Please help me welcome my friend and author, Alice Wisler! Today she shares with us her deleted scene from her novel Under the Silk Hibiscus. Alice is also giving away an ebook copy to one lucky reader, so leave a comment to enter to win!
The gold pocket watch with the crane and bamboo etchings has been in the Mori family for three generations. First crafted in Osaka, Japan in 1888, it was gifted to the patriarch of the family with gratitude for his act of bravery in saving the daughter of a renowned noble from drowning. In 1919, the watch provided enough prestige and awe so that the family of four was able to board a vessel to the United States as first-class passengers. This gold, diamond-crested watch is rarely exposed for fear of theft, and during the passage to America, it was safely tucked inside a suitcase in the folds of a scarlet silk kimono. But war has a way of changing things . . . Especially when you're fifteen and look like the enemy . . . . |
Alice, thank you for being my guest this week! Why don't you share with us the reason for your deleted scene.
I know that you asked for a deleted scene, but as you know, I never follow all the rules. So this is not only a deleted scene, but also a deleted character. And a host of story changes and revisions.
I love it! Go on! =)
At first, I thought I would write my novel, Under the Silk Hibiscus, in third person, but switched to first because I feel more comfortable writing in first person. I deleted Tomiko as a character, gave Nobu two brothers instead of a sister, and started the first chapter a little differently. I also changed my story's setting. While I was researching the Poston Internment Camp, I also read about Heart Mountain Internment Camp. I switched the setting from Arizona to Wyoming. At first I made Nobu, the main character, a polio survivor, but then I gave him a younger brother and let his brother wear a brace and deal with that challenge.
It's fun to look back on this chapter and wonder what would have happened had the story followed my original synopsis.
Without further ado, check out Alice's deleted character (Note: if you are on a smart phone, this file is too large it will not pull up. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
I know that you asked for a deleted scene, but as you know, I never follow all the rules. So this is not only a deleted scene, but also a deleted character. And a host of story changes and revisions.
I love it! Go on! =)
At first, I thought I would write my novel, Under the Silk Hibiscus, in third person, but switched to first because I feel more comfortable writing in first person. I deleted Tomiko as a character, gave Nobu two brothers instead of a sister, and started the first chapter a little differently. I also changed my story's setting. While I was researching the Poston Internment Camp, I also read about Heart Mountain Internment Camp. I switched the setting from Arizona to Wyoming. At first I made Nobu, the main character, a polio survivor, but then I gave him a younger brother and let his brother wear a brace and deal with that challenge.
It's fun to look back on this chapter and wonder what would have happened had the story followed my original synopsis.
Without further ado, check out Alice's deleted character (Note: if you are on a smart phone, this file is too large it will not pull up. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
To read the final version of Under the Silk Hibiscus, leave a comment below to enter to win, or stop by Amazon today! To connect with Alice, visit her on Facebook or at her website!

Alice has written four novels published by Bethany House: Rain Song (Christy Finalist), How Sweet It Is (Christy Finalist), Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation, and Still Life in Shadows by River North/Moody. Her devotional, Getting out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache (Leafwood), covers the many losses we face and how God sustains us through each one. Under the Silk Hibiscus, released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, is her latest novel and first historical.
In 1999, she founded Daniel’s House Publications (in memory of her son Daniel who died from cancer treatments). Under Daniel’s House she published three print cookbooks in memory of children who have died too soon, an e-book on journaling, developed a line of bereavement cards, and created Writing the Heartache workshops and Writing the Psalms workshops. She offers her workshops online and at conferences across the country. The workshops stress the value and benefits of writing from pain and loss for healing, health, and hope.
In 2012, she and her husband started a business, Carved By Heart, where they carve log cabin mailboxes, memorial plaques/remembrances, house number signs, bird feeders, rustic clocks, and other home décor. Although Alice grew up as missionary kid in Japan, and traveled the world, she’s now settled with her husband, three children and the handsomest boxer you’ve ever seen, in Durham, NC.
In 1999, she founded Daniel’s House Publications (in memory of her son Daniel who died from cancer treatments). Under Daniel’s House she published three print cookbooks in memory of children who have died too soon, an e-book on journaling, developed a line of bereavement cards, and created Writing the Heartache workshops and Writing the Psalms workshops. She offers her workshops online and at conferences across the country. The workshops stress the value and benefits of writing from pain and loss for healing, health, and hope.
In 2012, she and her husband started a business, Carved By Heart, where they carve log cabin mailboxes, memorial plaques/remembrances, house number signs, bird feeders, rustic clocks, and other home décor. Although Alice grew up as missionary kid in Japan, and traveled the world, she’s now settled with her husband, three children and the handsomest boxer you’ve ever seen, in Durham, NC.