Welcome. Thank you for visiting carladanziger.com. Here you will find information about my novel HIDDEN FALLS, set near the end of the 20th century in the land of my ancestors, and a bit about me.
I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Norway several times, and living for a while in Bergen on the West Coast and traveling in the fjords inspired me to set HIDDEN FALLS in that region. I was blessed to grow up in the U.S. Pacific Northwest with grandparents from Norway and Finland who were a big part of my life. I cherish my memories of them. When I met my Israeli husband, I was saddened to learn that he never knew his grandparents—they were murdered by the Nazis in the death camps of Europe. Knowing that made the tragedy of the Holocaust much more real to me.
Years later, as a freelance journalist and also a fan of mystery and romance, I set out to write a novel. This mystery/romance/international thriller set near the end of the 20th century, draws from the common history shared by Norwegians, Israeli Jews, and Europeans—that is, as victims of Nazi brutality. And, further, it demonstrates the impact of World War II and the Holocaust on survivors and succeeding generations.
I’d known about the Norwegian Resistance to the Nazi occupation ever since I was a kid, but very little about the situation of Norwegian Jews at that time. I researched both to understand my older characters. As I wrote HIDDEN FALLS, I brought in “current events” such as the controversial trial in Israel of John Demjanjuk, an alleged concentration camp guard; the brilliant expose of Nazi Eric Priebke by ABC T.V. journalist Sam Donaldson, and also the hopeful Oslo Accords facilitated by Norway between the Israelis and Palestinians. After the tragic assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995, I decided my story had to be set in August 1995, when both the peace process and Mr. Rabin were alive and seemingly well. All these events simply served as background to the fictional story, which is still relevant today. I was gratified that a reviewer also referred to it as a travelogue because it was my intention that Norway’s beautiful scenery would provide solace and inspiration for readers. I welcome your comments about HIDDEN FALLS and/or this website. Please write me at carladanziger@yahoo.com. Tusen Takk.
February 2012
BIOGRAPHY
Carla has worked as a writer/editor and freelance journalist. She is past president (2004-2006) of the Washington, DC, chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, a membership organization of publishing professionals (www.wnba-books.org). She is also a member of Sons of Norway (SON) Washington Lodge.
