Seattle: Male and female stereotypes have always existed. World War II brought major changes to the status quo in America as necessity challenged traditional male/female roles and opportunities. Sarah Sundin delves into these dynamics in the second installment in her Waves of Freedom series, Anchor in the Storm (Revell/May 3, 2016/ISBN: 978-0800723439/$14.99). As the needs of a nation brought millions of women into the workforce, some for the first time, ladies were suddenly finding new strengths and facing new tests, including Lillian Avery.
For plucky Lillian, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston, and although her road isn't easy, she has high hopes for success. Her boss isn't thrilled about hiring a woman, and Lillian has a visible physical disability that causes some people to assume mistakenly she might be weak. Sundin drew from her own life for this aspect of Anchor in the Storm's plotline. "My oldest son was born missing his left arm below the elbow," she reveals. "He's never let it stop him. He's a mechanical engineer and a black belt in karate. I'm thankful he was born in modern times when we have more enlightened views of disabilities."
Tensions on the job are just the beginning of Lillian's difficulties. She also isn't thrilled about the attention she's receiving from society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg. Arch himself is surprised to find himself drawn to Lillian. He's typically skeptical of women; they're usually more interested in his money than him. The war has changed his life as well, as he hunts German U-boats along the East Coast on his destroyer. His efforts seem in vain as enemy submarines sink dozens of merchant ships. Sundin says this was a time when the war was truly brought home for Americans; in the first six months of 1942, thousands of merchant marines and passengers were killed with many deaths viewed by beach-going families along the shore.
Shaken by his battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves - and with acute drowsiness. Could there be a link between their maladies and the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? Arch and Lillian work together to find the answer, while Arch works to win Lillian's trust and affection.
Sundin truly brings World War II to life in Anchor in the Storm, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget. As always, Sundin had a Bible verse in mind as she wrote: Hebrews 6:18-19 (KJV), which says, "We might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast." Sundin hopes readers will learn along with Arch and Lillian to allow Christ to be their anchor no matter what shipwrecks they face in life.
Readers should also keep their eyes peeled for the third book in the Waves of Freedom series, When Tides Turn, which will release spring 2017.
Praise for Sarah Sundin
"The second installment of Sundin's Waves of Freedom is as intriguing and heartfelt as the first. The drama of the war on the decks of a Navy ship is balanced by adventure taking place on land. A sensitive yet fascinating look at combat fatigue, its facets and how it was treated at the time gives the novel depth. The relationship between plucky Lillian and world-weary Arch is detailed and engaging."
~ RT Book Reviews, 4 stars for Anchor in the Storm
"Readers will be struck by the thoughtfulness and care Sundin brings to every thread in this chilling story as they are swept up into exciting plot twists leading to a thrilling climax."
~ Booklist, starred review of Through Waters Deep
About the Author
Sarah Sundin is the author of The Wings of the Nightingale series and Wings of Glory series. Her novella "I'll Be Home for Christmas" in Where Treetops Glisten was a 2015 finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards. On Distant Shores was a finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Award from both the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and the Christian Authors Network (CAN). In 2011, Sundin received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Sundin's latest World War II series is Waves of Freedom with Through Waters Deep and Anchor in the Storm.
A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, Sundin works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy, and her great-uncle flew with the U.S. Eighth Air Force in England.
A mother of three, Sundin lives in California, where she teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. She also enjoys speaking for community and writers' groups.
Suggested interview questions
- Anchor in the Storm is the second release in your Waves of Freedom series, set in the romantic yet tumultuous World War II period. Tell us a little about this story and how the series ties together.
- Your book is set around the WWII U-boat war off the US East Coast, which some readers may not be familiar with. What was most interesting to you about that historical moment?
- Why did you decide to give your heroine, Lillian Avery, a visible physical disability? In what ways would her life have been more challenging in 1942 than today?
- Lillian struggles to open her heart to God and to others because of past hurts, but a friendship helps her mature in this area. How have friendships with women impacted your own spiritual and emotional growth?
- Job opportunities exploded for women in the 1940s because of the draft. What were some of the positive and negative aspects of this explosion? Would Lillian have been able to find a job as a pharmacist in that day otherwise?
- Lillian's boss wasn't thrilled with the idea of hiring a woman, let alone one with a disability. Have you ever faced challenging relationships on the job? How did you handle those situations?
- How easy is it for women to find too much security or identity in their career?
- Your leading man, Archer Vandenberg, suffers from combat fatigue, or what we now call post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How was PTSD viewed and treated during World War II versus today?
- Have you ever struggled with judging people and lumping them into categories like some of your main characters do in Anchor in the Storm?
- What are some of the life lessons you hope soak into your readers' hearts while they're enjoying Anchor in the Storm?
- What are a few of your favorite go-to resources for World War II history information?
- What do you have planned for the third installment in the Waves of Freedom series?
Sarah Sundin is available for interviews to promote the release of Anchor in the Storm. To request a review copy, schedule an interview or for more information, please contact Audra Jennings, audra@litfusegroup.com.
