A
stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.
The war is
drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After
the losses she’s endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she
once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in
hiding.
When Johan
brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s
doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences
of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.
As she nurses
Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and
notices a shift within herself. Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her
want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity
to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce
of courage imaginable.
She is as
terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape
thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love and
learn to depend on the Perfect Love that drives out all fear? Or will her new
love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?
Author of Snow on the Tulips, Liz
Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a
farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their
children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her
novella, Under His Wings, appeared in
the New York Times bestselling collection, A
Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow
on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. When not busy putting words to
paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking,
and camping with her family.
Congratulations, Liz, on your debut novel, Snow on the Tulips! What
inspired you to write this story?
On April 11, 1945, the German
occupiers marched 13 Resistance workers to the edge of a canal in the
Netherlands and shot them. This was in retaliation for an incident a few days
earlier in which the Resistance blew up rail lines and derailed a German train.
Twelve of the men died. One survived. The man who survived was found and
brought to my aunt's home. Though he was seriously wounded, she nursed him
until the Canadians liberated the area just five days later.
When my father visited the Netherlands, he
heard this family story and brought it back. I was only in junior high at the
time, but I was fascinated and knew that someday I wanted to tell the world what
happened that day. I have taken the incident and fictionalized it and have also
worked in other stories I've been told about the time. It was amazing to do the
research and learn what great courage and faith these people had in the face of
such desperate circumstances.
Wow, Liz, love it when real life inspires a novel. One of my favorite historical fascinations is WW II. Thanks for picking up this challenging, touching story and running with it!
What is one fun thing my readers might not know about you?
Okay, totally off the wall. I love Swiss cake rolls. The Little Debbie
kind. Anyway, I eat the chocolate coating first, then bite off the ends. Then I
lick out all of the frosting on the inside and finally I eat the cake. Been
doing it that way since I was little and I don't know why.
I'm giggling, Liz, 'cause you remind me of my sister. She had special ways of eating food, too. Like popcorn. She'd bite off the puffed balls, set them aside to collect into a pile, then stuff a fist full into her mouth. She also liked to soak a piece of white bread in the bottom of her bowl of chicken noodle soup. She's now a caterer. No surprise there. She loved experimenting with recipes while growing up.
Thanks for joining me and my readers today, Liz!
God's best to you with Snow on the Tulips!
Visit Liz at the following locations.
