Wherever the Word Leads
In “Wherever the Word Leads,” I share my thoughts on books (including mine), the process of writing, the experiences of an indie-publisher, WWII, the Holocaust, cooking, travel, and anything else I feel might be of interest to readers of my books.
Please let me know what you like and what you want to know more about. Everything in this blog reflects my personal ideas and feelings–a memoir of sorts, it is my perspective and any errors or omissions are mine.
Singing for our lives in Eugene, Oregon
THE CROWD IS GROWING. A small band of three musicians is setting up a microphone and speakers. Behind them looms the newly installed black iron fence that surrounds the Eugene Federal Building, where arrested immigrants are questioned in the offices of ICE. Two rows of color photos are tied to the black grating of the
How German Jews Lost Their Birthright Citizenship
Originally published as Loss of Citizenship the Nuremberg Way on May 29, 2015 on my personal blog, this article has been slightly modified to make it more current. Also published on kathrynslattery.substack.com on 05/09/2026 * In the second chapter of Immigrant Soldier, Herman speeds toward home on his motorcycle, his mind a swirl of thoughts.
Foodies in Japan: A Cooking Class Diary (2nd of 2)
Part 2: Japanese “food for socializing” and savory pancakes LAST WEEK, I POSTED THE FIRST PART of this “diary” about cooking classes in Japan. In those first two classes, sushi making in Tokyo and ramen soup in Kyoto, Erin and I try our hand at familiar Japanese dishes. In the cooking classes described below, we
Foodies in Japan: A Cooking Class Diary (1st of 2)
Part 1: We make sushi and learn the secrets of ramen WHAT IS THE FIRST THING that pops into your mind when someone mentions Japanese food? Is it sushi? Or Ramen? Tempura? Or something else? I love food, and cooking is a creative outlet as essential to my identity as writing. Those who have read
How IBM Helped Hitler
Originally published here on April 14, 2015, as An Unexpected Answer Published to Substack on 04/18/2026 * Recently, a reader of Immigrant Soldier asked me an interesting question during an author presentation. “How did the Nazis find all the Jewish people, especially people like Herman’s family who didn’t practice the religion?” My first response was
Japanese Shrine Stamps and our guide, Yuki
MY DAUGHTER ERIN AND I ARRIVED at Tokyo airport at 6:00 am on an overcast December morning. Two hours later, we met Yuki, our guide and driver for the next six days. He would become a friend who opened new windows into Japanese culture. Tired but eager to immerse ourselves in Japan, we waited for
To the Man who Taught Bamboo Weaving
2023, Luang Prabang, Laos I WAS ONE OF A SMALL GROUP gathered around, eager to learn the craft of bamboo weaving. We sat at a row of worktables. You sat in front of us on a low stool not more than eight inches high, stripping the tough outer skin from lengths of bamboo with a
Policing a Police State
Some weeks ago, I wrote about the Nazi SA and promised to follow up with a discussion of the SS (the Schutzstaffel) and the Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei). * AFTER HITLER CAME TO POWER, Germany became a totalitarian state that used a complex and brutal system of policing to enforce its policies. The SS was soon the
Sunday School Weekends
GROWING UP IN THE 1950s, my older sister, Una, and I were among the few neighborhood children whose mother worked. Mother was a third-grade teacher. She ran our home like a big kids’ classroom, enforcing rules and doling out chores. By the weekend, she was tired of dealing with children, including her own. To give
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