Through Innocent Eyes - Cynthia A. Sandor : Balboa Press Bookstore | Online Shopping for eBooks, Hardcover Books, Paperback Books

Through Innocent Eyes - Cynthia A. Sandor : Balboa Press Bookstore | Online Shopping for eBooks, Hardcover Books, Paperback Books

Live Your Life to the Fullest

Live your life to the fullest!
Think outside of the box! 
Feel the fear and move outside your comfort zone!
Take as many risks as possible!

Move ~ take action today, because 

Right now is the oldest you will ever be and the youngest you'll ever be again!

Don't wait until tomorrow to do the things you can do today!
Do what you can today because it will be your tomorrow! 

Twenty-three years ago, I found my mother's personal journal.  Within the next two weeks, "Through Innocent Eyes" will become LIVE and available for sale through BalboaPress.com!  My first historical, non-fiction novel, 436 pages long with 50 photos.  If you would like a personally signed copy of the first edition, follow me and I'll contact you for your address and pricing.  Thank you. 

~ Cynthia A. Sandor ~
Author:  "Through Innocent Eyes"

"Through Innocent Eyes - The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth" will be available in December, 2012, with BalboaPress.com.  I want to thank you for visiting my blogsite and if you would like to become friends, please visit my Facebook pages:  Cynthia A. Sandor or Landjahr Lager, both in English and in German or any other language that you speak!  Please send me an email for I would love to hear from you too!  casandor@gmail.com.  Thank you! 

Finalist for 2012 Balboa Press Non-Fiction Writer's Contest

For Immediate Release                                                

"Through Innocent Eyes – The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth"

By Cynthia A. Sandor

"Through Innocent Eyes – The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth," written by former Greenwich resident Cynthia A. Sandor has been selected as a finalist in the 2012-Balboa Press Writer's Contest.   Hay House Visions, the new publishing division of Hay House, teamed up with Balboa Press for the first-ever Non-Fiction Writing Contest. The manuscript had to be at least 50,000 words in length.  Entries are judged based on the context, originality of ideas, quality of writing, and the adherence to editorial standards. On Nov. 5^th, the winning recipient will receive a publishing contract with Hay House Visions.

"Through Innocent Eyes," is a historical non-fiction, four-hundred page novel based upon the personal journal of the author's mother, Gertrude Kerschner, and her life growing up in Kleinzell, Austria, during WWII, and how she meets PFC Robert Sandor, Sr. of the 65th Infantry - 1285th Army Corp. of Engineer Battalion, Company C.

Gertrude's incredible journey begins in 1931, when, at the age of four, she is on the verge of dying. Catastrophe ensues when Gertrude's father dies and the family looses their life possessions, forcing her mother and siblings into the streets. A simple wooden wagon contains all their belongings. A neighbor sees their peril and takes the entire family into her home. As Austria is devoted to remaining independent, political and economic turmoil continues. Austria ceases to exist in 1938 when it is annexed into Nazi Germany.  Under the new government, Gertrude joins the girls division of the Hitler Youth called the Bund Deutscher Mädel (BdM) and her life changes forever. 

This remarkable story takes an in-depth look into Gertrude's moral character upbringing, her thoughts, writings, and the education she received that leads her to become a chosen girl of the Hitler Youth, serving in the Country Service Camp called "Landjahr Lager Seidorf." "Through Innocent Eyes" follows Gertrude's extraordinary journey, her passage from poverty ruled under a totalitarian régime to an affluent life living in prestigious Greenwich, Connecticut. 

"It is a great honor to be recognized for this very prominent award." Ms. Sandor continues and explains that, "I started this project 23 years ago. Over the past 15 months, I dedicated up to fourteen-hours a day, six days a week, researching, and writing 'Through Innocent Eyes.' I was able to find declassified material from the archives in Germany and London, in addition to finding the original educational pamphlets that were used to teach the BdM girls how to build their moral character.  I traveled on numerous occasions to Austria and Poland, but most of all, I was able to make contact with the last four surviving members of Landjahr Lager Seidorf, otherwise known as the Seidorfer Girls."

Ms. Sandor goes on to explain, "I wish to dispel the myth that these girls in the BdM were brainwashed only to produce the future soldiers for their Führer. My mother was chosen as a Landjahr girl because Germany only wanted those girls who possess the highest moral character, strong work ethics, who were disciplined and obedient to serve in their country.  I capture in detail the ceremonies and songs, ancient neo-pagan rituals, traditions, and folklore, just as my mother wrote about it in her personal journal, and as she experienced it over seventy years ago. The photos I will include in "Through Innocent Eyes" will give a comprehensive look into the lifestyle of this period in history. Reviewers have informed me that this is the opposite of The Diary of Anne Frank."

Ms. Sandor cites the following words from German psychologist, Dr. Jutta Rüdiger: "Germany only wants girls who are at harmony between their bodies, souls, and spirit.  We need girls who, through healthy bodies and balanced minds, embody the beauty of Divine creation.  The task of the BdM is to raise girls who believed in their country, their leader, and who will pass these beliefs onto the future children."  Her first historical non-fiction novel "Through Innocent Eyes" is currently in production and scheduled for release in the early part of 2013 through Balboa Press.  It will be internationally available through the Ingram Distribution Network, and to retailers, libraries, and universities.

About the Author:

Cynthia A. Sandor was born in New York and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was employed with Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co., Inc., as the Manager of Copyrights, Administration, and Licensing. She moved to Florida and graduated from St. Petersburg College. Battling through the deaths of her parents, cancer, and a divorce, she followed her father's example and started her own property renovations and management business. At the same time, she received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Development from Eckerd College.  She survived a horrific motorcycle accident, which propelled her to produce the "Lady Rider TV Show" on Pinellas County Public Access Television.  Other shows included "The Business Forum," and "Travels with Cindy." She is an accomplished world traveler having visited over 20 countries. She has written for "Guitar for the Practicing Musician," "Biker Ally Magazine," and "Tampa Bay New Times Magazine."  She has a contributing article in the "50^th Anniversary Maiden Voyage Edition – S.S. United States - Fastest Ship in the World" by Frank Braynard and Robert Hudson Westover. Ms. Sandor lives with her two Chihuahuas, Nicky, and Harley, in Tampa, Florida. 

 

Website: http://www.bdmhistory.com (*** NEW **** revised edition of book)
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0sMIEwA8BU
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP8bzuMf1Ew
Book Interview with Deanna Spingola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xbB3GbWLjs
Gertrude's Life Story - 15 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I_UDTWsaD8
 

 

SOON TO BE RELEASED - Hard and Soft Cover books

"Through Innocent Eyes - The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth" will be available for sale through Balboapress.com!

"Through Innocent Eyes," reveals the personal life of Gertrude Kerschner, and her journey through self-actualization while serving in the Hitler Youth. Based upon Gertrude's personal journal, her story includes ceremonies, ancient neo-pagan rituals, traditions, and folklore.

Pre-orders are being taken on the book.  For a personal signed copy, please email the author at: casandor@gmail.com  Please provide your contact information including your full name, address, phone number, zip code, country and phone number, and whether you would like a hard or soft cover.  Your contact information will be placed on a list and I will contacted you immediately the moment the book hits the market!  Thank you!

The National Socialistic upbringing of the German youths trains these Landjahr girls to build their integral moral character with a foundation based on honor, loyalty, obedience, and discipline.  Coupled with ancient neo-pagan rituals, traditions, folklore, and the Totalitarian regime of this period, "Through Innocent Eyes" captures the psychology of an Austrian girl named Trudel, and her progression from childhood into adolescence.   She is empowered by her camp leaders to build self-worth through her training and community activities.  The German government only wants the healthiest, strongest, and most disciplined young girls in the BDM.  In Landjahr, Trudel will receive the very best rural education from the State. In 1941, there are over twenty-six thousand girls serving in Landjahr and Trudel Kerschner is one of them.

Manuscript is Finished!

It has taken me fourteen months to write, edit and format the complete manuscript.  Finally, 367 pages, 144,000 words. Currently researching how book publishing industry works.  One word of advice:  Do not sign any contract with a publisher without investing the money to hire an attorney to review it before you sign it!  This small investment will save you thousands and you will begin to learn how the industry works.  Good luck everyone!

Writing, and writing, and writing..................

For the past eight months, my head has been deep inside the book, writing, editing, researching and writing.  My average writing day is 11 hours. This is an incredible journey.  I just finished another chapter and I am about to embark on phase two of the book. 

When I started writing the manuscript, I thought I would dive right into my mother's journal. Then, the writing took a turn of events and leaped to her life four years prior to Landjahr and WWII.  I had the incredible opportunity to spend one month is Austria and Poland researching my book.

I met with the current owners of the home where my mother lived in where she wrote the book.  In addition, I interviewed many of my mother's friends and my family members.  This gave me a greater insight into telling her story, based upon actual facts from eyewitnesses accounts.

Here starts phase two of the book!  Wish me luck!

Thank you for reading.

Cindy