help_outline Skip to main content

Writing Crime

Q&A: Ursula Wong, GYPSY AMBER
By Kathryn Gandek-Tighe
Posted: 2020-12-01T03:42:00Z

In Ursula Wong's latest novel, Gypsy Amber, Russia hatches a brazen plan to thwart China’s expansion into Central Asia, but a brilliant Lithuanian investigator stands in the way.

How would you describe the plot of the book to... you pick the person
!

Dear Readers-at-large:

 

When a Russian Air jet crashes in the Uzbekistan desert in Central Asia, the president of Russia, Vera Koslova, claims it’s antiRussian terrorists. As the notorious Uzbek secret police clamp down on their citizenry, Koslova sends in troops. But Vit Partenkas of Lithuanian think-tank Baltic Watch suspects Koslova’s motives. The closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes. If he fails to expose Koslova, Uzbekistan freedoms will erode to nothing. If he succeeds, he incurs the wrath of the most powerful woman on earth. Book 5 of the Amber War series.


What was the a-ha moment that made you write this story?

 

A recent trip into Central Asia’s Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan surprised me in two fundamental ways. The first involved educational expectations for girls. Girls are less likely to go to school than boys. Once girls reach the late teen years, they’re expected to marry and live with her husband’s family. Since girls will have little chance to benefit their parents, money spent on their education is seen as a waste.

 

The second surprise was that citizenry in Central Asia generally saw the Soviets as having a positive influence. Under the Soviets, people had jobs and places to live. Far more women worked outside the home than is the case today. Children, including girls, went to school, and it was for free. The Soviets restored many of the ancient Islamic structures. It’s not that the Soviets necessarily behaved differently toward the populations of Central Asia, but the restrictive Soviet government was far less of an issue than it was for Eastern Europe.

 

This mix of perspectives compelled me to write a novel showing moods and opinions common to Central Asia and contrast it with the situation in my ancestral Lithuania.

 

What excited you most about writing this story?


The excitement for me was folding history and current events into a fictional story line. Much of what I wrote about in Gypsy Amber is true: Attitudes towards women, Russian fear of terrorism, Central Asian fear of Islamic terrorism, and more. Folding these elements into a story that informs and entertains was the challenge.

 

 Who is your favorite character and why?

I love Vera Koslova, President of the Russian Federation. An exKGB agent, she brings feminist attitudes to a government dominated by men. She’s arrogant, boastful, and demanding.

 

Zuza Bartus, a government agent in ARAS, the anti-terrorism branch of the Lithuanian Police. is my second favorite character. Her life is a balancing act between family concerns, a very dangerous job, and far more. She brings a strong morality that contrasts nicely with Vera Koslova. Under the skin, the two women have a lot in common. They’re both driven, independent, and very intelligent.

 

 Were there indispensable people without whom you couldn’t have written the book?


Susan Fleet, a Sisters in Crime member, has a talent for unwrapping a story. She did yeoman service in helping me iron out the ‘kinks.’  Her Frank Renzi series centered in New Orleans is tremendous fun. Fellow Sisters in Crime member Dale T. Phillips was an invaluable sounding-board. Check out his Zack Taylor mysteries that bring Maine to life. Finally, my husband, Steve, tolerated many beautiful summer weekends at home so I could write. All my books require a village.

 

Ursula Wong writes about strong women who battle impossible odds to achieve their dreams. Her Amber War series of historical thrillers are centered in Eastern Europe and begin during WW II. Learn more at:  http://ursulawong.wordpress.com.

Leave a Comment
 *
 *
Comments
Load More Comments
No more comments available