My friends at Books Forward sent me some information on this new novel, featuring the author’s ancestor who came to American from Norway and was institutionalized in a mental hospital for most of her life.

The Blue Trunk traces the journey of Marit Sletmo as she comes to America and the quest of her great great niece, Rachel, as she seeks to discover Marit’s story, while writing her own.

Here’s the scoop:

When Ann Lowry inherited an ancestor’s blue travel trunk, she had no idea that this artifact was about to take her on a three-year journey of discovery. She was told that the trunk’s previous owner, a great-great aunt, had been institutionalized for insanity. Despite meticulous genealogy research, she was unable to uncover any facts about her and concluded that she must have spent her entire adult life in an asylum. Lowry was inspired to write The Blue Trunk, (Sept. 10, 2024, Koehler Books) to help reclaim her ancestor’s voice and shed light on these all-too-common institutionalizations. Seamlessly weaving historical fiction with contemporary life, Lowry’s tale explores identity, strength, and connection across decades.

Rachel Jackson’s idyllic life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a woman’s scarf in her politician husband’s computer bag. But in an election year, seeking answers to questions of infidelity is not an option. When her mother gives her a family heirloom, a travel trunk owned by an ancestor, she finds a distraction. As she immerses herself in its contents, she discovers a woman whose life is vastly different from her own. Or is it? 

Determined to dispel the notion that her ancestor Marit was insane, Rachel sets out to unveil her unknown story. In the interwoven narratives of these two women, who are bound by blood and a shared struggle, The Blue Trunk is a poignant exploration of identity, love, and unwavering strength.

Here’s a bit about Anne:

Ann’s journey into the realm of storytelling was foretold by a Sedona psychic in 2001. That prophecy became a reality two decades later when Ann discovered a family heirloom, a travel trunk from Norway, which sparked the genesis of her debut novel, “The Blue Trunk.”

A writer her entire life, Ann holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Minnesota.  Her career has been dedicated to teaching and helping others navigate communication and resolve conflicts. Ann is fascinated by the dynamics of relationships, discord, and the intricacies of the human condition.  Ann successfully completed the Loft Literary Center’s Novel Writing Intensive course in 2022.

Alongside her passion for fiction, she has contributed to academic journals, penned thought-provoking opinion pieces, crafted engaging content for online platforms, and provided insights on the federal management of disasters. 

When Ann isn’t immersed in the world of writing, she finds solace in the pool or the lake. She cherishes playful moments with her rescue-turned-therapy dog, Loki, and also enjoys reading, golfing, and indulging in the art of cookie and bread baking. Fly fishing is her newest hobby. Most of all, she savors precious time with her family.

Ann and her spouse, Karen, and fur child, Loki, live in Timnath, Colorado, where they enjoy the beauty of nature daily. Learn more about Ann at: www.annlowry.com 

I loved this story because not only was it a story within a story, but it had a focus on strong women, as well as resilience and identity. I loved the ending and was so hopeful that the story was largely based in fact. So I asked if I could do a Q&A with Ms. Lowry, and here it is!

BBNB: Hi there! I really enjoyed your novel so much. I’m curious. Is there really a blue trunk? And how did you first get interested in your ancestor’s story?

Yes, there is a blue trunk. It still sits in the foyer of my home in Colorado and has the name “Marit Sletmo” painted on the front. My mother inherited the trunk and while I was aware of the fact that my great-great aunt used it when she immigrated from Norway, I knew nothing of her life until I suggested naming my daughter “Marit.” My mother reacted to my suggestion with horror telling me that Marit was “insane” and that she and her sisters were never allowed to talk about her. Needless to say, I didn’t name my daughter after her. But I thought of her, of course, every time I saw the trunk. A few years ago my mother gave me the trunk and I started researching her on genealogy websites. But my research came to a dead end rather quickly. I concluded, sadly, that Marit likely spent her entire life in an institution. I knew I wanted to reclaim her life by writing a novel about her.

BBNB: As a person who studied psychology in college, your novel reminded me of the truly inhumane ways that people with mental illness were treated. How did you research that part of your novel? 

The National Institute of Health and the Library of Congress have good information. But probably the most compelling information for me came from information gleaned from investigative journalist Nelly Bly. In 1887, Bly had herself committed to the “lunatic asylum” on Blackwell’s Island in New York. She spent ten days there and documented the horrific conditions that existed there at that time and noted that some women were sane but had been committed by family members who wanted them out of the way.

BBNB: Is Marit’s journey very similar to your own great aunt’s? Did you have that level of detail of her life or did you have to use some creative license? Did you have to track down clues to find answers like Rachel did in the novel?

Most of the book is fiction because I reached a dead end early with my genealogy research. I had an autograph book that she had signed in Wisconsin (my only clue) and I knew that she had indeed made it to the United States and that she could speak English fluently (given the poem she wrote in the autograph book). But I learned through my research that asylum patients were not always included in the census and that they sometimes weren’t issued death certificates. Census data and death and marriage certificates are ways that you can track ancestors and I couldn’t find anything for her. She essentially became “unknown.”  I had originally named the book “The Life I Wished for You” because a lot of it was from my imagination, but my publisher prefered The Blue Trunk (also a fine title). I wanted Marit to have a good life. Her created life isn’t easy in the book, but she is resilient and strong and in order to portray that, I needed her to have some challenges. Ultimately she overcomes her challenges and thrives.

BBNB: I have to ask: did your great aunt have a happy ending like Marit? I do love happy endings…

Unfortunately, I don’t think she did. I suspect she spent her remaining life in an institution. But she has a happy ending in the novel and that was important to me. I love what she became (in the book) and love the fact that if you now search her name, you will find it. She is no longer unknown.

BBNB: Are you working on something new right now (or “write now”)?

I am! I am writing about four women friends who were WASP’s during WWII. The women of the Women’s Air Corp flew planes across the country for the military plane repositioning. They were amazing and brave women. In spite of their service, they weren’t awarded military benefits until President Jimmy Carter awarded veteran’s status in 1977.  The book is loosely based upon the life of my real aunt who was a WASP and flew six different planes during her tour of duty. That said, the book is mostly about family drama, romance, and being a strong and resilient woman.

Thank you so much for my copy and for answering my questions.

I loved this story and I look forward to more novels by Ann Lowry!