Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs
Wednesday
June 29th 5-7
PM
“Out Of the Depths”
Discussion
and reception with author, David
Harry Tannenbaum
A
very special pre-release gathering for David’s new book about the guilt of a
holocaust survivor.
In the operating room Bernard Helgman is a brilliant
pediatric surgeon. But his private life
is hell – a hell fueled by guilt over his presence in a Nazi concentration camp
infirmary while sadistic experiments were performed on fellow prisoners.
Bernard’s career – indeed, the entire fabric of his life – are thrown into
shambles when, decades later, a survivor recognizes and confronts him.
David’s
exquisite novel explores the many losses of a Holocaust survivor, and his
lonely struggle to find a meaningful “after Auschwitz” life. Pathos, humor and
tragic love is woven into a powerful story of survivor’s guilt. Set aside some
time and a box of tissues, you will need both.
David
Harry Tannenbaum and his wife Mary live on South Padre Island with their dog
Franco. When he isn’t writing, David enjoys kayaking, biking, and traveling. If
David is off the island, he, Mary and Franco can usually be found enjoying
their old stomping ground of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Thursday
June 30th 1-3PM
…And
Then There Was CUBA
Book signing and discussion with author,
Gwendolyn Cowgill
And then there was Cuba
is an adventurous work of fiction, historically based on the true-life story of
a family who gave up a comfortable, stable life in Indiana to move lock, stock
and barrel to undeveloped La Gloria, Cuba. In 1899, The Cuban Land and
Steamship Company began promoting throughout the US and Canada tracts of land
in Cuba promising profits from growing citrus and sugar cane, and drawing in
this family with the lure of free lands. The story is written in the voice of
Elfie Irene, beginning at the age of twelve, and continuing as she matures in
the dense jungles of dangerous Cuba; dangerous because of political turmoil and
the influx of pirates, bandits, and ruffians infesting the burgeoning town of
La Gloria. The pioneers strike out from the USA to give their lives to the
promise of prosperity, tropical climate, and good health. That promise turns
into a struggle of survival and disappointment when reality differs from
promise. The main characters include Elfie and her parents, but to Elfie, the
main character is Samuel Paul Cowgill, her true love from childhood. She waits
16 years for him to return to Cuba to ask for her hand in marriage. Through
tragedy, peril, and suffocating heat, the story engages the audience through
the years of difficulty until 1917. The family has foraged through four
successful crops when the time comes for Elfie to face the trauma of leaving
Cuba to be wed to Paul. In the meantime, Paul’s letters to Elfie begin to
introduce a far, distant land as their destination following marriage. In 1909,
his grandfather and father had moved to wild, and turbulent San Benito, Texas
as entrepreneurs to invest in growing rice – also following the enticement of a
tropical climate. Elfie Irene slowly becomes aware that once again, she is
being asked to live the life of a pioneer.
Gwen’s
first book, The “Other” Nancy Drew, will be available as well. Nancy is the
precocious child who is expressing herself through art.
Gwendolyn
Cowgill M. Ed. is a retired teacher, having spent many rewarding years with 5th
and 4th graders and kindergarten students, as well as providing stimulating
educational experiences for At-Risk Pre-Schoolers.
These
events are free and open to the public.
Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, 5505 Padre Blvd. South Padre
Island, TX
For information call us at 956-433-5057
