lways the curious and independent (“I can do it myself”) child, Historical Fiction/Women’s Fiction author Elaine Stock was stumped when she asked family members questions about her heritage and discovered no one wanted to talk about the past. She also was bemused when especially her beloved grandmother would reply “Why? Are you going to write a book about it?” Years later, after penning a few inspirational titles, Elaine, determined to write what she loved to read—historical fiction—researched her paternal heritage from Brzeziny, Poland. Learning that the likely reason behind why her family did not share about the ‘Old Country’ was because of sheer tragedy due to the horrific loss of lives in Brzeziny during the Holocaust, which would include family members that didn’t immigrate to the US, she passionately wanted to create a story of two women friends (one who is deaf and inspired by her great aunt) who dared to overcome the horrific times of a world war and the occupation of Poland by encouraging each other to continue forward despite the tough times by believing that better days are ahead for themselves, that they are the ones who have the power to make these days brighter. This first and huge leap in a new fiction direction has launched Elaine as an author of Historical Fiction, blended with Women’s Fiction. She has not one regret! Her love letter to Brzeziny became the award-winning, and Amazon Best Seller novel, We Shall Not Shatter. It also just earned the rank of 2023 Category Finalist in the Erich Hoffer Award.

Like her female characters, Elaine is learning how to shove aside several fears and worries and embrace the power of hope in living on this fast-spinning planet. A member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and The Historical Novel Society, she was born in Brooklyn, New York, and lives in upstate, New York with her husband and enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.

You can learn more about Elaine and her novels on her website https://elainestock.com/ and follow her on Facebook where she hangs out with a growing readership community: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaineStock

Get your copies of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy books here https://amzn.to/416o2wk or support your local bookstore & this podcast by getting your copy of We Shall Not Shatter at https://bookshop.org/a/

A little about today's host-

Author and musical composer Kathleen Basi is mother to three boys and one chromosomally-gifted daughter. Her debut novel, A SONG FOR THE ROAD, follows a musician on an unconventional road trip. Bestselling author Kerry Anne King writes, “In a novel filled with music, heartbreak, and surprising laughter, Basi takes us on a journey that encompasses both unimaginable loss and the powerful resilience of the human heart.”

Meaty, earnest, occasionally humorous, and ultimately uplifting, Kathleen’s fiction highlights the best within ourselves and each other. She writes monthly reflections on life, writing and beauty on her newsletter. Subscribe at https://kathleenbasi.substack.com/. 

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