Angela Shupe
Author Interview - Angela Shupe
Author of In the Light of the Sun
Two sisters, separated by oceans and global conflict, are bonded through music and love in this gripping novel based on true events from World War II.
“Hauntingly beautiful . . . shines a light on wartime in the Philippines and Italy, places rarely depicted in historical fiction . . . a riveting, unforgettable must-read novel that will live in my heart and mind for years to come.”—Sharon Kurtzman, author of The Lost Baker of Vienna
The year is 1941, and in the Philippines, Caramina Grassi dreams of training in Italy to become an opera singer like her older sister, Rosa. But as war erupts, her world is shattered, forcing her to cling to the music that has always been her refuge. When her family’s lives are threatened and they are forced to flee to the jungle, she comes to understand that music is more than comfort. It becomes a muse that fuels her courage, sacrifice, and unwavering focus on the light.
Meanwhile, in Florence, just as Rosa Grassi’s long-awaited opera debut arrives, Mussolini tightens his grip on Italy. Drawn into la Resistenza, the underground resistance, Rosa feels lost in a fog of deception that clouds everything she thought to be true. In a time when family or friend could be foe, Rosa will learn that performing isn’t just for the stage. Facing a devastating betrayal, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the one she loves.
Inspired by true events, In the Light of the Sun is an unforgettable story of sisterhood, hope, and the enduring power of music to uplift the human spirit—even in the darkest of times.
Author Interview - Angela Shupe
Author I draw inspiration from:
Reading Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See was a watershed moment for me. It is an exceptionally beautifully-told story, with his use of language and metaphor, and the masterful weaving together of the protagonists’ tales. I read it when it first came out, long before I started writing my debut, but after I’d been considering doing so. Doerr’s story, with its two young protagonists living through WWII, encouraged me that, perhaps, writing my mom and aunt’s story might be possible. Kate Morton is another author I love, a magnificent storyteller who skillfully immerses readers in complex, beautiful settings and stories flush with intrigue. I thoroughly enjoy both Doerr and Morton’s work and learn so much from their writing.
My favorite book from Doerr is All the Light We Cannot See. Morton’s The Forgotten Garden is also a favorite.
Author Interview - Angela Shupe | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
Summertime in my home state is never long enough for me, but I love relaxing under an umbrella on the beach with a good book.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
It would have to be someone with the skills to get me out of the elevator. If Alias’s Sydney Bristow were a character in a book series, she’d be a great choice. Or perhaps, a character with the ability to time-travel and return us to the moment just before we entered the elevator.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
My father was a college professor who was a former AP journalist. We always had a lot of books in our home, which I loved. Reading was a natural part of our lives. My love for reading inspired a passion for writing. In second grade, my classmates and I were required to write a book. In the shape of a turtle with a laminated green cover, Sam the Turtle was really my debut. Seeing it on display in the library, alongside my classmates’ books, I remember being so proud. For a high school project, I wrote an opinion piece that was featured in our city newspaper, the Detroit Free Press. Having my voice heard through writing was a profound moment. Writing was something I already loved, and this experience encouraged me to continue pursuing it. As a college English major, I also played around with creative writing.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Paperbacks are perfect for on the go. I do like hardcovers, but mostly read these at home. This summer, for the first time, I purchased a Kindle for an overseas trip. It has surprised me how much I’ve enjoyed using it. So many books on such a small device! I confess I’ve only listened to a few audiobooks, but I did enjoy them. My favorite, however, are paper and ink books. There’s just something about holding a book in hand and turning the pages that adds to the reading experience for me.
The last book I read:
The last book I read was The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Evan’s debut was charming, witty, and quite moving. I particularly loved her use of the epistolary form to tell Sybil’s story.
Author Interview - Angela Shupe | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I use notebooks or journals for research and to capture ideas, snippets of scenes, and other things before I begin writing. Then, I’ll organize and condense my research notes, type them out on my computer, and print out a main research document—an encyclopedia, of sorts. I also type out a plot outline. For the manuscript, I write on my laptop. Often when editing, I print out the manuscript to read and mark up.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
It would have to be Jo from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Jo was generous, creative, and plucky in her determination to write and to do what she could to help her family. I think we’d be great friends.
Author Interview - Angela Shupe | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I’m an amateur baker of sorts. I love baking! I’ve made so many things over the years for family and friends: cakes, tarts, tartelettes, pies, crumbles, and cookies. I like to challenge myself, and enjoy the creativity involved in baking.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Though I’d hate wearing a corset or walking around under the weight of so many layers, the dresses of the 1600s and 1700s seem so romantic and are gorgeous.
Place I’d most like to travel:
Though I’ve been to Italy several times, there are so many places I’d love to visit and revisit. It would be a dream to take a few months to travel throughout Italy, digging into history.
My signature drink:
Iced tea with lime
Favorite artist:
I love so many kinds of music that it’s hard to pick a favorite. Beethoven, Vivaldi, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick, Jr., U2, Switchfoot, Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett, and John Cruz are some of my go-tos. With art, I love Monet’s seaside paintings…the windswept feeling you get seeing the whitecaps on the waves, and the sails billowing in the wind.
Number one on my bucket list:
Launching my debut novel!
Anything else you'd like to add:
Below are some early blurbs that came in for In the Light of the Sun:
“In the Light of the Sun is a hauntingly beautiful WWII novel that shines a light on wartime in the Philippines and Italy, places rarely depicted in historical fiction. Based on meticulous research and inspired by the author’s own family, two sisters are torn apart by war in a story about the unbreakable bonds between family members. This novel balances tension and tenderness, while paying tribute to one family’s bravery, hope, resilience, and the stirring power of music to help and heal the soul. In the Light of the Sun is a riveting, unforgettable must-read novel that will live in my heart and mind for years to come.”
—Sharon Kurtzman, author of The Lost Baker of Vienna
“This book is a powerful exploration of the courage of ordinary people, the unbreakable ties of sisterhood, and the abiding bond between music and hope. Inspired by her own family’s history, Angela Shupe transports readers across the harrowing years of WWII in a journey both sweeping and intimate. Fans of Kristy Cambron and Mario Escobar will want to put this novel at the top of their reading list. A magnificent debut!”
—Amanda Barratt, Christy Award–winning author of The Warsaw Sisters
“At once timeless and of the moment, In the Light of the Sun is a luminous and lyrical debut. In this gripping story of two sisters doing their best to follow their hearts during periods of immense turmoil, Angela Shupe has shown that she’s a truly gifted writer with a bright future in fiction.”
—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You
“At the heart of this riveting and compellingly researched novel, two sisters bound by blood and music experience acts of individual resistance and courage in the far-reaching theatres of the Second World War. Resilience and unexpected grace underpin Shupe’s careful excavation of a unique history tethered in real-life events. Readers of Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner and Yvette Manessis Corporon will be clamoring for more.”
—Rachel McMillan, bestselling author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code
Find more from the author:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaShupeAuthor
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/angelamshupe/
Twitter - https://x.com/labellaverita
My author website – https://angelamshupe.com/
About Angela Shupe:
Author Interview with Angela Shupe
Angela Shupe is an award-winning author whose essays and articles have appeared in several publications, along with featured short stories in various literary publications. Angela is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. Holding a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Detroit, Angela has worked as an editor for a publishing company and as a communications coordinator for a public school district. In the Light of the Sun is her debut novel.
