I’m thrilled to post an article I wrote for the Norwegian American newspaper about a trip Wendy and I took from London to Norway. We visited many places that were described in A Coat Dyed Black as well as others related to Norway and World War II. Our trip was meaningful and at times highly emotional trip. It was also a long-time coming. The last time I visited Norway was in 1985 for a six-week stay to interview resistance fighters and conduct research for the book. At the time, it marked my final of several research trips there. Wendy was last in Norway in 1992 visiting family members.

Above is a photo of the lighthouse on Bressay Island in the Shetland chain of islands.

In its December 15 magazine issue, Kirkus Reviews, one of the publishing industry’s most trusted sources of book reviews, announced it selected A Coat Dyed Black: A Novel of the Norwegian Resistance for its Best 100 Indie Books of 2022. I’m very proud to tell you about this significant and prestigious honor. The global firm also awarded my historical novel a Kirkus Star. Regarded one of the most coveted designations in the book industry, a starred review is reserved only for works Kirkus considers of exceptional merit. The highly positive review described A Coat Dyed Black as “An exciting, high-stakes story skillfully told.” I’m truly grateful for all this, particularly considering that Kirkus reviews about 10,000 books annually, including more than 4,000 independently published (indie) books. I thank all of you who have supported this book from the bottom of my heart.

A major goal of my website blog is to share my research of World War II in Norway. With this post, I’m trying something a little different. I’m treating you to a scene written in early manuscript drafts of A Coat Dyed Black. This scene ultimately had to be removed from the book due to space limitations, but it offers a look at the close-in fighting waged against Germans forces just after they invaded Norway. But before the scene, I’m giving you a Norwegian Army soldier’s first-hand account of a shoot-out that the fictional scene is based on. I hope you enjoy reading all this, and I would be interested in what you think about it.

Syttende Mai, this Tuesday May 17, is a special day for Norway. It marks the date of the formal signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814, giving rise to a new set of laws allowing Norway to govern itself as an independent nation. Norway was free. But Norway’s freedom began to unravel on April 9, 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded.

Saturday, April 9, 2022, marked the 82nd anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Norway, the start of five brutal years of oppression and tyranny. To commemorate this pivotal day in history and the suffering and sacrifice it engendered, I point to an initial battle that proved critical to Norway: The sinking of the German heavy cruiser Blücher.

The Norwegian people generally were shocked when Nazi Germany invaded their peaceful country on April 9, 1940.

April 20, 1944. Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Norway had just entered its fourth year under Nazi Germany’s occupation in World War II.

Norway has a rich World War II history that is so often overlooked and unrecognized in the focus on pivotal events and battles in other parts of Europe . . .