Our guide, Jiri, picked us up at our hotel. After a few minutes of introductions and small talk we climbed into his minivan and headed to Terezín. The drive there from Prague was about 45 minutes, and I used the time to explain to Jiri that my mother and her family were prisoners in TheresienstadtContinue reading “On the Way to Terezín”
Tag Archives: Power of Stories
Mau and Gerty
Erik Schumacher’s new book, “Mau and Gerty: A Jewish Love Story Between Migrations and World Wars” is out. I heard about it from my friend Myriam. I wanted to read it immediately. It tells the story of a couple, Mau Hanemann and Gerty Kelemen. Erik was inspired to write the book after one of theContinue reading “Mau and Gerty”
Lost But Not Forgotten
I recently lost two of my sources. Henny’s husband sent me an email notifying me of her passing in November, and then Edith’s son sent an email of her death in January. I did not know either of these women personally, but they both have been instrumental in my research. Through the wonder of theContinue reading “Lost But Not Forgotten”
Stories Behind the Old Photos
I have written before about Lloyd Miller. He is the US Army sergeant that helped my family when they were Displaced Persons in Pilsen/Plzen Czechoslovakia in June 1945. I have two pictures of him. I asked my mother how she got them, and she remembers that he gave them to her. She also told meContinue reading “Stories Behind the Old Photos”
University of Hartford Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies Awards Evening
Monday night I attended the University of Hartford Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies Awards Evening. It was an evening of acknowledgment for hard work, academic rigor, teaching and learning, and appreciation for the donors who made it all possible. Avi Patt and Matthew Rubin presented the Joseph Zola Memorial Holocaust Educator Award to meContinue reading “University of Hartford Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies Awards Evening”
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”
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”
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”
K Heidi Fishman (Popje and Me) 