Constance Hood inherited five filing cabinets of family memoirs – tales of war, adventure, and love affairs from an eccentric array of characters.
After many years of writing grants and textbooks, it was time to tell her own stories and explore the intrigues behind the collections of journals, letters and audiotapes.
Islands of Deception began with a thick envelope that arrived in the mail in 2003. In it were several closely spaced pages of notes from her father. He had been a Dutch intelligence operative in WWII, working for the U.S. Army.
The narrative in the envelope was now declassified. The firsthand accounts were compelling. A mismatch between his stories and those of his Amsterdam sister presented another puzzle. These distant and complex characters were moving parts of a much larger tale.
Artistry is a part of storytelling. Married to actor Chet Hood, work days often begin with improvisational theater work, building scenes before writing them. When the author is not digging away at parts of a story, she likes to swim in the ocean, travel, and play the viola. http://constancehood.com