Imogen Matthews 
Imogen Matthews was born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father, the family moved to England when Imogen was very young.
Imogen contacted me and asked me to review her novel. She told me that The Hidden Village
I was delighted to welcome Imogen Matthews to my Chat Room. She is the first author to visit the completed room. I was a little alarmed when she greeted me with, ‘Dag!’ but explained that it is Dutch for hello.
Imogen came into the Chat Room wearing a navy biker jacket over peach-coloured culottes and strappy navy sandals. Of course, she had brought an enviable bag for the occasion and it was an elegant mushroom tote bag.
She requested a black Americano and brought some Dutch “koekjes” (biscuit) called “krakelingen” – lovely crisp flaky biscuits topped with sugar and cinnamon.
She said, ‘In Holland, you always get a “koekje” with your coffee and I miss that in England!’
How is Dutch culture different to British culture?
The Dutch have a word “gezellig” that is an emotion we don’t have a word for. So you can make your house “gezellig” by having lots of table lamps and tealights (strictly no overhead lights). A sociable meal with friends and family is also “gezellig”. My mother also used to say it was “gezellig” whenever I used to pop over for coffee. The Danes have stolen a march on this idea with “hygge”, but I can assure you that I’ve been using “gezellig” long before “hygge” became fashionable!
Imogen is an engaging, lively and positive personality and this reassured me that the narrative voice in her book would also be appealing. It was obvious that her determination has served her well as a writer. She cares passionately about the hidden Dutch history and this made me want to read on for the sake of the lost voices.
Set in WW2 Holland, deep in the Veluwe woods, The Hidden Village is a story about survival, hope, despair, and ultimately, love, as a community pulls together to build a purpose-built village to shelter those persecuted by the Germans. The lives of young Sofie, Jan and Liesbeth become entwined with devastating consequences for their futures.
Tempt me with an extract from the novel
“It was the smell of a cigarette that stopped him in his tracks. A man wearing a grey belted coat stepped out from behind the tree. ‘So’, he said, grinding his cigarette with his boot.”
Why did you decide to digress from your usual genre of novel?
This was a story I felt I had to get down, so when I’d finished I felt pleased I’d told a story that so many people won’t have known anything about.
What do the reviewers say about your novel?
Sensitively written. “From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided – OUT LOUD! Sensitively written, with a page-turning plot, this is a wonderful new book from Imogen.” Ms E. Holmes-ievers
I couldn’t put it down. “This skillful blend of fiction within the factual events happening to many at those times, holds you till the end. I couldn’t put it down, nor did I want to until the final page.” Gilly Cox
Highly recommended. “Though the subject matter is tough, there are lighter moments and the book rattles along at a good pace. The varied cast of characters, especially the younger ones, keeps your interest. Highly recommended.” Clarky
How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
It left a big hole as I’d spent so long on the book and I realised just how attached I’d become to my characters.
So yes, I miss my characters lots! I miss Sofie’s feistiness and determination not to let her life change by hiding away from the Germans. And I miss her best friend Liesbeth, who sticks by Sofie through thick and thin, even though she also has to make her own big sacrifices. I even miss the enigmatic Henk, the head woodman, who’s instrumental in getting the hidden village built, but struggles with his loyalties. I particularly miss Jan, who’s always getting into scrapes but is only trying to help others and do good. He goes through so much that I just want to give him a big hug and tell him that everything will turn out alright.
It is obvious that you are genuinely attached to your characters and care about them – this always bodes well for the reader.
Who would you like to read your book and why? This could be another author, someone famous, a friend or a member of your family.
I’d love Anita Shreve to read my book as I’m a great fan of her writing. She has a great ability to say so much in so few words. Her book Resistance, set in German-occupied Belgium, is brilliant and inspired me when I started working out the plot for my book.
Why should I keep your book in my handbag?
Because it’s so gripping that you won’t want to leave it out of your sight!
What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?
I’ve been writing for years and have notebooks all over the place, so that’s a hard one. I guess it’ll be something along the lines of “to be continued.” That sums up how I feel about writing -I’ve always got something more to say.
What is the biggest challenge for an independent author?
Getting noticed. You have to work really hard to get people to find your book as the competition is increasing all the time. I self-published my first book Run Away by Alex Johnson (my pen name) in 2012 and got a great response quite quickly and lots of reviews. Then in 2014 I published the sequel The Perfume Muse and it was already much harder. For The Hidden Village I was fortunate to find Amsterdam Publishers, who have been enormously helpful in helping to navigate the many pitfalls when launching a book.
What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
A writing tutor once said that you should write every day, however little and however bad you might think your writing is. She also recommended writing before doing anything else first thing in the morning as it’s so easy to get distracted by other things and then never get down to it. I took her advice to heart and sometimes I only write 100 words a day, but these words do add up and eventually you can see you have written a book. Of course, that’s when the hard work starts, but you’ve built the framework which gives you the confidence to keep going.
Tell me a little more about yourself.
I live with my husband in Oxford and love to go on runs, walks and cycle rides in the beautiful surrounding countryside. I love cooking Moroccan and Middle Eastern inspired food, particularly Ottolenghi and Persiana recipes. A favourite is lovely crumbly tahini cookies.
Tahini Cookies (from Jerusalem) by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamiimi
130g caster sugar
150 unsalted butter, at room temperature
110g light tahini paste
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
25ml double cream (you can sub this with milk)
270g plain flour
1tsp cinnamon
200 degree C/180 degree C Fan/Gas Mark 6
Put sugar and butter in mixer bowl and with a beater attachment work for 1 minute at medium speed. Add tahini, vanilla and cream, then the flour and work for a minute till a dough comes together. Transfer to a work surface and knead till smooth.
Pinch off 20g of dough and roll between your palms into a ball. Squash down onto a baking sheet (no oil necessary) and use the back of a fork to flatten and make a prong pattern. Sprinkle each cookie with cinnamon. Make sure the cookies aren’t too close together as they do spread a bit.
Into the oven for 15-17 minutes till golden brown.
Turn onto a wire rack to cool and try and resist eating them when hot! Yum!
I pressed Imogen to let me have the recipe!
Please see all my interviews on My Guests and see my blog at jessiecahalin.com
Do you know the Dutch built a village for the Jewish community in World War Two? Imogen Matthews tells the inspirational story in ‘
About half-way through the book, Jan and his brother, Oscar, are arrested by the Gestapo for helping a fallen American pilot. This extract describes what happens after their terrifying journey in the back of the Nazis’ vehicle.
‘They’re going to lock us up?’
Deep in the Veluwe woods lies a secret that frustrates the Germans. Convinced that Jews are hiding somewhere close by, they can find no proof.
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, is one of the first inhabitants of Berkenhout. At first she refuses to participate in village life and pines for her friends and family. But she realises there is no choice and comes to appreciate the support of the local community who make their survival possible.
In November, I received some mail from Nunspeet, Holland. Imogen Matthews posted an article to 
Across the path was a sign to Het Verscholen Dorp, Dutch for hidden village. It wasn’t easy to see what was there, which was probably the point. We followed a rough path through the trees and ahead of us was a hut of some sort, only partly visible. The roof was covered with moss, vegetation and branches to look like the ground beside it. It was a reconstruction of an underground hut that had stood on this spot.
Today, the woods are a haven for people looking to escape busy lives in towns and cities. The Veluwe is a popular holiday destination, but deep in the woods it’s always tranquil. I imagine how quiet it must have been 74 years ago, although for many the peace was tempered by an undercurrent of threat and fear.
The community hide their Jewish neighbours in attics and summerhouses. Eventually, an entire village is constructed, in the woods, to protect these vulnerable people. It is intriguing to observe how a community work together. In turn, Matthews examines how the hidden villagers feel trapped. It is sad that ‘freedom seemed an impossible dream’ yet we know it is better than the fate of their counterparts outside of the village. How could they have realised the danger? The German occupation is an ever-present menace that pursues the characters. ‘All it took was a stray German to bump into’ one of children running through the woods with supplies. Will they be caught?
A society is developed with rules, regulations and leaders but there is tension. Matthews explores the pressures of a community within a community. She presents some very strong central characters who grow up in this unnatural world. It is heart-breaking to observe how the children lose their innocence. These children live with uncertainty and broken families – they have to find an inner strength. The community spirit is heartening yet wanes under the burden of war. Some of the younger characters rely on friendships to support them but they learn about cold, brutal betrayal.