Trigger warning: This episode of Story of the Book contains discussions about the Holocaust, including mentions of genocide, extermination camps and anti-Semitism. Please take care.
In this episode of Story of the Book, we chat to R.M. Romero about how she wrote her debut middle grade novel, The Dollmaker of Kraków, which came out in September 2017 from Delacorte Press. We talk about the challenge of balancing light and darkness in fiction, using magic to write about trauma, and why Rachael hates it when someone asks her how the magic in her books "works." We loved this conversation with Rachael and we hope you love it, too!
SPOILER WARNING:In this episode, we discuss the plot of The Dollmaker of Kraków in detail.If you hate spoilers, please read the book first! We don’t want to ruin it for you! :)
Show notes:
Add The Dollmaker of Kraków on Goodreads
Rachael visited Auschwitz-Birkenau when she was 18.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Mischlingby Affinity Konar
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A Hoffman
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Terry Pratchett: "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."
Rachael did a revise and resubmit for her first agent.
Lisa Perrin, illustrator
Rabbi Loeb and the Golem of Prague
The Ghosts of Rose Hill is out on May 3rd, 2022.
Add The Ghosts of Rose Hill on Goodreads
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Our theme music was written & performed by us.
