The lovely, funny and uber-talented Hadas Yaron, who plays Mila in the series, shared some candid photos and personal reflections with Town and Country Magazine. When the interview was published, the world was waiting with bated breath to learn Mila’s fate after the harrowing ending of Episode 4. Full story here.
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I was deeply moved to learn that before shooting began, Sam Woolf (Adam in the series) traveled to Poland to experience Łódź, where his own family of Holocaust survivors came from. The Direct unearthed some more fascinating details about this amazing actor and–since we met on set—good friend. Full story here.
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Thomas Kail, our phenomenal director, talked to LA Times Magazine about the guiding principles for casting We Were the Lucky Ones. Referring to concepts we developed with writer/showrunner Erica Lipez, Tommy explained, “Something that we all thought about deeply was, ‘How can we find that person who connects in the most profound way with each…
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Several journals reported on how the We Were the Lucky Ones series underscores the importance of preserving family histories through the voices of Holocaust survivors. Cast members said they found parallels between the experiences of the characters they portrayed and those of their own grandparents or great grandparents. Some pointed out the difficulty for some…
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I sat down with Lisa McCree for an in-depth interview aired on LA Times Today. Along with several clips from the show, we delved into the backstory of bringing my family’s story to the screen. You can watch the interview here.
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Amit spoke with Kveller about how the cast of We Were the Lucky Ones felt like a family. Growing up in Israel, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, Amit (Jakob in the show) said “it felt very natural to me to take these roles and tell the stories. I would do it again, and again, and…
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Hadas Yaron, who plays Mila, spoke with Kveller about how some of her scenes reminded her of her own great-grandfather’s story. “I’m alive because he was alive,” Hadas said. “He was alive. He was murdered. And then all these years later, I’m telling a story of something that actually happened to him. My brain at times was…
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In a conversation with aish, I revisited the early days when a high school assignment and a family reunion sparked my curiosity—which eventually led me to research and write We Were the Lucky Ones. Asked about my latest project, a second book: “I’m in the final stages of editing it, it’s called One Good Thing,…
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The Harvard Crimson weighed in on the show, noting that it “aims to show all sides, all emotions, and all situations through one family’s true story. Rich or poor, Orthodox or secular, escapee or detainee, the characters attempt to represent them all. Additionally, the show tries to humanize the characters as much as possible in…
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The Wrap asked me to explain how I came to learn about the wartime experiences of my great aunt Felicia, played by Artemisia Pagliano in the early episodes. Felicia was just one year old at the start of the war. I was fortunate to have been able to spend time with her in Paris to…
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“…this is one miniseries sure to bowl you over with its story,” says WhatCulture, explaining that it “takes a familiar tragedy and injects it with fresh, life-affirming insight.” The show is further described as “intimate, gorgeously shot, and vital.” Full story here.
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At the Television Critics Association preview in February, TV Insider shot some cool photos of Logan and Joey, who play siblings Addy and Halina in We Were the Lucky Ones. Full story and more shots here.
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The True Story Behind Hulu’s Holocaust Drama We Were the Lucky Ones. Read to learn more about the Kurc family’s recent donation of wartime artifacts to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
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Los Angeles Times insists that We Were the Lucky Ones is not a history lesson. Instead, it’s “a human story, of husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and lovers…” adding, “Its purpose, as television, is to make you feel, for the characters and by extension for a people — to experience, such as might be…
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I’m so appreciative of Paula’s endorsement of my family story, which she read before it was published seven years ago. Book and Film Globe goes on to say the television adaptation “illuminates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and thrive against all odds. Logan Lerman also…
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“Hulu reveals a heart-wrenching exploration of love and loss across the realms with the We Were The Lucky Ones trailer,” writes the UK-based Indiependent. “A title weighted with emotional nuance, the adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestseller is a confronting reminder of a deplorable period in history.” Full story.
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“For those holding their breath waiting for the release of ‘We Were the Lucky Ones,’ prepare to exhale,” writes SlashFilm. “The highly anticipated series premieres Thursday, March 28 on Hulu, just over a month from now. The first three episodes of the show will be available to stream on the premiere date and the subsequent…
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High on Films reports: “Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, tells the incredible true story of a Jewish family separated at the start of World War II. In this Hulu Original limited series adaptation of the book, Joey King and Logan Lerman recount one of the darkest moments in…
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In its reveal of “The Most Anticipated TV Shows in March 2024,” Primetimer notes: “As unlikely as it sounds, We Were the Lucky Ones aims to be one of the more uplifting Holocaust dramas out there. Hulu’s adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s novel (itself inspired by the experience of Hunter’s grandfather) follows a Polish Jewish family as they…
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“Hulu reveals a heart-wrenching exploration of love and loss across the realms with the We Were The Lucky Ones trailer,” writes the UK-based Indiependent. “A title weighted with emotional nuance, the adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestseller is a confronting reminder of a deplorable period in history.” Full story.
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Collider has published an in-depth story about the book, the series, and what went into creating them, mentioning that I “drew inspiration from [my] family history to write the book, uncovering [my] grandfather’s experience as a Holocaust survivor.” Many details follow, but … spoiler alert! (unless you’ve read the book)
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“Helping to usher in the spring is the new Hulu limited series We Were the Lucky Ones,” says What to Watch. “The series follows one family’s story of trying to survive in the midst of World War II and the horrific events of the Holocaust. As chaos and hatred surround them, these family members rely…
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The Washington Post lists new shows to be released in the coming weeks. “Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones, an adaptation of the Georgia Hunter novel, follows a Jewish family separated during World War II (March 28).” View trailer.
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What a thrill to join a panel for the Television Critics Association as Hulu officially launched the trailer for our series, and to share the stage with director, producer and dear friend Tommy Kail, showrunner Erica Lipez and two of our incredible cast, Joey King and Logan Lerman. Read more.
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Indiewire describes the series as “the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of WWII. The series follows them across continents as they do everything in their power to survive, and to reunite” and “a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.” Full story here.
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At the We Were the Lucky Ones trailer launch, Logan and Joey spoke from the heart about what the show means to them. “They felt compelled to join their new show, We Were the Lucky Ones, based on their own experiences as individuals who have family members who escaped the Holocaust,” KVUE-ABC reported. “The actors…
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I’m delighted that The Economic Times appreciates the research that went into our series production. “Based on a bestselling book, the mini-series narrates the true story of a Jewish family and its struggle to survive during the war. With Joey King and Logan Lerman in lead roles, the adaptation carries out extensive research to create…
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Joey King & Logan Lerman Flee The Nazis In Hulu Limited Series “The series is inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite,’ according to the official synopsis,” Deadline writes in its coverage of the trailer release. “The series demonstrates…
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Joey King spoke from the heart at the Hulu’s launch of the trailer for “We Were the Lucky Ones.” Yahoo News reported on the panel discussion for the Television Critics Association: “It’s exciting to watch. You love these people,” King said. “But you really love this family while you’re watching. You want to know what’s…
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At the Television Critics Event, when the series trailer was first aired, Logan Lerman, who plays my grandfather Addy, spoke about the importance of learning from the past. More here.
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Kveller says: “Wow. The first trailer for Hulu’s upcoming series ‘We Were The Lucky Ones,’ based on the semi-biographical novel by Georgia Hunter about her family’s tale of Holocaust survival, is here. And it is absolutely stunning.” Read Kveller’s detailed reporting.
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Thank you, OTT Play, for your recognition of our ensemble of actors as a “talented cast who prove their mettle via angsty and heart-touching performances.” The article goes on to say that “the film does not stray from its hopeful purpose and emanates an atmosphere of faith, love, and endless belief.” Read more.
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Daily Beast reported on comments by Joey King and Logan Lerman about their personal connections to the series, which inspired them to look into their own heritage. Showrunner Erica Lipez reflected on how writing the show about the Kurc family affected her: “Living alongside this family really altered me as a person. I’m a much…
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Logan Lerman plays my grandfather, Addy Kurc, in Hulu’s adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones. First he had to escape from Europe, then from North Africa. ABC News sums it up here.
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It’s always inspiring to spend time with the younger generation and share ideas sparked by We Were the Lucky Ones. Read about my recent visit to Mercer Island schools and listen below for an interview with KMIH.
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It’s almost here! Hulu’s TV adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones will debut on March 28, 2024. For a peek at what’s to come, check out ELLE magazine’s exclusive First Look interview with our extraordinary showrunner, Erica Lipez.
Read MoreThrilled to see We Were the Lucky Ones at the top of Kveller’s list of most anticipated shows of 2024! “This is by far the show we’re most excited for in 2024. Based on the Georgia Hunter novel, which is loosely based on her own Polish Jewish family’s tale of Holocaust survival, it stars an…
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Nice to see We Were the Lucky Ones getting some love down under! Thanks to the Australian Jewish News for including us on this list! “This is by far the show we’re most excited for in 2024. Based on the Georgia Hunter novel, which is loosely based on her own Polish Jewish family’s tale of Holocaust survival,…
Read MoreThank you to the Jewish Chronicle for including We Were the Lucky Ones in your round-up of must-watch shows in 2024! “Georgia Hunter’s bestselling novel We Were The Lucky Ones was inspired by a family reunion in 2000 that revealed the wartime stories of her grandfather and his family. A tale of Holocaust survival, the television adaptation…
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Word is out! Our upcoming limited series, We Were the Lucky Ones, is one of “The Most Anticipated 2024 TV Shows” according to Vanity Fair. Although Hulu’s exact launch date is yet to be announced, we’re loving the buzz in industry news.
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Now that filming for the series pilot (which features the entire Kurc family) has wrapped, we’re bringing more amazing talent on board to play key roles. Ido and Lihi are perfect for Isaac, a close family friend, and Eliska, the young woman my grandfather almost married! Can’t wait to watch them inhabit these roles over the coming weeks.
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More wonderful news! I’m beyond excited to officially welcome Henry Lloyd Hughes, Moran Rosenblatt, Sam Woolf and Michael Aloni to the We Were the Lucky Ones family!! What a joy it’s been to get to know this cast, to watch them at work. In awe of the skill, the chemistry, the LOVE these four (along…
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Recently announced! I’ve had the honor of getting to know these three amazing humans over the last few weeks of filming our series pilot. An official welcome, Amit, Eva and Hadas, to the We Were the Lucky Ones family!! What a thrill it’s been to watch you bring our Jakob, Bella and Mila to life on set with…
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I’m thrilled to share the news that Robin Weigert and Lior Ashkenazi have been cast to play my great-grandparents in Hulu’s limited series of We Were the Lucky Ones. I couldn’t imagine more talented actors to play these two crucial roles of Nechuma and Sol, and I’m truly moved by their enthusiasm over getting to know…
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I’ve been fielding a lot of questions lately about the Hulu adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones, like where we’re filming (we’ll shoot the bulk of the series in Romania), when we’ll begin (at the end of November) and whether I’ll go over for the shoot (absolutely, as often as possible!)–but the question I…
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Friends! It’s been a minute since I’ve posted to my blog (my apologies–I’ll blame the radio silence on the pandemic, and on a looming deadline for Book 2!). Let me catch you up with the latest news. As I reported some time ago, my dear friend Thomas Kail optioned We Were the Lucky Ones for television. After…
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I’m thrilled and humbled to be included in BuzzFeed’s list of books that have changed readers’ lives – to find We Were the Lucky Ones among classic favorites by authors like Maya Angelou, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Viktor E. Frankl, Stephen Hawking, Aldous Huxley, Kazuo Ishiguro, Gabriel García Márquez, Art Spiegelman, J. R. R. Tolkien, Leo Tolstoy, Kurt Vonnegut, David…
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Congrats to Lauren Fox on her gorgeous new bestseller, Send for Me, featured as a Reading with Jenna bookclub selection. And a huge thanks to Lauren for picking We Were the Lucky Ones as a favorite book on her Today Show interview!
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Thank you, WorldClassPerformer.com, for including my interview with those of other writers and public figures who share their “Short Life Lessons.”
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Like other authors, I sorely miss the chance to meet with readers in person, thanks to social distancing – a necessary element of the Coronavirus pandemic. But maybe a silver lining is the ability to reach new audiences virtually, regardless of location. This week I was delighted to be “in the room” with readers from…
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Honored to review We Germans for the NYTimes Book Review, in the 8/30/20 issue devoted to World War II at 75. This does feel like an opportune moment to seek out “perspectives starkly different from our own.”
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Honored to be selected as a reader’s choice finalist by my French publisher, Les Editions Charleston. The Prix des Lectrices is awarded annually by literary bloggers and influencers – a group of 60 this year. The winner is chosen in June. Merci, Editions Charleston!
Read MoreThanks, UK publisher Allison & Busby, for selecting We Were the Lucky Ones as the Editor’s Choice Book of the Month for May! And for including Chapter One as a “free taster.”
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We Were the Lucky Ones is one of Book Riot readers’ all-time favorite World War II fiction books. Honored to be in such good company!
Read MoreIt’s always nice to see independent bookstores featured in the media. I loved visiting {pages} in Huntington Beach, CA, during my 2018 paperback tour. Read all about this “book world destination” here. And thank you, Alex, for remembering my appearance! “Alex Geffner-Millsten has worked at {pages} for two years. Next month, he’ll be organizing the the…
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Georgia is featured in an in-depth interview in the January-February 2020 edition of Sound Watch News, a brand new publication distributed to all residents of Rowayton and Darien, CT. Lauren Henry delved into the backstory on We Were the Lucky Ones and asked about Georgia’s new projects.
Read MoreHonored to have been featured as keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Conference of Churches Annual Dinner, themed “Inspired Stories.”
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So I’ve got some big news. I’ll get right to it, and promise to fill you in on summer book happenings soon–but this news, IMHO, takes the cake…
Read More“If you love historical fiction and are looking for a new author to read, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest recent historical fiction debuts. Featuring new releases from first-time novelists, these reads will transport you from Civil War America to 1970s South Korea.” –BookBub
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It’s been six weeks since the launch of We Were the Lucky Ones—a milestone made all the more monumental by the photos that flooded my inbox in the days that followed—photos of friends with the book in their laps at the beach, on an airplane, at home cozied up on the couch; photos of the U.K. edition spotted at Waterstones in London…
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Believe it or not, in less than two weeks, We Were the Lucky Ones will be out for the world to read. To the family and friends who have cheered wholeheartedly (and waited patiently) throughout this near-decade-long journey, and to the teams at The Book Group and at Viking that have offered immeasurable support and guidance along the road to publication –…
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I had the honor of being invited by Penguin Random House (PRH) to join a panel of six authors with forthcoming titles at an Open Book event in New York.
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The fun began in early October, when Viking organized a media lunch in my honor, inviting literary editors from places like The New York Times Book Review, Publisher’s Weekly, Glamour, Vogue, O, Family Circle, Redbook, and the Jewish Book Council to a private event…
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Last year, Robert and I set off on a weeklong, 685-mile journey through Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria, following in the footsteps of my relatives, who traveled the same path seventy years before.
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What a week it’s been for We Were the Lucky Ones (and it’s only Wednesday!).
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We Were the Lucky Ones has a launch date—February 14, 2017—yes, Valentine’s Day! The countdown to publication is finally, officially, on. February may feel eons away (especially as we’ve just dipped our toes into summer), but I’ve come to realize there will be plenty to report between now and then. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the publicity and marketing teams at…
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I never would have guessed that the first person I’d share my new working title with (outside of my immediate family) would be Markus Zusak, author of the (mega)bestselling novel, The Book Thief. I had the pleasure of meeting Markus yesterday, at a book signing event in Connecticut. The Book Thief, narrated by none other than death…
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It’s hard to believe that over two months have passed since Robert and I set off for Warsaw. Our Eternal Quest, as we dubbed it, left me energized and eager to get back to the book, which is lucky; on returning I received a new round of feedback from my editor, Sarah. I knew this round would be more specific than the last, and I’d be lying if…
Read MoreEarlier this month, my agent deemed my manuscript polished enough to pitch to publishing houses. “I think we’re ready for primetime,” Brettne said. I agreed reluctantly—even after our latest round of revisions, I still felt the pressing need to tinker, to make it better. But it was time, Brettne assured me, to let it go. Brettne pitched The Eternal Ones to over a…
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The agent search, as any first-time author will tell you, is daunting. It requires an ungodly amount of due diligence, and a hearty dose of self-esteem. Rejections are inevitable; it can take months, years even, for a literary agent to bite. And so, when my editor Jane and I put together an A-list of names to query about my manuscript, I was…
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I left you last month with a post about my editor—and I promise to update you on Jane’s encouraging feedback at a later date. This post, however, I’d like to dedicate to my grandmother, Caroline, who passed away on Tuesday, two days short of her 100th birthday.
Read MoreCan it be–August already? What a summer it’s been. Mine (in a nutshell) has entailed exploring Nova Scotia’s seaboard with family, cavorting with friends in Charleston, beach-hopping with Wyatt in Rowayton, tackling boatloads of travel writing assignments, and, of course, pushing to complete a second round of edits to my manuscript. In my last post, I introduced you to Dvora, a…
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Well folks, I’m mid-way through a second round of book edits, and if I squint hard enough, I think I can see the finish line!
Read MoreGreetings, friends! I’m sure many of you are as reluctant as I am to bid summertime adieu—although I must admit, I’m looking forward to some downtime this fall. Robert, Wyatt and I have been moving nonstop, it seems, hopping between family reunions, horse shows, adventure races and ultrasound appointments. Turns out the reason I’ve been so…
Read MoreWhen it rains it pours. That’s certainly been the case here in Connecticut, where the past few months have brought weeks of torrential downpour (and I thought we’d left the rain behind in Seattle!), along with—on a much brighter note—several unexpected opportunities to promote The Lucky Ones. Shortly after I completed my piece for the Gordon…
Read MoreA couple of months ago, I received a request for alumni updates from Siobhan Welsh at the Gordon School in Rhode Island, where I attended 1st through 8th grade. When Siobhan heard about my book project, she immediately asked if I would consider coming in to speak with Gordon’s 8th grade class about my family’s story.…
Read MoreAs a new mom, I’m always on the lookout for tips on parenting. A year and a half ago, when I was still sporting a baby bump, my shelves were piled with the usual prerequisites—Baby 411, The Happiest Baby on the Block, What to Expect: the First Year. Now, as Wyatt approaches his sixteenth month, my husband…
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I’ll never forget the day I got the call. I was at my uncle’s house in Warwick, Rhode Island for dinner. My cell phone rang as we were sitting down to eat. Who did I know with a 919 area code? And then it dawned on me.
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Greetings and happy 2013! I hope you’re as excited as I am for what the new year has to bring. #1 on my list of resolutions this year is to complete a draft of The Lucky Ones by summertime. Wish me luck! I left you last with a snapshot of life for the Kurc siblings in December of…
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Last April, I received a letter from the Memorial Center in Moscow—an organization I contacted in hopes of tracking down additional information about my great-uncle Genek, who was deported from Poland in 1941, along with his wife Herta, to one of Stalin’s Siberian gulags. A woman by the name of Olga Cheriepova, a member of the Memorial…
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The Sunday before last, the New York Times published an article entitled Proudly Bearing Elders’ Scars, Their Skin Says ‘Never Forget.’ In it, journalist Jodi Rudoren describes a movement among twenty- and thirty-somethings to replicate the tattoos worn on the the forearms of their Holocaust-survivor relatives. I found the piece both chilling and inspiring. “When [21 year old]…
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Neck deep in research on Stalin’s Siberian gulags, I was consumed with the burning question of how and why Genek and Herta were sent off to Siberia in the first place. By recommendation of the Kresy-Siberia Foundation, I contacted Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Amazingly, I heard back right away—not only did Hoover have a record of Genek’s name, they had…
Read MoreAfter six weeks of squatting with friends and another six weeks of tackling travel writing assignments and endless piles of boxes, we’re (nearly!) settled in our new home…which means, at long last, I can return to my book. Inspired by a recent visit from my cousin-once-removed, Michel (visiting New York from Brazil), I thought I’d…
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I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the meaning of “home.” A month ago, after a seven-year stint in Seattle, Robert and I packed up six-month-old Wyatt and all of our belongings and caught a one-way flight to Connecticut. The day before our move, however, our CT lease fell through, and our world turned upside…
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You guessed right, Daryl—the mosaic in the banner photo above lives just off the shore of Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Congratulations on being the first to respond correctly—your iTunes gift card is on the way (you should consider downloading Getz & Gilberto’s Girl from Ipanema to commemorate your win!). Robert and I visited…
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Thanks to all of you who have guessed/commented on last week’s “name that photo” contest. The verdict’s still out on where the banner shot (above) was taken…which means a $25 iTunes gift certificate is still up for grabs! I’ve decided to post one, last clue—a panned-out photo (below)—which I imagine will incite a few aha’s!…
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“I wasn’t the only one in the family with multiple identities,” Ricardo said when he’d finished explaining the story behind his two birth certificates. “During the war, my parents went by the name BRZOZA.” Ricardo’s father, it turns out, was part of the Jewish Underground. He made false papers. “How?” I asked. “He replicated the stamps…
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A month after I returned from Paris, I flew to Miami to interview Ricardo, Anna’s older brother (my grandfather’s nephew). Ricardo was born just after the war, although when, and where exactly, seemed to be something of a mystery. “Ask him about his birthdays,” my mother suggested, before I left. “Birthday…S?” “Yeah. He has two of them.”…
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Hello, friends and family! Little Man Wyatt has rounded the three month bend and I’m happy to report that I’m back (well, almost) from the Land of the Sleep Deprived, and excited to get the ball rolling again on blog posts. I left you last in Paris, where I’d spent an afternoon interviewing Felicia (daughter of…
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Dear family, friends, and followers of The Lucky Ones, Exciting news on the home front–Robert and I have welcomed a new branch to our family tree! Thomas Wyatt Farinholt (“Wyatt”) arrived on November 23rd, just over three weeks early (in true Kurc fashion, he’s already on his own schedule–determined to take fate into his own…
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In February of ’08 I flew to Paris to interview two relatives: Felicia and Anna (daughters of Mila and Halina, my grandfather’s two sisters). Equipped with a digital voice recorder and an empty moleskin notebook (and a flutter in my stomach that kept me wide awake for the duration of my ten-hour overnight journey), February 11, 2008 will…
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I remember the day I told my mother I wanted to write a book about our family history. We were sitting on her gray and white-striped couch in Providence, Rhode Island, the day after Christmas, 2005. “I’ve decided I’d like to write a book about how Papa and his siblings survived the Holocaust,” I said.…
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In July of 2000, the summer after I graduated from the University of Virginia, my mother organized a Kurc family reunion at our house on Martha’s Vineyard. She invited thirty-two relatives (many of whom she hadn’t seen in over twenty years), and to her surprise, all thirty-two RSVPed, “Of course we’ll be there!” We rented…
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