Author Archives: K Heidi Fishman

True or False?

I had my first nibble and my first rejection from a literary agent this month. I have an author friend with an agent, and I decided to check out what types of books her agent was interesting in representing. Her website mentioned history, and narrative nonfiction and YA. This could be the one, I thought.Continue reading “True or False?”

A Storyteller’s Plight

Last week I had lunch with 98-year-old Kurt R. at his home. I brought my mother along as she has fond memories of visits with him over the years and Kurt’s daughter joined us as well. Who is Kurt R. you might ask? Mr. R worked in the same firm as my grandfather. They firstContinue reading “A Storyteller’s Plight”

Annelies: Your Words are Still Powerful and Necessary

Last night I went to see the Handel Society of Dartmouth College perform Annelies by James Whitbourn based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl I really had no idea how someone could put the diary to music. I was wondering if we were about to see Anne Frank: The Musical and ifContinue reading “Annelies: Your Words are Still Powerful and Necessary”

A Curious Call

The other night I was getting ready to make dinner. I was in that lost state of looking in the fridge hoping that something was in there that would magically transform into a meal for my family when the phone rang. Hello? Dead air. I thought it was one of those obnoxious call-room scammers tellingContinue reading “A Curious Call”

Psychologist as Educator

My academic training is in psychology. My “therapist skills” have been very useful while researching and writing Scraps of Hope. My most important tool as a psychologist is listening, and while working on this book, I have listened a lot. I have listened carefully to my mother’s stories and thought about what was most importantContinue reading “Psychologist as Educator”

In Search of a Title

I decided it was time to name my book. It isn’t finished yet, but the title has been a thorn in my side for a while now. I started with a working title of “Tutti & Popje.” It was cute and it worked in my mind. I thought the book would be told from theContinue reading “In Search of a Title”

“How will we know it’s us without our past?”*

This morning I packed Popje in the car and took her for a ride. It wasn’t quite the same as putting a child in a car seat, but I did put her in her archival quality acid-free box and carefully put her on the passenger seat in such a way that I knew she wouldn’tContinue reading ““How will we know it’s us without our past?”*”

The Devil Really is in the Details

How do I turn a vague memory into a well-written moment in my book? My mother remembers that her father’s car (before the war reached the Netherlands in 1940) was light blue and had a rumble seat. Her parents rode in the front and when the weather was nice, she got to sit in theContinue reading “The Devil Really is in the Details”

Home from the Writing Seminar

Where do I begin — with the clothes piled in the hampers or the rewrite of a chapter that is swirling in my head? I have been at an intensive week-long writing seminar and re-entry into the real world is difficult. I have spent the last five days focused on free writing. Our teacher, theContinue reading “Home from the Writing Seminar”