Category Archives: Author events
A Great Reading and Upcoming Books
Last weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the fifth ‘Literary Hike’ in the beautiful Vorwerk Park in Wuppertal. Under cloudy but dry skies eight authors and their roughly twenty guests walked and enjoyed beautiful settings together. At various picturesque sites throughout the park authors presented stories and poems.
Since the German translation of ‘Surviving the Fatherland’ called Vaterland, wo bist du? will be published this month, I read a section from the new book. We also had the pleasure of listening to Michael Völkel’s music and ballads, both entertaining and fun.
A New Novel Set in WWII
New Cover
When Hitler decided to mass-evacuate Germany’s children in 1940, he had a lot more than their wellbeing in mind. He had a purpose for those kids, particularly children eleven and older. Sold to parents as ‘vacations to protect from bombs and nourish their minds,’ the real goal was to train boys as future soldiers and girls to become mothers. Many camps were strictly organized and schedules began before seven am and lasted all day, strapping children into tightly regulated timetables. School time was restricted to four hours a day—less later in the war because of lack of teachers—and afternoon activities increased to include war games and competitive sports.
I wrote an exciting novel with two youth protagonists, fourteen-year old Hilda who is in love with her neighbor and best friend, fifteen-year old Peter. Here is a little intro:
When They Made Us Leave tells the heartwarming love story of two teens who are separated when they’re forced to attend separate evacuation camps. Each confronted with terror and cruelty as well as unexpected kindness, they must rise above to survive the war and find each other once more.
New Cover German version of ‘Surviving the Fatherland’
Both characters have deep wounds and secrets they must work through while dealing with the ever-increasing threats of war and the atrocities they encounter in camp. I’ve also worked in some great historical info I found while researching the dozens of books, magazines and other resources.
VATERLAND, WO BIST DU? Available now in bookstores!
The new German version of SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND is now available in bookstores and online.
I’ve also been working hard preparing the publication of Vaterland, wo bist du? in paperback, hardcover und eBook. Expected publication will be later this month. Because of language, this edition targets the German language market. I’m hoping to do a number of readings and presentations.
A Few Tidbits
Reading
As a member of the Solinger Autorenrunde I participated in a wonderfully diverse reading organized by the Monheim Public Library. In the garden, framed by picturesque brick walls and flowering plants, we read and listened to amazing stories and poems. In-between we enjoyed refreshments and guitar and song music.
I read the beginning of the German version of SURVIVING THE FATHERLAND and an essay about the children’s evacuation program during the Third Reich, also the subject of my next novel.
New Manuscript Set During WWII
I feel I still need to deal with WWII issues. So my new manuscript is about Hitler’s children’s evacuation program. I’m seventy percent through the first draft and aim for publication in December.
Mocha
Our old puppy, Mocha, has been gone for four months now and the house is terribly quiet. I often feel her presence as if she’d walk into my office any moment. We hung a few photos of her in the kitchen and I find myself looking at her all the time. Sometimes we talk. On the other hand it is quite freeing not to have to plan walks and meals and trips.
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