Terri Wangard’s World War I and World War II fiction employ a variety of settings besides Germany, including the home front of Wisconsin, her home state.
No Neutral Ground was set in Sweden. Seashells in My Pocket takes place in Brazil, while her most recent tale, No Leaves in Autumn, is set in Iceland. The latter two are books 1 and 2 of The Unsung Stories of World War II series. I love the diversity of settings.
Two things all of her stories have in common are romance and pilots flying in combat. The flight scenes are convincing enough to make me think she was one of those pilots herself.
Terri joined me on the blog three times:
- May 17, 2022—The Storm Breaks Forth(World War I)
- Mary 24, 2022—Friends & Enemies and all three novels in the Promise of Tomorrow series
- April 16, 2024—Seashells in My Pocket (Unsung Stories of World War II Book 1–set in Brazil)
Her Promise for Tomorrow series consists of:
- Friends & Enemies, set primarily in England and rural Germany, relayed by an American navigator of a bomber and a native German young woman
- No Neutral Ground, set primarily in Stockholm, Sweden, featuring a native German with some Jewish ancestry fighting for America, and an American artist working for the U.S.’s Office of Strategic Services gathering intel
- Soar Like Eagles, set in England, told from the perspectives of an American navigator and an American Red Cross volunteer
Blurb
Marie Foubert grew up in an orphanage and struggles with feelings of rejection. As a Red Cross recreation worker, she interacts with the American men based in Iceland during World War II. Her growing attraction to seaplane pilot Stefan Dabrowski excites and concerns her. Won’t he disappear from her life like everyone else?
Stefan hears his commanding officer describe him as exciting as last night’s bathwater. One of his colleagues constantly berates him because of his Polish heritage and his superior flying skill. Despite being the squadron’s most productive pilot, he is threatened with court martial. A showdown approaches to prove who’s the better pilot and the better man.
Marie’s cousin, passing through Iceland, tries to see her after spotting her photo in Life magazine. She declines to meet him, but Stefan encourages her to do so and learn why no one wanted her. She may gain a family after all.
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My thoughts
It’s fascinating to learn about the more unusual locales impacted by World War II, in this case Iceland. This is where protagonist Marie Foubert volunteers with the Red Cross to help boost the morale of wounded soldiers in the hospital. I appreciated glimpses into the workings of the Red Cross through Marie’s interactions and activities.
Visual images of Iceland made it come alive for me. Dynamics between the troops, Red Cross workers, and the natives brought new understanding.
The scenes on the seaplane manned by Stefan Dabrowski are definitely one of the strengths of this story. They are so realistic, it seems that somehow Terri must have flown with these soldiers on their missions to sink U-boats.
Considering all the wartime intensity, I appreciated the comic relief from time to time, and the nicknames the crew had for each other, including comic strip heroes Buck Rogers & Flash Gordon. Stefan’s sense of humor throughout was a big plus. Overall, the dialog was crisp and clever.
Besides fighting the enemy, some of the tension is compounded by the the rivalry and competition among people who are supposed to be on the same side. For example, Stefan’s Polish heritage is often the butt of jokes and verbal abuse.
Though it happens rather quickly, Marie and Stefan’s romance is sweet. Having grown up in an orphanage, she wrestles with rejection and wanting to belong. Stefan works hard to understand and compensate for that. If you like World War II fiction with realistic flying episodes and a sweet romance, you’ll enjoy this story.
Join me for some Q & A with Terri Wangard.
Questions about No Leaves in Autumn
What was your inspiration for writing a World War II novel set in Iceland? Do you have a personal connection to the setting or situation?
So many WWII books are set in Europe, especially England and France. I like different settings. From my B-17 series, I knew planes often refueled in Iceland, so something was going on there. I’ve never visited Iceland, but the photos I’ve seen are beautiful.
Great choice! I’m glad you explored this. Which came first—the characters, the plot, the setting, themes, or something else? How did the story develop? Which real life parameters were you working with?
The setting came first, to fit with the series of unusual locations. The series follows three friends who are pilots of very different aircraft, so the hero would be a pilot. (Yes, I’m in a rut in that respect. All of my WWII books feature pilots.)
The heroine was going to be in the Canadian military. I’d read something about that, I thought, but when I began researching, I couldn’t find anything about Canadian women in Iceland. My series was initially going to feature war brides from unexpected countries. Now what? Marie is Canadian, but she’s with the American Red Cross.
You write from both the hero’s and the heroine’s point of view—Marie and Stefan. What did you know about your characters at the outset and what did you learn about them during the writing process? Are any of the characters based on people you know or have read about?
With the change in Marie’s situation, she evolved as I wrote. Putting her in the Red Cross was a hard decision because I’d already written a Red Cross novel (Soar Like Eagles). Were Canadians in the American Red Cross? I don’t know, so I needed a good backstory for Marie. Then a cousin showed up.
With Stefan, I had to keep his story in line with his buddies Daniel (book one) and John (book three).
Sounds like a lot of problem solving to make everything fit naturally.Do you prefer writing from the man’s or woman’s perspective? What are the challenges of each, particularly considering each of their roles in a WWII setting.
Being a woman, it’s easier to write from the woman’s perspective. The challenges are keeping out anything modern, either things or language.
What kind of research was involved? What unusual thing did you do or discover while researching for this story?
Research was difficult because there is little written about Iceland in the war. I found several sources about the PBY amphibious airplane but those didn’t cover living conditions on the island.
I was very fortunate to find a memoir written by a US serviceman about his time in Reykjavik. Many little incidents were gleaned from that book. I also found a book written during the war by a Red Cross worker who was in the first group to arrive in Iceland. More anecdotes!
I was also blessed to learn Jenny Erlingsson (Her Part to Play) lived in Iceland at the time; she beta read my manuscript and corrected a few things.
Can you share what you’re working on now and/or in the near future?
Book three in the series will release next March. Like book one (Brazil) and book two (Iceland), I planned on an unusual setting—Australia. That story I had in mind crashed before I even got started. I can tell you that book three takes place in the Pacific with a best friend’s cousin trope. John is a carrier-based fighter pilot.
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Back to Laura . . . On a similar note . . .
If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy my newest novel A Hundred Magical Reasons (launched January 2025). This story spotlights L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, his friendship with a young girl, and his impact through the decades. Set in Holland, Michigan, this dual timeline novel alternates between 1980 and the early 1900s. Read more and watch the book trailer here.
A Hundred Magical Reasons awards:
- First Place in American Fiction Awards (American BookFest) for Literary Fiction (June 17, 2025)
- Hawthorne Prize Winner for Fiction (May 25, 2025)
- First Place in The BookFest for Literary Historical Fiction (April 2025)
- First Place in the Firebird Book Awards for Biographical Fiction (April 2025)
- Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Fiction (March 2025)
- Bronze Medal for the Illumination Book Awards for General Fiction (February 2025)
If you like Southern fiction and small town/rural stories about family dynamics and secrets, you might enjoy my novel All That Is Hidden. Set near North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1968, the story spotlights the bond of family and the connections of a tight-knit community. Northern exploitation threatens as a father’s hidden past catches up to him and tests family ties. Learn more and watch the trailer here.
All That Is Hidden awards:
- Pacific Book Review finalist for fiction (May 20, 2025)
- American Legacy Book Awards finalist for Coming of Age Fiction (May 2025)
- First Place in the Firebird Book Awards for Southern Fiction (April 2025)
- First Place in the Firebird Book Awards for Literary Fiction (April 2025)
- Winner of the Artisan Book Reviews Book Excellence Award
- Semifinalist in Serious Writer’s Book of the Decade contest
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Terri Wangard bio
Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she writes historical fiction, and won the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Woodland’s Chapter 2013 Writers on the Storm (WOTS) contest and the ACFW 2013 First Impressions, as well as being an ACFW 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, 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. Learn more on her website.
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Join me next time for a visit with author Jill Eileen Smith.
Meanwhile, have you read any of Terri’s books? Which World War II settings have you enjoyed reading about? Answer in the comments below.
Ever reading,
Laura
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Terri Wangard can be trusted to write well researched books. Her unique settings for her stories bring an added attraction. The descriptive details offered in her books are well written allowing the reader to see what the characters see. It has been my privilege to read a number of books she has authored!
Yes, Terri does great research and then weaves it in without being overwhelming.
Oh, thank you, Mary.
Who knew Iceland played a role in WWII?
It was a world wide war indeed!
Research is always my favorite part of writing. Really a challenge when there isn’t much written down to research!
A question for Terri I would have—can it be hard not to want to include too MUCH research? (when there is plenty to choose from!)
There is so much that is interesting—don’t you sometimes want to include it all?
I would add that research is also a catalyst for writing. New ideas often pop up during the research process.
I always have to leave out interesting tidbits and , yes, it’s hard to leave them behind. The trick is maintaining a natural flow in the story. Some of the leftovers can be used in Facebook posts.
Iceland is not a typical setting for a wartime story, so this novel is intriguing.
A skilled pilot who still has to prove himself makes me curious to see how that turns out.
A Red Cross volunteer is trying to make times better for servicemen while struggling with her own need to belong. I’m wondering if she will end up with the hero and find her lost family?
All the elements of a great World War II novel are here. As a bonus, it includes a sweet romance.
Yup–all those things are a great combination in this novel!
No Leaves in Autumn is a great read. I always enjoy Terri Wangard’s WW2 novels and this is no exception! My favorite scenes are those with the pilots and air crew. They are so believable.
I especially enjoy this series because of the surprising locations. I actually wanted to go to Iceland after reading this book. I haven’t quite pulled that off yet – maybe someday. I can’t wait to read the one set in Australia. That is another place I’d love to visit. Thanks for featuring this excellent novel.
It’s always fun to visit the setting of a novel. The fact that you want to visit those areas after reading Terri’s novels speaks to the effectiveness of her writing!
No Leaves in Autumn is a great read. I always enjoy Terri Wangard’s WW2 novels and this is no exception! The scenes with the pilots and air crew are the best. They are so believable.
I especially enjoy this series because of the surprising locations. I actually wanted to go to Iceland after reading this book. I haven’t quite pulled that off yet – maybe someday. I can’t wait to read the one set in Australia. That is another place I’d love to visit. Thanks for featuring this excellent novel.
No Leaves in Autumn is great! I always enjoy Terri Wangard’s WW2 novels and this is no exception. The scenes with the pilots and air crew are the best. They are so believable.
I especially enjoy this series because of the surprising locations. I actually wanted to go to Iceland after reading this book. I haven’t quite pulled that off yet – maybe someday. I can’t wait to read the one set in Australia. That is another place I’d love to visit. Thanks for featuring this excellent novel.
No Leaves in Autumn is great! I always enjoy Terri Wangard’s WW2 novels and this is no exception. The scenes with the pilots and air crew are the best. They are so believable.
I especially like this series because of the surprising locations. I actually wanted to go to Iceland after reading this book. I haven’t quite pulled that off yet – maybe someday. I can’t wait to read the one set in Australia. That is another place I’d love to visit. Thanks for featuring this excellent novel.
For me, one of the best parts about reading a Terri Wangard novel is how I’m drawn into the air war – from the comfort of my recliner. The scenes with the pilots and air crew are so believable. I read No Leaves in Autumn and enjoyed it very much. I actually wanted to go to Iceland after reading this book. I haven’t quite pulled that off yet – maybe someday. I can’t wait to read the one set in Australia. That is another place I’d love to visit. Thanks for featuring this excellent novel.