Prague Fraud

Thanks to my friends in my book club, I’m no longer a Prague Fraud.

It’s seriously a relief. I was losing sleep over it.

What’s a Prague Fraud, you ask? That’s a fair question. I made it up.

If you’ve read Diamonds in Auschwitz (if you haven’t, stop what you’re doing and buy a copy at

your local bookstore right now… Might I suggest One More Chapter Books in Plymouth??),

you’ll know that it partly reads as a love letter to the beautiful city of Prague. That was

intentional.

When I was researching cities to set Diamonds in Auschwitz, I stumbled upon Prague. I knew

next to nothing about the city, its people, or its place in World War II history. What a happy

accident!

I fell in love with Prague immediately. For a book showing how art and beauty can give hope

and purpose in the darkest of times, Prague was the perfect place. The city is full of color,

intricate designs, eclectic architecture, and diverse people.

So I wrote Diamonds in Auschwitz to honor all that.

Yet, I had never been.

So many times, I was asked about my experience visiting Prague, and I had to hang my head in

shame and say I had never been. People were shocked. Mostly (at least what was vocalized to

me) they were surprised/impressed I was able to write such vivid descriptions without seeing it

with my own eyes. I appreciate the compliments, but more than anything, I felt like a fraud.

But now… Now I’m an authentic Prague Lover!

Thanks to four women who are so much more than my book club, I’ve been to Prague. And it

was everything I had imagined it to be.

I walked to Celetna Street, where Samual first purchased Hanna’s engagement ring. I walked

down Charles Bridge, featured on my book cover. I toured Maisel Synagogue, Hanna’s

inspiration to wear the Star of David.

To be where my book took place was a surreal feeling. It’s been over a year since Diamonds in

Auschwitz hit bookshelves. Since then, I’ve completed another book (it’s with my agent looking

for an editor) and I’m halfway through my third manuscript. Diamonds almost feels like a

distant memory. It was so special to bring the story alive again by walking down the same

streets and Rachael, Hanna, and Samual.

My only concern is that now my order of writing and visiting the place is a little mixed up! Write

a book. Get it published. Then visit with my friends. It’s not a bad pattern but that just means

I’m going to be a Manila Fraud next!