Elizabeth Sloan, author of “When Songbirds Returned to Paris” and Stephen Banks, author of “Kokio: a Novel Based on the Life of Neill James,” will be signing, reading and discussing their books on Thursday at BookPeople of Moscow.

“Anyone who is interested in the Second World War and spy history should attend,” Banks said.

Both Sloan and Banks wrote stories surrounding a female historical figure during WWII.

Banks said that readers who are interested in “two books about brave, interesting, courageous and resourceful women should be interested.”

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Sloan and Banks explain their stories required research of subject matter and the historical context prior to writing.

“We both have the common journey of at least 10 years each in research to tell our stories,” Sloan said.

Sloan’s cousin, Cecily Margot Gordon Lefort, died in a concentration camp during WWII and inspired her historical non-fiction book. Sloan provides the readers with multiple perspectives through the use dialogue between herself and her cousin.

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“My book is written as a conversation between myself and my relative who died in the concentration camp,” Sloan said.

Banks informs readers of the missing information about a female espionage agent named Neill James through biographical fiction. Not knowing all the information required Banks to conduct extensive research.

“My wife would say 10 years of obsession,” said Banks.

Both authors used fiction to fill the historical gaps in their stories.

Elizabeth Sloan and Stephen Banks will read and discuss their books at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, at BookPeople of Moscow.