Q&A with Loretta Ellsworth

  

Photo by Tricia Riggin Photography

 

Loretta Ellsworth is the author of the new novel The Jilted Countess. It was inspired by the true story of a Hungarian countess who emigrated to Minnesota after World War II. Ellsworth's other books include Stars Over Clear Lake. She lives in Minnesota. 

 

Q: The Jilted Countess was inspired by a real story--how did you first learn about it?

 

A: In 2015, there was an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper, which mentioned the countess. It referenced the original articles in 1948 and asked readers if anyone knew what happened to her. Unfortunately, no one replied.

 

So I decided to look up the 1948 articles myself (on microfiche) at the Minnesota History Center. I became obsessed with her story and did everything I could to find out what became of her, but with no success. But I did come away with a great story!

 

Q: What did you see as the right balance between fiction and history as you wrote the book?

 

A: I wanted to use as much true history as I could. As a matter of fact, I purchased the rights to the original articles, and used them in my book (with a bit of editing for length).

 

I spent so much time in research trying to find the real countess, but I had no name (they used a fake name in the newspaper), and I didn’t even know what town she ended up in.

 

I ultimately had to give myself permission to finish her story, to use as much history as I had in the first half and let my imagination create the second half of the book.

 

Q: Can you say more about how you researched the novel? Did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: As noted above, I spent way too much time at the Minnesota History Center looking up articles. I also looked up marriage records for the timeframe in which she would have been married, looking for Hungarian-sounding names, then checking obituaries as well.

 

I also read a great deal about Hungary during WWII, both fiction and nonfiction, and researched places in the Twin Cities where she might have had her dates. 

 

I was surprised by how quickly the responses came to the news article - I found out that in 1948 most towns had mail service two or three times a day! And, of course, I was surprised by how many men offered to marry her!

 

Q: The writer Heather Webb said of the book, “The Jilted Countess is a fascinating and tender tale of new beginnings, finding love in unexpected places, and the path to healing in the aftermath of war.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: That’s a very generous description, and I thank her for her kind blurb as well. I read a great deal of historical fiction and I’m always struck by how resilient people are who face tremendous heartbreak and challenges. It takes a special kind of strength and courage to marry a stranger and start a new life rather than go back to a country under Communist regime.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on another historical novel that goes back and forth in time between WWII and 1997 and takes place in the US and Japan.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I included a photo of the real countess in the Author Note at the back of the book. I’m hoping this will lead to finding out who she is. Stay tuned!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Loretta Ellsworth.