Tribute to Aunt Inga 12/11/22

The passage below was written on 12/11/22 after I learned that my Aunt Inga had passed away and shared with family. Aunt Inga was taken by the Nazis along with my mother to work as slave laborers. I learned much from her about their lives during the war. Also, I found that I have many more questions that will never be answered.

As I reflect on the passing of a cherished relative, I contemplate what was most significant to me. My ninety-eight-year-old Aunt Inga died on December 11, 2022. Her story was intertwined with my mom's as a slave laborer described in my book "In the Time of Madmen". Within this vast universe in which life ebbs and flows in its chaotic black sea, it struck me that its tide seems to crystalize on the date 12/11 and the implications that it has for my family. The death of my father and my son's anoxic brain injury due to a senseless mechanical defect both occurred on 12/11. After a twelve-and-a-half-year struggle with his disability, my son perished on the 11th day of the month June because of covid-19. These are the memories that haunt me as the days grow shorter and winter's cold breath beckons.

I received a Book Excellence Award!

I am incredibly excited to announce that I have been recognized as a Book Excellence Award Winner for my book, In the Time of Madmen in the Biography Category.

Out of thousands of books that were entered into the Book Excellence Awards competition, my book was selected for its high quality writing, design and overall market appeal.

To view my complete award listing, you can visit: In-the-Time-of-Madmen

The book was released in 2022 and is about survival and heroism of a young woman who was forced to become a slave laborer for the Nazis during World War II.

The book is perfect for students of history who love coming of age stories.

You can get a copy for yourself at In the Time-Madmen-Holocaust-Survivor-Stories.