Q&A With Wendy Holden 

To not be confused with British author Wendy Holden who wrote chick-lit and a few novels about some of the British royals, (and who I also interviewed) I’m doing a Q&A with American author, Wendy Holden. Wendy is a novelist and the author of several works of nonfiction, some of them are, The Teacher of Auschwitz, Born Survivors & her upcoming release who she co-authored with Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography! 

Q: Welcome to Book Notions Wendy! Would you please give a brief description of some of your books starting with your new release Audrey: An Authorized Biography? 

A: Thanks for having me. Intimate Audrey is the first ever authorized biography of Audrey Hepburn. I wrote it with her son Sean, and it was a delight to dig deeper into the life and times of such a beloved woman. Sean and I have been humbled by the response to our book already and look forward to hearing from those who haven’t had a chance to read theirs yet.

In my 30-year publishing career, I have specialized in writing about people who stand out or step up in some way to make the world a better place. My focus has been on WWII and those whose light was a beacon in the darkness.

My latest novel is The Teacher of Auschwitz, inspired by an incredible true story of a young gay man who created a haven in the shadow of the smokestacks, and my previous bestseller was Born Survivors, now published in 26 countries and featured recently in a 60 Minutes episode. I have also written the memoirs of people like Goldie Hawn, Patricia Gucci, Barbara Sinatra, and Cher – women who came from ordinary and often difficult backgrounds, like Audrey, and really made something of their lives.

Q: As a nonfiction author, how do you choose who or what to write about? 

A: I write both fiction and non-fiction, but as a former national newspaper journalist and war correspondent, non-fiction comes more naturally to me. Many of the stories find me, either by chance or through literary agents or publishing houses, but I have happened upon a few such as the story behind Born Survivors, which sparked my interest after reading an obituary of a woman whose baby was murdered in Auschwitz. 

My first novel, The Sense of Paper, came from knowing an artist who was so passionate about the paper JMW Turner used that he remortgaged his house to buy the last known supply of it. That set me on a path to write a novel about obsession and passion featuring a former war correspondent.

Q: How long does it take you to research and write nonfiction? What wisdom do you have for anyone wanting to write nonfiction? 

A. Non-fiction historical books take a minimum of a year to research and write, and often twice that time. It is a major commitment and involves a lot of travelling and reading to corroborate facts. I spend a lot of time in museums and online and often find myself so immersed in the story that it takes over my life for that period. As soon as I write ‘The End’ I start partying!

For anyone drawn to writing non-fiction, then try to get some sort of structure plan down first and then start to flesh it out, bit by bit. I teach creative writing, so I know how many writers feel intimidated by the process and often get stuck about a third of the way in. My advice is to step away for a while, do or write something else, and then come back to it with a fresh eye. This will give you new impetus.

Q: You spent over 18 years in journalism which I think is amazing! What was that experience like? Would you say your journalism career was what helped with you writing nonfiction and would you ever return to the world of journalism?

A: I was a foreign and war correspondent for the Daily Telegraph of London and travelled all over the world, especially in the Middle East. I have no regrets about those years and am grateful that they have informed my writing ever since, especially about war. But some of what I saw gave me a mild form of PTSD so, although I write occasional features and articles relating to my books, I wouldn’t willingly return to a war zone. Nor would my husband let me!

Q: What was it like co-authoring Intimate Audrey with Audrey Hepburn’s son Sean? What was the writing process like and what is your advice for anyone wanting to co-author a book with someone else? 

A: I have collaborated with many people over the years and, truly, Sean was one of the nicest and most amenable. He chose me for this book because of my war background – as Audrey’s life began and ended with war – and our working relationship was symbiotic from the start. I spent time with him at his home in Madrid and spoke to him almost daily. I also met up with him in Florence and can honestly say that I am now proud to call him my friend.

I know from experience that co-authoring can be fraught with difficulties, and that no matter how much you think you can get along with someone on first meeting them, things can go wrong as the process develops, and their ego gets in the way. Your interpretation of their story might be different to theirs, so you have to be flexible and make compromises. My husband says I could be a top diplomat for all I have put up with!

Q: Can you discuss the next book you are currently researching and writing right now or is it too early to discuss it?

A: I am working on another incredible Holocaust survivor story that came to me via a lady who approached me at a book signing in Massachusetts. The 96-year-old gentleman is a sweetheart with a twinkle in his eye, so it is a delight to work with him and create his legacy in writing. That book should be finished by the Fall and then I shall return to a WWII novel I have half-written set in the Far East. Oh, and I’m writing a screenplay but can’t say any more about that yet.

Q: Would you please provide your social media links? The readers of the blog and I want to follow you and your work! 

A: On Instagram and Threads I am @wendyholdenbestsellingauthor (to distinguish me from the other WH) and on TikTok I am Wendy Holden Author. I also have separate TikTok pages for Born Survivors and The Teacher of Auschwitz.