The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain - Book Tour + Giveaway

Join us for this tour from July 14 to Aug 10, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Takeaway Men by Meryl Ain

Category:  Adult fiction 18 yrs +,  264 pages

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Sparkpress

Release date:   August 4, 2020

Content Rating:  PG-13 + M because there are references to extra-marital affairs. There is no explicit sex in the book.

Book Description:

With the cloud of the Holocaust still looming over them, twin sisters Bronka

and Johanna Lubinski and their parents arrive in the US from a

Displaced Persons Camp. In the years after World War II, they experience

the difficulties of adjusting to American culture as well as the

burgeoning fear of the Cold War. Years later, the discovery of a former

Nazi hiding in their community brings the Holocaust out of the shadows.

As the girls get older, they start to wonder about their parents’ pasts,

and they begin to demand answers. But it soon becomes clear that those

memories will be more difficult and painful to uncover than they could

have anticipated. Poignant and haunting, The Takeaway Men explores the

impact of immigration, identity, prejudice, secrets, and lies on parents

and children in mid-twentieth-century America.

Now Available for Pre-order!
Release date: August 4, 2020
Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound
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Author Interview

1.      You refer to your book, The Takeaway Men, as a post Holocaust novel. What’s the difference between your book and the many Holocaust novels out there?

The focus of my book takes place after WW II. While I felt there had to be some references to the Holocaust, I did not want page after page to describe the horrors.  There are numerous Holocaust novels, but very few deal with what happens after, both to the survivors and the next generation. While there had to be some discussion about the Holocaust, the vast majority of the book is about the everyday life of the twins, Bronka and JoJo, in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. Although their parents consciously do not speak of the Holocaust, its cloud hangs over the girls as they go to public school, play with their friends and become Americanized. While the twins are participating in American culture, along with their baby boomer friends, we see how intergenerational trauma, and secrets and lies have an impact on them.

2.        How many books have you written? What is your favorite?

This is my third book and this is my favorite. The first book, The Living Memories: Legacies That Last, I co-authored with my husband and brother. We interviewed 32 people about how they keep the memories of their loved ones alive.  A couple of years later, I did a companion workbook, My Living Memories Project Journal, to help people capture their memories of those who are no longer here. Working on those two books was cathartic and helped me to overcome my grief after having lost both my parents within a short time. And I am gratified that they continue to help others. The Living Memories Project books helped heal me, but The Takeaway Men enabled me to do what I never thought I could – write a novel. I enjoyed every aspect of it – the reading, the plotting, developing the characters – and especially the writing and research. Often, I felt that I was in flow. And I found that writing fiction gives you so much more freedom than non-fiction.

3.       Why did you think you could not write fiction?

It always seemed like a mystery to me. I just couldn’t figure it out. But, of course, that was when I was mainly reading non-fiction. I would read biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, self-help books, you name it -- any non-fiction you could think of.  I usually read only a couple of novels a year. And while I always enjoyed them and they stayed with me, that wasn’t my reading pattern. In recent years, I joined first one book club, and then two and got into the habit of reading at least two or more novels a month, sometimes two a week. Then I’d go to the meetings and we’d discuss the books. At some point, I said to myself: “Maybe I can figure out how to do this.” So I read every book I could get my hands on about novel writing and then enrolled in several online classes. I had the idea of the plot and characters of my novel brewing in my head for years; I discussed it with family and friends and researched it. Then one day, I sat down at my computer and found I was able to write fiction. It was very gratifying.

4.      Do you prefer to read a print book or an e-book?

Both have their place. I prefer a print book, especially when I’m researching so I can mark it up, take notes, and go back again and again. When I’m reading for pleasure, I like the feel of a book that you can hold in your hands and go back several pages to re-read something. It’s not the same on an e-book, even if you can go back. But sometimes, a paper book is not feasible.  And how many can you accumulate without running out of shelf space? I like kindle when I want to read at night and not disturb my husband. I also like it when I am away from home. E-books have also become a way of easily accessing books during the current pandemic.

5.      Do you plan to write another book?

I would like to write another book, most likely another historical fiction book. As a former history teacher and a life-long researcher, that is my passion.  There’s so much to do with getting the word out about The Takeaway Men that I’ve been concentrating on that at the moment. But I have a few ideas percolating in my head. A few people have asked me if I’ll do a sequel because they want to know what happens to my characters. That is a definite possibility.

Meet the Author:

Meryl Ain’s articles and essays have appeared in Huffington Post, The New

York Jewish Week, The New York Times, Newsday and other publications.

The Takeaway Men is her debut novel. In 2014, she co-authored the

award-winning book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, and

in 2016, wrote a companion workbook, My Living Memories Project

Journal. She is a sought-after speaker and has been interviewed on

television, radio, and podcasts. She is a career educator and is proud

to be both a teacher and student of history. She has also worked as a

school administrator. The Takeaway Men is the

result of her life-long quest to learn more about the Holocaust, a

thirst that was first triggered by reading The Diary of Anne Frank in

the sixth grade. While teaching high school history, she introduced her

students to the study of the Holocaust. At the same time, she also

developed an enduring fascination with teaching about and researching

the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case. An interview with Robert Meeropol,

the younger son of the Rosenbergs, is featured in her book, The Living

Memories Project. The book also includes an interview with Holocaust

survivor, Boris Chartan, the founder of the Holocaust Museum and

Tolerance Center of Nassau County, New York. Meryl holds a BA from

Queens College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an

Ed.D. from Hofstra University. She lives in New York with her husband,

Stewart. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~ Facebook ~  Twitter ~ Instagram

Tour Schedule:

July 14 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

July 14 - Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway

July 14 - Book World Reviews  - book review / author interview

July 15 – 100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway

July 16 – RebeccaReviewedIt – book review / author interview

July 17 – T's Stuff – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

July 18 - Just One More Chapter – book review

July 20 – Pick a good book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

July 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway

July 22 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway

July 23 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview

July 23 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway

July 24 – THE WORLD AS I SEE IT – book review

July 27 – Book after Book – book spotlight / author interview

July 28 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

July 28 - Leels Loves Books - book review / giveaway

July 29 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway

July 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway

July 31 – Reading is My Passion – book review / giveaway

July 31 - The Eclectic Review – book review

Aug 3 – I'm All About Books – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Aug 3 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight

Aug 4 - Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway

Aug 4 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway

Aug 4 - Peaceful Pastime – book review

Aug 4 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway

Aug 5 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review

Aug 5 - Books and Zebras – book review / giveaway

Aug 5 - Alexis Marie Chute – book review / author interview

Aug 6 – Pen Possessed – book review / giveaway

Aug 6 - Books for Books – book spotlight

Aug 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Aug 10 – My Fictional Oasis – book review

Aug 10 - Adventurous Jessy - book review / giveaway

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