In anticipation of the event, the Australian Jewish News has written a very nice article about what’s in store.
Festival director Michael Misrachi says he is excited about this year’s festival, which follows the success of the 2015 event which attracted more than 650 people.
“We have a great program lined up for this year’s festival, which will build on the success of our sold-out events that we have held this year with Etgar Keret, Simon Sebag Montefiore and Eva Clarke,” explains Misrachi.
“We are continuing with our theme, ‘books are just the beginning’, because the festival covers so many interesting ideas and discussions that go beyond the written word.
“Books are the springboard for a variety of ideas and issues, and the authors taking part in the festival cover a whole range of genres such as fiction, non-fiction and memoirs.”
Dina Gold’s story is in the spirit of the Helen Mirren movie Woman In Gold – it’s a saga about redeeming property that was looted by the Nazis, and which resonates strongly.
Today I was in New York, at the Jewish Book Council “Meet the Author” event. Each author who has signed up for the 2016-17 round of speaking engagements can present their book for two minutes. I was pitching the paperback edition of “Stolen Legacy” – due out in October.
Gold’s endearing mix of humility and tenacity dominates her quest for justice, which is carefully laid out in her book’s suspenseful and multilayered narrative.
Gold’s investigative skills serve her well in unraveling some family mysteries, but Stolen Legacy doesn’t read like a dry newspaper account or objective report. Instead, it’s a deeply personal story, one shot through with love and devotion to her mother and grandmother.
Dave Heller, of NPR affiliate station WHYY-FM, interviewed me ahead of my appearance at the Yom HaShoah program at Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.