A couple of months ago, a wonderful fellow-writer, Anne Dublin, interviewed me for an article and a podcast. I wanted to share that on-line interview with you. I had the chance to talk about my background in writing, along with all of my books. Hope you enjoy it!

From the students of St. Thomas More School, London Ont.

The wonderful students of St. Thomas More School gave me a beautiful card that they had made. It’s message is so important, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Other than that, I am expecting lots of my own family members and friends to come out, as they always do, to support me. I hope many of you will be able to make it as well. The location is “918 Bathurst” which is just north of Bloor.

In the meantime, if you’d like to hear me talk a bit about the story, check out this Youtube clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypTpg0NW1rE

The book launch will be held on Sunday April 11 at 3:00p.m. at “918 Bathurst.” (That’s the name of the venue and the address. It’s just north of Bloor on Bathurst.) I’ll be joined at the launch by Karl Reeser, the man whose story is documented in this book. We are also trying to skype in Richard VandenBosch, the Canadian diplomat who played such a key role in retrieving the artwork.

You are all invited! Please come for refreshments and books. And feel free to pass on this invite to others. I’m truly excited about this new venture in my life, and look forward to celebrating with you.

And speaking of books, I have a couple of new ones out, beginning with the third installment of the “Whispers” series. Whispers in Hiding (co-written with Sharon McKay) is a collection of real-life tales of courage and hope from survivors who managed to avoid being captured during the Holocaust. Sharon and I celebrated the launch of all three of the Whispers books back in November, in a wonderful event at Temple Sinai synagogue that was attended by hundreds of audience members along with 25 of the survivors whose stories we captured in this collection. I hope all of you have a chance to read the tales of these inspiring heroes.

The other project is a departure from my usual writing. I am very proud to announce that my first adult book will be out in about a month. Yes, I did say adult book! Restitution is the true story of one’s family’s journey to reclaim four oil paintings, stolen during the Holocaust, and then held captive in what once was Communist Czechoslovakia. It’s a remarkable story, and it involves the efforts of a diplomat at the Canadian Embassy in Prague as well as a hired art smuggler. It’s filled with adventure, espionnage, suspense, and mystery. And it’s true! - which makes it even more amazing. Stay tuned and I’ll bring you more information about that book launch coming up in April.

I’m taking a bit of a break over the holidays, but will be back in the new year with more readings and certainly more writing! Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you peace and happiness over the holidays, and joy in the new year.

My fall is also busy with author visits to many schools and libraries. I want to tell you about two very special presentations that I will be doing, and invite you all to attend one or both of them. On November 1, as part of the Jewish Book Fair in Toronto, I will be launching the publication of the three books in the Whispers series. The launch takes place at Temple Sinai Synagogue, 210 Wilson Ave and it’s at 3:00 p.m. I will be joined by my co-author, Sharon McKay as well as many of the survivors whom we have written about in this three book collection of short stories. There will be music performed by Sara Farb (the granddaughter of Helen Yermus from Whispers from the Ghettos) and Gabi Epstein (my beautiful and talented daughter).

Then, on November 8, as part of Holocaust Education Week, I will be talking about all three books at an event at the Pride of Israel Synagogue, Bathurst Street south of Steeles. This event takes place at 10:00 a.m. and I will be joined there by Claire Baum whose story appears in Whispers in Hiding.

I would love to see as many of you there as possible. Come to one of the events. Come to both. I am thrilled with the opportunity to talk about these wonderful new books, and to honour the survivors whose stories we have captured. Hope to see you there!

I’m just back from New York City where I received the prestigious National Jewish Book Council award for The Diary of Laura’s Twin. It was a fabulous weekend and a wonderful celebration of books. There were 16 awards given out in different categories. Mine was Young Adult Literature Book of the Year. Each of the authors were given about three minutes in which to make an acceptance speech. We were not allowed to thank anyone; thank-you’s had to be submitted in writing and they were listed in the program. I thought that was a fabulous idea because it gave each of us a chance to talk about why we had written our books and why these stories were so important - much more interesting than listening to a bunch of thank-you’s. I met authors from across the United States, from Australia, and England. I was thrilled to represent Canada at the ceremony. Check out the photo of me on stage.

Last week I gave an inteview on Roger’s Cable television in Markham. It featured Helen Yermus, who is one of the survivors that I wrote about in Whispers from the Ghettos. Here’s the link to the piece http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?lid=16&rid=17&tid=27204. If you go to March 3 and click on the screen, you can watch the video.

I know we’re in the dead of winter, but I’m feeling the beginning of spring! It only takes a couple of sunny days for me to start believing that warm weather is just around the corner. Now to celebrate the coming of spring, I’m thrilled to announce the publication of a new book called Whispers from the Ghettos, a collection of true short stories from survivors of the Holocaust. This book is co-written with the fabulous Sharon McKay (Esther, Charlie Wilcox, and many, many others; www.sharonmckay.ca) Whispers from the Ghettos is the first of a three book collection of short stories from survivors. The second book, Whispers from the Camps will be out in six months, followed six months later by Whispers in Hiding. Sharon and I are thrilled with this collection. We interviewed dozens of survivors from across the country to find the stories that we wanted to include here. The stories are heroic and remarkable and we know that you will be moved and inspired by what you read. Whispers from the Ghettos is available in bookstores and libraries. Let me know what you think of it.

I’m off to New York City next week to pick up a book award - what fun! The Diary of Laura’s Twin has just won the U.S. National Jewish Book Council Award as the Young Adult Book of the Year. I am one of only a handful of Canadian authors who has won this prestigious award. Needless-to-say, I’m thrilled! I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.

Whispers from the Ghetto