What is the title of your latest release?
IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN is the story of two sisters, separated by oceans and global conflict, who are bonded through music and love in this gripping novel based on true events from World War II.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
The novel is inspired by my mother’s family’s story. My mom was eleven years old when the Japanese bombed the US airbases near her home in the Philippines. Her family fled into the mountainous jungles of Luzon seeking refuge at a relative’s home and remained there for the duration of the war. One of her older sisters was voice training in Italy with their grandmother, a former soprano, with two Italian opera companies. Both sisters experienced the war, but on two very different warfronts.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely! Both Caramina and Rosa are strong young women. Hanging out with them would, undoubtedly, be a fun and interesting time.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Caramina is a dreamer, a songbird, and idealistic. Rosa is sophisticated, determined, and resilient.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
In doing research for the book, I learned that my aunt, who voice-trained in Italy, spent time in a Nazi jail for being an enemy alien. It was a terrifying experience that still haunted her so many years later. I’d never heard anything about this before and was stunned to hear her tell this story.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
Though I mostly edit after I finish a draft, I sometimes go back into the manuscript and do a small amount of editing before finishing.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Pancit bihon, lumpia, arancini, and warm chocolate chip cookies with walnuts
Describe your writing space/office!
My office is a light-filled space with stacks and stacks of books for research and reading, along with some favorite things that inspire me, like old family photos, my mom’s artwork, seashells, driftwood, a vintage map of Rome, and a hand-sketched artist rendering of the Florentine Duomo that I got on a trip to Florence.
Who is an author you admire?
Kate Morton’s ability to invite readers into lush, mystery-laden settings with crumbling old English estates and gardens is incomparable. I’m always enthralled reading her novels, and I preorder them the moment they’re available for purchase.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water transformed the way I view creativity and writing. It’s a beautiful book, one I reread often.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I was in my car, running an errand, when I received the call from my agent. I was so excited that I had to pull over and park. It was thrilling to hear that after so many years of working on this manuscript, it was actually going to become a book. I was so excited and grateful, and still am.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Historical fiction
What’s your favorite movie?
Roman Holiday
What is your favorite season?
Without question, summer is my favorite season.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Since my birthday falls in the winter months, I love getting to escape with my family to warmer temperatures and the beach. Usually, we have a family dinner that ends with a celebratory birthday cake.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I recently watched BBC’s Three Musketeers series and really enjoyed it.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love both the Filipino and the Italian cuisines.
What do you do when you have free time?
I enjoy biking, reading, baking, spending time with my family, and taking in the beauty of Lake Michigan.
What can readers expect from you next?
I’m currently researching another family-inspired historical novel that will likely take place in several different countries. The research is a bit challenging, but I’m really enjoying it. I’m excited to dig into writing again.
Two sisters, separated by oceans and global conflict, are bonded through music and love in this gripping novel based on true events from World War II.
The year is 1941, and in the Philippines, Caramina Grassi dreams of training in Italy to become an opera singer like her older sister, Rosa. But as war erupts, her world is shattered, forcing her to cling to the music that has always been her refuge. When her family’s lives are threatened and they are forced to flee to the jungle, she comes to understand that music is more than comfort. It becomes a muse that fuels her courage, sacrifice, and unwavering focus on the light.
Meanwhile, in Florence, just as Rosa Grassi’s long-awaited opera debut arrives, Mussolini tightens his grip on Italy. Drawn into la Resistenza, the underground resistance, Rosa feels lost in a fog of deception that clouds everything she thought to be true. In a time when family or friend could be foe, Rosa will learn that performing isn’t just for the stage. Facing a devastating betrayal, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the one she loves.
Inspired by true events, In the Light of the Sun is an unforgettable story of sisterhood, hope, and the enduring power of music to uplift the human spirit—even in the darkest of times.
Historical [Waterbrook, On Sale: October 7, 2025, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593601938 / eISBN: 9780593601945]
Angela Shupe is an award-winning author whose essays and articles have appeared in several publications, along with featured short stories in various literary publications. Angela is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. Holding a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Detroit, Angela has worked as an editor for a publishing company and as a communications coordinator for a public school district. In the Light of the Sun is her debut novel.
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