Book Info
Author: Joy Vee
Title: They Whisper About Us
Formats: Paperback and a hardback omnibus of They Whisper About Us and the follow-up The Letters She Never Sent
ISBN: 978-1915034205
Pages: 338
Publication year: 2022
Publisher: Broad Place Publishing
Signed copies available from: www.joyvee.org
Interview
Hi, thanks for giving us your time. We’re here to talk about your book, but first, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi! I’m Joy and although I’ve now just moved back to my home-town of Lincoln, I’ve lived in some very exciting places, including seven years living in Ukraine. I have two teenage children and six nephews and nieces, who constantly inspire me.
It’s great to meet you, Joy. What was it that prompted you to write the book?
I wrote the book, They Whisper About Us, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In recent years the laws on religious freedom have tightened up in Russia, meaning that it is actually illegal to share the gospel, even with your own children. I wanted to look at that closer, recalling a time in Russia’s past when such actions could lead to arrest and exile. It’s written as a Christian teen fiction. During lockdown, my husband and I spent time with our teenage daughter, reading books she enjoyed, and watching films she liked. We were struck with how dark and difficult the issues were. I think that sometimes we don’t fully appreciate how life for our teenagers is different from when we were young. I wanted to write a gritty book, dealing with life and death issues, but ultimately from a Christian world view.
Wow! That’s quite a storyline! What do you hope that people will get out of reading your book?
The biggest thing is a sense of compassion for people who have less religious freedom than we do, and a heart to pray for the Russian church, especially in these difficult times. It is easy for us to pray with compassion for Ukraine right now, but the church in Russia also needs our prayers.
That’s right on message for today. If you could sum up the message of your book in one sentence, what would it be?
There are many things we may not understand, but God is able to make all things beautiful in His time.
Absolutely! And finally, if Hollywood were to come knocking on your door, which actors would you be hiring?
Oh, I really don’t know! Maybe Euan McGregor in the role of Fay’s father.
From the Blurb
A tea tin.
Owned by one girl,
Found by another,
Over half a century later.
What mysteries does it hide?
An intriguing split time-line story, alternating between Leningrad in 1960s and modern day England. Vera dreams of rising thorough the Kirov Ballet and maybe becoming a People’s Artist.
Fay is a pastor’s kid, disillusioned with her parents’ faith, who attends a theatre summer programme in the hope of improving her skills. The girls’ plans do not work out as they’d hoped, and their lives become entwined when Fay accidentally finds an old tea tin.
Mini-Bio
Joy is based in Lincoln, England, but has spent time living in Ukraine and Russia. She writes based on her experiences as a Christian, and most of her books are written for a younger audience.
They Whisper About Us is her first full-length novel for an older reader.
Fay Rowland - Author 