Life in the Nanking Safety Zone- Mitch Irion

As I get back in the historical fiction swing of things (I’m reviewing books for the Historical Novel Society, among other things), I am finding all kinds of new (to me) authors telling stories that are unique and fascinating. Today’s interview pulls on family memories of a terrible time, the “Rape of Nanking.” So, welcome Mitch Irion.

Alright, Mitch, what should we know about you?

Becoming a writer is the last thing I thought I would ever do. I was the kid in school who had to take special reading classes because I was so far behind and should never have graduated from high school. However, I excelled in art and design, becoming the art director of a feature film at the age of twenty-one. When funding fell through on our next movie, I went into advertising as an art director and creative director. Decades later, my Hollywood friends pulled me back into the industry to market and promote the movie “To End All Wars.” That movie piqued my interest in storytelling again, and I wrote two feature screenplays, ‘Safety Zone,’ and a comedy, ‘Wesley Jonah.’

As someone who also has some screenplays in the drawer, then turned to novels, then back to screenplays, I can relate to your journey. What is Nanking Safety Zone about?

Nanking Safety Zone is about the true story of a small group of Westerners in Nanjing, China, who refused to flee when the Japanese army invaded the city. By staying in harm’s way, they protected over 200,000 Chinese from certain slaughter during the ‘Rape of Nanking.’

That’s not your standard WW2 story. What is it about that story that appealed to you?

I married a Chinese woman whose mother was in China during the Japanese occupation. Hearing her story of how she escaped from the Japanese army and later reading Iris Chang’s book ‘The Rape of Nanking’ spurred my interest in the event of that time. I have always admired courageous people who take a stand against evil—like Harriet Tubman, John Brown, Oskar Schindler, and others. But very few know about the Westerners, mostly American missionaries, who put their lives on the line to rescue and provide safe haven for innocent people from one of the most barbaric events in recent history. George Fitch stood out as the most interesting character and prominent leader because he was the YMCA director and had to join forces with John Rabe, who was head of the Nazi party. Their conflict and later camaraderie as they formed and led the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone made for compelling drama.

Unfair question, but it’s my blog and I get to ask whatever I want. What’s your favorite scene in the book?

The most dramatic scene is when a captive Chinese officer, Ming, is led out of the city walls to be executed as part of a hundred-man head-chopping contest by two Japanese army officers. Ming recognizes Fitch as he drives past with a Japanese official in the car. Ming burns with hatred as it appears that Fitch is allied with the enemy and has betrayed him and his men. Fitch is horrified as he witnesses the contest through his car’s mirror while waiting to be allowed back within the city walls.

Where can we learn more about you and your work?

Website: https://www.nankingsafetyzone.com/

Facebook: Nanking Safety Zone

If you want to learn more about my upcoming Foreign Legion Thriller, The Deserter, sign up for my newsletter! Check the form on this site.

If you enjoy thrilling historical fiction set in unusual war zones, check out the award-winning Lucca Le Pou stories: Acre’s Bastard and Acre’s Orphans. “Kipling’s Kim set in the Crusades for a new generation.”

Historical Fiction From Ukraine to Chicago- Mike Kerr

Mike Kerr and I both fled Chicago winters for the opposite problem in Las Vegas. His latest book, part of his 3-part (so far) “The Legman,” series is Maria and the Russian Soldier.

Mike, what should folks know about you?

Well, the first thing to know about me is that I don’t like talking about me, but I will talk about myself in terms of writing as an author to other authors or readers. Novelist is my retirement “career”. A professor told me in college that I could be a writer, “if I really wanted to.” What I really wanted was to make money, and I knew that wasn’t always true for writers. I put it off. By the way, I fought that man tooth and nail until I finally learned something. And that something was how powerful and meaningful writing could be if I was willing to go at it honestly and keep learning.

Given what’s going on in the world, the story is incredibly relevant even today. What’s the book about?

It’s a love story between a Ukrainian girl and a Russian Intelligence Officer complicated by Russia’s man-made famine against Ukraine in the early 30s and the Nazi defeat of the Red Army to take control of Ukraine in 1940.  

What are the roots of this story? Where’d it come from?

The root for the entire series is Chicago, my hometown. I start with one of the neighborhoods. This time, it was Ukrainian Village. It wasn’t long before I found the history between these two countries going back to early 20th century. The characters I developed fell out from there. Once I could get behind their eyes, and see things that way, the story came out. The story begins and ends in Chicago.

Totally unfair question. What’s your favorite scene in the book?

I don’t have just one, but I like Forever Changed. Young Maria Kovalenko remembers her mama and all the other women saying, “The love of a good woman is the most powerful thing in the world. Without it, a man may turn to terrible things.”  Leonid once rescued her. Now she makes a dangerous choice that the strength of her love can rescue him from the powerful allegiance he has to his country. He is a hero lost in an evil cause.

I don’t know about you, but The Duchess certainly keeps me on the straight and narrow. Where can we learn more about you and your books?

When you’ve checked out Mike Kerr’s work, you can find all my novels on my Amazon.com Author Page.

Look for information on my new Foreign Legion book, The Deserter, in January, 2026.