Buzzeriger Anita Philpott author

Buzzeriger Anita Philpott author On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Anita Philpott, author of The Budgerigar, shares what inspired her to write about friendship between Hilde, the daughter of a Nazi police officer, and Morrie, who is Jewish.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Anita Philpott about her life and career, what inspired her to write her new book, The Budgerigar, and her creative writing process.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I write poetry and short stories and have just published my first novel called The Budgerigar. I also sculpt and love all things artistic including theatre and music. My whole family is involved in entertainment  and there is always something exciting to go and see!

When did you first WANT to write a book Buzzeriger ?

I have always wanted to write and started writing poetry as a child and have never stopped! I published a book of poetry eight years ago, called ‘Helter Skelter.’ I’ve started writing novels several times but lack of time and family commitments has often stopped me persevering. Life gets in the way!

When did you take a step to start writing?

The reason I wrote this book is that I unexpectedly met someone who had been a small child in Germany before and during  WW2. She told me a little of her life, which really intrigued me but she was enigmatic and I couldn’t find out much. It was not her story though that set me on the path researching the time and the place- Germany in WW2.

How long did it take you to complete The Budgerigar from the first idea to release?

I spent about two years researching the subject and started jotting down ideas which was the start of writing the book. After a year, when the it was a recognisable manuscript I sent it to be edited. I was then invited to Auschwitz Museum (concentration camp) for several days and afterwards I felt I needed to rewrite some of the book and once again it was edited. It was then finished.

I tried to get a literary agent but was unsuccessful and so decided to self publish. That has taken almost a year and has been very difficult. All in all it has taken me more than 3 years.

What were your biggest challenges with writing The Budgerigar?

‘The Budgerigar ‘ is set in Germany between 1936 and 1951.  Events of world significance needed to be researched because so much happened.

The book takes us through wartime Germany from 1939 until 1945 and the difficult years afterwards. I don’t speak German and so it was difficult to research some aspects of the time. It is the story of two small children and their families and so I wanted to discover what it was like as a child  and for ordinary citizens living through the war in Germany.

Life in these times in UK is well documented but we know little about German domestic life then. After WW2 the people of Germany did not want to record or talk about the horrors that had happened and it was difficult establishing facts. There were feelings of guilt and denial and little recorded evidence. ‘The Budgerigar’ is set in Leipzig which after the war was part of East Germany. This was the time of the Cold War when this part of Germany was run by USSR and it was a time of no information and little communication with the West.

I gained much information from museums around the world including those dealing with the Holocaust, from the testimonies of survivors and from many newsreels of the time for which I am very grateful.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

This was the meeting with someone who grew up in Nazi Germany as a child .This meeting triggered my curiosity,  though I struggled to agree with her opinions because she still seemed indoctrinated with Nazi ideals eighty years later. Although  her experience was the inspiration  for the protagonist, Hilde in this story, I did not agree with her harsh attitudes and so her character morphed into one of optimism, bravery and love.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

WW2 and the evils that existed in Germany at this time created corrupt individuals. Incarceration, terror, violence and starvation and took away freedom and security- it is this and the proponents of these ideals that become the joint antagonist in the book.

What is the main conflict of The Budgerigar?

Hilde is the daughter of a Nazi officer and her best friend is Morrie who is Jewish. They are best friends but are not allowed to see each other and as war gathers momentum their families are scattered. Years go by. Neither forgets each other. A baby budgerigar was given to them as small children and later fills them with the hope that if it has survived so in turn will they. But we wonder, do they or their families survive  and will they reunite?

Did you plot The Budgerigar in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

I had an idea for the story but as I researched the subject new ideas emerged and it just evolved. I had so much research to draw from. Once I knew what I wanted to say I  just couldn’t write quickly enough! It was a wonderful experience. I fell in love with the characters and would so love to meet them. I saw the book as a film and watched the characters play out their story before my eyes.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Budgerigar need?

I wanted to stand the best chance I could to impress literary agents with my story I therefore employed a literary editor. She looked for any obvious errors and made suggestions about re-edits which concurred with and completed . Once she said she felt the manuscript was ready for publication I set to looking for an agent.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

If you have an idea, start by trying to write it up as a short story , maybe with a limit of 5000 words. Then read it through and look at where you can add content, delete content or where you need to research and expand. Perhaps you’ll find it doesn’t work or maybe it is interesting and you realise it has legs and  then you can start working on it.

Also I suggest you keep a notebook to hand  and scribble down ideas whenever inspiration hits you! There are several connections to my own life that I have included in the book. That’s what authors do and what makes it so special us!

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I am compiling a second  poetry book at the moment.  I also have several short stories and  children’s stories already written and I need to revisit these to decide my next project. I have many ideas for a novel buzzing round my head. Something will trigger a notion and once again I will start madly writing. It’s a great feeling when you feel inspired!

And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes I am ! The sheer tenacity it takes to go from start to finish when publishing a novel is considerable. Publishing is far more difficult than the writing!

I also think ‘The Budgerigar’ is a really entertaining and interesting story and I just loved the process of writing it. It was a joy and I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

TikTok@anita.philpott

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3zqLtrm

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3zeVpEF

Audible: https://amzn.to/4cAbHpK

Apple Audiobook: https://apple.co/4czpg9a

It is also available to purchase from Waterstones and Barnes & Noble