolsters
his faith. They are sure God has led them together and trust Him
to help them over the hurdles. But how will they convince their
families, and what about the anti-miscegenation law?
They learn that God answers prayers in unexpected ways and can
do much more than they’d hoped.
LH: What led you to write this book and what type of research
did you have to undertake to write the story?
WW: I was invited to submit a novella, consisting of about 125
pages, for a different publishing company. I chose the World War
II period because that generation is diminishing, and although
many novels have been written about pioneer days and the civil
war, not as much is available about that era. I feel that
younger generations need to know what the atmosphere was like in
those days, the patriotism, the panic, the injustices and the
prejudice.
The company sent me a list of topics, and “a controversial
romance” intrigued me. What could be more controversial during
WWII, I thought, than a romance between a Caucasian and a
Japanese, with our country at war with Japan? And to up the
ante, how about making the Caucasian a Mennonite, who in those
days were in a closed culture?
Being Mennonite background myself, I knew that culture; however,
having roots in China I thought I could also step back and view
it a little more objectively. I also am familiar with
Japanese-Americans, having taught many in my piano lessons. But
I also did a great deal of research on both subjects: read every
relevant book I could get my hands on, interviewed many people,
scanned old newspapers at libraries, and researched the
internet. I studied maps of the internment camps and joined the
Japanese-American Citizen’s League newsgroup online.
By the time I’d learned to know my characters, I’d fallen in
love with the story and knew I couldn’t do justice to it in a
short novelette. So when it was finished I instead submitted it
to a Christian manuscript service on the internet. Then I asked
the Lord to take over, because I’d done all that I could. And
about two weeks later, Kregel Publishing Company picked it up.
LH: Wilma, the relationship between Donald and Annie is filled
with so many tensions and trials, but their common faith seems
to be a strong bond between them. How has your own faith
impacted upon your writing? Do you feel that people today also
face cultural struggles in their relationships? How can they
overcome these struggles? WW: When I started writing for
publication, I wrote for the secular market, but although an
agent was enthusiastic about my work, she couldn’t sell it. It
wasn’t until I gave my writing to the Lord that it was accepted.
Prejudice is still very common; many people who aren’t otherwise
biased still hate to see their children marry out of their
culture. I think it’s most important for a couple to have a
common faith, to agree on values and take pre-marital
counseling. Not every relationship can survive the storms of
criticism, prejudice and gossip. But I also firmly believe if
people allow God to lead in their lives, and will follow his
precepts, He will help them weather through, and their
relationship or marriage will grow stronger and their spiritual
life will blossom.
LH: I really enjoyed and became caught up in this story! Do you
have any future books or writing projects in the works? WW: I
have just received word that Kregel Publications has accepted
another of my novels, Jade Bracelet. It is set both in China and
California’s central valley and portrays a life-long conflict
between a strict mother and her rebellious daughter, and how the
Lord brings about a reconciliation. The editor is also looking
at another manuscript of mine, and I am currently working on a
sequel to that one.
LH: Wilma Wall, author of Forbidden, thank you again for your
time and participation in this interview. Are there any last
thoughts or ideas you'd like to share with our readers? WW: I
would like to tell them not to get discouraged, and when things
go wrong, not to try to battle through on their own. Take the
problems to the Lord in prayer; He can and will show the way to
go. Thank you and God bless you.
For more information or to order Forbidden visit
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0825439477/digitalcropper-
20
Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous
web sites, including http://www.digitalcropper.com,
http://www.christincoloring.com, http://www.catholicmom.com and
an avid reader.
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