With World War II at its height, the Dutch population in the grip of the German forces, and Ria's father in hiding, she is determined that her pregnant mother will give birth in a warm home filled with light and develops a bold and dangerous plan.
I was born on a dairy farm in Friesland, a northern province in the Netherlands. I loved horse back riding and dressing up in a traditional Frisian costume. When I grew up I became a kindergarten teacher.
In 1981, I moved with husband, Albert, and our three children to Canada. We settled in North Bay, Ontario.
The English language was new to me. To learn this new language I went to university to obtain my B.A. and B.Ed. In 1987 I became a kindergarten teacher for the second time. I started writing in the English language and with the encouragement of my writing friends at the North Bay Writers' Club, I started submitting stories to publishers.
After many years and many rejection letters, my first novel, 'A Time to Choose' was accepted by Orca Book Publishers, and launched in the fall of 1995. It was a dream come true and the beginning of a wonderful rewarding writing career.
winter 1944, Friesland, Netherlands. 9 year old Ria wishes the Nazis would go home. Since they invaded, her best friend and her family, who are Jewish, were taken away, her father has been forced to go into hiding, and electricity in the city almost never works for anyone except the Nazis and their sympathizers. Ria is worried about her pregnant mother. The baby should come any day or night now. How can they deliver a baby in a cold, dark house? Then, Ria thinks up a crazy plan. She decides to sneak into town hall and ask the mayor, a Nazi sympathizer, for help. Will her plan work?