Beth Anderson, Children's Writer

Writers often ask how to go about interviewing someone connected to the subject of a biography. The opportunity is golden, and…very intimidating! In this post, author Claudia Friddell shares her process of preparing for an interview with relatives of Virginia Hall, as well as conducting it. The book is fabulous! And so are her tips!

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINIA HALL, WORLD WAR II’S MOST DANGEROUS SPY.

Congrats to Ann Harrell, winner of MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER from Julie Winterbottom!

Making It Personal: Interviewing Relatives of Historical Subjects by Claudia Friddell

Recently I was talking to fellow author Esther Hershenhorn about the unique personal journey I experienced while researching and writing my YA biography, The Mysterious Virginia Hall, World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy. Esther reminded me of the movie You’ve Got Mail when Tom Hanks’ character tells Meg Ryan’s that putting her family-owned children’s bookshop out of business wasn’t personal. Ryan’s response? “Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.” 

Virginia Hall’s heroics inspired me to share her story. My challenge was to bring her to life for teen readers so they could feel a personal connection with this extraordinary woman.

I know from researching past subjects, especially for my book, Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call, one of the best ways to bring a historical person to life is through interviews with their family and friends. 

I had the rare opportunity to meet and interview Virginia’s relatives, Lorna Catling and her son Brad. They shared first-hand accounts of their legendary Aunt Dindy that provided insights I couldn’t have gotten through any other sources. 

When I first decided to research Virginia Hall’s life, I was excited to have a personal connection— she was a local Baltimore girl who attended the same school as my daughter, but a century earlier.  When I discovered that Lorna lived in my neighborhood, I couldn’t believe my luck. Or was it fate? Finding a great story in your own backyard is like discovering hidden treasure!

I wanted to run down the street and meet Lorna, but I knew I needed to build a foundation of knowledge first and then outline my plan for interviewing a family member:

1. Preparation

Before I reached out to Lorna, I thoroughly researched what was already documented about Virginia Hall’s life. I took notes and formulated questions about what I wanted her to explain, expand on, and verify. 

• Contact

Once I felt prepared, I introduced myself to Lorna, expressed my admiration for her aunt and shared my enthusiasm for sharing her story with young readers. I wanted Lorna to know her perspective would be essential to bring Virginia Hall’s personal story to life— no living person had spent more time or shared more memories with the legendary spy. 

• Interview introduction

When we first met, I presented myself as a professional. As a neighbor, I had an advantage in building rapport and trust. Once Lorna agreed to being recorded, we were off and running!

• Interview Questions

Lorna was in her 90’s when we first met, but she was as clear as a bell, and as direct as I imagined her aunt to be.  I started with general questions (What are some of your childhood memories of your aunt? How was she different after the war?). As Lorna became more comfortable sharing, my questions became more specific. And as her trust grew, her responses became more personal. When I asked her about her aunt’s limp—the Gestapo called her “the Limping Lady”— Lorna stood up and explained while she demonstrated, “She didn’t really limp. She had a slight swing to her hip, like this.” Then she added with a smile, “Maybe that’s why they never caught her!” Lorna freely shared stories of her aunt’s mysterious past, which I’ve included in my book. One of the most poignant was Virginia’s heart-wrenching vision of her deceased father at her bedside after Virginia’s amputation, begging her to hold onto life. Memories like these enriched my ability to personalize Virginia for my readers.

5.       Photos and mementos

Pouring over the piles of family photos with Lorna provided me with the most personal and cherished memories in my research journey. I felt like I was sitting with an elderly relative at a family reunion reminiscing about loved ones. Old polaroids, often with written notes on the back, sparked memories and stories from Lorna. While showing me a picture of young Dindy on her brother’s shoulders (Lorna’s father) at their family farm, Lorna recalled that her father gave his sister the nickname Dindy by mispronouncing her original nickname, Ginger. Incorporating family stories like this in the captions made black and white photos more personal and relatable.

After my initial interview, Lorna and her son Brad were gracious enough to accommodate follow-up meetings in person and by phone to fine-tune my facts. They read my manuscript, made comments, and shared additional letters and photos. Lorna wrote my blurb, and Brad wrote a beautiful Foreword. They were the real-life treasures of my adventures in writing about Virginia Hall. I’m grateful they brought me into their Aunt Dindy’s world and enabled me to personalize this heroine for a new generation. After all, “Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”

NOTE: While this book is labeled YA, I found it suitable for older MG readers, and Claudia’s topic valuable for all levels of nonfiction writing. BA

Don’t forget to leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of THE MYSTERIOUS VIRGINIA HALL! (US addresses only, please. Winner announced 6/27/25)

And if you enjoy a book, please support authors and illustrators by sharing short reviews online. 😍