Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin is another riveting story. All her books seem to educate the readers while presenting a compelling story, relatable heroes in both Ivy and Gerrit and incredibly memorable multifaceted characters. There is danger, suspense, a sweet love story, and family conflicts.
The book opens with the German invasion of the Channel Islands. The female lead, Ivy Picot, has her father leaving the family’s medical practice to serve as a medic on the Allied front lines. Now Ivy along with her older sister, Fern, and younger brother Charlie must manage the practice.
As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers. She meets Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee and his friend Bernardus Kroon. They volunteered to build fortifications for the Germans so they can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. But Ivy wants nothing to do with him and shows him contempt for the German uniform he wears.
Charlie is aligned with Ivy on her views of the Germans and realizes that Gerrit and Bernardus are in the resistance. He volunteers to help them and becomes part of the resistance. The one sibling who readers will grow to hate is Fern. She was a terrible sister and awful person, blaming others, and never taking responsibility. Plus, she aligned herself with the Germans, working for them and having an affair with a German officer.
The tension increases as the dangers increase for Ivy, Gerrit, Charlie, and Bernardus. Readers will not want to put the book down because this story is a page turner.
Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?
Sarah Sundin: I have always been interested in the English Islands, which were occupied by the Germans. I looked at Jersey and read about the physicians who took care of the escaped forced laborers. A lot of the men who fought as young men in WWI fought as older men in WWII. The main character’s father was a physician, and fought even though he was a little older.
EC: Jersey folk versus English folk?
SS: There are four Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, each with their own unique status. They are not part of the United Kingdom, and are not English, but are a part of Great Britian. They depend on them for military protection, but they have their own laws, police, government, postage stamps, and currency. They have Norman roots but have a lot of British culture.
EC: Did you show how they Germans tried to exploit the difference?
SS: Yes. There was some resentment between the natives and the English there. The Germans deported those who were born in Mainland England and sent them to internment camps. One of the reasons the Germans did it was to drive a wedge between the locals and the English people. It totally backfired. The people of Jersey were upset.
EC: In the story, Ivy and Gerrit seem to struggle with their beliefs. Do you agree?
SS: The quote, ‘the Nazis are specialized in cruelty and erasing the goodness for the Island. Why did God do nothing to stop them?’ It’s the old saying, ‘if God is good why do bad things happen?’ Ivy especially struggles with it but realizes God does not want people to be robots and should make choices.
EC: How would you describe Ivy?
SS: She is intuitive, caring, and compassionate. She has quiet strength and courage. Being a doctor, she faces criticism and must deal with being a woman in a man’s world. Sometimes she can see things others don’t.
EC: How would you describe Bernardus?
SS: He is the friend of Gerrit. He is smart, driven, a little bit reckless. He wants to get things done.
EC: What about Gerrit?
SS: He is cautious to a fault, wants to do the right thing, thoughtful, and gentle. He has an engineer’s mind and sees the world in black and white.
EC: How would you describe Charlie?
SS: He was my favorite character and at some point, stole the story. He is bright, curious, courageous, impetuous, selfless, charming, perceptive, favors and respects Ivy over his other sister.
EC: How would you describe Fern, the older sister?
SS: A charming narcissist. She is bitter, jealous, disloyal, a betrayer, controlling, bullying, mean, efficient, clever, and enjoyed Ivy’s dependence on her. She twists people’s words. She sees herself as the heroine, not as the villainess she is. She will never admit her wrong doings.
EC: What about the relationship between Gerrit and Ivy?
SS: I think it was an enemy to lover’s story that got off to a rough spot. Ivy’s perspective was he wore the German uniform and would not trust him. He is in the resistance but cannot tell her that. For him, it is a forbidden love. He cannot tell her because he would put himself, Charlie, Bernadus, and herself in danger. In the end they became affectionate toward each other.
EC: Do you think the Germans were harsh to the Islanders?
SS: They would not allow people to draw outside. They regulated the water intake, had curfews, and took political prisoners. The Germans cut off Jersey from Britian who provided supplies, coal, and medicine. Now they had to buy from France but do not have trade patterns with them. This was a cruelty of war itself.
EC: Next books?
SS: A Christmas novella coming out in September, titled Twelve Days and Twelfth Night. It is set in San Diego with a USO show. The USO director must put on a show for the sailors. She recruits a Hollywood heartthrob has been, who has severe burns. It is fun and lighthearted.
My next novel comes out in February, set in France. The plot has those living in the mountains of France rescuing 3000 Jewish children during the war. Almost every home in that village rescued at least one person.
EC: THANK YOU!!
