Happy Friday! Today I am spotlighting a 1940s-era novel based on a Russian fairytale. Sound intriguing? I think so too! I haven’t read To Love A Falcon by Nancy C. Williams . . . yet. Let me know if you have and what you thought.
Here’s the first line:
Mikhail paced along the packed gray sand at the beachfront, scanning the harbor for the tender, a small boat that would return him to his ship.
When life already seems bleak, the Russians send her deeper into Siberia.
Aircraft mechanic Katya Morozov longs for her beloved Mikhail, a Russian naval officer, to return from war. But when an unwanted work assignment takes her far from her home into remote Siberia, Katya faces threats—perhaps because she and her father were engaged in covert protection for persecuted Christians.
A chance encounter with charming test pilot, Yuri Sokolov, turns into more than a passing acquaintance…igniting the flames of a conflict between Katya’s faithfulness to Mikhail and her growing attraction to the enigmatic pilot. Will messages from a mysterious woman in the woods give her the wisdom and strength she needs?
Yuri, who has hidden battles of his own, must likewise make a decision—does he follow his dreams or pursue the lovely mechanic who has captured his heart?
To Love a Falcon, a retelling of the Russian fairy tale “Finist the Falcon,” takes readers into the intrigues of Russian operatives, the stark landscape of Siberian winters, and the courage of those who risk death for faith and love.
Genre: Christian Historical Mystery, Fairytale retelling
Release Date: November 7, 2023
When life already seems bleak, the Russians send her to Siberia.
Aircraft mechanic Katya Morozov longs for her beloved Mikhail, a Russian naval officer, to return from war. But when an unwanted work assignment takes her far from her home into remote Siberia, Katya faces threats—perhaps because she and her father were engaged in covert protection for persecuted Christians.
A chance encounter with charming test pilot, Yuri Sokolov, turns into more than a passing acquaintance…igniting the flames of a conflict between Katya’s faithfulness to Mikhail and her growing attraction to the enigmatic pilot. Will messages from a mysterious woman in the woods give her the wisdom and strength she needs?
Yuri, who has hidden battles of his own, must likewise make a decision—does he follow his dreams or pursue the lovely mechanic who has captured his heart?
To Love a Falcon, a retelling of the Russian fairy tale “Finist the Falcon,” takes readers into the intrigues of Russian operatives, the stark landscape of Siberian winters, and the courage of those who risk death for faith and love.
Nancy C. Williams grew up on “Nancy Drew” books…and occasionally still tells people her middle name is “Drew,” just to get their reaction. Following in the steps of the intrepid sleuth, Williams is an adventure enthusiast who loves hiking, snow-skiing, taking photos, sharing a good laugh, and enjoying a good mystery. She’s a history buff, too, with an affinity for antiques and fascinating stories from the past. Her writing career began with five years in the “Mad Men” world of ad agencies, crafting ads and commercials for ceiling fans, soft drinks, and pest control, among others. Then, during nearly a decade of editorial work at Federal Express headquarters, Williams traveled the globe (often in FedEx jet cockpits) and collected memories of international cultures. She also taught PR at a Christian college for a decade, sharing strategies and practices to the next generation of professionals. These days, blogs and novels are at the top of her “fun stuff to-do” list. She’s serious, though, about serving Jesus Christ…as a prayer warrior and writing for God’s glory, striving to encourage others on their spiritual journeys. When she’s not writing, look for her on the Appalachian Mountain trails with her beloved husband and mini-schnauzer.
More from Nancy
Want to know more about the real-life murder of a Russian naval officer…during a top-secret World War II mission? It’s a fascinating story that sparks even more questions, such as, what if the slain officer had a fiancée back home who didn’t know he was killed?
“To Love a Falcon” is a historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of life in post-WWII Siberia, the persecution of Christians by an anti-religious régime, and the plight of loved ones left at home who waited for lost soldiers. There’s a dash of suspense, romance, and fairy-tale lore thrown into the mix, too!
My father-in-law, who served in the U.S. SeaBees for the top-secret mission, had shared some of the details about the murder…and, I knew an old Russian fairy tale called “Finist the Falcon” that would serve as the perfect template for telling his story. I have my own personal story from Siberia (my husband and I adopted our son from there in 1999), but I learned many more interesting facts during research about this mysterious, challenging place—still largely uninhabited to this day. Our son, who is now a pilot, also helped tremendously in delving into the MiG-9, the first jet-powered fighter aircraft developed in Russia.
I hope you’ll join me on this adventure into the risks of untested flight…the murderous threats of anti-religion zealots…the relationship between a plucky female aircraft mechanic and a charming test pilot…and the possibilities of love and forgiveness in a snowy wilderness. Maybe you’ll fall in love with Siberia, too!
Q & A with Nancy C. Williams
Many authors say that they have always been a writer — making up stories as a child. When did you first become a writer?
My grandmother was an avid storyteller. I grew up hearing her tales about the Depression years in Appalachia…and learned to love storytelling. In first grade, when I began forming letters and words into sentences, our teacher (Mrs. Hughes) had us write down complete stories. She gave us the liberty to use our imaginations. Even now, I find that to be a remarkable assignment! I’ve been a professional business writer for more than 40 years, but nowadays I write mostly for the sheer fun of it and for the blessing of seeing my work enjoyed by others.
Why did you choose the historical fiction genre?
I wound up majoring in history in my undergrad studies, even though I didn’t like it in high school. I found myself drawn to it, however, when I pored over every Saturday Evening Post magazine published in 1943 to write my history thesis on war-related advertisements. That college paper launched my career as an advertising copywriter and corporate editor, and my experience in historical research frequently came in handy. The same techniques apply to historical fiction, so it’s been an easy fit for me. I especially love to dig into ways that everyday life changes during crisis periods—prompting dangers that can be used in writing a mystery.
Can you tell us a little about what inspired your latest novel?
My novel begins with a story told by my father-in-law, Arnold, about a real-life “murder” that happened during his tour of duty with the SeaBees during World War II. Arnold was stationed in Alaska for a top-secret mission, involving a transfer of ships from the United States to Russia in the waning months of the war. He befriended a Russian naval officer who died mysteriously, possibly martyred for his faith. Arnold’s account sparked some “what-if” questions for a mystery, such as, what if the officer had left behind a fiancée who didn’t know he was killed? The second inspiration for this novel is my personal interest in Siberia—we adopted our son, Alex, from there in 1999. Siberia is such a beautiful, mysterious place, still largely uninhabited. I’ve enjoyed reading Russian fairy tales and learning about the country’s culture ever since I studied the Russian language and history in college.
What do you want your readers to take away with them after finishing one of your novels?
A key theme for the novel is forgiveness—especially when forgiveness is brutally difficult. I struggled with this issue myself while writing the book. There were so many atrocities committed during World War II, particularly in persecution of Jews and Christians, and I know it would be far beyond my own power to forgive someone for hurting a beloved family member. Only Jesus gives us strength enough to grant that depth of mercy. My hope is that readers would see how Christ’s forgiveness brings blessings to those who forgive.
Readers always want to know what is next for an author. Do you have any works in progress you can share about?
I would enjoy writing a time-slip novel about my hometown, Johnson City, Tennessee. We have an interesting history from the early 1900s, when Prohibition was in effect and moonshining was rampant. Did gangsters come through our region on the trains, looking for opportunities to stock their urban speakeasies? There are rumors of such…and that’s all I need for a good mystery! Of course, there’ll be more to the story—I’ll add some suspense, romance, and a few unexpected twists!
Readers can find out more about my current novel, To Love a Falcon, through Celebrate Lit Publishing’s website (http://www.celebratelitpublishing.com/posts/book/to-love-a-falcon/) or by going to Amazon where it’s available on Kindle and in paperback. Readers can also follow my blog and news at my Lightbourne Creative website,https://lightbournecreative.com–I publish a weekly devotion blog to encourage other Christians in their daily life.
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