Interview With Author Russell Spencer-Downe
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Russell Spencer-Downe, and I’m a researcher, historian, and writer based in South Wales.
I combine historical research with emotional storytelling to preserve real human experiences from times of war. My writing aims to bridge the gap between history and empathy — helping readers feel the human side of events we must never forget.
My Diary My Story: The Wartime Diary and Reflections of Margareta Kowalski is my first published book, inspired by real testimonies and my own visits to Auschwitz and Kraków. I’m currently working on several related historical and family-history projects that explore courage, memory, and survival.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest book is My Diary My Story: The Wartime Diary and Reflections of Margareta Kowalski.
It was inspired by my visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Kraków, and by the countless real testimonies of those who lived, suffered, and survived during the Holocaust. I wanted to give a voice to one imagined girl — Margareta — whose diary represents the millions who were silenced.
Though Margareta herself is fictional, everything she writes and experiences in the book is built on authentic historical events, research, and emotion. The book blends historical truth with personal reflection to ensure that these stories, and the lessons behind them, are never forgotten.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write late at night, often by candlelight or with quiet music playing — it helps me focus on emotion and atmosphere. I also keep historical maps, photographs, and survivor testimonies around me while I write, so that every scene feels grounded in truth.
Before writing a chapter, I sometimes close my eyes and imagine I’m standing where my characters once stood — in this case, inside the barracks of Auschwitz or on the streets of Łódź — and I let that image guide the tone of the diary entry. It’s not conventional, but it connects me emotionally to the story I’m trying to tell.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been deeply influenced by writers who combine historical truth with emotional storytelling.
The Diary of Anne Frank has always been at the heart of my inspiration — the idea that one young voice could speak for millions. I also admire authors like Heather Morris (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Livia Bitton-Jackson, and Elie Wiesel, whose books remind us that history is not just a record of facts, but of human lives and feelings.
Beyond Holocaust literature, I’m inspired by writers who create empathy through simplicity — John Boyne (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) and Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) both influenced how I approached My Diary My Story. They taught me that sometimes the quietest stories are the ones that stay with us the longest.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a new historical writing project that continues my focus on personal stories set against the backdrop of war and social change.
Alongside that, I’m preparing a series of family-history biographies and wartime diaries drawn from my own research into British and Welsh families affected by both World Wars. One of these is based on the true story of Private William Richard Welch (1894–1917), whose letters and diary entries from Mesopotamia I’m compiling into a full narrative.
I’m also outlining a possible follow-up to My Diary My Story, exploring what happens to Margareta in the years after liberation — how she rebuilds her life and carries the weight of memory into a new world.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found that the best promotion comes from authentic storytelling and community engagement rather than pure advertising.
I use Facebook and TikTok (BookTok) to share short emotional clips, quotes from the diary, and behind-the-scenes posts about my research trips to Auschwitz and Kraków. These posts connect with readers who care about history and remembrance.
I also run and participate in several Facebook history and genealogy groups (some with tens of thousands of members), which helps reach readers naturally through shared interests.
In terms of websites, Amazon Author Central and Goodreads have been excellent for visibility, and Canva is my go-to tool for creating book graphics, trailers, and promotional videos. Authentic engagement and consistency have proven far more effective than paid ads alone.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice is to write from truth — even when it’s fiction.
Whether you’re telling a real story or imagining one, readers connect to honesty above everything else. Don’t chase trends or try to sound like other writers; focus on emotion, detail, and what you want people to feel when they finish your book.
Research matters, but so does empathy. I spent years studying testimonies, walking through Auschwitz, and visiting Kraków so that My Diary My Story would feel authentic — but it’s the emotional connection that gives it life.
Finally, don’t wait for perfection. Finish, publish, learn, and keep growing. Every book you write teaches you something new about storytelling — and about yourself.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard was: “Write the story only you can tell.”
It reminded me that authenticity is far more powerful than imitation. Every writer has a unique perspective, shaped by their experiences, emotions, and history — and that’s what makes a story worth reading.
When I was writing My Diary My Story, I often thought about that advice. I couldn’t tell Anne Frank’s story, or Elie Wiesel’s, but I could create Margareta’s — a voice that honours the real ones I heard through research, travel, and remembrance.
That advice keeps me grounded as an author: tell your truth, tell it with heart, and trust that the right readers will find it.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading several books about the concentration camps and World War II as part of my ongoing research for future writing projects.
My current reading includes survivor testimonies, historical studies, and memoirs that explore daily life inside the camps and the resilience of those who endured them. These books not only deepen my understanding of history but also help me capture the emotional truth behind each story I write.
I believe it’s vital to keep learning from real accounts — they remind me why remembrance and storytelling matter so much.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue preserving the voices of ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times.
My next project focuses on the letters and diary of Private William Richard Welch (1894–1917), a World War I soldier who served in Mesopotamia. His story will blend authentic historical records with personal emotion — much like My Diary My Story did for the Holocaust era.
Alongside that, I’m exploring a possible follow-up to Margareta’s story, set in the years after liberation, as she rebuilds her life and comes to terms with survival.
Ultimately, my goal is to create a collection of works that combine fact, family history, and fiction — stories that remind us why remembrance still matters today.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s a tough one — but I’d choose books that have stayed with me long after reading.
First would be The Diary of Anne Frank — it reminds me of courage, hope, and the power of one young voice.
Second, Night by Elie Wiesel — a book that teaches what humanity must never forget.
Third, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak — a story about words and survival that always inspires me as a writer.
And finally, I’d bring The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, because it captures love and resilience in a place where both seemed impossible.
Those four books together would remind me why I write — to keep memories alive and to show that even in the darkest places, there can still be light.
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