If one of my fictional characters could tell you about me what would she say? Andrew Boden? He loves writing short stories, novels and essays. He's keen on reinventing history and exploring the outdoors. Beware what you tell him — your secrets will likely inspire his next story.

And welcome to my debut novel, When We Were Ashes, published by the great folks at Goose Lane Editions.

“When We Were Ashes is an amazing read — a page-turner plot-wise, imbued with language that dances on the page. A sui generis and an unflinching take on the macro and micro evils of Nazi Germany, Andrew Boden’s debut novel throbs with humanity, intelligence, moral complexity, and an understanding of the complications of extreme cruelty and extreme kindness. The child narrator Rainor, his brilliant friend Emmi, and the conflicted bus driver Peter Berger have stayed resident in my mind even months later.”

— Zsuzsi Gartner, Giller-Prize shortlisted author of Better Living Through Plastic Explosives and Writers Trust Fiction Prize finalist for The Beguiling