Sanctuary (by Terry W. Drake) - Book 1
Among the elderly and unable to travel are seven young men who stay behind to protect their families. Father Damien and his force have the opportunity to confront Colonel Anton Fahn of the German regiment that attacked the sister city of Clusone to the north.
They ransacked the village and have taken everything of value that they could carry on their way to Switzerland. Their detour to Bergamo to the south has disturbed his fellow officers.
The Americans have landed in Genova, Italy just six hours to the south west of Bergamo and there is not much time left for the Germans to complete their thievery. Father Damien organizes the resistance to the German’s encroachment on their town and prays for deliverance by the Americans.
Restitution (by Terry W. Drake) - Book 2
He inherits the responsibilities of the underground leadership through the death of his best friend Mathew Gillespie. He attempts to reconcile his faith with the obligations of war in his struggle to protect his community. Members of his alliance are called on to destroy the supply headquarters at the Bergamo airfields controlled by the German army.
Pure action and entertainment from beginning to end, Restitution is one scintillating read everyone, particularly fans of classic war stories are sure to enjoy.
About the Author
Terry W. Drake is the former General Manager for the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas and a former Board Member for the American Public Power Association. He has served on the Board of Western Fuels Association and is a member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In his last eight years in public service he lived in the United States Territory of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. He served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Water and Power Authority and as a special financial consultant to the Government of the Virgin Islands.
Interview with Terry W. Drake
What inspired you to write your first book?
I had a lot of time on my hand and I just sat down one day to compose poetry. That effort continued to expand into short stories and then finally progressed to a novel.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I envision an image in my on a subject and I try to describe what I see as a witness.
How did you come up with the title?
That is easy. My history books and the story of the hunch back of Notre Dame told me that when you seek safety in a church you are seeking “Sanctuary.”
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I suppose there is, that would be there is a little hero in all of us. You never know when he will appear or why. But when he shows up at a critical moment you will be surprised who he is and why he did it.
How much of the book is realistic?
As a book of fiction it stretches the imagination as to how gar one may be pushed before he takes the matters in his own hands and try to right a wrong.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I must confess that some of my own personal lessons learned have been exposed in this book and scattered throughout as a message of caution and fair warning.
What are your current projects?
I just finished the second book in Father Damien’s War titled “Restitution.” I’m writing a history of the Drake Family over the last 2,000 years and I am toying with an idea about Father Damien’s next project, “The Dark Society.”
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, I feel I have finally found something I truly like to do. Now I need to see if I can make a living with my writing.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
“Sanctuary” was my introduction for the reader to meet Father Damien. What I resisted to tell the reader in that book I make up for it in “Restitution.” This project will continue to grow as I learn the readers concerns, wishes and desires as they relate to the Priest.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I try to get the period of time correct when I describe events that occurred before I was born. My research into the characters and their equipment, environment and manner is extensive.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Having the discipline to stop and rest and go to bed with an idea still percolating in my mind.
When and why did you begin writing?
I started writing at night just after my wife died. At first it was just a series of poems. I found enjoyment in hearing the reaction of my readers. I expanded to short stories and beyond primarily to feel the long nights.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I feel I am growing as a writer. I have a lot to learn about writing; but, I can never replace the feeling I had when I saw my first book in print.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
I would say put your first thoughts on paper. Expand on those thoughts as you grow with the feeling they inspire. Then look back on the description as a reader and communicate what you see.
Thank you very much for the interview, Terry. Good luck with your future Book Projects.
Links to the Author and the Book 1 Sanctuary
Link to Terry W Drake's Website
Connect with Terry W Drake on Twitter: @TerryWDrake
Link to the Book Sanctuary on Amazon with Excerpt
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