What came more easily was the development of the characters. I enjoyed them. I liked them. I knew how I wanted them to be. And, before I started putting words on paper, I knew how I wanted the story to end, something I consider essential to any writing project.
Ralph Webster – 15 February 2021
The Back Flap
Surviving two wars, sharing one husband, searching for answers.
A hidden compartment in a black lacquer cabinet left in an attic reveals the secrets of two incredible women: Hilda, born and raised in one of the wealthiest Jewish families in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, and Katie, whose early life in Germany is marked by tragedy and death. Their lives are forever entwined by their love of the same man, the brilliant and compassionate Dr. Josef Samson.
From the earliest, rough-and-tumble days of San Francisco, through the devastation of the Great War in Berlin and the terrors of Vichy France, and then to a new yet uncertain life in New York City, their stories span the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century. In the end, one of these women will complete the life of the other and make a startling discovery about the husband they share.
Award winning author Ralph Webster received worldwide acclaim for his first book, A Smile in One Eye: A Tear in the Other, which tells the story of his father’s flight from the Holocaust. Voted a Goodreads 2016 Choice Awards Nominee for Best Memoir/Autobiography, A Smile in One Eye: A Tear in the Other, his second book, One More Moon, and now his third book, The Other Mrs. Samson, are proven book club selections for thought-provoking and engaging discussions.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Other Mrs. Samson tells the story of three people – Hilda, born in 1884 and raised in a wealthy San Francisco family; Katie, a German girl born twenty-five years later; and Dr. Josef Samson, a Berlin Jew, whom they both loved and married. This is their story of privilege, struggle, survival, escape, and, most of all, love.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing The Other Mrs. Samson in early March of 2020, just as the pandemic was becoming known and people were encouraged to stay at home. For me it was the perfect project – an excuse to stay hunkered down and out of harm’s way.
How long did it take you to write it?
The easy answer is to tell you my age. I’m sixty-nine years old. It took me that long to understand the story and to find the words and expressions to tell it. Then I spent about seven months at my desk writing the book.
Where did you get the idea from?
From the people I know, the stories I heard, and from a small black lacquered antique cabinet in the attic. It had been buried in a corner for nearly fifteen years when I rediscovered it one day. I knew where it came from and why we had it, but knew little about its journey or the secrets it would lead me to find. That’s when I found the missing clues to questions I have been trying to answer for years.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Absolutely. I always struggle, not only with my writing, but with the question of whether I am sharing a story far too personal, telling secrets, and invading the privacy of others. The entire time I was writing this was a continuing concern. The Other Mrs. Samson is my third book and I struggle more each time. I struggle with the plot, how to make things fit, and how to make the story believable. I struggle with the weeds. They are a very comfortable place and I often get lost there as I search to the end of the internet. I struggle with words and sentences and paragraphs and commas. And, there are days when I fiddle with one particular word or sentence for hours only to tap the delete key the following morning. For me, writing is a joy-filled struggle, a labor of love, like trying to paint a picture without using brushes.
What came easily?
First, it really helped that I knew what I was getting into, that I had done this before. I knew how intense a process it is to write a book, the challenge to finish what I start, to put in the time, to make the commitment. I was ready for the sleepless nights, the thousands of little thoughts that would reside somewhere in my brain and couldn’t be forgotten. What came more easily was the development of the characters. I enjoyed them. I liked them. I knew how I wanted them to be. And, before I started putting words on paper, I knew how I wanted the story to end, something I consider essential to any writing project. When you know where you are going, it is easier to get there. My wife, Ginger, was an enormous help. She was my sounding board, talking things through when I was stuck.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Hilda, Katie, and Josef are all real. We knew Katie quite well, although a wall of privacy always surrounded her. I had to dig to learn about the others. And, of course, I was left to my own imagination to portray the personalities. I want the reader to relate to the character, to see themselves being part of the story.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
I believe I do but that’s a difficult question because it is unfair to make generalized assumptions about readers. Each is unique in one way or another. I would hate to leave someone out because, as a reader, I’m pretty eclectic. Often I don’t know what I like until I try it. But, having said that, I think the readers who will enjoy the book best will be those who enjoy twentieth century historical fiction, 1850’s through World War II, perhaps women more than men. The Other Mrs. Samson is certainly not a romance novel nor is it a war story. I would argue that it is a memorable love story. And the thing about love, as most of us know, is that it can be complicated. I think that makes this book curious, compelling, and emotional.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
There is no doubt that I take my craft more seriously each time, like it will be the last chance I will have to do this. So I strive to improve my writing. With this book I spent more time doing the research before I started and paid more attention to details and facts. I tried to choose my words more carefully. Reviewer comments about my other books have helped make me a better writer. I have learned how important it is to create the best reader experience, to keep the cadence and rhythm of the sentences pleasant to digest. Books should be about the reader, not the writer. Of course the pandemic certainly helped. It was easier to devote time to the project. My other interests didn’t interfere quite so much.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
I think I learned more about myself this time. Whether vocation or avocation, writing a book is a pretty lonely thing to do, a very intense personal commitment. So that begs the question, to what end? Do I write to satisfy myself or to satisfy the reader? Each book has taught me more about the answer. For an author like me, I continue to learn how to communicate better, to choose the words that enable the reader to see the story I see, and how to find the ways to get more of my books into the hands of a larger audience. I want readers to enjoy what I write. When all is said and done, isn’t that really the point in telling a story?
For further information, readers may contact me through my website. I always enjoy the conversation.
End of Interview:
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