Forbidden - An Author Interview

Forbidden — Author Interview with Wilma WallLH: What led you to write this book and what type of
research did you have to undertake to write the
A war is on between two bitter and powerful enemystory?
nations. A brave young man, persecuted at timesWW: I was invited to submit a novella, consisting of
because of his ethnicity, steps forward to defend hisabout 125 pages, for a different publishing company. I
new homeland. A young woman finds herselfchose the World War II period because that generation
conflicted over her love for this soldier, due to the factis diminishing, and although many novels have been
that her own community objects to the war and fearswritten about pioneer days and the civil war, not as
those outside their own culture. Can the relationshipmuch is available about that era. I feel that younger
survive and prosper? Timely issues presentgenerations need to know what the atmosphere was
themselves in Forbidden (0825439477, Kregel, May 1,like in those days, the patriotism, the panic, the injustices
2004, paperback, 316 pages), a novel set amidst theand the prejudice.
backdrop of Central California during World War II. FirstThe company sent me a list of topics, and “a
time novelist Wilma Wall tells the tale of this inspirationalcontroversial romance” intrigued me. What could be
romance in the past, but imbues it with issues withmore controversial during WWII, I thought, than a
have great relevance in today’s modern world.romance between a Caucasian and a Japanese, with
LH: A special thank you to Wilma Wall, author of theour country at war with Japan? And to up the ante,
novel Forbidden, for this opportunity to interview youhow about making the Caucasian a Mennonite, who in
about your faith and writing! Wilma, I've read that youthose days were in a closed culture?
spent many years living in China. Please begin by tellingBeing Mennonite background myself, I knew that
our readers a bit about your background and yourculture; however, having roots in China I thought I could
family.also step back and view it a little more objectively. I
WW: I was born in South China to missionary parents,also am familiar with Japanese-Americans, having
and when civil war broke out in the area, we relocatedtaught many in my piano lessons. But I also did a great
north to an isolated village in Inner Mongolia, near thedeal of research on both subjects: read every relevant
Great Wall. Not having playmates my age, booksbook I could get my hands on, interviewed many
became my best friends, and I created a world ofpeople, scanned old newspapers at libraries, and
imaginary people.researched the internet. I studied maps of the
When we left China and settled in California’sinternment camps and joined the Japanese-American
central valley, I attended schools in the Reedley-DinubaCitizen’s League newsgroup online.
area through my junior year at Dinuba High School, andBy the time I’d learned to know my characters,
then went with my parents to Oklahoma where theyI’d fallen in love with the story and knew I
served at a Comanche Indian mission. There, mycouldn’t do justice to it in a short novelette. So
father died so after I graduated my mother and Iwhen it was finished I instead submitted it to a Christian
returned to Dinuba. I then attended Reedley Collegemanuscript service on the internet. Then I asked the
and Pacific Bible Institute (now Fresno PacificLord to take over, because I’d done all that I
University) where I met and married mycould. And about two weeks later, Kregel Publishing
roommate’s brother.Company picked it up.
We have three daughters, eight grandchildren and oneLH: Wilma, the relationship between Donald and Annie
great-grandchild. I taught piano in Madera, Hanford andis filled with so many tensions and trials, but their
Reedley for over forty years, and for seven years,common faith seems to be a strong bond between
taught pre-school at a day care center for migrantthem. How has your own faith impacted upon your
workers. I served as church pianist, organist, librarianwriting? Do you feel that people today also face
and Sunday School teacher, and wrote skits, pageantscultural struggles in their relationships? How can they
and puppet shows as well as co-edited a churchovercome these struggles?
newsletter.WW: When I started writing for publication, I wrote for
Now I spend my time writing, and volunteering at athe secular market, but although an agent was
church-based thrift shop where I manage the usedenthusiastic about my work, she couldn’t sell it. It
books department. I know the Lord put me there;wasn’t until I gave my writing to the Lord that it
whenever I need specific material for research,was accepted.
miraculously something turns up in the donationsPrejudice is still very common; many people who
brought to us.aren’t otherwise biased still hate to see their
LH: Wilma, I too live in the Central Valley of California,children marry out of their culture. I think it’s
so I enjoyed Forbidden so much because it felt like Imost important for a couple to have a common faith,
was reading about home! Would you please brieflyto agree on values and take pre-marital counseling. Not
summarize the plot of Forbidden for our readers?every relationship can survive the storms of criticism,
WW: College-educated Annie Penner is expected toprejudice and gossip. But I also firmly believe if people
become a dutiful Mennonite farm wife, but her love ofallow God to lead in their lives, and will follow his
music, literature and Bible discussion attracts theprecepts, He will help them weather through, and their
attention of pre-medical student Donald Nakamura.relationship or marriage will grow stronger and their
Their budding romance is cut short by war betweenspiritual life will blossom.
the United States and Japan, and the internment of allLH: I really enjoyed and became caught up in this story!
Japanese-Americans, including Donald and his family.Do you have any future books or writing projects in
Even their correspondence stops, and each thinks thethe works?
other has found new interests within their own culture.WW: I have just received word that Kregel
When the war ends and Donald returns, he and AnniePublications has accepted another of my novels, Jade
realize their love is stronger than ever. But medicalBracelet. It is set both in China and California’s
schools have rejected his applications, laws preventcentral valley and portrays a life-long conflict between
inter-racial marriage, and widespread prejudicea strict mother and her rebellious daughter, and how
threatens to destroy his family and their livelihood.the Lord brings about a reconciliation. The editor is also
Annie’s family is horrified at her association withlooking at another manuscript of mine, and I am
a “foreigner.” Donald’s father, pastor of acurrently working on a sequel to that one.
Baptist church, has a pretty Japanese girl picked outLH: Wilma Wall, author of Forbidden, thank you again
for him.for your time and participation in this interview. Are
Donald finds comfort in his beloved psalms and Anniethere any last thoughts or ideas you'd like to share
bolsters his faith. They are sure God has led themwith our readers?
together and trust Him to help them over the hurdles.WW: I would like to tell them not to get discouraged,
But how will they convince their families, and whatand when things go wrong, not to try to battle through
about the anti-miscegenation law?on their own. Take the problems to the Lord in prayer;
They learn that God answers prayers in unexpectedHe can and will show the way to go. Thank you and
ways and can do much more than they’dGod bless you.
hoped.