1. What was your initial starting point for the conception of the novel? The pearl? The sword? The prints? WWII? A coming of age story? After that first idea came about, how did the novel develop?

2. I understand that a great deal of research went into the preparation of the novel. Can you tell us how the research process partnered up with the writing process? How did these two processes work together? Did a story evolve out of the research or did you have the narrative stories in mind already and the research came to support those stories?

3. How much of your own self did you put into the story? Did you insert yourself anywhere at all? Where could we as readers look to find hints of you as a person and your own life?