I see the emphasis on a lot of ideas and I know that's directed at me. [Megan Chance] come up with an idea, hone it, and write it. I come up with thirty ideas, flesh each one out, research each one, come up with characters, and then decide I don't like it.

The woman who led [downed airmen] was named Andrée De Jongh and her story - one of heroism and peril and astounding courage - became the inspiration for my novel.

Sometimes a story grabs hold of you and won't let go.

With The Nightingale, I had been kicking the idea around for years. I was frightened to write it because on the surface it seems so different for me.

Historical tends to be my bailiwick.

Coming up with the idea is the worst part of writing for me.

I think The Nightingale is my best, most mature, most moving novel, but maybe that's just because I love these characters. I love the setting.