Friday, July 20, 2012
I'm back from a visit to Omer, Michigan, to do a reading/signing. Omer's a great little town, with a lot of good things happening. Thank you to Alice Sproule, who not only did a fantastic job of setting up my reading (51 in the audience, great discussion and questions) but also made me welcome in her home and gave me the opportunity to meet her wonderful family and friends.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Omer, Michigan
I'm looking forward to meeting the great folks of Omer, Michigan, next Wednesday, July 18, at 7:00 when I do a reading/signing of One Amber Bead at the Omer Courthouse. Thanks, Alice, for inviting me!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Poland and WWII
I meant to include this information with the posting that appears below this one, but then decided to check my figures to be sure. As I said before, I'm really an amateur at this.
But I wanted to say something about one of the reasons I wrote One Amber Bead.
A few days ago, President Obama got into hot water by referring to "the Polish concentration camps." Many Poles and Polish-Americans were upset. I suppose a lot of people thought this was an example of political correctness gone wild. But when a person who is as well-educated and as sensitive as President Obama can use that term, it becomes apparent that many people have distorted ideas about Poland's part in World War II.
I grew up hearing from some people that the Poles pretty much handed their country over to the Germans, and that Poles collaborated willingly with Germans in the Holocaust. It wasn't until my mother-in-law, Maria Stolarek, told me about her experiences in a German labor camp during WWII that I realized I had gotten a very distorted view.
Yes, some Poles were anti-Semitic. As were some British, some French, some Americans. As are some misguided souls today. But the Poles did not institute the concentration camps; the correct term to describe camps in Poland is "the Nazi concentration camps in occupied Poland."
The Nazi occupation of Poland was brutal beyond comprehension. People from many countries died during WWII, but Poland suffered the highest percentage of losses. For example, 1 of every 74 French people died during WWII; 1 of every 106 British; 1 of every 313 Americans. What were the Polish losses?
But I wanted to say something about one of the reasons I wrote One Amber Bead.
A few days ago, President Obama got into hot water by referring to "the Polish concentration camps." Many Poles and Polish-Americans were upset. I suppose a lot of people thought this was an example of political correctness gone wild. But when a person who is as well-educated and as sensitive as President Obama can use that term, it becomes apparent that many people have distorted ideas about Poland's part in World War II.
I grew up hearing from some people that the Poles pretty much handed their country over to the Germans, and that Poles collaborated willingly with Germans in the Holocaust. It wasn't until my mother-in-law, Maria Stolarek, told me about her experiences in a German labor camp during WWII that I realized I had gotten a very distorted view.
Yes, some Poles were anti-Semitic. As were some British, some French, some Americans. As are some misguided souls today. But the Poles did not institute the concentration camps; the correct term to describe camps in Poland is "the Nazi concentration camps in occupied Poland."
The Nazi occupation of Poland was brutal beyond comprehension. People from many countries died during WWII, but Poland suffered the highest percentage of losses. For example, 1 of every 74 French people died during WWII; 1 of every 106 British; 1 of every 313 Americans. What were the Polish losses?
ONE OF EVERY 6!
That's right. Out of a population of about 36,000,000, 6,000,000 Poles died In WWII. This number includes 3,000,000 Polish Jews, 2,000,000 ethnic Poles, and 1,000,000 Polish citizens of other backgrounds.
Imagine that slaughter. And imagine having to make the kinds of decisions Poles had to make.
In One Amber Bead, the character Apolonya chose to defy the Nazis. The character Jadzia, whose story is based on my mother-in-law's experiences, chose to live. Given the choice of working for the Nazis or watching your whole family murdered, followed by your own death, what would you choose?
We in this country were fortunate not to have to make that choice.
So Poles tend to be sensitive about that "Polish concentration camp" term.
Thanks for reading this. I hope to get some response!
Rebecca
Welcome, or Welcome Again
If you're new to One Amber Blog, welcome. If you're returning after my hiatus to finish the semester, get my grades in, and actually learn how to blog, welcome again. A warning--I am still a rank amateur at this. I have a lot to learn about blogging. So if you have any suggestions for me or see anything I'm doing wrong, don't be shy about telling me!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Hi All,
Had a wonderful time at the conference in Chicago. Got a chance to meet others from Plain View Press and to do a reading at the Palmer House. One of the conference sessions I attended was called "Using a Blog to Market Your Novel." The speaker said we should aim for 10,000 followers--I have 9, and 2 of them are myself when I joined as a member by mistake! I've got a lot of work to do.
Only five more teaching weeks before summer, and one of the things I plan to do this summer is really work on this blog. So stick with me--it'll improve one day soon!
Had a wonderful time at the conference in Chicago. Got a chance to meet others from Plain View Press and to do a reading at the Palmer House. One of the conference sessions I attended was called "Using a Blog to Market Your Novel." The speaker said we should aim for 10,000 followers--I have 9, and 2 of them are myself when I joined as a member by mistake! I've got a lot of work to do.
Only five more teaching weeks before summer, and one of the things I plan to do this summer is really work on this blog. So stick with me--it'll improve one day soon!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Had a great time reading at Great Lakes Books today. Thanks to everyone for coming.
Off to Chicago on Wednesday for the Associated Writers Programs conference. Will be doing a reading and signing for Plain View Press. I'm also pretty sure I'll find plenty of time to spend with Ada and her wonderful Mom and Dad. Counting the days. . .
Off to Chicago on Wednesday for the Associated Writers Programs conference. Will be doing a reading and signing for Plain View Press. I'm also pretty sure I'll find plenty of time to spend with Ada and her wonderful Mom and Dad. Counting the days. . .
Monday, February 20, 2012
Festival of the Arts Reading
Looking for something to do this Saturday, February 25, at 2:00? How about coming to my reading at Great Lakes Books, 840 Clark Street, in Big Rapids?
Joining me will be poet Linda Nemec Foster, whose poem, "Doppelganger," is the foreword to One Anmber Bead. Linda will be reading "Doppleganger," as well as a few other poems from her collection, Amber Necklace from Gdansk. As you can see, Linda and I have a lot in common!
Joining me will be poet Linda Nemec Foster, whose poem, "Doppelganger," is the foreword to One Anmber Bead. Linda will be reading "Doppleganger," as well as a few other poems from her collection, Amber Necklace from Gdansk. As you can see, Linda and I have a lot in common!
Friday, February 10, 2012
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