The Storm Breaks Forth Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: The Storm Breaks Forth
Author: Terri Wangard
Release Date: April 6, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. 

Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German-born, and anti-German hysteria is running high. Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance. Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. 

Peter and Maren dream of the day they will be reunited, but more and more, that day appears to be a mirage.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

ALSO AVAILABLE

---

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

CONNECT WITH TERRI: Website | Facebook | Instagram

---

 

Hi Terri! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and giving my readers the chance to get to know you and your new book - The Storm Breaks Forth a little bit better!  I like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?

1)      I was one of the top swimmers in Wisconsin in the 11-12 and 13-14 age brackets as a member of the Green Bay YMCA swim team.

2)      I used to travel a lot. I’ve passed through at least 30 American airports and 27 foreign airports.

3)      Until I was in kindergarten, my name was spelled Terry. Then I (and my parents) learned that is the boy’s spelling, and Terri is for girls. I changed my spelling.

4)      I love walking along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline in Florida and collecting sea shells.

5)      I was raised in Wisconsin and live here now, but I’ve also lived in Michigan for six years, Utah for a year, and Southern California for nine years.

When did you first discover you had a passion and talent for writing?

I’ve always loved books and libraries. Growing up, I wrote little stories in a notebook (which is long gone). Writing a full-length book grew out of that. Hopefully, I have the talent for writing!

What drew you to historical fiction?

History was my major in college. I loved to read historical fiction. The Hornet’s Nest by Sally Watson was a favorite. I started writing contemporary in the early 2000s. After setting that aside for a few years, I decided to base a story on old family letters written after World War II. That became my first novel, Friends & Enemies.

What type of research went into creating The Storm Breaks Forth?

I read several books on World War I and Milwaukee. The movie 1917 was helpful in picturing the trenches and bunkers.

Can you tell us a little bit more about The Storm Breaks Forth?

Anti-German hysteria was high and I wondered what it was like for my family in Milwaukee. Of course, none of those relatives are alive to ask. None of the men were draft age, so they didn’t fight. The Storm Breaks Forth is an imagined scenario for what might have been. It’s also a companion book to Roll Back the Clouds, my Lusitania story. Geoff and Rosaleen, from Clouds, are the next-door neighbors to Peter and Maren in Storm, so you see how they fared after the torpedoing.

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

Some things don’t change. One hundred years ago, politic rancor was high and a pandemic raged, but God is still in control.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?

I am revising a short story that appeared in a book of historical Christmas short stories. Then, it was mostly his story. Now, it’s their story. The heroine is a welder of submarines during World War II while her boyfriend is a sailor aboard a destroyer escort in the Pacific.

(1) winner will receive an ebook copy of The Storm Breaks Forth and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 13, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.