12 Questions for a Writer: Nina Willner

Nina Willner was a US Army officer before working worldwide promoting human rights, children’s causes, and the rule of law. Now she writes narrative non-fiction from her home in Washington, DC.

1. Who are you, what have you written, and why?

Thanks for inviting me to share my story with you. I’m Nina Willner, a US Army veteran, a former captain. After a career in intelligence, I lived in Moscow, Minsk, Prague, Ottawa, and Istanbul, working for the US Government and non-profits. Now I write narrative nonfiction books-- true stories set in the context of history that I hope both inform and touch the reader.

My latest book The Boys in the Light is the true story about my father, Eddie Willner, a teenage Jewish Auschwitz survivor who escaped from a death march with his best friend, Mike, and their meetup with a frontline American tank unit in the 3rd Armored Division, boys not much older than teenagers themselves, who found the two emaciated boys in the woods, took them into the unit and went right back into combat. It’s a coming-of-age story about boys saving boys, about the best and worst of humanity, and about the triumph of good over evil.

2. Writing is a solitary pursuit, perhaps even more in an effort that takes as much research as “The Boys in The Light.” I imagine you were fueled by your personal connection to the story, but what is it that compels you to write?

There are so many stories out there that deserve to be told, that can teach and inspire us about the human condition, human connection, and about man’s better nature pitted against the forces of destruction. This book was part tribute and part crusade to reflect on what we value and what anchors our soul. It’s a reminder of what the power of hate can do, what my father and millions like him went through. And it’s a big shout-out to those fine Americans, ordinary young men and women from all corners of the country, who united in purpose, stepped up, took charge, saved the day, and saved the world.

Meeting the veterans who aided my father in the war, guys like “Pepsi” DeCola, “Baby Face” Vance, and “Redhead Fred” Headrick, was one of the greatest honors of my life. And the more I got to know them, I realized I had a compelling story filled with interesting twists and unexpected turns, that needed to be told.

3. Tell us about the process you undertook to write “The Boys in The Light.”

Lots of research. A deep dive into archives, a step-by-step retracing of all the places in the book, and interviews of the main characters and many others who could shed light on what happened.

4. You grew up with this story. What did you learn in writing this specific book, and what surprised you?

One thing that surprised me was that even though the 1930s in America were a time of acute economic hardship, it was also a time of great ingenuity, innovation, and promise. It was a decade that calloused America and toughened her up, but also inspired her to new heights, just in time to meet perhaps its greatest challenge – that of fighting fascism. Meanwhile, in Germany, there was an almost dipolar opposite phenomenon taking place. A cultured and educated people had somehow willingly fallen victim to the leadership cult of a madman who preached hatred and took them down a path to self-destruction. The contrast could not have been more stark. But ultimately, good won over evil due to the sacrifices of many, like those soldiers who saved my dad. Could our country answer the same call today? I sure hope so.

5. I passed this book on to a Marine friend whose father’s experience was, in many ways, parallel to Eddie Willner’s (a German Jew, liberated by American forces at Auschwitz, who served as an interpreter post liberation). I served in combat with the Marine, knew his father, and attended his funeral; accordingly, I found the book very emotionally resonant. How difficult was it for you to write about the things your father endured?

I’d love to hear that story.

Certainly, it was heartbreaking in places, but it was also very inspiring. I grew up listening to conversations between my dad, Eddie, and my Uncle Mike. Not all survivors of the Holocaust, or survivors of such painful trauma in general, talk about their ordeal. But my dad was open, told us straight up what had happened. Some of the accounts were horrifying, some deeply soulful, some redemptive. I share these stories in the book.

6. What do you want people to take away from this book?

I think there are a number of take-aways.

Booklist called The Boys in the Light a “timeless reflection on the fight against hatred.” Author Mitchell Zuckoff called it “true to the past and essential for the present.” So the book is definitely a cautionary tale about the dangers and the impact of racism and antisemitism, and we should learn from history. The book also highlights the American character and ingenuity, and being “on the right side of history.” That was a hallmark of The Greatest Generation.

I think we have to think about who we, as Americans, are at our best. I believe we are fundamentally a people of goodwill. That goodwill is the core of our character, as a people and as a nation. Unity, respect for one another despite our differences, compassion, and a strong moral compass are what will continue to make us great.

Also, it’s important to recognize what immigrants have contributed to this country. My father and Mike were immigrants, as were many in Company D. Many came to this country armed with nothing but faith that America was a fair and just country, a place where they had been invited to help make her better, and they did.

7. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Believe that you can do it. The only background I had in writing was drafting intelligence and State Department cables, and sending letters home to Mom. I even got rejected from my high school literary magazine. Twice. So I had a lot to learn. Here are some things that helped me.

Do the research. Dig, investigate, question, and flesh out the details until you have the story. Then dig some more. Interview anyone who knows even a small part of the story. Visit the places where things took place in your book, so you have stood where they stood. Learn the basic mechanics of writing, things like voice, narrative arc, and character development. Read, and study, good writing. If you’re hoping to publish traditionally, learn a little about the publishing industry, how to perfect a query, and a proposal. Critique and even rejection, especially if you get feedback, are gifts. They allow you to regroup, rethink, and perhaps pivot in a slightly different direction… or not!

8. What is your favorite book and why?

I love history. Wild Swans, by Jung Chang, a Chinese-born British author, gave me the inspiration to write my first book, Forty Autumns. Her book is about three generations of one family that spans nearly a century of Chinese history. It’s both entertaining and brings history alive.

9. There is a somewhat trite expression that says, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” I have a lot of questions about religion, but I can attest that I started making deals while crouching in a hole as mortar rounds bracketed my position in Iraq. The subtitle of this book alluded to the importance of faith to several of the protagonists. What does the book’s exploration of faith say about the importance of “something bigger” in war?

Faith is a central theme in this story. Elmer Hovland, the young company commander who made the decision to take the boys into the unit, was motivated by his deep Christian faith, which permeated everything he did as a leader. A major part of what made him great was his dedication to his faith; it was the steel cable that bound the unit together and united soldiers, by the way, soldiers from all religions. One of his proudest achievements during the war was that more Company D soldiers attended field services than all the soldiers from all the other companies combined. In an interview long after the war, Elmer said, “When you’re about to face death in battle, you needed something to keep you going. It made me realize there was something bigger than just me. I realized it had to be God, and I believed he was on our side.”

Obviously, the Jewish faith is a big part of this story. Prayer played a role in some form or another for many Jews in the camps, religious and non-religious alike. Eddie’s father Siegfried rooted the boys in the faith that they would make it out of the camps alive. While it wasn’t strictly religious faith, it was faith none-the-less. And finally-- while not religious per se, my father Eddie remained a man of faith his entire life.

10. Who should read this book and why?

I think anyone who just enjoys a great story. It’s a narrative nonfiction, so I think the book would appeal to readers who enjoy a compelling true story with great characters, and an unpredictable plot that packs a lot of readable history. The characters are real people, young men and boys who were thrust into the eye of the storm, where their resilience was tested and a brotherhood was forged in the depths of those struggles. I also think the military community, those who like history, and those looking for a gripping World War II story that hasn’t been previously told may enjoy it, as would book club readers for its themes of love, loss, and the power of the human spirit.

11. What are you working on now?

I’m preparing to go on a book tour for o. Also, I’m researching a few ideas for my next book, but have not yet decided on a topic.

12. What have I not asked that I should have?

Here’s a story you might enjoy. Despite all he went through, my father Eddie had a light-hearted side. He was a very principled guy, and very bold.

After the Holocaust, at the age of 19, Eddie emigrated alone to the United States. Having lost his entire family in the Holocaust, he enlisted, and the US Army became his new family. He made it to sergeant, then was picked up for OCS. But there was a learning curve for a survivor of a concentration camp. As a brand-new lieutenant, he once had mess hall officer duty where he became greatly annoyed with troops wasting food, so he stood at the trash bin sending them back to finish the leftovers: “Go back and eat that. You too… go back and eat that.”

Afterwards, the CO called him in and said, “Lieutenant, you can’t do that. This is America, those boys have the freedom to throw their food in the trash if they want to.”

So Eddie had a huge sign made and put up in the mess hall that said, “Take all you want. Eat all you take.”

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You can purchase copies of The Boys in the Light at an independent bookseller or right here. It’s a great read.