When the World Fell Silent with Donna Alward

What this episode covers

Step into the world of 1917 with author Donna Alward's debut historical fiction, "When the World Fell Silent." This gripping tale explores the lives of two distinct women, Nora and Charlotte, against the backdrop of the Halifax explosion—an event that reshaped a city and its people. Known for her success in romance, Donna takes on the challenge of weaving historical facts with compelling character arcs, creating a story that is as much about love and community as it is about tragedy. Join us as Donna shares her journey from romance to historical fiction, the serendipity that led her there, and the detailed research behind this novel. Discover how she brings to life the experiences of these two women—one a nurse, the other a war widow—each navigating the societal expectations of their time. Listen to how the Halifax explosion, the largest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb, becomes a pivotal element in their stories. Hear excerpts from the audiobook, narrated by Ivana Rakic and Laurence Bouvard, as they capture the essence of Halifax and its resilient women. Explore the themes of motherhood, trauma, and the power of community through Donna's insightful storytelling. With a backdrop of historical events, this episode delves into the philosophical questions of destiny and self-determination, leaving us with a sense of hope amidst adversity. If you enjoyed the audiobook snippets and want to experience the full story, consider supporting local bookstores by purchasing the audiobook through Libro.fm. Follow our affiliate link to support both this podcast and a bookstore of your choice with every purchase. Thanks for listening! https://desideratumpodcast.com/ https://donnajonesalward.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@stepintothestorybooks 00:00 Author Donna Allward writes historical fiction set in 1917 03:09 You're telling the story through two main characters, Nora and Charlotte 06:38 The Halifax explosion is at the heart of this story 07:15 The Halifax explosion was the largest man made explosion in history before the atom bomb 10:42 You write about eye injuries caused by Halifax explosion in historical fiction 15:11 One of the other things that I wanted to talk about these two women is motherhood 17:44 Ivana Rakic narrates the audiobook from Charlotte's Awakening 20:08 When we were choosing narrators, I was concerned about the accent 22:06 The narrator is Laurence Bouvard, originally from Boston, Massachusetts 26:42 You talk about how you gravitate towards serendipities in your book 31:10 We dug into some stuff that I haven't talked about on any podcast before 31:54 Dealing with trauma in 1917 is very different than how we deal with it today Show notes created by https://headliner.app

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How long is this episode of Desideratum?

This episode is 37 minutes long.

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This episode was published on October 18, 2024.

What is this episode about?

Step into the world of 1917 with author Donna Alward's debut historical fiction, "When the World Fell Silent." This gripping tale explores the lives of two distinct women, Nora and Charlotte, against the backdrop of the Halifax explosion—an event...

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