East Berlin trembles. A man on the run clings to love as
borders close and betrayal tightens its grip.
Watch the Trailer
Five stories. One pulse-pounding journey through danger,
deception, and survival.
Behind the Wall: Where Loyalty Fractures and Shadows Rise.
Before the escape, there was love. Before the reckoning,
trust. Escape from Berlin leads this haunting collection with Mark
Dresdner’s desperate flight from East Germany, a man torn between duty and
devotion, hunted by enemies and haunted by the woman he refuses to leave
behind.
But the danger doesn’t end at the border.
From twisted rituals and shattered marriages to deadly
secrets and vigilante justice, Scribbler Tales Presents: Escape from Berlin
plunges readers into five intense narratives where survival demands sacrifice
and truth is a dangerous weapon.
This quiet moment, where the past collides with the present,
captures the soul of Scribbler Tales. It’s a journey through betrayal, fallout,
and the fragile hope that something better lies beyond the storm.
A Note from the Author
I wrote Escape from Berlin to explore the human cost
of loyalty and the choices we make when everything is at stake. Each story in
this collection reveals a different kind of escape, whether from tyranny,
betrayal, or fate itself. This trailer invites you to step into those moments
and ask: what would you risk to be free?
About the Book
A perilous escape. A shattered trust. A reckoning in the
shadows.
Mark Dresdner’s cover is blown. The border is blocked. The
woman he loves is in danger. Escape from Berlin opens this suspenseful
anthology with Cold War tension and emotional grit.
But the danger doesn’t stop there.
In Betrayal, Aelia’s devotion is tested when her
husband’s secrets threaten everything.
Deadly Secrets follows Lysandra into a new life, only for her past to resurface with deadly consequences.
Murder in the First delivers vigilante justice with a
twist, as Bethel’s plan spirals into chaos.
The Ritual traps Devona in a pagan rite that demands
blood, and escape may come too late.
Scribbler Tales Presents: Escape from Berlin is a
gripping anthology for fans of espionage thrillers, psychological suspense, and
stories where survival is never guaranteed.
In this special interview, we meet
Helga of East Anglia, a Norsewoman whose life is entwined with loyalty to her
people and unexpected ties that cross cultural divides in The Briton and the
Dane. Helga shares her struggles, her strength, and her hopes in a world
torn by war and divided by faith.
Interviewer: Helga, thank you for joining us. Can
you tell us about your background and how you came to be part of this conflict?
Helga: I was born on English soil, though my blood is Norse. From my
earliest days, I lived between two worlds, never fully belonging to one or the
other. By the time I was grown, the Norse were already settled in East Anglia
under treaty with King Alfred. Even in uneasy peace, the struggle shaped every
choice I made.
Interviewer: Many see the Norse only as raiders.
What do you believe is most misunderstood about your people? Helga: We are more than the clash of steel and the burning of villages.
We are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. We seek honor, yes, but also a
place to belong. Too often, only the bloodshed is remembered, and not the bonds
of kinship that guide us.
Interviewer: Your story is closely tied to others
beyond your own people. How has that shaped your choices? Helga: It has not been easy. To care for someone outside the shield wall
is to live with constant fear—fear of discovery, fear of betrayal. Yet the
heart does not ask permission before it binds itself.
Interviewer: What has been the greatest challenge
you’ve faced in these turbulent times? Helga: To walk a path where every choice risks betrayal of someone I
love. My loyalty is tested daily—by blood, by oath, by the quiet voice of my
own heart.
Interviewer: You’ve witnessed both Saxon and Norse
ways of life. What do you believe each side fails to see in the other? Helga: The Saxons see us as heathens, blind to the depth of our
traditions. The Norse see the Saxons as weak, blind to the strength of their
faith. Both sides forget that beneath the banners and the gods, we are all
people who bleed, grieve, and hope the same.
Interviewer: How do you find strength when the
world around you is so divided? Helga: In the small moments—the laughter of children, the warmth of a
fire, the memory of a promise. These are the things that remind me why we
endure.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what do you hope your
legacy will be? Helga: That love can bridge even the deepest divides. If those who come
after me can live in a world where Saxon and Norse walk side by side, then my
struggles will not have been in vain.
Interviewer: Before we wrap up, is there anything
you’d like to share with our readers? Helga: Only this: even in times of war, the heart still seeks peace. May
those who come after us remember that truth.
Mary Ann Bernal is a distinguished alumna of Mercy College
in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she earned her degree in Business Administration. Her
literary journey began with the 2009 publication of her debut novel in The
Briton and the Dane series, marking the start of a richly diverse body of work
that spans historical fiction, contemporary short stories, science
fiction/fantasy, and fast-paced adventure novellas.
Her recent publications include Crusader’s Path, a poignant
redemption tale set during the First Crusade; Forgiving Nero, a compelling exploration
of familial bonds in Ancient Rome; and the award-winning AnaRose adventure
series, chronicling the daring escapades of a museum curator-turned-relic
hunter. Mary Ann’s work has been honored by the Independent Press Award, the
NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book Awards, the B.R.A.G.
Medallion, and the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her short fiction
anthologies have likewise earned distinction, most notably from the American
Legacy Book Awards. She was also recognized with the Editor’s Choice Award for
Literary Excellence by Reader’s House magazine.
A dedicated supporter of the United States military since
Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has actively engaged in letter-writing
campaigns and related initiatives. Her advocacy has been featured on KMTV’s The
Morning Blend and in the Omaha World-Herald. As a celebrated author, she has
appeared on numerous reader blogs and book promotion platforms. Mary Ann
currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she continues to craft stories
that inspire and endure.
Isadore Levinsky is a survivor. No stranger
to concentration camps, he’s been freighted by boxcar to yet one more, possibly
his last, before death by rifle or neglect. He’s survived this far because he’s
done what any person would do under the circumstances: everything possible,
irrespective of the consequences for others. At the nearly deserted
Natzweiler-Struthof camp, Levinsky matches wits with fellow prisoner Otto Beck,
a self-proclaimed pacifist, gentile and admitted liar. Beck has decreed that
all food and water will be shared equally. He’s rallied the men and challenged
his Nazi overseers, willingly taking their beatings and abuse. But is Beck a
charismatic con man or a liberator? Previously convicted for treachery, Beck is
architect of an escape plan specifically designed to assist his Nazi captors.
Can Levinsky and the men survive Beck and find their way to freedom?
A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of
Resistance is a story that resonates with our own
times. Uplifting and inspiring, the story draws us into a dark past we must
never forget, while shining a ray of hope for our future.
J. Paul (J.P.) Rieger is a mostly retired Maryland
attorney and author of five books, The Case Files of Roderick Misely,
Consultant, a mystery featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero published in
April, 2013, Clonk!, a police farce set in Baltimore and published in
May, 2023 by Apprentice House Press (Loyola University, Maryland), The Big
Comb Over, a slipstream comedy of manners published in April, 2024, Sunscreen
Shower, a Clonk!sequel, published by Flock Publishing in October 2024, and A Most Unlikely Man: A Tale of Resistance, published by Blue Cedar Press in September 2025.
J. Paul and his spouse live in Towson, Maryland. His
website is www.jpaulrieger.net.
Caught between a king and a kingmaker,
young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose...
1461: Richard Duke of York, King by
Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his
eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.
As the boy grapples with grief and
uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the
throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that
imperfections lurk beneath his brother's majestic façade. Enter Richard
Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him
everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man
and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears
their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to
Edward—his blood brother and anointed king—or to Warwick, the father figure who
has shaped his life and affections.
Painfully trapped between duty and
devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight
to the death.
In "The Traitor’s Son",
Wendy Johnson weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the
backdrop of England's turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard
III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with
peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits.
Perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel, Annie
Garthwaite and Sharon K. Penman.
Praise for The Traitor’s Son:
“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful
retelling of the early life of Richard III.”
~ Philippa Langley, MBE
“Sometimes the perfect use of the
written word takes my breath away. Not very often but this book is it. A
wonderful story written so beautifully that I shall not forget it for a long
time. Everything to my mind is perfect. The language, the story, the pacing.
Just wonderful.”
~ Kindle Customer, 5* Amazon Review
“Wonderfully woven story of a young
Richard III. Woven with a sure knowledge of the history and a realistic telling
of a story about a young boy finding his way through tragedy and triumph,
uncertainty and a legacy he cannot escape.
Brilliant debut which promises more and more.”
~ Cris, 5* Amazon Review
“I loved this novel, it was beautifully
written, extremely atmospheric, the characters’ personalities came through
perfectly, can’t wait for the next instalment.”
~ Linda Hayward, 5* Amazon Review
“Really enjoyed this book. Holds the
reader enthralled from the first paragraph to the last. The next volume can't
be released soon enough.”
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Wendy Johnson has a lifelong passion for
medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to
life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the
Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives that immerse the reader in the past and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies
and was a runner-up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008.
Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa
Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost
grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Accountof Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019
received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.
THE TRAITOR’S SON, volume one in a Richard III trilogy, is Wendy’s debut novel and
she is currently working on the sequel.
A gritty story of a woman
learning to survive in 20th-century Gangland, New York
In early 20th-century Sicily,
noblewoman Mimi Inglese, a talented painter, dreams of escaping the rigid
expectations of her class by gaining admission to the Palermo Art Academy. But
when she contracts tuberculosis, her ambitions are shattered. With the Sicilian
nobility in decline, she and her family leave for New York City in search of a
fresh start.
Instead of opportunity, Mimi is
pulled into the dark underbelly of city life and her father’s money laundering
scheme. When he is sent to prison, desperation forces her to put her artistic
talent to a new use—counterfeiting $5 bills to keep her family from starvation
and, perhaps, to one day reclaim her dream of painting. But as Gangland
violence escalates and tragedy strikes, Mimi must summon the courage to flee
before she is trapped forever in a life she never wanted.
From
Sicily’s sun-bleached shores to the crowded streets of immigrant New York, Seeds of the Pomegranate is a story of
courage, art, and the women who refused to disappear.
Suzanne
Uttaro Samuels writes about women who defy expectations and the secrets that
shape families across generations.
Her
debut novel, Seeds of the Pomegranate
(Sibylline Press, 2025), follows a young Sicilian noblewoman whose search for
freedom and art leads her into the hidden world of counterfeiters in early
twentieth-century New York.
A
former law professor turned novelist, Suzanne now lives in a lakeside cottage
in the Adirondack Mountains with her husband, dog, and two cats. When she’s not
writing, she’s exploring old family stories, local history, and the way memory
lingers in the places we call home.
Remember tonight... for
it is the beginning of always ― Dante Alighieri
In the heart of Rome, the conclave is choosing a new
Pope, and whoever wins will determine the fate of the Eternal City.
Astrologer Mia and her fiancé Jacopo, a physician at
the Santo Spirito Hospital, plan to marry, but the election result is a shock
and changes everything.
As Pope Innocent X takes the throne, he brings along
his sister-in-law, the formidable Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, known as La Papessa – the female Pope. When Mia
is offered a position as her personal astrologer, she and Jacopo find
themselves on opposite sides of the most powerful family in Rome.
Mia is determined to protect her mother, Giulia
Tofana, a renowned poisoner. But with La
Papessa obsessed with bringing Giulia to justice, Mia and
Jacopo's love is put to the ultimate test.
As the new dawn of Renaissance medicine emerges, Mia
must navigate the dangerous political landscape of Rome while trying to protect
her family and her heart. Will she be able to save her mother, or will she lose
everything she holds dear?
For fans of "The Borgias" and "The
Crown," this gripping tale of love, power, and poison will keep you on the
edge of your seat until the very end.
Praise:
'historical fiction
that is brisk, fresh and bristling with intrigue'
~
Bookmarked Reviews ★★★★★
Deborah Swift is the author of twenty novels of historical
fiction.
Her Renaissance novel in this series, The Poison
Keeper, was recently voted Best Book of the Decade by the Wishing Shelf
Readers Award. Her WWII novel, Past Encounters, was the winner of the BookViral Millennium Award and is one of seven books set in the WWII era.
Deborah lives in the North of England, close to the mountains
and the sea.
In this special interview, we step into
the world of Wulfgar of Wessex, King Alfred’s trusted messenger in The
Briton and the Dane. Known for his tireless journeys across the land,
Wulfgar carries not only messages but also the weight of England’s survival on
his shoulders. Today, he shares his experiences of loyalty, danger, and the
quiet hopes that sustain him.
Interviewer: Wulfgar, thank you for joining us. Can
you tell us a little about your background and how you came to serve King
Alfred?
Wulfgar: It is my honor. I was trained from youth to ride hard and carry
word swiftly between lords and burhs. My service to King Alfred began when I
proved myself reliable in times of peril. Since then, I have been entrusted
with messages that could turn the tide of war.
Interviewer: As Alfred’s messenger, you often carry
news that can change the course of battles. How do you handle that
responsibility? Wulfgar: With vigilance and prayer. A single delay or misstep could cost
lives. I ride knowing that the fate of men may rest in my hands, and I strive
never to falter.
Interviewer: You’ve crossed paths with many lords,
warriors, and even enemies. What do you believe is most misunderstood about the
Saxon cause? Wulfgar: Many think we fight only for land. But it is more than soil we
defend. It is our faith, our families, and the hope of a future free from fear.
That is what drives us to endure.
Interviewer: Your duties keep you constantly on the
move. How has that shaped your personal life? Wulfgar: The road is a lonely companion. Yet even in solitude, I have
learned patience and endurance. A man who serves must often set aside his own
desires for the greater good.
Interviewer: What dangers have you faced most often
in your journeys? Wulfgar: Ambush and betrayal. A messenger is a tempting target, for
silencing me can silence a king’s command. I rely on speed, caution, and the
goodwill of those who shelter me along the way.
Interviewer: You’ve witnessed both triumph and
tragedy in your service. What moment has left the deepest mark on you? Wulfgar: I recall carrying word of a victory hard-won, only to arrive at
a village already burned by the Danes. The joy of triumph turned to ash in my
mouth. It taught me that even the swiftest rider cannot outrun sorrow.
Interviewer: In such turbulent times, what gives
you strength to continue? Wulfgar: Faith in God, loyalty to my king, and the memory of those who
have fallen. Each ride is a promise to them—that their sacrifice was not in
vain.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what do you hope your
legacy will be? Wulfgar: That I was faithful to my king, to my people, and to the trust
placed in me. If I am remembered at all, let it be as a man who carried his
duty with honor.
Interviewer: Before we wrap up, is there anything
you’d like to share with our readers? Wulfgar: Only this: even in times of war, loyalty and service endure.
May those who come after us remember the strength found in faith and duty.
Mary Ann Bernal is a distinguished alumna of Mercy College
in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she earned her degree in Business Administration. Her
literary journey began with the 2009 publication of her debut novel in The
Briton and the Dane series, marking the start of a richly diverse body of work
that spans historical fiction, contemporary short stories, science
fiction/fantasy, and fast-paced adventure novellas.
Her recent publications include Crusader’s Path, a poignant
redemption tale set during the First Crusade; Forgiving Nero, a compelling
exploration of familial bonds in Ancient Rome; and the award-winning AnaRose
adventure series, chronicling the daring escapades of a museum
curator-turned-relic hunter. Mary Ann’s work has been honored by the
Independent Press Award, the NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book
Awards, the B.R.A.G. Medallion, and the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards.
Her short fiction anthologies have likewise earned distinction, most notably
from the American Legacy Book Awards. She was also recognized with the Editor’s
Choice Award for Literary Excellence by Reader’s House magazine.
A dedicated supporter of the United States military since
Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has actively engaged in letter-writing
campaigns and related initiatives. Her advocacy has been featured on KMTV’s The
Morning Blend and in the Omaha World-Herald. As a celebrated author, she has
appeared on numerous reader blogs and book promotion platforms. Mary Ann
currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she continues to craft stories
that inspire and endure.
Beginning in 1930s Germany and based on their real lives, four
cousins as close as siblings—Bettina, Trudi, Gustav, and Gertrud—share the
experiences of the young, including first loves, marriages, and children.
Bettina, the oldest, struggles to help her parents with their
failing business. Trudi dresses in the latest fashions and tries to make
everything look beautiful. Gustav is an artist at heart and hopes to one day
open a tailoring shop. Gertrud, the youngest, is forced by her parents to keep
secrets, but that doesn’t stop her from chasing boys. However, over their
seemingly ordinary lives hangs one critical truth—they’re Jewish—putting them
increasingly at risk.
When World War II breaks out, the four are still in Germany or
German-occupied lands, unable or unwilling to leave. How will these cousins
avoid the horrors of the Nazi regime, a regime that wants them dead? Will they
be able to avoid the deportations and concentration camps that have claimed
their fellow Jews? Danger is their constant companion, and it will take hope
and more to survive.
Praise for What Remains is
Hope:
"Readers will find this follow up to
Suchman's prior novel, Stumbling Stones, both a heartbreaking reminder of the
Holocaust's atrocities and a compelling tribute to a family's refusal to
surrender to despair...Richly compelling Holocaust account, centered on the
power of hope."
~ Booklife by Publishers Weekly
"Author Bonnie Suchman has a way of making
every moment count with her characters in a narrative that feels powerfully
real as she spins deeply personal stories against a sweeping and tragic
backdrop of history. ..What Remains is Hope is historical fiction at its best,
and I'd highly recommend it to fans of gripping fiction that's emotionally
resonant and grounded in truth."
This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Bonnie Suchman has been a practicing
attorney for forty years. Using her legal skills, she researched her husband's
250-year family history in Germany, publishing the award-winning, non-fiction
book, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany, as a
result.
Those compelling stories became
Suchman's Heppenheimer Family Holocaust Saga. The first in the series, Stumbling
Stones, was a Finalist for the 2024 Hawthorne Prize for Fiction, and
recently, her family traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, to install stumbling
stones for her husband's Great Aunt Alice and her husband Alfred, the real-life
characters in the book.
What Remains is
Hope is the second novel in the saga. In her free time, Bonnie is
a runner and a golfer. She and her husband reside in Potomac, Maryland.
In this exclusive interview, we sit
down with Krista, a courageous operative of the Freedom Fighters. As the first
point of contact for Sophia and Lucca, Krista’s choices helped set in motion a
daring escape that would alter the course of the galaxy. Here, Krista shares
her perspective on survival, loyalty, and the price of defiance in a time of
tyranny.
Interviewer: Krista, thank you for joining us
today. Can you tell us a little about your background and how you became
involved with the Freedom Fighters?
Krista: It wasn’t one dramatic moment; it was years
of watching people silenced, families torn apart, and entire worlds crushed
under the weight of a regime that demanded obedience. I realized that if I
didn’t stand up, I’d be complicit. Joining the Freedom Fighters wasn’t about
glory. It was about survival with purpose.
Interviewer: You were the first point of contact
for Sophia and Lucca. What made you decide to trust them?
Krista: Trust is dangerous in times like
these. But when I met them, I saw something different. They weren’t just
running for themselves; they were risking everything for someone else. That
kind of courage is rare. It told me they were worth the gamble.
Interviewer: Working under Bret, the leader of the
Freedom Fighters, what role do you play in the rebellion?
Krista: Bret carries the burden of command,
but he can’t be everywhere. My role is to listen, watch, and make connections
that others might overlook. Sometimes that means slipping into places where
rebels aren’t welcome. Sometimes it means extending a hand to strangers who
might change the course of the fight.
Interviewer: The galaxy is burning with unrest.
What do you believe is the greatest misconception about the rebellion?
Krista: That we’re reckless. People think we
fight because we crave chaos. The truth is, we fight because we crave peace.
Every risk we take, every life we lose is not for destruction. It’s for the
chance to build something better.
Interviewer: Meeting Sophia and Lucca eventually
led to a daring escape. What was going through your mind during that mission?
Krista: Fear, of course. Only a fool says they
don’t feel fear. But beneath it was resolve. I knew if we failed, it wasn’t
just lives lost, it was hope itself. And hope is the one thing we can’t afford
to lose.
Interviewer: What keeps you moving forward, despite
the danger?
Krista: The faces of those who can’t fight for
themselves. The children who deserve to grow up free. The memory of every
friend we’ve buried. That’s what drives me. That’s why I’ll never stop.
Interviewer: Krista, thank you for sharing your
story. Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to those who
might one day join the cause?
Krista: Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
There isn’t one. Change begins the second you decide you won’t live in silence
anymore.
Mary Ann Bernal is a distinguished
alumna of Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she earned her degree in
Business Administration. Her literary journey began with the 2009 publication
of her debut novel in The Briton and the Dane series, marking the start of a
richly diverse body of work that spans historical fiction, contemporary short
stories, science fiction/fantasy, and fast-paced adventure novellas.
Her recent publications include
Crusader’s Path, a poignant redemption tale set during the First Crusade;
Forgiving Nero, a compelling exploration of familial bonds in Ancient Rome; and
the award-winning AnaRose adventure series, chronicling the daring escapades of
a museum curator-turned-relic hunter. Mary Ann’s work has been honored by the
Independent Press Award, the NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book
Awards, the B.R.A.G. Medallion, and the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards.
Her short fiction anthologies have likewise earned distinction, most notably
from the American Legacy Book Awards. She was also recognized with the Editor’s
Choice Award for Literary Excellence by Reader’s House magazine.
A dedicated supporter of the United
States military since Operation Desert Storm, Mary Ann has actively engaged in
letter-writing campaigns and related initiatives. Her advocacy has been
featured on KMTV’s The Morning Blend and in the Omaha World-Herald. As a
celebrated author, she has appeared on numerous reader blogs and book promotion
platforms. Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she continues
to craft stories that inspire and endure.
How do you reconcile a
decision you made in the past when the world erupts in war, threatening the
life of someone you love and believe you were protecting?
Adrian Mazurek immigrated to the United States from Krakow, Poland,
14 years ago and is now a successful violin soloist and concertmaster of The
Eleventh State Symphony Orchestra in New York. But despite his outward success,
Adrian is inwardly harboring a shameful secret, one he has not revealed to
anyone.
However, that is about to change. Adrian plans to propose marriage
to Suzanne, but he knows he must tell her the truth about his past before doing
so. Riddled with guilt and shame, Adrian can barely look at himself in the
mirror. How can he look Suzanne in the eyes and tell her that he left his
infant son, Simon, in the care of his aunt and uncle in Poland 14 years ago? If
only confessing the truth to Suzanne was the most difficult part.
Adrian soon learns that Germany has invaded Poland and World War II
has begun. Fearing the Germans will learn that his son is of Jewish heritage,
Adrian must do something to ensure Simon's safety. But what? And will Suzanne
stand by his side or will she turn away because of his deceit?
Fred
Raymond Goldman graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD (now
McDaniel College) in June 1962 with a B.A. in psychology. In 1964, he earned an
M.S.W. degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
Most of
his career was devoted to the Jewish Communal Service. He served as the
administrator of Northwest Drug Alert, a methadone maintenance program at Sinai
Hospital in Baltimore, where he also became the community’s reference point for
steering drug abusers to Jewish resources. The work focused on helping
individuals achieve abstinence, receive counseling, and find employment.
Following
this role, Fred was hired as Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family
Services in Baltimore.
The final
position in his professional career was with Har Sinai Congregation, a Jewish
Reform synagogue in Baltimore, where he served as Executive Director for 23 years
before retiring in October 2005.
In
retirement, Fred pursued his interests in hiking with The Maryland Hiking Club,
exploring nature, and volunteering at The Irvine Nature Center, where he guided
schoolchildren on nature hikes and assisted in the Center’s nature store.
Writing
had been an interest since childhood, though Fred did not pursue it seriously
until retirement. Beginning with children’s books, he became a member of the
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Association. Among the works he wrote
were Vera and the Blue Bear Go to the Zoo, Never Bite an Elephant
(And Other Bits of Wisdom), The Day the School Bus Drivers Went on
Strike, If You Count, and The Day the School Devices Went on
Strike. Although these works were never published, Fred hopes that if the CONCERTO
books gain recognition, opportunities for these earlier works may follow.
The
journey of writing the CONCERTO companion books began after Fred
noticed a note on the local library bulletin board announcing the formation of
a writer’s group led voluntarily by a local author. Joining the group with nine
others, he learned the essentials of writing—maintaining the protagonist’s
point of view, building tension toward a climax, rewriting, and developing
complex characters with flaws, peculiarities, and unique personalities.
Over four
years, Fred devoted significant time to writing, researching, rewriting, and
submitting the manuscript. Originally one book titled The Auschwitz
Concerto, the project was later divided into two volumes and
self-published. For a time, the title The Box was also considered.
Encouragement
from the teacher and fellow writers in the group played a pivotal role in
shaping the novels, as Fred also contributed to the successes of others through
critique and support.
In the Author’s
Notes, Fred explains the purpose of making the books available to the
public. Before embarking on the project, he knew little about the Holocaust
beyond its staggering toll of nine million lives and its place as one of
history’s darkest chapters. In writing the novels, he not only gained deeper
knowledge of history and human suffering but also developed a heightened
awareness of current issues that demand attention. As he notes, what affects
one group of people has the potential to affect all of us.
