I have the great pleasure of being part of Vivian Gilbert Zabel’s book tour for Stolen. Along with featuring Vivian today, I also did a review of her amazing story; the link is below.
For those who aren’t aware of Vivian, here’s a bit about this award winning author:
Zabel has won several awards with her writing, including first place with her mystery/suspense Midnight Hours. She taught English and writing for nearly 30 years and edited newspapers, yearbooks, and literary magazines sporadically for 45. After retirement, she produced a collection of short stories with Holly Jahangiri, Hidden Lies and Other Stories; a collection of poetry with seven other poets located in the United States and Canada, Walking the Earth: Life’s Perspectives in Poetry; three young adult books, The Base Stealers, Case of the Missing Coach, Prairie Dog Cowboy; and two novels: Midnight Hours and Stolen.
A wife for nearly 49 years, the mother of three living children, grandmother of ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother of five, Zabel believes family and faith are most important, and that belief finds its way in most of her writing. Her characters come from people she observes or reads about mixed with her imagination. Plots take a gain of an idea and combine with a massive dosage of “what if.”
Stolen, based on a true story, tells of the inconceivable: a father steals his children from their mother. I asked Vivian eight questions regarding the writing of Stolen, and her answers were candid and touching.
1. Vivian, I know this book took a number of years to make it to publication, and I know in part why, but do you think you would have published it had your grandchildren not been found?
I think I would have found a way to publish it no matter whether Faris and Yasmeen had been found, or rather they found us, or not. The trip may have been harder is all. The story had to be told.
2. Being the subject matter is so personal and heart wrenching, were you able to say all you wanted to? Or, were some of the emotions just too difficult to convey? Or, certain details better left out?
I couldn’t put everything into the book. For example, I didn’t have Gramps or Bob say, “If I ever see that piece of trash again, I’ll have one of my black outs and run over him.” Plus, there is no way to express the anguish we all felt. I did feel as if part of my heart had been ripped out. How do I describe that so that another person could really “feel” the pain?
34 Comments on Discussing Stolen with Vivian Gilbert Zabel, last added: 12/8/2010
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Great interview Karen. You gave Vivian a chance to flesh out her story of how the book was motivated and her feelings through the process. Having "ridden" with her through those tough 12 years, I was also privileged to share her victory when she again "discovered" and reunited with her grandchildren. The book has close parallels with the emotions we all felt as we prayed for their safety and return to a relationship with Vivian and her husband.
Hi Jacque, Thanks for stopping by. I needed tissues when I read Stolen - I think it helped knowing the real-life eventual outcome though.
Vivian did an excellent job.
Karen, thanks for the very special and poignant interview. It gave Vivian a chance to tell us how much the story meant.
Congratulations to both of you.
Karen, thanks for the very special and poignant interview. It gave Vivian a chance to tell us how much the story meant.
Congratulations to both of you.
Thank you, Karen, for hosting me today, and thanks for the excellent review. I hope people click on the link and read it.
Hi, Jacque and Nancy. I appreciate your visiting already today. I'm a bit slow getting around this morning. I had hoped to be here first, but I couldn't get my body to cooperate. Ish.
Wow, very interesting interview! So glad to have had a chance to read this. I can't imagine writing something very intense and emotional. That takes a very strong lady. Thanks for being so candid, Vivian, and to Karen for hosting her.
Warmly,
Jenny
J.R., I used to teach writing, and I always told my students to take something they experienced to delve into an emotion when they wrote. Of course most high school students hadn't suffered greatly, yet, but some had. I told the ones who hadn't if they had ever lost a pet or had a close friend leave. Of course all had. I then told them to remember how they felt and then exaggerate the feeling.
Well, with this book, no exaggeration was needed, just the plain, unvarnished agony that I hope others never have to know.
However, hope does reign eternal, at least in my life.
Vivian, what a horrendous experience to go through. One of my recent books deals with a girl who was taken from her family -- the stories I've heard about kidnappings have made me so paranoid that it finally broke through to a story. I used to stand and watch my kids until their school bus came, even if they were right in front of my house.
I'm so glad you got them back.
Best of luck with Stolen and its sequel.
People used to say I was overprotective of my children, back before kidnapping were so prevalent, but as we discovered, sometimes being vigilant doesn't help.
Thanks for stopping by, LK.
What an emotional story and a great interview. I can't wait to read the book and also to promote it at my blog. Best wishes for the book and it's success.
Thank you, Terry. Please let me know if and when you do promote Stolen.
Wow, what a great interview, Karen and Vivian. I had no idea what this story was about, and I've been inundated with emails lately so that I hadn't had time to read any of the other blog tour stops.
Good luck with this book, Vivian. It sounds like it will touch many families.
I'm glad you dropped by, Katie.
This book is one that is truly close to my heart.
Hey All, thanks for dropping by. Had a doc appt, but will check in the rest of the day.
I'm so glad those who didn't know about Stolen got a chance to understand the content and emotion involved.
It is a crazy world. When my older daughter was around 17, her boyfriend at the time was crazy. When she broke up with him, he threatened my life twice, hid in her car and kidnapped her at knife point and broke into my home several times. I didn't think I'd live through it. For so long during and after it ended, I would check around the house and her car before she got in it.
Viv, I hope the writing of this was great therapy for you. I'm convinced that it is alays better to face truths than bury them. Lovely interview, Karen.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Blogging writers resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com
The writing of the novel didn't mitigate the pain, but did help make it more bearable. Thanks for dropping by, Carolyn.
Carolyn, thanks for stopping by. And, Vivian, hopefully time will help heal the lost years and pain.
The scars are there forever, but more for the kids than even for us.
Life isn't always fair, usually isn't, and life sometimes is harder on some than others. However, we have two choices, just as Torri did. I choose picking up the pieces, gluing them back the best I can, and going on.
Thank you for sharing this emotional, powerful, moving interview. It's good that you wrote Stolen, Vivian, to help some with your own healing and to touch others who read it.
Connie, thank you for dropping by. Stolen will definitely touch those who read it.
Thank you, everyone who left comments, and thanks, Karen, for hosting me today.
I think I'll need a box of tissues when I read this book, so am preparing myself for the tears. Thanks for a great interview, Karen.
Hey, Beverly, I need the tissues just to talk about it.
If and when you do read Stolen, please share your thoughts about the book.
Beverly, thank you for stopping by. I needed tissues!
Vivian,
It was a pleasure featuring you and Stolen.
I've enjoyed this stop on the tour. Thank you again, Karen.
Powerful subject matter and what a title. thanks for sharing your story and heart with the rest of us.
Margo Dill
http://margodill.com/blog/
Margo, thank you for stopping by. And, yes, once you know what the subject matter is the title takes on great significance.
I'm glad you left a comment, Margo. The title really does say everything.
Great interview, Karen. I'm glad to hear Vivian is in the process of writing a sequel.
Hi, Rena. I really do need more time or at least a whole lot more energy so I can do all I need to do. Ish.
Rena, thank you for stopping by. I know it will take time, but I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Great interview! I look forward to reading STOLEN.
Hi, Susanne, I'm sure you'll love Stolen, but again, have tissues on hand!