Scottsdale resident Barbara Mark-Dreyfuss says she wrote “America at Last: A Family’s Journey from Fear to Freedom” to provide her children and grandchildren with some semblance of family history.
“Very little information was uncovered during many attempts to retrieve memories from family members, so embellishment became an essential part of the storytelling,” explains this mother of three married children and grandmother of 10.
America at Last tells the story of Libby and her siblings, who were separated because of the torments of war. The book explores the plight of Jewish families in Europe even before World War II. Though their suffering in Europe during World War I was not as brutal as that endured by those who were caught in the evil of the World War II Holocaust, they still suffered and lived in constant fear. Living in America was their dream.
“This could be the story of many of the parents and grandparents of the readers,” says Barbara. “So many don’t know the history of their families. America at Last could be a connection to what could have been their family story. It has been suggested that in addition to adults, children in grade school through high school would both enjoy and learn from the contents of America at Last.”
Barbara has written two other books: “Kaleidoscope,” a book of poetry, and “Renewal of Body, Renewal of Spirit, A Guide to Health, Hope and Healing.” She is working on her next book, which will be a compilation of spiritual and healing poetry. “It is with great pleasure that I announce that my newest book, America At Last: A Family’s Journey from Fear to Freedom, is available on amazon.com/books and Barnes and Noble.com,” says the author.
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Barbara raised her children in St. Louis Park, MN, and now resides in Scottsdale after living in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Retired from her career as a financial advisor and her postretirement career as a sculptor, Barbara devotes her time to her family, her community, writing, public speaking, playing bridge
and enjoying friends and the arts.
