No Leaves in Autumn by Terri Wangard

No Leaves in Autumn by Terri Wangard

What’s on your bucket list?

Where in the world would you like to go? Paris? Tahiti? Monaco? How about Iceland?

I like to set my World War II stories in unlikely places. Book One of my series, Seashells in My Pocket, is set in Brazil. Did you know Brazil played a role in the war? Brazil wasn’t completely foreign to me. I’d spent a day in Rio de Janeiro at the end of a South American cruise. Of course, the book was set farther north in Natal, but that’s beside the point.

 For Book Two, No Leaves in Autumn (which releases today!), Iceland won the honor. While researching my first series about B-17s based in England, I frequently found references to refueling stops in Iceland. Much more occurred there than the busy gas stations.

At the beginning of the war, Britain grabbed Iceland before the Germans got the idea, much to the Icelanders’ displeasure. When the English found themselves fighting for their lives all over the world, they plopped Iceland in the Americans’ lap.

The US Navy established bases in Iceland to provide air cover for merchant shipping traveling across the submarine-infested Atlantic. PBY seaplanes flew over the convoys, watching for subs. My main character, Stefan Dabrowski, is a PBY pilot.

The Icelanders were unhappy about the invaders and loathed to associate with the men. Morale plummeted among the servicemen stuck on the island with little to do but work.

Enter the Red Cross. A contingent of young women offered recreational activities. Among them is main character Marie Foubert, who worked with hospitalized wounded. While the women helped the men cope with life on military bases, Iceland has much more to offer.

What is the first thing you think of regarding Iceland? Land of the midnight sun in summer or, in winter, a land with no sun? Excellent views of the northern lights? Or how about the recent news―erupting volcanoes?

Iceland is a land of dramatic scenery, and I sent my characters on sightseeing opportunities. Geothermal pools, glaciers, lava fields, waterfalls, mountains, hot springs, black-sand beaches. Wildlife from puffins to whales. Ready to pack your bags?

I haven’t visited Iceland. The closest I came was flying from Europe back to the US. I caught a glimpse of land that more likely belonged to Greenland. All my knowledge came from travel books and DVDs, all of which were quite recent. A lot has changed since the war in the 1940s.

In the story, Stefan and Marie toured the Golden Circle, which includes the waterfall Gullfoss, the geothermal Geysir, and a historic national park. They also relaxed in the heated waters of the Blue Lagoon.

Jenny Erlingsson, author of Milk & Honey in the Land of Fire & Ice and Her Part to Play, served as a beta reader for me. She lived in Iceland for several years and informed me that the names “Golden Circle” and “Blue Lagoon” were not in use in the 40s. In the final version of No Leaves in Autumn, those places are generic.

A cousin visited Iceland years ago and brought back some horses. Strange souvenir? Icelandic horses are small, sturdy creatures known for their unique gait and strength. They arrived in Iceland with the first Norse Vikings one thousand years ago. They remain pure. No horses are allowed into Iceland and horses that leave are not welcome back.

Look through photos of Icelandic scenery and you will notice the lack of trees. There are none. The Vikings may have deforested the island to build houses and ships. Volcanic activity may have destroyed trees and covers the soil with lava and ash. Sheep contributed to soil erosion. The harsh weather and short growing season are factors. Today in Reykjavik, you will find trees. The Icelanders have been planting them.

The landscape of Iceland was especially of interest to Stefan, who in civilian life was a geologist. I had fun introducing him to Iceland’s jewel box of geological delights.

Have you visited Iceland? What made the biggest impression on you?

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her WWII research included going for a ride in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor. She also serves on the Genesis and First Impressions contest teams and as secretary of the Wisconsin Southeast chapter.

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