Writer's Life: From the Desk of Tania Blanchard

Sydney author TANIA BLANCHARD has used her family's rich cultural history to draw upon when writing her previous books, The Girl From Munich, and Suitcase of Dreams. With the release of her new book, LETTERS FROM BERLIN, gr asked her to tell us five things that her while she writes.

This photo of my grandmother is my favourite. She would have been only a teenager here, perhaps the age of Lotte at the beginning of The Girl from Munich. As you can see, she was bright and bubbly and to me she was always larger than life. She was the first one to read my writing when I first began writing for my children and she encouraged me to keep going. She was also the inspiration for The Girl from Munich and Suitcase of Dreams which were based on the incredible stories she had told me about her life while I was growing up.

On my writing desk you can see the envelope of documents and letters and a notebook that were found among my grandmother’s treasures and provided so many sources of inspiration for the writing of both books. She passed away in 2015. Although I was always very close to her, I learnt so much more about her and her life from those precious pieces of paper. Her letters and poems reminded me of the way she thought and the little things that made her special to me. I pin photos on my board like you see in the photo to help me to remain true to the time period and people I’m writing about. When this photo was taken I was writing Suitcase of Dreams. Pictures, cards and items my children have made inspire me to write the best story I can write.

These photos were taken by family members on their trips back to Europe, one in Germany and the other in Italy. Photos like these are evocative. Just looking at them makes me feel wonder, curiosity and joy. What fascinating stories lurk beneath the surface? I love these because they portray the magnificent landscape but also tell so much about the local culture, history and architecture and give a real sense of the people who live there. They’re the things that inspire me when I write a story, along with the emotions attached to these photos and places.

These are our groodle puppy, Millie, who my son pestered me for during the COVID lockdown and our Jack Russell, Jessie, who is 16 years old and had been with us forever. At first we thought that they wouldn’t get along, but Jessie has gradually become used to Millie who loves Jessie so much and only wants to play with her! They’ve brought so much laughter, love and joy to our home but they also bring me back to reality when I’m deeply immersed in my writing and provide the lightness I need when I’m stuck on an aspect of the story.

I love being surrounded by nature. This photo is of the Japanese maple tree in our yard. I love how it changes to these wonderful rich autumn colours. No matter the season, with its thick green foliage in summer, the delicate leaves budding and unfolding in the spring or the fine, bare branches of winter, it always makes me smile and remember that the world is a beautiful place with wonders in the most ordinary of places.

Letters From Berlin by Tania Blanchard is published by Simon & Schuster