The Title of "An American Holocaust: The Story of Lataine's Ring"
More than one reader of my book, "An American Holocaust", has expressed harsh objections to this title. One reader commented, "'Holocaust' means something very specific after 1945 to anyone with an IQ above 10 and it is an insult to the reader to lure them into buying a book based on this disgusting and very misleading title." This title has also been called "an obscenity" and "nothing more than a cheap marketing ploy".
I actually do understand these objections and respect those who have been honest and bold enough to openly state their opinions. As I have consistently stated, my goal is to make as many as possible aware of this historical event, so that it will never be forgotten.
The London School explosion has indeed become little more than a footnote in history... even in Texas. More than half of the people I meet report never having heard of it. It was never my intention to use this title as "a cheap marketing ploy" or mislead anyone as to the subject matter the book describes, and I would like to publicly offer my sincerest apology to anyone who finds the title of my book offensive.
I did indeed struggle with my decision to title this book "An American Holocaust". Several other titles were suggested that included the word 'holocaust', as well, but others also told me that the title would never mislead a potential reader into thinking it was about the Holocaust in Europe.
Although the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II is generally referred to as 'The Holocaust', the individuals whose lives were extinguished in New London, Texas on March 18, 1937 have become but a footnote in American history. It is my hope that this book will in some measure bring their stories forward into our own time, so that today's generation may learn from their sacrifice.
I have made no claim that the event described in this book compares to (or in any way describes) the Holocaust in Europe, nor is it my intention to mislead anyone in that regard. As far as the title being "a cheap marketing ploy", I beg to differ. The London School disaster of 1937 was aptly described as a 'holocaust' by Walter Cronkite when he visited the site of the tragedy and reported the aftermath to the nations around the world, as I have now pointed out in the beginning of the book.
Being titled as an 'American' holocaust clearly differentiates it from the Holocaust that took place in Europe, for which I hold deep reverence. Believe me when I tell you that I would never do anything to diminish or disrespect the victims of the Holocaust or their loved ones. I do not believe the title of my book does that, and the title remains very apt for those who were affected by the tragedy.
When these concerns were first brought to my attention, I published a re-titled edition of "An American Holocaust" under the title of "An Empty Tomb Where Roses Bloom". I have decided to discontinue its publication because I do not want any reader to be misled into buying a copy of the same book published under two different titles.
Objections aside, you can truly never tell a book by its cover... or its title. I sincerely hope that my readers will judge this book honestly, based on its content For me, researching and writing it was a labor of love, not only for those who suffered and died in the tragedy, but also for those who suffered the loss of their children, brothers, sisters, friends and teachers. If I had known her when I wrote it, I would have dedicated this book to Lataine's namesake, a distant cousin that contacted me after reading "An American Holocaust". She told me Lataine's last words were before she died were "It is finished!"
I actually do understand these objections and respect those who have been honest and bold enough to openly state their opinions. As I have consistently stated, my goal is to make as many as possible aware of this historical event, so that it will never be forgotten.
The London School explosion has indeed become little more than a footnote in history... even in Texas. More than half of the people I meet report never having heard of it. It was never my intention to use this title as "a cheap marketing ploy" or mislead anyone as to the subject matter the book describes, and I would like to publicly offer my sincerest apology to anyone who finds the title of my book offensive.
I did indeed struggle with my decision to title this book "An American Holocaust". Several other titles were suggested that included the word 'holocaust', as well, but others also told me that the title would never mislead a potential reader into thinking it was about the Holocaust in Europe.
Although the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II is generally referred to as 'The Holocaust', the individuals whose lives were extinguished in New London, Texas on March 18, 1937 have become but a footnote in American history. It is my hope that this book will in some measure bring their stories forward into our own time, so that today's generation may learn from their sacrifice.
I have made no claim that the event described in this book compares to (or in any way describes) the Holocaust in Europe, nor is it my intention to mislead anyone in that regard. As far as the title being "a cheap marketing ploy", I beg to differ. The London School disaster of 1937 was aptly described as a 'holocaust' by Walter Cronkite when he visited the site of the tragedy and reported the aftermath to the nations around the world, as I have now pointed out in the beginning of the book.
Being titled as an 'American' holocaust clearly differentiates it from the Holocaust that took place in Europe, for which I hold deep reverence. Believe me when I tell you that I would never do anything to diminish or disrespect the victims of the Holocaust or their loved ones. I do not believe the title of my book does that, and the title remains very apt for those who were affected by the tragedy.
When these concerns were first brought to my attention, I published a re-titled edition of "An American Holocaust" under the title of "An Empty Tomb Where Roses Bloom". I have decided to discontinue its publication because I do not want any reader to be misled into buying a copy of the same book published under two different titles.
Objections aside, you can truly never tell a book by its cover... or its title. I sincerely hope that my readers will judge this book honestly, based on its content For me, researching and writing it was a labor of love, not only for those who suffered and died in the tragedy, but also for those who suffered the loss of their children, brothers, sisters, friends and teachers. If I had known her when I wrote it, I would have dedicated this book to Lataine's namesake, a distant cousin that contacted me after reading "An American Holocaust". She told me Lataine's last words were before she died were "It is finished!"
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I think that people who look at anything with the word Holocaust in it as misleading, unless it had something to do with the Jewish/black/gay Holocaust in Europe are short sighted and fixated and don't think about the original defination of the word, as you explained in the front of the book. They also didn't read the discription of the book, which clearly said it was about the New London explotion. Thank you for bring this part of very important American history back to life.