Q: Can you tell us about your latest release?
Shari J Ryan: My newest book is The Family Behind the Walls. It’s an absolutely heartbreaking and gripping World War II novel that follows Jordanna and Dalia as they fight for survival in the darkest of places. Despite unimaginable obstacles, they refuse to give up on each other.
Q: What inspired you to choose this setting for your book?
Shari J Ryan: I base my historical fiction books on inciting incidents within locations where World War II disrupted lives. In The Family Behind the Walls, the story begins with the Hamburg Inferno, a devastating event that shaped the course of the war and the lives of those who lived through it.
Q: Would you want to spend time with your protagonists in real life?
Shari J Ryan: Absolutely. I have a passion for writing strong female characters whose bravery surpasses my own. Jordanna and Dalia remind me of my grandmother and great-grandmother, both of whom survived life in a concentration camp. Through them, I feel a deep connection to my family’s history.
Q: How would you describe your protagonist in three words?
Shari J Ryan: Loyal, real, and empathetic.
Q: What was something new you learned while writing this book?
Shari J Ryan: I hadn’t done much research on the Hamburg Inferno before this book, and I was shocked by what the residents endured in 1943. Watching a city crumble to ash because of war is unimaginable.
Q: Do you edit while drafting, or do you wait until the end?
Shari J Ryan: I wait until I’m done. Sometimes new details emerge later in the story that I want to incorporate earlier. I keep a running list of changes so I can ensure everything connects during revisions. Those full-circle moments are my favorite part of editing.
Q: What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Shari J Ryan: Sushi, Chinese food, and any perfectly cooked pasta dish. For treats, nothing beats warm chocolate chip cookies and cold milk.
Q: Describe your writing space.
Shari J Ryan: I’m fortunate to have my own office space in a house full of men—my husband and two teen sons. My space is filled with books, inspiring quotes, candles, and a spotless desk. I like a cozy but tidy environment to minimize distractions.
Q: Is there an author you admire?
Shari J Ryan: Kristin Hannah. Her books are incredibly descriptive and emotional, which is something I strive for in my own writing.
Q: Was there a book that changed your life?
Shari J Ryan: When I was twelve, I read Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel. It was the first book that made me emotionally attached to a story, and it showed me the magic of reading.
Q: What was your reaction when you got ‘the call’ about your book deal?
Shari J Ryan: My publishing journey as an indie author had its ups and downs, but when an editor from Bookouture reached out to work with me, I cried happy tears. Years of hard work had finally paid off, and I’ll never forget that moment.
Q: What’s your favorite genre to read?
Shari J Ryan: Literary fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction—I can’t choose just one!
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
Shari J Ryan: Forrest Gump. I’ve rewatched it at different ages, and it impacts me in a new way each time.
Q: What’s your favorite season?
Shari J Ryan: Summer. I love the sunshine, being outdoors, and having a more relaxed schedule with my kids.
Q: How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Shari J Ryan: Something simple—a dinner with family and friends or a relaxing day to put my feet up.
Q: What’s a recent book, TV show, or movie you highly recommend?
Shari J Ryan: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. It was phenomenal as both a book and a movie, and I recommend it to all my reader friends.
Q: What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Shari J Ryan: Eastern European and Asian cuisine.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Shari J Ryan: I can be a TV junkie, but I also love listening to audiobooks while playing mindless games on my phone.
Q: What can readers expect from you next?
Shari J Ryan: I plan to continue writing historical fiction. With my family’s Holocaust history and the many relatives I never got to meet, I feel compelled to tell their stories through my characters. There are so many stories still waiting to be written.
Absolutely heartbreaking and gripping World War Two fiction
Germany, 1943. Jordanna cries out desperately to her mother, tears spilling down her cheeks. She is being torn one way, her parents another. And in Jordanna's terrified, wide brown eyes, there is only one question: Will I ever see you again?
Poland: Day in and day out, fifteen-year-old Jordanna holds tight to the hands of her siblings as they're forced into back-breaking labor. They've been transported to a camp for Polish orphans, but at night, Jordanna weeps silently, clinging to the hope that they're not actually orphans. That when they finally escape, their mother Dalia will be waiting with open arms. But the only thing she knows for sure is that to survive, she cannot let the cruel guards discover they are not just Polish, they are Jewish...
Auschwitz: More than a hundred miles away, Dalia shivers in her tattered striped uniform, wary eyes darting around for any sign of trouble. She's seen other women lost to the bitter sting of the frozen air and the brutal regime and she can't let it be her. Every day, Dalia prays that her husband will find a way to save their children. But when another prisoner approaches her about joining their secret resistance, Dalia decides to take rescuing her family into her own hands-despite the terrible danger it puts her in...
The only thing keeping Jordanna and Dalia's spirits alive in the darkest of places is the hope that they will one day be reunited. But will Dalia fight her way out to cradle her daughter in her arms once more-or will she die trying?
A heartbreaking, emotional, yet ultimately hopeful World War Two page-turner about the strength of the love between a mother and daughter triumphing over evil. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Choice will be blown away by this gripping, unputdownable story.
Women's Fiction Historical [Bookouture, On Sale: January 27, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781836184775 / ]
Over the last decade of writing more than thirty-five novels, I have found a deep passion for Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction with a focus on World War Two, and now, Psychological Thrillers too. As the granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors, I feel a strong sense of purpose while writing historically accurate portrayals of a life many of us can't imagine. I'm grateful for the chance I had to sit in front of them and listen to their stories. For my great-grandfather, great-uncle, and the many cousins I will never know, I refuse to let their existence be forgotten. Writing is more than a passion for me; it's my way of expression and connecting with others. I thrive to share each and every feeling and emotion I experience while living within these stories alongside each reader who picks up one of my books.
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