Novelist's Premier Offering Reflects Faith Amidst 'Controversial' WWII Romance
by Lisa M. Hendey
October 19, 2004
(AgapePress) - A war is on between two bitter and powerful enemy nations. A brave young man, persecuted at times because of his ethnicity, steps forward to defend his new homeland. A young woman finds herself conflicted over her love for this soldier, due to the fact that her own community objects to the war and fears those outside their own culture. Can the relationship survive and prosper?Timely issues present themselves in Forbidden (Kregel, 2004), a novel set amidst the backdrop of Central California during World War II. First-time novelist Wilma Wall tells the tale of this inspirational romance in the past, but imbues it with issues which have great relevance in today's modern world.
Q: A special thank you to Wilma Wall, author of the novel Forbidden, for this opportunity to interview you about your faith and writing. Wilma, I've read that you spent many years living in China. Please begin by telling a bit about your background and your family.
A: I was born in South China to missionary parents, and when civil war broke out in the area, we relocated north to an isolated village in Inner Mongolia, near the Great Wall. Not having playmates my age, books became my best friends, and I created a world of imaginary people.
When we left China and settled in California's Central Valley, I attended schools in the Reedley-Dinuba area through my junior year at Dinuba High School, and then went with my parents to Oklahoma where they served at a Comanche Indian mission. There, my father died, so after I graduated my mother and I returned to Dinuba. I then attended Reedley College and Pacific Bible Institute (now Fresno Pacific University) where I met and married my roommate's brother.
We have three daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I taught piano in Madera, Hanford and Reedley for over 40 years, and for seven years taught pre-school at a day care center for migrant workers. I served as church pianist, organist, librarian and Sunday School teacher, and wrote skits, pageants and puppet shows as well as co-edited a church newsletter.
Now I spend my time writing, and volunteering at a church-based thrift shop where I manage the used books department. I know the Lord put me there; whenever I need specific material for research, miraculously something turns up in the donations brought to us.
Q: Wilma, I too live in the Central Valley of California, so I enjoyed Forbidden so much because it felt like I was reading about home. Would you please briefly summarize the plot of Forbidden?
A: College-educated Annie Penner is expected to become a dutiful Mennonite farm wife, but her love of music, literature and Bible discussion attracts the attention of pre-medical student Donald Nakamura. Their budding romance is cut short by war between the United States and Japan, and the internment of all Japanese-Americans, including Donald and his family. Even their correspondence stops, and each thinks the other has found new interests within their own culture.
When the war ends and Donald returns, he and Annie realize their love is stronger than ever. But medical schools have rejected his applications, laws prevent inter-racial marriage, and widespread prejudice threatens to destroy his family and their livelihood. Annie's family is horrified at her association with a "foreigner." Donald's father, pastor of a Baptist church, has a pretty Japanese girl picked out for him.
Donald finds comfort in his beloved psalms and Annie bolsters his faith. They are sure God has led them together and trust Him to help them over the hurdles. But how will they convince their families, and what about the anti-miscegenation law?
They learn that God answers prayers in unexpected ways and can do much more than they'd hoped.
Q: What led you to write this book, and what type of research did you have to undertake to write the story?
A: I was invited to submit a novella, consisting of about 125 pages, for a different publishing company. I chose the World War II period because that generation is diminishing, and although many novels have been written about pioneer days and the civil war, not as much is available about that era. I feel that younger generations need to know what the atmosphere was like in those days, the patriotism, the panic, the injustices and the prejudice.
The company sent me a list of topics, and "a controversial romance" intrigued me. What could be more controversial during WWII, I thought, than a romance between a Caucasian and a Japanese, with our country at war with Japan? And to up the ante, how about making the Caucasian a Mennonite, who in those days were in a closed culture?
Being Mennonite background myself, I knew that culture; however, having roots in China I thought I could also step back and view it a little more objectively. I also am familiar with Japanese-Americans, having taught many in my piano lessons. But I also did a great deal of research on both subjects: read every relevant book I could get my hands on, interviewed many people, scanned old newspapers at libraries, and researched the Internet. I studied maps of the internment camps and joined the Japanese-American Citizen's League newsgroup online.
By the time I'd learned to know my characters, I'd fallen in love with the story and knew I couldn't do justice to it in a short novelette. So when it was finished I instead submitted it to a Christian manuscript service on the Internet. Then I asked the Lord to take over, because I'd done all that I could. And about two weeks later, Kregel Publishing Company picked it up.
Q: Wilma, the relationship between Donald and Annie is filled with so many tensions and trials, but their common faith seems to be a strong bond between them. How has your own faith impacted upon your writing? Do you feel that people today also face cultural struggles in their relationships? How can they overcome these struggles?
A: When I started writing for publication, I wrote for the secular market, but although an agent was enthusiastic about my work, she couldn't sell it. It wasn't until I gave my writing to the Lord that it was accepted.
Prejudice is still very common; many people who aren't otherwise biased still hate to see their children marry out of their culture. I think it's most important for a couple to have a common faith, to agree on values and take pre-marital counseling. Not every relationship can survive the storms of criticism, prejudice and gossip. But I also firmly believe if people allow God to lead in their lives, and will follow His precepts, He will help them weather through, and their relationship or marriage will grow stronger and their spiritual life will blossom.
Q: I really enjoyed and became caught up in this story. Do you have any future books or writing projects in the works?
A: I have just received word that Kregel Publications has accepted another of my novels, Jade Bracelet. It is set both in China and California's Central Valley and portrays a life-long conflict between a strict mother and her rebellious daughter, and how the Lord brings about a reconciliation. The editor is also looking at another manuscript of mine, and I am currently working on a sequel to that one.
Q: Wilma, thank you again for your time and participation in this interview. Are there any last thoughts or ideas you'd like to share with our readers?
A: I would like to tell them not to get discouraged, and when things go wrong, not to try to battle through on their own. Take the problems to the Lord in prayer; He can and will show the way to go. Thank you and God bless you.
Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous websites, including DigitalCropper.com, ChristianColoring.com, CatholicMom.com -- and an avid reader. AgapePress gratefully acknowledges her contribution of this interview.
