Although she [Havah] had dusted it many times, a faded photograph in a silver frame caught her attention. A woman with pale curls around her face smiled at her from under a lace bridal veil. She lifted the picture from the table beside the piano.
“What was she like?”
“My Valerica.” He took the picture from her. Then, holding it to his chest, he propped an elbow on the piano and rested his head on his hand. “Kolyah introduced us.”
“Dr. Nikolai?”
“She was his wife’s best friend. Do you believe in love at first sight, Havah?”
Not waiting for an answer, he continued. His spirit seemed to travel to a distant time and place. Tears shimmered in his eyes. “Valerica Dietrich. She was always the picture of fashion. But, if you ask me, she could’ve worn flour sacks and still have turned heads.
~~From Please Say Kaddish for Me
“Have you heard from your professor?”
“I got a letter this morning.” Havah took an envelope from her pocket. “How is he?”
“He’s so lonesome. Oh, he doesn’t say so, but I can tell by the way he talks about his wife and how much he misses her. She’s been gone thirteen years. It’s a pity he never remarried.”
~~From From Silt and Ashes
Published by Argus Publishing
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency
Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
It was for his Romanian wife, Valerica that Ulrich moved to Kishinev, Moldova. Her death in childbirth dealt him a terrible blow from which he has never recovered. In Please Say Kaddish for Me, to keep her memory alive, Ulrich still has all of her belongings and refuses to sell the house they shared.
However, after experiencing anti-Semitic oppression and the carnage of the pogrom, he can no longer bear to remain in Kishinev.
As From Silt and Ashes opens he has sold the house and moved to London where he teaches at the Royal Academy of Music. Valerica’s wedding photo is ever by his piano for, as he’s told Havah, “She had music in her eyes.”
The Sequel to
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Check out my author page on the Loiacono Website. For all of the character studies thus far, click on the link Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Art and Blogs or my website RochelleWordArt.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Nice study of Valerica. I have to say that I really like your illustrations. I’ve noticed them before, but seeing the few that popped up on the video brought out how good they are.
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Thank you Trent. Of course my hope is that you’ll check out the novels as well. FYI, sometime this year those illustrations will be included in a companion coffee table book.
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Your novels do look interesting, and yes, besides the nice illustrations the video was a good tease to read them.
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I wondered what Valerica might look like. Now I know. I love the way you continue to weave characters and their memories into their story. They are becoming so real, I expect to be able to find them in historical documents. And, of course, some are. Keep them coming. I can’t wait for this next novel to come out. I think you enjoy teasing me with the characters. Lol.
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Your characters look so real. I sometimes wonder who they’re modeled from or if they are a combination of different people. Of course, I know you used your mother for one. Lovely. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
My models are from dozens of different places. Sometimes I start with a celebrity I imagine would play the character in a movie but alter the features a bit. I’ve found a wealth of old photos online as well. I used an aunt for Shayndel. 😉 At any rate, after over ten years of listening to these people tell me their stories, they’re very real to me.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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