Desideratum

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.

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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

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