Writing from Walsh Mountain

A fanfiction interview at Character Cafe

Amy: Today at the Character Café, I’m welcoming a young woman who looks as though she’s walked straight out of another time—and perhaps another trial entirely. Her name is Apollonia Nowak, and when she arrived, she paused at the door as if unsure whether she was allowed warmth, comfort… or hope. Apollonia, I’m so glad you’re here.

Apollonia: [offers a small, careful smile] Thank you. It’s been… a confusing morning.

Amy: That seems to be putting it gently. When we first meet you, you wake in a strange room—cold, worn, and unfamiliar. What was going through your mind in that moment?

Apollonia: I remember the smell first. Smoke. Old air. Then the sound of the radiator—clattering like it had something important to say. I didn’t know where I was… or how I’d gotten there. Only that something had gone wrong. [She presses her fingers to her temple]
I had the feeling that if I remembered too much too quickly, it might break me.

Amy: Your story opens in a Poland still aching from the Great War—scarred, uncertain, trying to find its footing again. How does that world shape you?

Apollonia: It teaches you to live with less. Less food. Less safety. Less certainty. But also… less illusion. When everything familiar is stripped away, you discover what you truly cling to. For me, that was faith—though I questioned it more than once.

Amy: And then there’s the mystery. The missing memory. The man at the teahouse. The sense that danger may be closer than you’d like to admit.

Apollonia: (quietly) Yes. I knew I had been speaking with someone about war—about what might come next. But his face… it’s gone. As though my mind locked it away for protection.

Amy: That sense of unease—of knowing something matters but not knowing why—makes your story impossible to put down. Now, before we close, I always ask my guests one final question here at the Character Café. If I were to serve you something warm and comforting today—something that feels like home, even in uncertain times—what would it be?

Apollonia: Tea. Always tea. Something strong, perhaps black tea with a touch of honey. That would be simple and grounding. At least I think it would… And if there were food… maybe a slice of rustic bread with butter and a bit of jam. Nothing fancy. Just something that reminds you that you’re still alive… and still cared for.

Amy: Then that’s exactly what we’ll serve. A Polish black tea with honey, steaming gently in a chipped cup, paired with buttered rye bread and plum preserves. We’ll serve it humble, hearty, and quietly hopeful. Just like you, Apollonia. I’m also going to prepare a simple honey tea cake that I think you would love.

Apollonia: Thank you, Amy. I am sure I will love it.

Amy: Readers, when times were lean, women baked with what they had—simple pantry staples, a bit of honey for sweetness, and faith that tomorrow would be kinder than today. This humble cake would have been a quiet comfort on a cold morning, served with strong tea and shared in silence or hope.

Honey Tea Cake

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon cloves or nutmeg
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a small loaf pan or cake tin.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
3. In another bowl, combine honey, egg, milk, and melted butter.
4. Stir wet ingredients into dry until just combined.
5. Pour into pan and bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool slightly and serve warm with tea.

Optional: Drizzle with a little extra honey or dust lightly with powdered sugar.

Thank you for visiting the Character Café today. I have a feeling your story is only just beginning.

From a Polish teahouse to an American café: a near escape, a lost prince, a simple pea, and a courageous immigrant’s new life.

In 1920, seeking refuge from the looming threats of war and deception, Apollonia Nowak awakens in a world where she has no understanding of who she is. As she begins her search for identity, Apollonia finds solace in a small Polish teahouse. There, she will forge friendships, uncover secrets, and plan her journey to America. Apollonia must work to piece together her lost memories, but she will not embark on this journey alone.

What does one do when one’s memory has vanished? How will she keep herself safe? Who will come to her aid? Somewhere out there, her Polish prince is waiting for her. Apollonia longs to learn about the prince who saved her life on a dark autumn evening. As she travels across the ocean to a new life, fragments of her memories will gradually emerge, and she will cling to a tiny pea of hope. Will her Polish prince follow her to the land that offers freedom instead of enslavement?

A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope.

“A Pea of Courage” is a novella that tells the story of an immigrant’s journey to America. It is part of the “Apron Strings Tea Tales” multi-author series. This book is a retelling of “The Princess and the Pea.” The main lesson is that true nobility lies in genuine truth and compassion, not in status and wealth.