With the successful release of ‘The Girl from Munich’ in September, I turned my focus once again to the sequel. I’ve been busily writing away and researching mid twentieth century Australia. I’ve been discovering so much about the migrant experience of the 1950s and 60s, delving into the communist threat of the Cold War and ‘Reds under the Beds’, investigating the Labour Movement and Peace Movement and discovering the role of Australians in the Vietnam War. Australian politics was also intriguing especially as we move to the early to mid-1970s. It’s a fascinating period to study, a lot more involved than I realised. I particularly love looking at the social changes, the role of women at that time and the gorgeous and sometimes outlandish styles in clothing, architecture and interior design. I can’t wait to weave all the incredible historical facts and information into Lotte’s story. Best of all, the wonderful treasure chest of my grandmother’s keepsakes has left clues to her and my grandfather’s experience in coming to Australia and the life that they forged for themselves here. It was anything but simple. I hope that it will enrichen the story with an authentic perspective and help to make it a fascinating read. I’ll keep you updated with my progress in the New Year.
Here’s a little overview.
Lotte and her family arrive in Australia as immigrants in 1956. They have come through the chaotic and difficult post war years in Germany. Work prospects for Lotte’s husband beckons them here at a time when Australia is in an economic boom. It is the land of ‘milk and honey’, where they can give their children the future they have always wanted for them. They hope to extend their family and live the Australian Dream, to finally have a home of their own. But their hopes and plans are not realised in the way that they expect and they struggle to find their place in a country they now call home.
Just finished reading your book, Loved it. Cant wait for the sequel
Thanks Marissa. Glad you enjoyed it! The sequel is well underway and should be out towards the end of the year.
Dear Tania,
I picked up a copy of your book at Robinsons Bookshop after it’s arresting cover caught my eye on the shelf. I was shopping for some good stories to keep me engaged whilst hospitalised and during my current recuperation period where I’m not able to do a great deal but read. The Girl from Munich was just what I was looking for! I read it in two days, battling the pain killers that made me sleepy because I wanted to find out what happened just over the page… just to the end of the chapter… just to the next chapter. I read a lot of fiction and non fiction books about women on the home front set during the Second World War in both England and Germany, but most of the latter is set in Berlin. It was lovely to have a change of scenery, and to have as engaging a character as Lottie. To see her transform from the naive cossetted girl to a more worldly woman in post-war Germany was just wonderful. I really look forward to her immigrant experiences in conservative 1950s Australia, which no doubt will come as a great shock to the Girl from Munich!
Hi Jesse,
Thanks for your lovely message. I hope you are well now. The cover is gorgeous, I agree. I couldn’t believe how perfect it was when I saw it! I’m really glad that you enjoyed ‘The Girl from Munich’. It certainly offers a different perspective on the war. I have to say it’s always wonderful to hear someone say how engrossed they were with the story. I don’t think it gets any better for a writer! I’m currently working on the sequel and I’m pleased to say that it will be available later this year. I’ll be announcing more details including the title shortly! All the very best. Tania
My Oma and your Oma have very similar stories, as did everyone in Germany at that time I suppose. As a result I couldn’t put your book down. The difference being that my Oma and Opa never left Germany and I’m glad they didn’t, they’re too German to cope here ha ha. During the war my Oma met a soldier at a dance and wrote her address on a cigarette box for him but he threw it away, another man found it and contacted her. Shortly afterwards they were engaged but sadly he passed away in the war effort. Then Stettin was bombed and her family had to dig from one bomb shelter to another just to get out. The Soviet forces were coming so they fled to Lubeck and lived in a bunker. It was there at another dance that Oma met my Opa. He was in the Luftwaffe and had surrendered on the Eastern front. He became an English POW and when the war ended he walked all the way from France back home. They applied for government war housing that was being built to replace everything that had been bombed and lived there happily growing their own vegetables and rabbits to survive. They were together for 60 something years in that house until Opa got dementia. Oma is now 96 and lives in an old peoples home around the corner from there. She still is so strong yet intuitive. Thank you for sharing and I can’t wait for the next book xx
Hi Emma. Thank you so much for your lovely message. I’m so glad you enjoyed The Girl from Munich. I’m sure you’re right that there are many similar stories out there. I really love your Oma’s beautiful story and I’m glad that you have had the chance to know it. I think many people don’t know the stories of their grandparents and they lived in such difficult times wherever they came from and often did amazing things. Thank you so much for sharing it with me, it brought a tear to my eye and a big smile to my face.
I still really miss my Oma, she was 91 when she died, but hearing other stories like yours makes me pleased that their stories are being heard and remembered. Maybe you could write about your grandmother’s story so it’s not forgotten by generations to come. We certainly could learn a lot from their resilience and courage. I hope you get more time with your Oma, 96 is an amazing age!
Book 2 is about my grandparents immigrating to Australia. I’m busy working on it now and it’ll be released later this year. Sometimes I wonder what their lives would have been like if they’d stayed in Germany like your grandparents. Who knows?! Thank you again for sharing your story. I’ll smile whenever I think of it!
All the very best. Tania
I’m just lucky that Oma has lived long enough to tell me all of her stories. It does make our lives seem dull in comparison, although they were hard times the possibilities were almost endless.
Oma still has a photo of her first love on her dresser, it made a sneaky appearance a few years after Opa passed away.
Thank you for bringing the magic back to her story and helping me realise just how strong she was to get through what she did, when you’ve been hearing the same stories your whole life you tend to not hear them properly.
I do really wonder how my grandparents would have coped out here so I’m interested to hear your grandparents experience, I can only imagine how hard it would have been.
All the best to you too. Emma
Hi Emma, Amazing what we find out from our grandparents! Sometimes its easy to forget that they were young. Really happy you’ve got that wonderful legacy too. Hope you enjoy the next chapter of Lotte’s life here in Australia. Tania
I really enjoyed reading your book and I got so involved I had to admit. I had a tear in my eye too . . She was a great character and she tried to please everyone . Look forward to the sequel Regards. CLEM
Hi Clem. Thanks for your message. I’m so glad that you enjoyed ‘The Girl from Munich’. The sequel is on its way! Should hit the shelves in November. All the best, Tania
Hi Tania, seen ur book in Kmart ,I contacted the library they had a copy , I couldn’t wait to read it after a wk finally finished the book looking forward to the sequel cheers Margaret can u send a email went the next book is released plse
Hi Margaret, Thank you for your lovely message. I’m delighted that your library had a copy of The Girl from Munich and that you enjoyed it so much. The next book will be released in November. I will be announcing the date of release closer to the time and will have a title and cover to share very soon! Certainly I will let you know. All the best, Tania
Hi Margaret, Just to let you know that Suitcase of Dreams will be released on November 1. All the best, Tania
just finished reading
The Girl From Munich really enjoyed it,will be looking to enjoy reading the sequel.
Hi Lynette, So glad you enjoyed The Girl from Munich. Suitcase of Dreams will be available from November 1 and I hope you enjoy it just as much. All the best, Tania
Hello I have just finished this beautiful book – I feel made some good friends through reading this and I was very lucky to have shared their experiences through this book. So, looking forward to more stories and experiences when I start reading the sequel
Thanking You for such a good read so so enjoyable.
All the Best
Belinda
Hi Belinda, Thank you for your message and kind words. I’m very glad that you enjoyed The Girl from Munich and that you found you could relate to the characters. I have to say that I found it very hard to say goodbye to them after writing Suitcase of Dreams! It was a real privilege to share my grandmother’s story and some of her experiences during the war and after. I hope you enjoy Suitcase of Dreams just as much.
All the best,
Tania