The Jew with the Iron Cross

Autumn News - 2011

2011-09-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I had the opportunity to be interviewed on author Joseph Valentinetti's blog. When I received the questions for the interview, I knew that I wasn't the person to answer them...so I answered in Georg's name. After all, who knew him better than I? It was challenging and fun.

Today I received word that the blog is up and, for me, reading it was almost like having a conversation with Georg once again. I hope you will enjoy it too! Here's the link:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Georg-Rauch-Author-Of-The-Jew-With-The-Iron-Cross:-An-Interview&id=6582075

It's also exciting and very satisfying to report that the primary stage of a major project was completed in August. Manuel and Marino, the two wonderful University of Guadalajara photography students, completed a year of visits to Los Dos, during which time they photographed, cataloged and retouched Georgs over 600 hundred drawings. These are housed in a beautiful cabinet that Georg had made during his final year. Together with our Mari, they spent afternoons organizing the drawings. Georg had always said, "The drawing is the first inspiration. Everything else...the oils, serigraphs, et. al. comes from the drawing."

I have already begun on the next stage, my job, of selecting photos for albums and adding text. This will then be available on the internet for students or any who have a special love for pencil or charcoal on paper.

I tried to download tonight a few of the drawings, but managed to lose (3 times) both blog and fotos, so I'll leave that for another day.

AUGUST NEWS

2011-09-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Whew, July zipped by and now it's almost the end of August as well. Kids are back to school and our summer B and B traffic is slowing down a bit: http://www.losdosmexico.com

The big news of this month is that I have succeeded in getting a spot for a book presentation in the prestigious FIL Feria Internacional del Libro. This fair, the largest in Latin America is gigantic and this year the invited country is Germany. A perfect time to meet up with German publishers and networking.
Since I was accepted before Sept. 1st, Georg's book will be included in the fair catalog and other publications. Whoopee!

2011-09-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

THE JEW WITH THE IRON CROSS AS EBOOK!

2011-06-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful FREE online ebook publisher, Smashwords.com, The Jew with the Iron Cross is now available as an ebook for all digital readers currently available (and the upcoming ones.) Smashwords is a wonderful site, friendly, with clear instructions for anyone (not just nerds) SW provides a free book on promoting one's ebook, once it is published They led me to a wonderful formatter, Shelley Schadowsky, who not only did a swift, reasonable and very professional job of formatting, but also turned out to have lived in the Ukraine where much of Georg's memoir takes place. She has also adopted daughters from the Ukraine and Russia.

Our Smashwords profile:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/thejewwiththeironcross

To sample or purchase the book:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69159

Since Smashwords Ceo Mark Coker stresses the importance of hyperlinks, I'll add a couple more here today:

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000083864

ew/69159

THEATER FOTOS, DRAWINGS NOW PHOTOGRAPHED, TV SHOW

2011-06-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

First off, thanks to Jim Lloyd, the director of Funker Rauch back in May, I'm now able to share with you his news of that event, along with the lovely photos he included. I tried to insert them here but was unsuccessful, but if you follow this link, you will be able to read and view: http://jim2rob.com/nstage/11naked02.html

This month University of Guadalajara students, Manuel and Marino, who have spent the year photographing Georg's 500 large pencil drawings, finally completed this monumental task. They are such sweet guys, and it's always a treat to have to have them here. Yesterday my photographer friend Luis Mancera also spent the day, and he shared a few special tips with the students that will serve them well in their future.

Manuel and Mario are on vacation from school, so intead of the usual weekend day, they were able to spend 5 whole days, often working far into the night, and finished the photos of the drawings but also began their new, self-imposed task of scanning the hundreds of slides of Georg's oil paintings.

I truly don't know how I became so lucky and said jokingly today that maybe they should do their final theses on Georg, since they are now the two people who know most about his work.

While they were here M and M also did a photo shoot with Paola, the lovely masseuse. I hope to put these photos up on my B and B page soon.

And, last but not least, they also participated in the TV filming for Book Model TV. Since this is a blog about Georg's book and his work, I won't go into that too much. There is a connection, though. Knowing that the crew would be filming I was inspired to tackle the studio which had been sadly neglected. Friend Lety and I deep cleaned, pried a multitude of nails from the walls, spackled, repainted and finally rehung the walls. It's so wonderful to walk into the room now, sparkling white, with the paintings carefully selected for theme and colors. I think Georg would be happy!

And not to forget the book, which is the raison d'etre for this blog!

2011-06-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Did you know that last month ebooks surpassed regular Amazon books in sales-for the first time?
Click below to add The Jew with the Iron Cross to your kindle and you may start reading right away!

NEWS OF GEORG RAUCH, THE ARTIST

2011-06-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Most recently, on May 31st, Georg's art was honored at at an event in nearby Ajijic entitled Am@rte. It was a fun evening including art, music, food, wine tasting and a video of the artists who are planning to go to Berlin to live and work. Am@rte also plans to bring artists from Berlin to Ajijic. This undertaking is the brain child of Alex Wagner, the owner of Mi Mexico. He has lucked out in hooking up with some wonderful, hardworking women in the arts, Larissa and Valentina.

All of these exhibitions and the Naked Stage production of Funker Rauch have also provided the opportunity for me to talk about and sell Georg's book in English and Spanish. I am more and more certain he is happily sitting a cloud somewhere, peeking down and smiling to know he by no means forgotten!

NEWS OF GEORG RAUCH, THE ARTIST

2011-06-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Although this is primarily a blog about Georg's memoir, in life he was inseparable from all that he did. He was a painter of oils and watercolors, a print maker, a sculptor, an inventor with a number of European and U.S. patents -and a writer. He considered himself an expressionist, since what he painted originated from within, from his feelings of joy, fun, anger, sadness. Often he didn't know himself what his paintings symbolized, since he wasn't given to analyzing or philosophizing about his art. "I'd rather paint than talk about painting."

After ten years of painting sad men or masked harlequins, Georg first acknowledged that all of this was an unconscious effort to cleanse himself of all that had taken place in the war, of his guilt and pain. And this brings us back to the book. What happened from the ages of 18 to 21 in Russia, as a foot soldier, in the trenches and as a Russian prisoner was to ionfluence his art, in one way or another for the next 50 years.

Ergo, I've decided to add news about Georg's art to this blog. The first major showing after his death in 2006, was a collective homage at the Centro Cultural Gonzales Gallo in Chapala. Locally this lovely 19th century building, now museum and cultural center, is better known as the old train station. After the exhibition I learned that this state museum did not yet have a permanent collection, so I gifted them with paintings and drawings from when we first arrived in Mexico, in the late sixties. There is now a special Georg Rauch room at the museum where visitors may visit this collection. Below are a painting and a drawing from the Chapala museum. Both of these were lovingly repaired by Sarahi, a local expert in art restoration

Funker Rauch

2011-05-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

I thought I could transfer all the fotos and text from the link, but don't know how. So please click on the link from my prior post to see all.

Naked Stage Production of Funker Rauch

2011-05-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

http://jim2rob.com/nstage/11naked02.htm

OCTOBER NEWS

2010-10-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hi again, I mentioned in last months entry that The Jew with the Iron Cross is finally available on Kindle for just $6.00. What a bargain. After that success I noticed that yes, the book's on Kindle, but lacking all the 5 star reviews that are available on Amazon.com. So after more mails and skyping, Amazon nicely put up the many great reviews. Now, of the two books with the same name, Georg's book holds the number 1 spot which it richly deserves.

It's always wonderful to receive an enthusiastic letter from a reader who has just discovered the our book. It was a special treat to hear from a woman, born the same year as Georg, who now lives in Toronto. I suspect that, if she wished, Karin Mumm could write an equally compelling book.

Hallo Phyllis

I was absolutely fascinated by your excellent translation of this deeply exciting book! I phoned twice, your maid gave me your e-mail yesterday and told me that your husband passed away about 3 years ago. Sorry to hear that, I hope he did not have to suffer too much. His greatest luck in life was that he found you.

Your book was given to me by a friend.--- I am Karin von Kuegelgen de Mumm born 1924 in Monterrey/Mexico from German parents I think the same year as your husband's. Since my Dad (a medical Dr) died in 1935 his last wish was to have the children educated in Germany.That was the reason we spend the years 1938-1945 in Freiburg i.Br. Germany.

Is the book also available in German.

How far is Jocotepec from Mexico City? How and how long would it take to go there by bus? I would love to spend a few days in your bed and breakfast.

Warm greetings, Karin

After I answered Karin, I received some additional, interesting information:

"Great we made contact. Thank you for your kind letter. On Nov. 3rd I will think of your courageous George.on Nov. 5th 1935 my dad died in Mexico....

How I would have loved to talk with your husband!!! He mentioned Roda Wieser the graphologist,his mother's friend, she was also my aunt's friend who was also a graphologist and I have a book of hers.--I was soooo glad to read that after all his suffering he finally could reunite with his mother!!!"

I look forward to more contact with Karin and maybe even a face to face meeting in Mexico? I'm always fascinated by life's coincidences, as in this case with the Roda Wieser connection. As we say in German, Die Welt ist Klein.

September 2010 - The Movie Treatment

2010-09-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

I don't think I mentioned in the blog that the nice fellow who called me that night in April at the Cameron trading post was a man of his word. He followed through on his promise to make something happen with the movie of the book. About a month ago I got a phone call asking my permission to have a movie treatment made of the book. This is something that usually costs quite a bit of money, but thanks to the fact that a few special people loved and believed in the book, the momentum had begun.

Of course I said yes, but didn't hear anything more for a while. While wandering the web I happened upon a blog belonging to the writer who won the chance to write Georg's movie treatment. His name is Coy Lothrop. I loved his enthusiasm for the book. The fact that Georg went on to become a lifelong artist especially appealed to him.

I got in touch with Coy via Facebook and we've been in communication. Finally, today, I received Coy's completed movie treatment, sent by Author Solutions.

It's kind of crazy around here right now, with Mexico celebrating two great anniversaries: the Revolution 200 years ago and the War for Independence 100 years ago. My B and B is overflowing and there are multiple events every day. Tomorrow, for example I'm going to be walking with thousands of other Adelitas (look it up) from the boardwalk to othe plaza.

Being one of those who don't rip the wrappings off their Christmas gifts, but rather prefer to drag out the pleasure of the moment, I'm going to wait until the weekend when I hope to have some quiet time (elsewhere) to then read the movie treatment.

September 2010 Kindle version of the book

2010-09-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've had my kindle since last January and am definitely a fan. So it was wonderful news to hear this week that The Jew with the Iron Cross is finally on Kindle. Amazingly there is a newer book by the same title, so if you want to get to Georg's kindle book quickly, here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041D8ESW/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0595379877&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1GBY1ZMKRE5NFHYD6X3Y

If you still prefer the original paperback version and would like to start stocking up for Christmas gifts (I recall the reader who gifted 10 friends one Christmas) here is the book link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041D8ESW/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0595379877&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1GBY1ZMKRE5NFHYD6X3Y

August 2010

2010-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

There was a book signing here in Mexico at the Lake Chapala Society. I sold a few books, bought a few as well, and had the opportunity of meeting some interesting lakeside authors I hadn't known previously. The absolutely best thing that happened though was when an older couple stopped by my table and we began to talk. Slowly I learned that they were both born in the Ukraine (where much of Georg's book takes place.) They are also Jewish and most of the wife's large family had died during the war, either as soldiers killed by the Germans or through persecution. Only she and her mother survived. I asked if she might have known about the large POW camp in Kiev where Georg was held during the last year of the war. What she replied amazed and touched me deeply. "I was a little girl and we had next to nothing to eat ourselves, but I remember very clearly that my mother and I we would gather up pieces of bread, take them to the POW camp, and push them through the wires for the prisoners." Given the circumstances, such kindness and capacity for forgiveness, is almost unbelievable. But we were looking into each other's eyes, and I knew that what she remembered was truth.

June 2010 A SWEDISH VERSION OF THE BOOK?

2010-09-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Wed, June 30, 2010 10:16:08 AM
from Sweden re. your book

Lars Gyllenhaal [Chat now]

To: rauchlosdos@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Rauch,

Your book has made a very strong impression on me. I am so grateful that you went through all the trouble of writing it.

I am a member of the Swedish Union of Authors as well as an elected lifetime member of the Swedish Military History Commission and write books and conduct research for TV-documentaries - mainly about WWII. My main website in English is: http://larsgyllenhaal.blogspot.com/

Recently my previous book was published in English: http://www.aberjonapress.com/catalog/saw/index.html

One of those portrayed most extensively in the book is Nils Rosén, a Swedish "Mischling" who in 1943 volunteered for the Wehrmacht and was accepted (he hid his Jewish ancestry, naturally). Like you he served in Ukraine and Romania. He passed away just last year. A fine man, who, of course, was sad to have volunteered.

The maps in our book are by Tom Houlihan - but he was not the one who told me about you. I found you through some google search because of Bryan Mark Rigg´s books, that I have reviewed.

Now, my question to you is if you still hold the Swedish rights for your book, yourself? If so I will tell two Swedish publishers that they ought to contact you ASAP.

BTW I ´d like to know, if possible, if any German or other publishers have approached you. They certainly should have.

Best regards,

Lars Gyllenhaal

May 2010 LA Times Book Festival at UCLA Campus

2010-09-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

Lucky me! According to my publisher I was the last one to sign up for the prestigious LA Times Book Festival. By waiting so long I got a special deal, but since I understood that it was "first come, first served," I feared that my own book signing would probably take place at midnight. But, lucky again, I got a great midday hour.

The publisher provided the books for free, and each of us at the booth had one hour to sign 75 books. Quickly calculating, it was clear that we would be signing each book within less than a minute. Amazingly, I managed not only to sign 71 books in my hour, but I felt I had also smiled, made eye contact, answered questions,and enjoyed all the different ages, races, and economic classes of each person who was also smiling while tucking The Jew with the Iron Cross into his or her festival bag.

I was on in bed at the Cameron Trading Post in the middle of the Navajo Nation, when I received an email from a new enthusiastic reader. He said (as have many others) that Georg's book must be made into a movie. He also promised to contact people he knew who could possible make this happen. Very exciting, to say the least.

April 2010 Spanish Version of the Book

2010-09-02T14:49:00.001-07:00

Mexican visitors to Los Dos, my Mexican bed and breakfast, have been saying, "We're so sorry we can't read Georg's book. Too bad it's not available in Spanish. I decided to try to meet that demand, and now the Spanish version, El Judio con el Cruz de Hierro is in its third edition.

I have a very dear friend to thank for the quality and perfection of the final Spanish version. Deborah Fountain, born in Mexico to American parents, is totally bi-lingual and she spotted a number of words and expressions in the Spanish version (translated by a Cuban) that could have been confusing to Mexican readers. She took home from her Mexican vacation copies of the book in English and Spanish. With infinite care and love she went over the entire book, correcting and improving the Spanish translation. I'm looking forward to her visit this coming Thanksgiving!

Not too long ago a Mexican woman said during breakfast, "I'm having feelings of deja vu. My 15 year old son was asked to buy, read and write about a book, written in English, about World War II for his English class. He was happy to find the perfect book at Sandi's book store in Chapalita, Guadalajara, Jalisco."

The mother had been totally unaware that she was going to be vacationing at the home and studio of the author of the book, The Jew with the Iron Cross, and she couldn't wait to tell her son about it.

Friends of the book

2010-03-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to receive emails from fans. Some have received our book as a gift, others had it recommended by a friend, and many have simply discovered it on iUniverse.com, Amazon.com or one of the many other websites where it's for sale. But it's even more of a treat to meet a fan in person. Recently a Canadian couple (originally from Germany) were heading north from their winter vacation on Mexico's Pacific coast. The wife was determined that she wasn't going to leave Mexico before discovering Georg's home and studio on Lake Chapala. It wasn't easy finding us, but they were determined. Luckily we had a villa available for the night. The next morning, over breakfast on the terrace, I answered questions about Georg and the book which had been featured in the woman's Ontario book club. All of the women had been deeply moved by Georg's story.
This visit had a special side note: Friends of ours from Toronto had heard about our book being featured in the book club. They removed his paintings from their walls and put together a computer slide show about Georg, his work and home. This was then presented to the women of the club. I'd heard about the event, but never expected to meet one who had been there in person.