Author spotlight: Donna Jones Alward

Dea Toivonen, Program Officer (Arts Education): When the World Fell Silent—your forthcoming novel, a work of historical fiction—seems like quite a departure from your history of writing romance. Did this feel like a big gear-shifting moment for you? Can you speak to this pivot?

Donna Alward Jones: It was definitely a big shifting of gears, but one I was ready for! I had been writing romance for over 15 years when I started When the World Fell Silent and was looking for something new and challenging. I’m not sure I would have taken the leap if it hadn’t been for my publisher suggesting it, but I think things happen for a reason. I really didn’t want to look back and regret not doing it because I was afraid to take on something new and challenging, so I said yes and knuckled down to face a big learning curve. 

What has it been like as a writer with an established readership who know you as a romance writer to write in a different genre? Do you expect this book to appeal to a different readership?

It’s been a little bit tricky—mostly in deciding how to approach it. I decided to publish under a variation of my name to make a small differentiation; I also did a complete website redesign and have been adding historical content to my social media while still marketing my contemporary romance. But here’s the thing about romance readers: they are generally voracious. Many read other genres as well, so I think that, while this book will appeal to a whole other readership, I’ll also bring some of my established audience with me—because they read so widely. I think it’s more likely for romance readers to transfer over to historical fiction than for historical fiction readers to move to romance. 

Were there any unanticipated difficulties in writing historical fiction—or departing from romance writing—that you didn’t anticipate?

I read a lot of historical fiction and know a lot of hist fic authors, so nothing really came as a big surprise. That doesn’t mean it was easy, though. I knew plotting would be more intensive, for example, and the story itself more complex. It’s twice the length that I’m used to—so that sort of thing. 

Can you speak to your choice to write a book about the Halifax Explosion and its aftermath? Has this always been of interest to you?

You know, it still amazes me that I wasn’t taught about the explosion in Social Studies or Canadian History. I first learned of it when I read [Hugh MacLennan’s] Barometer Rising in my Atlantic Literature class in grade 12. Then, when I moved to the HRM in 2008, I learned a whole lot more. It was a natural fit for me to use as a backdrop for my novel: I have always been intrigued by how people respond and rebuild after tragedy. Plus, there’s the added perk of sharing something momentous that happened right here with the rest of the world. 

Have you read other fictional accounts of the Halifax Explosion? Where do you think your account fits into this history?

I’ve read a few but not many. I adore Shattered by Jennie Marsland, a local author, and also really enjoyed Tides of Honour by Genevieve Graham. Each of us has a different account, and I think that’s because, while the historical record remains the same, it’s the characters and their journeys that really form the story. 

A lot of your work is very place-based and uses historical buildings and landscapes to tell a story. Did this make the transition to writing historical fiction more seamless for you?

I wouldn’t exactly call it seamless. But yes, a strong sense of place is something I try to use to anchor a story. A lot of switching to historical fiction was taking what I know and simply employing it in a slightly different way. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small, contemporary town or an Alberta ranch or 1917 Halifax: worldbuilding through the eyes of the character is still done in the same basic way.

Are there any places in Halifax where you spent a lot of time or visited while you were writing When the World Fell Silent? 

I cannot say enough about the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: the exhibit is so fantastic. The first time I went for the purpose of research (I’d already been a few times) was in 2020, so there were public health restrictions in place. I was the only person there for two hours. I’ve been back several times, and I’m doing a Tuesday Talk there in November. 

Did you need to do a lot of research for this book? What was that process like?

I expanded my book budget for sure! There are so many terrific nonfiction books about the explosion, and I bought most of them; I went to the museum several times, and I also had the assistance of the librarians at Halifax Central Library in accessing materials that could not be checked out. Sometimes for other details—such as information about Camp Hill Hospital and nursing during the war—I did Google searches, and I also loved, loved, loved Newspapers.com. It is so easy to go down a research rabbit hole while looking at old newspapers!

Do you plan on continuing to write historical fiction or explore other genres in the future?

I’m definitely continuing to write historical fiction. It’s been a big challenge but so enjoyable! I’m really happy I made the decision to pivot.

You have a book launch in Halifax at WFNS coming up in August. How has the support of the local writing scene been for you, now and throughout your career?

I’m a recent member of WFNS, but for many years I belonged to RWAC—Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada. Having a supportive writing community has been incredibly important to me; this can be a really solitary endeavour. I joined WFNS almost a year ago, and I have felt incredibly welcomed. I participating in Booktoberfest and the Nova Swoons event and the Writing Rumble. Meeting new people in the writing scene has been wonderful! I hope to see some of my new friends at the launch of When the World Fell Silent on August 20.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a story set partially on the Titanic, partially on the Carpathia, and then winding up here in Halifax. It’s got two female protagonists who sail on the Titanic to begin a new life—and whose plans are changed by the disaster.