A Conversation with Leila Meacham

You are famous for your sweeping American sagas, ever since Roses splashed its way onto the bestseller lists. But for this fifth novel, you’ve taken your readers to a whole new world. What inspired you to tell this story now?

Unlike the subjects of my other novels that I feel I pluck from whatever goes by in the air, I believe I have always had in mind that if ever I were to write a novel, the gist would have something to do with WWII espionage. Spy stories for a while were my favorite genre to read for pleasure. I enjoyed reading about heroes and heroines, for that’s what folks are who elect to risk life and limb, painful treatment and death for the sake of a greater cause. It just took me longer to get around to doing it.

The five members of Dragonfly are immensely appealing, optimistic youngsters, fighting for their country. We expect them to be likable. Yet some of the most compelling characters in Dragonfly are the Germans themselves. Where did those characters come from?

Mainly my belief that the enemy is not always evil. The history of German resistance to Hitler’s rule bears me out on this, but regardless of the research that proves the premise, I would have created the major Germans in Dragonfly. How could there not be decent, moral human beings even in the military ranks of a foe who has given to the world so much to make it a better place? It was from that precept that I drew Major General March and Colonel Derrick Albrecht.

While the time and place are clearly deeply researched, I couldn’t help but wonder: is there any part of this story that is drawn from real life, a true story you might have heard?

I am afraid not. Imagination can introduce you to people you’ve never met or ever thought to know, as well as to sites and locations, events and situations you’ve never been or experienced. I find it often a thrilling place to visit.

What is your writing process like? Do you start out with a scene or a character or a situation and build out from there?