Gina Rae Mitchell

A Stream to Follow By Jess Wright | Author Interview & Spotlight 

A book blog tour from Books Forward.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Jackie at Books Forward for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

A Stream to Follow by Jess Wright
Published by Spark Press on 04/19/2022
Genres: Fiction / Historical / World War II, Fiction / Medical, Fiction / Romance / Historical / 20th Century, Fiction / Small Town & Rural, Fiction / War & Military
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 336

When WWII ends, Bruce Duncan, a battlefront surgeon, returns home to a small town in Pennsylvania with plans of opening a general practice, fly fishing in his spare time, and forgetting the past. But the ravages of his war aren’t over. Haunted by images of soldiers he tried to save, his own near-death experiences, and the love he lost, Bruce has little respite before new battles grip him.

His brother, a decorated fighter pilot, is sinking fast and rebels against Bruce’s attempts to help him. A former friend begins waging a vicious campaign to stop Bruce from uncovering the dangers that could shutter a local industry.

And amid all this turmoil, he must decide between the slim prospect of reuniting with his former love—an Englishwoman who chose her family over him—and an ill-fated attraction to a trail-blazing woman doctor.

A riveting narrative that moves from post-WWII America to battle-sieged England to the killing fields of Alsace, A Stream to Follow plunges deep into the crucible of trauma and gives fresh vision for paths to redemption—ultimately weaving an uplifting tale of valor, resilience, and enduring love.

 

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Purchase Links for A Stream to Follow

Amazon – One Link for all countries 

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Waterstones      Blackwells     GoogleBooks    The Wordery

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Interview

How were your experiences as a psychiatrist helpful to you when writing this book? Did you draw from any other experiences in your life when writing Bruce Duncan’s story?

In my work as a psychiatrist, I’ve listened to the intimate and searing details of traumas and the struggles that sufferers have had in trying to overcome PTSD. And I’ve had first-hand experience with personal and family trauma. These experiences helped me infuse Bruce Duncan’s story with deep emotion and realism.

 

How did you learn about the experiences of battlefront surgeons during WWII?

My research on battlefront surgery during WWII had some shocking results. I wasn’t fully aware of the grave danger the doctors and other medical personnel faced at battlefield aid stations on the frontline. In The Other Side of Time, Brendan Phibbs, M.D., told the real-life story of the vicious action he saw in the winter of 1944-45 when the Germans fired with little or no restraint on field hospitals and ambulances. A number of other books helped me learn about and describe the gritty and often perilous conditions at battlefront aid stations.

 

Post-war, Bruce Duncan sets his sights on helping workers at a silica plant. How did you know about silicosis and the dangers the men faced? Is silicosis still a problem?

When I was a college student I spent my summers working at a silica plant where men who were only in their 40’s or early 50’s were afflicted by the ravages of silicosis. It was a tough environment, but the plant was a cornerstone of the local economy and an essential part of the industrial production of the country. Silicosis is still a common life-threatening illness in miners and workers in industries that process silica-laden products.

 

Bruce Duncan appears to have PTSD. How is PTSD treated, and how does Bruce try to overcome the weight of trauma? Are there any lessons in your novel for people living with trauma today?

Bruce Duncan has terrifying flashbacks and nightmares of his near-death experiences in WWII. And he has to fight the tendency to bury his thoughts and emotions and avoid triggers for the haunting memories. Very little was known about PTSD or how to treat it successfully in the 1940s when this novel takes place. However, Bruce is determined to heal his emotional wounds and has the common sense to confront them.

The current treatments for PTSD use medications and principles of cognitive-behavior therapy, including exposure to the memories of trauma until they lose their terrifying impact. Readers can learn from Bruce’s story that a determined effort to confront one’s fears and to do it over and over, is one of the most potent healing forces.

 

Bruce and Amelia face very long odds to make their relationship work. Do you think that loving relationships can help heal trauma? As the novel ended, did you forecast there would be further healing?

Loving relationships can provide a crucial foundation for the healing process. Without such relationships, sufferers of PTSD may feel unsupported, alone, and adrift. In A Stream to Follow, Bruce has the advantage of a loving family but aching grief at the loss of Amelia. As the novel unfolds, his struggle to reconnect with Amelia becomes a centerpiece of the healing process. When I wrote A Stream to Follow, I envisioned a series where Bruce and Amelia face future challenges. Let’s see what happens.

 

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Purchase A Stream to Follow online from a local book store.

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