Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Jeweller’s Legacy

November 5, 2024Uncategorizedadmin

On October 26, 2024, I was thrilled to attend the book launch of A Jeweller’s Legacy: A Boy’s Journey from War to Peace, Henry (Hank) Schaffer’s memoir. It was an honour and delight for me to edit this moving memoir of a child Holocaust survivor. Thank you to Renate Krakauer who introduced this courteous and intelligent man to me.

Here’s a brief description of the book: Henry’s journey was one from war to peace. Born a week before the Nazis invaded his hometown of Warsaw, Poland in 1939, Henry survived the war and Holocaust through luck, perseverance and love of his mother, Vera Schaffer. The family with the help of jeweller Simon Schaffer thrived in Belgium after the war and eventually in Montreal, where Henry became a jeweller himself as well as a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

To hear Henry’s interview in 2021 for the Montreal Holocaust Museum, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wEG5RcxPdI

Another wonderful creation!

April 7, 2024Uncategorizedadmin

And here’s another wonderful creation by Vlad Dunaevsky of my bookshelf. Thank you, Vlad!

My book sparks art!

April 5, 2024Uncategorizedadmin

I’m always amazed and delighted that one story often leads to another; one creative spark lights a fire for someone else. A friend of mine recently read my book, Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything (Second Story Press), and added his own “commentary”. Used with permission by Vlad Dunaevsky. Enjoy!

May be an image of 1 person and text

Middle Grade Magic

March 16, 2023Biography--Jewish Women, Canadian Jewish Women Writers, Second Story Press, Uncategorizedadmin

On March 9, 2023, I participated in a panel called “Yes, It’s True”, part of SLJ’s “Middle Grade Magic”.

I talked about my new book, She’s a Mensch! : Ten Amazing Jewish Women. I was honoured to join these other panelists:

Zaila Avant-Garde, It’s Not Bragging If It’s True (Penguin Random House)

Joseph Bruchac, Voices of the People (Reycraft)

David Roth and Rinee Shah, LOL 101 (Chronicle Books)

Jessica Speer, The Phone Book (Familius)

If you registered for the event, the recordings will be available until June 2023.

Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld’s 118th Birthday

January 5, 2023Bobbie Rosenfeld, Uncategorizedathletes, sports journalistsadmin

I was thrilled to see Bobbie Rosenfeld featured in the Google Doodle of Dec. 18/22! Let’s not forget her importance as a formidable Canadian Jewish woman athlete and journalist. I was honoured to write her biography: Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything (Second Story Press, 2004).

Here’s the link to my book:

https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/bobbie-rosenfeld

A Writer’s Journey

January 10, 2022Uncategorizedadmin

My essay, “A Writer’s Journey”, part of “Reflections from the Field” was published in the December 2021 issue of Religious Studies and Theology. This special issue focused on Canadian Jewish women writers. This journal is published in Sheffield, UK: Religious Studies and Theology (equinoxpub.com). Thanks to Prof. Catherine Caufield for her continuing research in this often-ignored field of study.

Q&A on Deborah Kalb’s blog!

May 4, 2021Uncategorizedadmin

My first Q&A on a blog! Deborah Kalb was kind enough to interview me about Jacob and the Mandolin Adventure. Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3td0S65. Thanks to Deborah for asking some great questions and giving me time and room to answer them. So exciting!

Virtual Book Launch

March 14, 2021historical fiction, Uncategorizedadmin

Jacob and the Mandolin Adventure

Jacob and the Mandolin Adventure was officially launched on Sun. March 21, 2021. Here’s the YouTube video of the launch.https://youtu.be/PGAp1-bZsBY

I enjoyed sharing this launch with my writer-friend, Rona Arato, whose new book is Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Anti-Semitism and the MS St. Louis (Lorimer Press). Two different stories but both connected in many ways.

Presenting at Limmud Toronto!

October 26, 2020Uncategorizedchildren's literature, Limmud Torontoadmin

On Sun. Nov. 22, 2020, I’ll be on a panel with authors Tziporah Cohen and Kathy Kacer at the virtual Limmud Toronto conference. The topic is: “More than Menorahs: A Conversation with Authors of Jewish Children’s Literature”. Sidura Ludwig will moderate the discussion.

How do writers of Jewish books for children balance the need to provide educational and celebratory books about Jewish holidays and tell important Holocaust narratives while still ensuring a diversity of Jewish stories? Where are the stories about contemporary Jewish kids, about Sephardic kids, or about lesser-known happenings in Jewish history? Why isn’t the range of Jewish identity reflected in books for young readers?

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to the Limmud Toronto website: https://www.limmud.ca/

My Readings in Portugal

April 5, 2020Uncategorizedadmin

Linda Patient and Anne at OIS International School, Lisbon

On March 9, 2020, before the coronavirus attacked Portugal and closed all schools down, I had the opportunity to speak at the Oeiras International School near Lisbon. Mrs. Linda Patient, head of the Humanities department, welcomed me warmly to the school as did the principal, Mr. Steve Lewis. I gave presentations to Grade 6 and 7 students of A Cage Without Bars and was delighted with the intriguing questions the students asked.

As of this writing, there have been over 10,000 cases of coronavirus in Portugal and over 250 deaths. My heart goes out to the warm and generous people of Portugal, and to everyone affected by this devastating plague. I hope that we will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Anne Dublin

Author, Teacher, Editor