Bestselling Author to Visit Library To Discuss "Microcosm of a World At War"

A lesser-known fact of World War II history is that Shanghai, known as the “Paris of the East”, sheltered thousands of German Jews. Dr. Daniel Kalla’s seventh novel, The Far Side of the Sky (June 5th, 2012, MacMillan/Tor-Forge) focuses on this short but extraordinary period of Second World War history, when the cultures of Europe and Asia converged.  Library Journal, which gave the book a starred review said:  "With its unusual setting and blend of terror, hope, and love, this historical novel deserves a wide readership."

Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library is pleased to announce that author (and emergency room physician) Daniel Kalla will be visiting from Vancouver, British Columbia to present his latest novel at the library on Tuesday, June 12th. I caught up with Dr. Kalla just as he was catching a flight to NYC and asked him a few questions:

I have to say I read The Far Side of the Sky and loved it. I had no idea that Shanghai sheltered thousands of German Jews during WWII. Did you do a lot of research for this historical novel?

A ton! I read and watched everything I could get my hands on that dealt with WWII Shanghai and the German Jews who fled there. In fact, ironically from someone with a challenged sense of direction, by the time my wife and I reached Shanghai, I had poured over the map for so long that I could lead her around the beautiful old colonial section of the city as if I had grown up there.

I thought the ambiance of Shanghai was so interesting and a bit like "Cabaret", wild and exotic between the opium dens and the gangsters. At the same time there's a love story between a doctor and a nurse. You have a pretty active imagination for a doctor, when you do you have time to write novels?

You’re absolutely right about the amazing contrast that was Shanghai. East meets west. The richest living side by side with the poorest. Three different sovereign powers - none of them Chinese! - ran Shanghai in 1939.  No city better epitomized a microcosm of a world at war. Shanghai had it all: fascists, communist, smugglers, Jews, Japanese, Germans, British, Americans, spies and other colorful criminals. So rife with inherent drama that it really made my job as novelist easy, hardly much imagination required!

As to where I find the time, I work in an Emergency Room in shift work. That means that I often have weekdays off, when my girls at school. That’s my special protected time for writing.

Speaking of exotic, are you looking forward to visiting Brooklyn?

Exotic? Wow, I wouldn’t necessarily haven chosen that term.  But I love New York and I don’t get to Brooklyn nearly often enough. I’m planning to enjoy my time there and will be meeting friends before and after to explore the neighborhood around Carroll Gardens!

Thank you, Dr. Kalla! We look forward to seeing you at the Carroll Gardens Library, Tuesday June 12th 7 p.m. (admission is free).