Bio
I was born in Toronto and have lived here all my life (with the exception of three years spent in New Brunswick). I have a Masters degree in Psychology and was a Psychologist for many years, working with troubled teens and their families. I stopped working full time in 1997 to pursue my dream of becoming a children’s author. That dream came true with the publication of my first book, The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, in 1999. I have been writing ever since.
My parents were both survivors of the Holocaust. My mother survived the war by hiding. My father was a survivor of the concentration camps. Their stories of survival were an inspiration to me as I was growing up. As an adult, I was determined to write their stories down and pass them on to young readers. In that way, future generations would never forget that time in history.
My focus as a writer is historical fiction and true stories about the Holocaust. I am dedicated to writing about the Holocaust in a way that is sensitive to the age and stage of development of a young reader.
A winner of the Silver Birch, Red Maple, Hackmatack, Jewish Book Awards (in Canada and the U.S.) and the Yad Vashem Award for Children’s Holocaust Literature (Israel), and a finalist for the Geoffrey Bilson and Norma Fleck Awards, I have written wonderful stories inspired by real events. My books have also been sold to over twenty countries including Germany, China, Italy, Thailand, England, Japan, and Belgium. My novels have been described as stories of hope, courage, and humanity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
I speak to children in schools and libraries around the country, about the importance of understanding the Holocaust and keeping its memory alive. In addition, I speak in universities and colleges on the topic of teaching sensitive material to young children.
I am married to a successful lawyer and we have two children. My daughter, Gabi (named after my mother, Gabi), is 25 years old. She is a graduate of McGill University in music. She is a wonderful singer and dreams of performing on Broadway one day. My son, Jake is 24 years old and is a graduate of the National Theatre School in Montreal. He is a successful actor in theatre, television, and film. My family shares a common love for music, theatre, art, and literature. I am also a part time watercolour painter. I love painting and wish I were better at it!!
