Interview with Michael P. Spradlin, Author of Threat of the Spider
Welcome to Smack Dab, Michael. Please tell us about Threat of the Spider.
Threat of the Spider is the second book in the Web of the Spider series, following on the heels of The Rise of the Spider which came out last fall. The series is set in a small town in Germany and follows the lives of several young people during the 1930s and Hitler’s rise to power.
How did you come to write a historical fiction series for young readers focusing on Nazi Germany?
I had interest in doing a book on the Edelweiss Pirates who were a real group of children that challenged the Nazi regime during the war. After some back and forth with my editor when went back even further looking for the seeds of youthful dissent. It was important to me that readers realize that not everyone German citizen supported Hitler or the Nazi party. Especially at the beginning.
Ansel’s “Unassailable Facts of Life” are such a memorable part of his character. How did you develop this quirk? Do any of these sayings have special meaning to you?
I don’t know where the idea came from, but once I tried a couple of ‘facts’ (which as we know are no facts at all) they seemed to fit his personality like a glove. They are one of my favorite parts of his character and I laugh at his willingness to interject this ‘wisdom’ into any situation. I think one of my favorites is #41 When the owls come to the mice picnic, they are not there for the sack races.
Your author's note mentions visiting Heroldsberg and Nuremberg for research. How did physically being in these locations shape the story?
It had a tremendous impact on the book. For the most part the historical fiction I’ve written takes place in a world that no longer exists. Heroldsberg suffered little during the war in the way of damage from bombing or fighting. And with Nuremberg the medieval city was rebuilt after the war to how it was. So it was a chance to see places as the characters did. And it was invaluable.
How did you balance creating fictional characters like Ansel with incorporating historical figures like Heinrich Himmler?
I’m nutty about including real historical figures in my novels. I just think it adds so much gravitas to the story. Plus it’s fun to play puppet master with some of these figures and gain insight to what they might have thought or felt.
What challenges did you face in writing about such a dark historical period for a middle-grade audience?
These have been challenging books no doubt. These are complicated historical, political, religious and socio-economic themes at work here. Trying to condense that down in an interesting ‘non-info dump’ way hasn’t been easy. Luckily smart characters help you figure it out.
The Hitler Youth plays a significant role in the story. What sources did you use to understand how this organization recruited and influenced young people?
There are a ton of sources. YouTube video interviews with Hitler Youth members, a host of memoirs and histories. The Hitler Youth is to me, one of the most fascinating parts of the Nazi rise to power. This complete and total indoctrination of a country’s youth is just mind boggling.
The book shows how everyday citizens responded differently to the rise of Nazism. What message do you hope young readers take away about standing up against injustice?
Standing up against injustice is hard. Being the one that says, ‘this far, no further,’ is always rife with conflict. I want young readers to realize that freedom is precious. It’s a garden that all of us need to water and nurture. Because freedoms can be taken away.
The book's title "Threat of the Spider" has multiple potential meanings. Could you explain its significance in relation to the story?
The whole idea for the series was that Spider is an avatar for the Nazis. They start out small, spinning webs that eventually take them into every corner and nook of the country. Spiders have various qualities. Sometimes they threaten, sometimes they strike. I think it’s the perfect metaphor for these books.
What similarities do you hope young readers might draw between Ansel's experience and our current political circumstances? How might his story help them navigate questions about truth, censorship, and the importance of independent journalism?
Well I would hope we all, not just young people, would follow embrace Ansel’s mindset. Ansel is a truth teller. It may be hard to hear the truth at times, but it needs to be told. Someone has to guard it and be its champion. He’s learned from his father’s example, that among the first of those an evil regime will strike at are the reporters and journalists who tell the truth.
What’s next?
I am working on book four in the series, and I have a new novel coming this fall called The Raven’s Shadow. It’s a ‘league of extraordinary young gentlemen’ with Abraham Lincoln, Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Darwin united to save the world.
.jpeg)
Where can we find you?
Facebook.com/MichaelPSpradlin
X (Twitter) @mspradlinauthor
The Gram @mspradlinauthor
~
Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com.
Comments
Post a Comment