How did you first learn about Emily Warren Roebling? What inspired you to write her story?
I was doing research for a play, which was to center on multiple generations of a family who were involved in the same dangerous occupation. I wanted to explore the family dynamics of such a situation: the conflict between sharing a passion and livelihood while at the same time subjecting loved ones to danger. In my research, I discovered the Roebling family and was immediately captivated by them, especially Emily.
I grew up in northern New Jersey, and my father had a penchant for taking my siblings and me for climbs to the top of everything. Hills, cliffs, buildings, monuments, whatever—if we could get to the top of it, we did. We also walked across long and high bridges. I remember how startling and frightening it was to be in the middle of the George Washington Bridge and feeling it sway in the wind.
When I discovered that Emily’s story had never been novelized, I knew it had to be and that I was the person to do it.
The Engineer’s Wife relies on a great deal of research. What was that process like?
I am lucky in that the construction of the bridge is well documented. Between purchasing several excellent texts, borrowing library books, and internet searches, I found the answers to all my questions. The more difficult part was digesting the scientific information and writing it in a way that readers would understand it and not get bored. Therefore, many of the most complicated processes are simplified or left out of the story.
I am also fortunate that a large number of personal papers and correspondence has been preserved, shedding light on the central characters.
As you were writing the book, did the story unfold basically as you had expected? Were there any surprises along the way or places where your research took you in a different direction from what you had initially envisioned?
Oh my yes. I created fictional secondary characters to serve particular functions; for example, Phebe’s circle of friends was intended to reflect on the expected roles of women at the time. But as their characters developed in the story, they took on other duties in subplots: suffrage, parenting, supporters, and naysayers.
PT was to have been a financial advisor and supporter and somehow became much more as I delved into Emily’s predicament as she was left behind by her husband.
Sometimes, research would reveal an enticing detail that I enjoyed working into the story, such as Washington’s pet snakes, a fire in the caisson, and glacial bedrock.
Emily and Washington’s love story is a complicated one. Did you find it challenging to portray the dynamics of their relationship?
I found the relationship fascinating and enjoyed sussing out the very complicated nature of what they had to accomplish together, the numerous obstacles they faced, and how that would affect their marriage. They were both incredibly intelligent people, so getting into how their minds might have worked was a challenge!
Which character, if any, from the book did you relate to the most?
Mostly Emily, for her slightly rebellious yet loving and dedicated nature, but also Eleanor, for her levelheaded wisdom. Not that I have that, but it’s something I aspire to.
Have you always enjoyed science yourself, or was writing about engineering and bridge building a whole new world for you?
Science was always my favorite subject, but I gravitated to the life sciences. I certainly wish I had studied the physical sciences more, as I had quite the learning curve.
Who are some of your favorite authors, and why?
I enjoy reading Ann Hood, both her novels and memoirs, due to the lovely flow of her words and the ease with which she shows her characters’ emotions. Kristin Hannah is another favorite, as she has a way of making history relevant and personal. Going back a ways, Herman Wouk’s historical fiction is what turned me on to the genre, and I enjoy early dystopians, such as Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. They were way ahead of their times.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m drafting a historical novel starring another heroine who did amazing things yet is obscure in history. Julia Stimson was an American nurse who recruited, trained, and led a group of nurses to serve in France during World War I before U.S. troops even arrived. She went on to lead all the nurses in the theater, then later headed the Army Nurse Corps, being the first woman to attain the rank of major.