July 8, 2008

A writer’s life

Shinn’s novel ‘Pierre’s War’ documents WWII in occupied France

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

Every writer desires to publish a book. And for Annick O. Shinn, that time is now.

Shinn’s children, Danny, Corinne, and Monique Faylor, proudly presented their mother’s first novel “Pierre’s War From Invasion to Liberation” to the public at a book signing held at the Campbell Community Center recently.

Annick Shinn’s granddaughter Jacqueline Faylor read a chapter from “Pierre’s War” at the book signing held at the Campbell Community Center. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“Erna used to say that you were not a full-fledged writer until you’d published a book,” said the trim, attractive Shinn, who has previously published in newspapers and magazines. Holyer was her writing teacher who taught for decades in the South Bay. “I guess I can officially call myself an author now.”

But Shinn’s foray into the writing life started years before. Her experiences growing up in France during World War II is the impetus for “Pierre’s War.” She was third in a family of seven and entertained her siblings by writing them stories. She admits there was a period when she just wrote business and personal letters - when she first moved to California with her husband who was stationed in France after the war. The couple moved to Cambrian in 1965 and raised their three children. They have four grandchildren, and one, Jacqueline Faylor, read a chapter from “Pierre’s War” at the book signing.

“Mom always loved to write,” said Corinne Shinn, who works for the City of Campbell in the community development department. “I think the most prolific writing she has done since she came to America in the late 1950’s was writing letters to family and friends in France. When we would go to France, we were not like strangers, but rather our French relatives knew us. I attribute this to mom’s writing ability and her engaging letters.”

In the late 1970s, Shinn attended Erna Holyer’s writing class held through Metropolitan Adult Education. She first became published writing an article on teenage driving for a law enforcement magazine. A class assignment a few years ago was memoir writing and Shinn started documenting her childhood in the war torn country she grew up in. Holyer suggested she write a novel of her experiences and “Pierre’s War” was born. Though her teacher died in 2007, many in her class continued to meet weekly to critique their writings.

“Annick and I enrolled in Erna Holyer’s 1976 class called “Writing Fact and Fiction for Publication,” said friend Rosemarie Niles who attended the book signing. “Neither of us knew anything about a manuscript format or how to market our writings. Our teacher pushed and encouraged us to learn the craft of writing so our stories would be published. Eventually our goal was to write a book. I’m so happy for Annick.”

Annick O. Shinn presented her first novel “Pierre’s War” recently. The cover art was done by her brother Alain Ridard and represents the war torn village where they grew up.

“Pierre’s War” documents four years of the title character’s life starting in 1940 when German troops invade France. The ten year old is optimistic but as the situation worsens the family tries to live as normally as possible. Shinn has taken memories of her childhood and created a world where her characters show their best and worst traits as well as documenting history. And throughout the first day of invasion to the day of liberation there is always hope in Shinn’s novel.

“I knew that much of Annick’s story about Pierre was based on what her family experienced after the German invasion of France,” said friend Louise Cate. “I was especially impressed with how Pierre’s family coped with war, death, fear, lack of food and fuel and other difficulties. They used humor, faith, courage, hard work and lots of love to survive.”

“What pushed me to finish the book were my grandchildren,” said Shinn. “Owning a radio was a luxury and you could count on your hand how many phones there were in the village I grew up in. This is a window [into the past] they would not be familiar with otherwise.”

Though “Pierre’s War” is written through the eyes of a 10-year-old, the parents occupy main characters throughout the novel.

“Week after week I sat in Erna Holyer’s class and listened to Annick read parts of this book,” said Mary Chiao. “It was spellbinding. I had to go to class because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t hear the next installment. Hats off to Annick Shinn for sharing her story with us.”

Educator Nan Hunter agrees.

“Annick has written a book that will add insight to the study of World War II,” said Hunter. “She has lived what she writes about and has done so with feeling and authentic, accurate details. I recommend “Pierre’s War” for school and public libraries to increase interest in the history of world events through reading fiction based novels.”

For more information regarding “Pierre’s War” visit www.RP-Author.com/Shinn.