Talk Show Thursday: My life as a War Correspondent

Ruth Brown, main character in my historical mystery series, is a war correspondent in London during WWII. What is life like for these plucky women? Let's find out:

Linda: How did you come to be a war correspondent?

Ruth: Well, fortunately my editor, Mr. Isaacs, apparently has connections. Normally, it could have taken months of paperwork, interviews and waiting. But he was able to pull some strings and get me certified in a matter of weeks. You see, the issue is that men don't want women in the journalistic ranks, especially covering combat. I think it helped that I'm not interested in going to the front. I'm covering London.

Linda: With all the bombing, London must have felt a bit like the front.

Ruth: That it did. I tell you, I'm so impressed with the citizens of London. They carry on as if nothing is happening. They are determined that Hitler will not win this one. The other day one of the secretaries apologized for being tardy. I discovered later that her home had been bombed. No wonder she was late! But she didn't use that for an excuse. Yes, I'm very impressed.

Linda:  Can you tell me about your latest story?

Ruth:  Sure. I wrote a piece about the children, elderly and infirm being evacuated from London.

You should have seen the train stations. Packed with kids of all ages, tagged like a piece of luggage, moms and dads crying. It was tough to see, but I understand their desire to keep their children safe. I hope it all works out in the end.

Linda: How do your articles get published?

Ruth: Well, I'm a stringer. That means I get paid by the piece rather than receiving a salary from the news agency. I submit to United Press each time and it's not a given that they'll take my stuff. But I'm lucky. My home paper always carries my articles and is still paying me my salary.

Linda: Can you tell us what you're working on currently?

Ruth: I'm afraid not. A journalist is always afraid of being scooped.

Linda: Thanks for stopping by.