Meg Hamand has had a heart for storytelling since her first poem was published in an anthology in elementary school. Since then, she’s been published in multiple print and online publications, and her debut novel is the award-winning Diamonds in Auschwitz, which simultaneously tells two stories of love, survival, and hope during World War II.

Meg joins me to talk about the challenges of working with dark and difficult topics, such as taking care of yourself and navigating the line between too much and too little for your readers; plotting historical fiction; and how to do historical research.

She also gives us a sneak peek into her next book, which is currently in progress.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 30 Bad Poems in 30 Days; introduction.

04:42 Meg shares why she loves historical fiction and early writing inspiration.

09:03 Meg describes the origins and themes of Diamonds in Auschwitz.

14:00 Discussion of Terezin, visiting Holocaust sites, and historical accuracy.

18:38 Meg explains researching Terezin, children's art, and real accounts.

23:05 Talking about the heaviness of the subject and book’s emotional impact.

27:03 Exploring character contrasts, children’s resilience, and trauma responses.

32:10 Meg outlines her plotting process, changes during writing, and research.

36:35 Importance of Prague’s setting as character, changes during revision.

42:46 Meg details her next book: Post-Revolutionary Charleston and Shakespeare.

47:26 How classic literature influenced new novel structure and motivation.

51:36 Advice for historical research, blending fiction, and traveling to locations.

Join me for 30 Bad Poems in 30 Days!

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.