Books, Writing, History, and Me
In “Books, Writing, History, and Me” I share my thoughts on travel, cooking, van-life, books, the process of writing, the experiences of an indie-publisher, WWII, the Holocaust, and anything else I feel might be of interest to readers of my books. Please send me comments and 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.
Joy at the National Archives – Research and Primary Documents
As I worked on my manuscript, I continued to immerse myself in movies, novels, and all kinds of nonfiction about WWII—from books to online articles, from the German documentary titled The Ritchie Boys to Lucky Forward by Robert Allen—but I still felt inadequate to write the chapters about Herman’s time at Camp Ritchie and his wartime activities in Europe.…
Finding The Ritchie Boys
Somewhere in the middle of a day of taping Herman’s memories in 1991, he mentioned his special training. “They sent me to the Army Intelligence Center,” he told me. “That was in Camp Ritchie, Maryland. And I took the course and graduated from the Army Intelligence Corps. We were trained in interrogation, espionage, and counter-espionage.”…
Getting the Story – Oral History from Herman Lang
Separated by the breadth of America, he in New York and I in California, my uncle Herman and I didn’t meet until 1969. I had been teaching art to middle school students for a year, and I needed a break. I packed my Volkswagen van with camping gear and…
Family Secrets
I was born during World War II and raised in southern California where I spent my childhood reading, drawing, whiling away days at the beach, and being nurtured by my Grandma Clara. I knew nothing of my father’s family story other than his childhood in Germany and sudden emigration to the United States. Then, the…
Discovery
I loved Venice — brightly colored air, sparkling water, and spires gleaming in the sun. My sixteen year old romantic heart dreamt of the day I would return and kiss a boyfriend in the shadow of Saint Mark’s Basilica. Even the presence of my mother with her rules and my little sister with her tears…
Sign up to receive the latest news, events and personal insights from Katie Lang‑Slattery.