Charles Novacek's Blog

It’s hard to believe that today marks 11 years since the official release of the award-winning BORDER CROSSINGS: Coming Age in the Czech Resistance!

The memoir was written by my late husband Charles Novacek and published posthumously by my Ten21 Press in Detroit.  I named the publication company and set the publication date as October 21 to coincide with Charles’s and my wedding day.  

BORDER CROSSINGS was endorsed by Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State. And it is the winner and finalist of 14 awards for excellence including the 2012 Midwest Book Awards Gold Medal for Autobiography/Memoir. You can see the complete awards list at www.charlesnovacekbooks.com.

The story is true, inspirational and suspenseful memoir about Charles, a common individual and hero of our time that chronicles his youth spent from age 11 to 20 in a resistance movement during wartime. The core of the story takes place during World War II and the Cold War against the background of the majestic Tatra mountains, colorful Bohemian and Moravian highlands, historic city of Prague and exotic countries of Tanzania and Venezuela. 

BORDER CROSSINGS is still available in hardcover, paperback and ebook formats through online booksellers, the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library and selected bookstores. Thank you for supporting BORDER CROSSINGS, Charles and me over the past 11 years.

There is cause for CELEBRATION!

Today, January 12, 2022, I celebrate the one-year anniversary aka bookiversary of CHARLES’S BRIDGE, the story (based on actual events) of a young artist’s fierce desire to create art and capture beauty during wartime.   

Thank you to everyone who has read, shared, reviewed, commented, encouraged, and supported CHARLES’S BRIDGE and me in all sorts of ways this past year! And special thanks to Nicole Lapointe, the talented illustrator who helps makes the story visually come alive.

CHARLES’S BRIDGE has been my Charles’s Bridge over this year of a pandemic, floods, and other challenging life events. I’m pleased to have this anniversary to say thanks and celebrate this positive milestone.     

And WHAT’S NEXT? The journey will continue for CHARLES’S BRIDGE with thoughts of a paperback edition and translations into other languages. Plus, I have at least four other stories/books at varying stages of completion in the works that I’m really excited to finish.

But before we begin year two, please read some of the highlights below of the wonderful experiences the book has had this first year and stay tuned.

CHARLES’S BRIDGE:

Named among the best on one of the “Best Children’s Books for 2021” lists in SLJ (School Library Journal) and Betsy Bird’s “31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 Informational Fiction. Betsy states CB is among “books that are willing to take a chance with a little imagination that “dare to mix nonfiction with fictional elements in a truly enjoyable way.”Published a free online, downloadable Educator/Teacher’s Guide for CHARLES’S BRIDGE. Contains ready-made activities related to the actual story aligned to Common Core Standards to help teachers integrate the book into language arts and science curricula. Designed for grades K-3. https://guidesbydeb.com/home/charless-bridge-debbie-gonzales  Created Instagram, Facebook and Goodreads pages for the book and 320+ postings. Please join! And check out Twitter, too @czechresistance.

Received many endorsements including the first one from Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University who said, “CHARLES’S BRIDGE is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times.”Received many positive Reader Reviews. Want to give a bookiversary gift? Please leave a Reader Review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be long – one or two sentences will do. Reader Reviews are very important for an author. Below are excerpts from current reviews:

A magical story with a powerful lesson for all ages; a wonderful story of creativity, resilience and ingenuity in the face of all odds; a touching and hopeful story, well told and beautifully illustrated; a timely lesson in resilience that adults, as well as children, will appreciate; knowing it’s a true story makes it all the more inspiring and captivating; tender and inspiring; Illustrations are magical; I loved this dear book, which offers children new avenues for creative thoughts about problem solving; A brilliantly executed little tale of courage and conviction that transcends time and place; a wonderful story of creativity, resilience and ingenuity in the face of all odds; an inspiring, thought-provoking read-aloud for children ages 4-8 and a beautiful story for all readers; an inspiring story of the power of the human spirit to adapt to hardships and find renewed joy in life by creatively embracing one’s surroundings; magnificently captured the era and the resilience of a young boy with a magical imagination

Participated as a virtual exhibitor at the Detroit Festival of Books and Czech Genealogical Society International (CGSI) Conference and exhibited live at the 39th Book Beat Birthday PartyCreated a wandering Book Tour visiting places and landmarks in Detroit Charles and Sandra enjoyed – bridges, buildings, art galleries/museums, outdoor art, murals. . . Also, an inspired and adventurous reader/traveler went on tour with the book to Colombia, the United Kingdom and ArgentinaHonored the Czech tradition of the art of puppetry, its role in the Czech resistance, and Charles’s father’s love of woodcarving and introduced the one-of-a kind hand-carved Charles marionetteProudly placed the first copies for live public sale of CHARLES’S BRIDGE at Source Booksellers, in Sandra’s and Charles’s neighborhood where the book was written

Featured article in the Oakland Press and review in Slovakia magazine

Listed in the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (NCSML) print and online 2021 Holiday CatalogIf you are a proud owner of CHARLES’S BRIDGE, thank you for your patronage. You can buy the book wherever books are sold online and at your favorite independent bookstore. If it’s not on their shelves ask them to order it for you. If you’re a library user, ask your local library to get the book for their collection. Please contact me for special pricing for larger quantities of books for students, etc. 

These are just a few of the highlights from this past year – if I didn’t mention you, please know that I still appreciated your involvement and support and look forward to working with you in the future.

Osma Couch and her daughter Josephine

I was saddened by the recent death of Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021), American composer and lyricist. He wrote the lyrics for “West Side Story,“ perhaps my favorite musical.

Sondheim also wrote and said about art:  “Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.”

When you read my picture book Charles’s Bridge, you’ll discover it was art that helped save Charles during wartime in Czechoslovakia and essentially throughout his life. Art helps people of all ages going through crisis, loss and chaos.

In going through possessions in the recent flood in my home I came across a quote by a woman I greatly admire – artist, educator, weaving and basketry authority and author Osma Couch Gallinger Tod (1895-1983).

Widowed three times, she said in 1981, “Each time I was widowed it was my art that saved me. . . “When you are passionately in love and that love is lost, you have to do something to close the gap.”

Osma is pictured here with her 9-year-old daughter Josephine Couch (Del Deo) on July 5, 1934, the day of her marriage to Milo Gallinger in Hartland, Michigan.

Osma was hired by J. Robert Crouse to lead Cromaine Crafts (established in 1931) in Hartland, Michigan, which developed into the third largest weaving center in the country during the 1930s and 40s. Osma’s husband Milo made the weaving looms.

Note: Hartland is where Charles and I first met face to face and where I was a library director for 21 years.

TODAY – 10.21.2021 Ten21 Press celebrates its first decade! This small independent book publisher was founded on October 21, 2011 in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, USA. Ten21 Press celebrates 10 years and two titles: the award-winning memoir Border Crossings: Coming of Age in the Czech Resistance in the Czech Resistance published in 2012 and the new picture book Charles’s Bridge published in 2021.

Our newest release is the highly-praised children’s picture book, Charles’s Bridge, inspired by Detroit author Sandra Novacek’s realization that her husband Charles’s personal story of a boy in Czechoslovakia during World War II had the potential to help children learn how to use art to calm and soothe them in times of crisis.

Based on actual events, Dr. Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Dept. of Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University, said “Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times.” Beautifully illustrated by Detroit artist Nicole Lapointe, this book includes a reproduction of Charles’s painting, and an Author’s Note, PreS-Gr 3.

Our debut book was Border Crossings: Coming of Age in the Czech Resistance. Written by Charles Novacek, the memoir is a firsthand account of survival amid the Nazi and Communist occupations of Charles’s Czechoslovakian homeland during World War II and the Cold War. The book has been endorsed by Madeleine Albright and is a winner and/or finalist of 14 national and international book awards. On the list is a Gold Medal in the Memoir/Autobiography category of the Midwest Book Awards, a Bronze Medal in the World History category of the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards, and Honorable Mention in the Memoir category of the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. YA-Adult.

Free Educator’s Guides are available for both books. They are easy to download, contain ready-made activities and are related to the actual story aligned to Common Core Standards to help teachers integrate the book into their curricula.

https://guidesbydeb.com/home/charless-bridge-debbie-gonzales

https://guidesbydeb.com/home/border-crossings

More titles are in the works and we look forward to publishing them for our readers in the years to come!

Our books would be great holiday and birthday gifts! Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online retailers including the National Czech & Slovak Museum store.

Like in his childhood hometown in Czechoslovakia during World War II, Charles treasured the art and architecture in his adopted home of Detroit as an adult. Many of Charles’s engineering projects were downtown so he eyed its buildings and sculptures. The 30’ tall Vermont marble Victory Eagle carved by sculptor Marshall Fredericks on the front of the former Veterans Memorial Building in Hart Plaza was among his favorites. The powerful motif of strength and beauty seems to grow out of the façade of the building, its wings forming a great Victory sign.

That “V” sign reminded Charles how important it was to his family early in World War II. It was used as a rallying signal, by holding up one’s first two fingers and was meant to show defiance to the Nazis. The British BBC took this idea and created its V for Victory campaign, which continued through the war and essentially was used by all Allied nations and their armed forces. In his memoir Charles wrote how the British BBC radio broadcasts his family listened to always started with the opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – three short notes and a long (da-da-da-daaaa) that were Morse code for the letter “V.”

The building was dedicated in 1950 to honor the people from Michigan who gave their lives in service to their country. The memorial statement: “In honored memory of those who gave their lives for their country” was carved below the eagle. The eagle also holds olive branches representing peace and flies into the future while looking back in remembrance of the past. Photo: David Adams.

March is WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH when tribute is paid to the generations of women and their contributions to history, culture and society. One such woman is Charles’s sister Vlasta Jakubová (my sister-in-law). Vlasta was born in Ozdany, Slovakia in 1925 and died in Brno, Czech Republic in 2017. Like her brother, in her youth she bravely served in the Czech resistance during World War II and the Cold War against the Nazis and the Communists, risking her life for freedom. Vlasta was arrested for “treasonous” activity on August 6, 1949, and was given an 18-year prison sentence.

When I traveled to Prague in 2015, I visited an archive where Vlasta had deposited some of her family photos and documents related to the family’s in the Czech resistance. Many of these items were scanned and given to me by the archive staff. Last weekend I rediscovered the disk and located a photograph of Vlasta with her bicycle in Náměšť nad Oslavou, Czechoslovakia. Included was an image of a typewritten description on the back of the photo written by Vlasta. A translation is posted below.

“Náměšť nad Oslavou , sometime around 1943-1945. 

This picture is me on my bicycle, on which I was all this time while part of the resistance movement. I carried messages between various members around the whole Vysocina region. For example: In Velka Bites it was Fr. Robotka, brother of my uncle Josef; forest manager Mr. Sedlak in Kosikov; the mayor of Dukovany Mr. Okarec; farm owner Hasek – until his arrest. In Velke Mezirici Frantisek Zajicek who had a cover name Kamil, but he I had to reach by also taking a train in Studenec, on my way to school in Trebic. In Trebic I was contacting Major Korhblua.   

The most contact I had was with Lubos. We both connected/united our individual groups.

  I am mentioning my bicycle because it is a memorable/special bike. During the Protectorate there were not too many bicycles available for purchase, as they were hard to find and rare to see around. In Náměšť among all the girls I was the only one all the military or Wehrmacht could identify by my bike and a blue milk can I always had with me on the bicycle handles, which worked as an excuse or a distraction from being stopped and questioned. So this way, and without and incident, I was able to pass by them. They always uttered: “Oh, here Miss is going to pick up her milk again.. But one time they stopped me for real and took me to the Forest Management offices to question me. It was a close call that one time.”

It seems every day of the year has a special event, observance or holiday to celebrate.  January 16 has been proclaimed “Appreciate a Dragon Day” dedicated to learning about dragons.  Dragons, the magical scaly creature born from fire, have existed throughout mythology since the times of the Romans and Egyptians. The dragon is the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The dragon symbolizes power, nobleness, honor, luck, and success in traditional Chinese culture.  It does not fear enemies or bully the weak.

My husband Charles was born in the year of the dragon in 1928. These two dragon vases were given as a gift to Charles by Zdeněk Žárský (1912-?), a member of the Czech resistance during World War II and the Cold War. Charles was assigned as a resistance contact to Captain Zdeněk Žárský, who had a leather shop in Brno. They were involved in very dangerous work so they “transferred messages in person because it was too risky to send them by radio.”

The two were reunited in “Czechoslovakia” 43 years later in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed and Charles was allowed to enter countries behind the Iron Curtain. They met in Charles’s sister Vlasta’s home in Brno and Captain Žárský presented Charles with the vases honoring and thanking him for his work in the Czech resistance.

It was a very emotional reunion.

COUNTDOWN! Seven (7) days to Charles’s Bridge release date! You can ask your favorite bookstore to stock Charles’s Bridge or preorder/purchase the book online through IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop, Books-A-Million, Book Depository, et al. Message sn@charlesnovacekbooks.com for a discount on bulk sales.

Praise for Charles’s Bridge

“Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times.”

–Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University; President-Elect, American Art Therapy Association

“In the midst of disaster, resilient children rise – like young Charles Novacek. On the brink of World War II, he must abandon his art supplies when his family flees Slovakia. Using his imagination, Charles finds a way for his art to live, leading those around him to hope and light.”

–Jennifer Elvgren, author of The Whispering Town and The Edelweiss Pirates

“Charles Bridge shows kids how they can use their creativity, connections, and determination to do hard things and get through hard times.  When faced with scary, isolating changes in his life, Charles uses his curiosity and sense of wonder along with the support of both mother nature and people in his community to help him not only do what he loves but also grow a deeper sense of resilience that lasted a lifetime. It’s both a delightful and meaningful story for adults and children alike, and I hope many choose to share it.”

–Heather Brown, Board Certified Art Therapist

Editorial Review

From Midwest Book Review  

“Charles’s Bridge, written by librarian Sandra Novacek and illustrated with lovely drawings by Nicole Lapointe, is based on Novacek’s husband’s personal story during wartime. It opens in 1938, when soldiers have caused Charles’s family to flee Czechoslovakia. Forced to leave his beloved art supplies behind (supplies which quickly become scarce as war spreads), Charles is lonely, feels isolated in school by his accent and alien background, and is disconnected from the art which once held so much promise for him. When he sees a beautiful scene, he wants to paint it. With no supplies in his future, Charles is forced to find a different form of expression.

Will he ever find a place that feels safe and welcoming again? And can his innovations replace the artistic techniques he once honed? Kids with good reading skills or parental read-aloud assistance will find much to like about this story. As Charles perseveres in revising his dreams, there are many lessons for this new age of COVID which teach kids about preserving dreams and forging new paths to realize them despite the barriers that emerge.

Charles’s Bridge holds a magical story with a powerful lesson for all ages, and is a much-needed positive perspective in dark times. As the color evolves both in Charles’s life and in the artwork in the book, so hope equally rises in his readers.” —Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer

 

New Resource to Help Calm Children in this Time of Crisis

Since the pandemic began, a lot of children have been struggling with how to cope. Charles’s Bridge may be just the tool they need.

“Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times.”

–-Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University; President-Elect, American Art Therapy Association

(Detroit, MI) – Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve heard the phrases, “The new normal,” and “Life will never be the same” again and again. Flash back to the year 1938, and the crisis facing families in Czechoslovakia, and throughout Europe, was the arrival of armed soldiers and not far behind them the beginning of World War II.

When Charles’s Bridge, a new picture book by Detroit resident Sandra Novacek begins, the soldiers have just arrived in Czechoslovakia. Young Charles Novacek and his family are told they must leave. To Charles’s dismay, he can only bring “necessities,” which means leaving his beloved art supplies behind.

Without his friends, paints, and brushes, Charles feels homesick and alone. The only place he finds solace is the forest where he looks for hiding places to store supplies for his family during wartime. Then one day, a majestic stone bridge with carved statues catches his eye.

Charles longs to paint the beautiful bridge, but with no supplies, that’s impossible—until inspiration strikes. Making paints from clay, herbs, and vegetables, and brushes from branches and pussy willows, he paints the bridge—and forgets his homesickness for a while.

The children’s picture book, Charles’s Bridge, was inspired by the author’s realization that her husband’s personal story had the potential to help other children learn how to use art to calm and soothe them in times of crisis. Beautifully illustrated, this book includes a reproduction of Charles’s painting, and an Author’s Note. This book is written for children in Preschool through 3rd grade.

Charles’s Bridge is scheduled for release on January 12, 2021, and has already received several positive advance reviews. Midwest Book Review’s senior reviewer D. Donovan said, “Charles’s Bridge holds a magical story with a powerful lesson for all ages, and is a much-needed positive perspective in dark times. As the color evolves both in Charles’s life and in the artwork in the book, so hope equally rises in his readers.”

“Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times,” said Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University; President-Elect, American Art Therapy Association.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandra Novacek is a librarian, writer, publisher, activist, and award-winning public library director. Charles’s Bridge, her first picture book, is based on actual events from her late husband’s life during World War II. Sandra lives in Detroit, Michigan, and enjoys travel and collecting dragonfly pins.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Nicole Lapointe is a Detroit-area freelance artist whose main focus is digital illustration, but she also dabbles in multiple art mediums including stained glass, painting and photography. Her most recent illustrated book is the award winning Rosie: A Detroit Herstory.

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Illustration by Peter Horvath

November 11 is the birthday of American writer Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007). Like Charles, Vonnegut experienced horrors during World War II. They both suffered from PTSD and depression and used humor to tackle the basic questions of life. Vonnegut served in the U.S. Army and with the 106th Infantry division during the Battle of the Bulge and then later as a Nazi POW in Dresden, Germany where he survived the bombing of the city only because he was housed underground in a former meat locker and slaughterhouse. Vonnegut’s job after the bombing was to gather up and burn the remains of the dead. His experiences marked him for life and resulted in his literary masterpiece, Slaughterhouse-Five. During the 1980s and ‘90s, Vonnegut acted as a powerful spokesman for the preservation of our Constitutional freedoms, for nuclear arms control, and for the protection of the earth’s fragile biosphere. He then decried the militarization of our country after the terrorist attacks of 2001. Both Kurt Vonnegut and Charles died from traumatic brain injuries after falls in front of their urban residences within two months of each other in 2007. What a tragedy it was to lose these two great men. So it goes.