“I always knew that I had a story to tell, so, on April 9, 1999, at the tender and well-preserved age of seventy-three, with my daughter’s college dictionary within my reach, I sat down to write this book.”

  Thus begins the compelling story of a young girl’s journey to adulthood, family turmoil, the effects and aftermath of war, emigration to a new land, a troubled marriage, and . . . an enduring quest for happiness and contentment.

  Watch for Ms. Pajer-Raffel’s next book, Two Cats in Val Gardena, the fiction tale of two real cats that travel to Italy in search of adventures.