A Step Into the Past
Most readers know me as a mystery writer, but there's another genre that has always held a special place on my bookshelf: historical fiction.
For me, history is more than dates, events, and the stories we learn in school. It's an expression of life. It's about ordinary people living through extraordinary times, making difficult choices, chasing dreams, falling in love, and finding their way through a world that is often changing faster than they can keep up with.
As a writer, stepping into historical fiction gave me the opportunity to explore a genre I have always loved to read, while looking at storytelling from a different perspective. Instead of asking who committed the crime or what secrets someone is keeping, I could explore how people lived, what they believed, what they hoped for, and how the times they lived in shaped the paths they took.
Both genres share something I find endlessly fascinating: people. Their motivations, their relationships, their struggles, and the moments that change the course of their lives.
These two novels are very different in setting and story, but each offered me the chance to step into another time, discover another world, and bring its people and experiences to life. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Our Forgotten Year by L.L. Abbott
It’s the summer of 1942, and life is starting to become more and more dangerous for Italian Jews like the Russo family.
In their quiet village, Antonio Gallo and Gabriella Russo lived like most youths did – unaware of the hope lost to their parents’ generation but believing in a future for themselves.
Who will enjoy this story?
Do you enjoy historical fiction that brings the past to life through the experiences of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances?
Our Forgotten Year is for readers who enjoy stories of wartime courage, forbidden love, family loyalty, and the difficult choices people must make when the world around them begins to fall apart.
Set in Italy during the Second World War, this novel explores the lives of two young people whose hopes for the future are threatened by the growing reach of fascism and Nazi occupation. It is a story for readers who appreciate historical detail, emotional storytelling, and characters whose humanity is tested when doing what is right comes at a terrible cost.
If you enjoy stories where love and hope persist even in the darkest of times, Antonio and Gabriella's journey will stay with you.
About the Book
Italy, 1942. Two young lives. One love caught in the shadow of war.
Antonio Gallo and Gabriella Russo have grown up in the same quiet Italian village, with the same hopes of a future together. But as the war reaches deeper into southern Italy, their worlds begin to divide.
Antonio's Catholic family has some protection through his uncle's position in Mussolini's government. Gabriella's Jewish family has no such protection. When the Russos are forcibly transported to an internment camp in Ferramonti, Antonio refuses to accept that there is nothing he can do.
As German influence tightens its grip on the region, loyalties are tested, secrets become dangerous, and the people of the village must decide how far they are willing to go to protect those they love.
Inspired by family stories and memories connected to the author's own Italian heritage, Our Forgotten Year is a moving historical novel about love, courage, and the choices that define us when doing the right thing may come at the greatest personal cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Our Forgotten Year based on a true story?
The novel is a work of historical fiction, with imagined characters and events set against the realities of Italy during the Second World War. The inspiration came from the author's own family history. Her father was born in southern Italy during the war, and family stories and memories helped spark the idea for the novel.
Where does Our Forgotten Year take place?
The story takes place in a small village in southern Italy during the summer of 1942, as the war and the growing influence of Nazi Germany and Italian Fascism begin to affect everyday life.
What historical events are explored in the book?
The novel explores the persecution of Italian Jews, the influence of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, wartime internment, and the difficult circumstances faced by families whose lives were disrupted by the conflict.
Is Our Forgotten Year a romance?
Love is central to the story, but the novel is much more than a romance. It is a historical story of family, loyalty, courage, and survival, with the relationship between Antonio and Gabriella unfolding against the dangers of wartime Italy.
Is there an audiobook version?
Yes. Our Forgotten Year is also available as an audiobook, narrated by Jack Carmichael, a professionally trained actor based in Kent, England, with a Master's degree from East 15 Acting School. His rich, expressive narration brings the characters and atmosphere of Italy in 1942 to life.
The Hotel Penn by L.L. Abbott
What do you do when you’re a woman who dreams of independence in 1919?
Amid a changing social scene that’s sweeping the nation, seventeen-year-old Rose Farnsworth leaves her home in Ohio for a fresh start and a new job at The Hotel Penn.
Who Would Like This Book?
Do you love historical fiction that transports you to another time and place, especially when that place is filled with possibility, excitement, and a little uncertainty?
The Hotel Penn is for readers who enjoy stories about strong young women, new beginnings, and the pursuit of independence. Set in New York City in 1919, it captures a period when social expectations were changing and women were beginning to imagine lives beyond the limits imposed on previous generations.
If you enjoy historical novels with memorable characters, a vibrant city setting, and a glimpse into the changing roles of women, you'll enjoy following Rose Farnsworth as she steps away from the familiar and discovers what the future might hold.
It's a story about finding your place in the world, having the courage to take a chance, and discovering that independence sometimes comes with a price.
About the Book
New York City, 1919. A new beginning. A world of possibilities.
At seventeen, Rose Farnsworth is ready for something more than the life she's always known. Leaving her home in Ohio, she travels to New York City to take a job at the newly opened Hotel Penn.
The city is alive with change. Jazz clubs, shifting social expectations, and the growing movement for women's rights are creating opportunities that would have seemed impossible to previous generations. For Rose and the other young women working at the hotel, a job represents more than a paycheque. It offers a chance to escape the restrictions and poverty that have shaped their families' lives.
But independence brings its own questions. As Rose discovers new possibilities and begins to see what she might accomplish, she must also consider the people and the life she has left behind.
When an opportunity arises to prove herself, Rose faces a decision that could change everything. Will she have the courage to pursue the future she wants, or will the expectations of others stand in her way?
Inspired by the author's own stay at New York's historic Hotel Pennsylvania, The Hotel Penn is a story of ambition, independence, and a young woman's search for her place in a rapidly changing world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Hotel Penn based on a true story?
The Hotel Penn is a work of historical fiction. The characters and story are imagined, but the novel is inspired by the author's stay at the historic Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City. The idea for Rose Farnsworth came to her as she stepped out of the elevator during that visit. By the end of her stay, the story had taken shape.
When and where does The Hotel Penn take place?
The novel is set in New York City in 1919, a time of significant social change in the United States. The Hotel Penn provides the backdrop for Rose's new life as she discovers the excitement and challenges of working in one of the city's bustling hotels.
What is the historical background of the novel?
The story takes place in the years following the First World War, during a period of changing social attitudes, growing opportunities for women, and the continuing fight for women's rights. New York City provides a lively setting for these changes, with its entertainment, jazz clubs, and evolving social scene.
Is The Hotel Penn a romance?
Although relationships and personal connections are part of the story, The Hotel Penn is primarily a historical coming-of-age novel about a young woman's search for independence. At its heart is Rose's journey toward discovering who she wants to be and what she is willing to risk to build the life she imagines.
Is The Hotel Penn part of a series?
No. The Hotel Penn is a standalone historical novel. You can enjoy Rose's story without having read any other books by L.L. Abbott.
Do I need to know anything about New York history to enjoy the book?
Not at all. The novel brings the atmosphere of 1919 New York to life through Rose's experiences. Readers can simply step into her world and discover the city alongside her.