About Author

Meryl Ain

Meryl Ain
  • Genre:

    Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Advice & How To General Nonfiction
  • Country: United States
  • Books: 3
  • Profession: Author, Writer, Educator
  • Born: 21 May
  • Member Since: Jun 2020
  • Profile Views: 11,067
  • Followers: 34
  • VISIT AUTHOR: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon,
BIOGRAPHY

Meryl Ain’s articles and essays have appeared in Huffington Post, The New York Jewish Week, Kveller, The New York Times, Newsday and other publications. In 2014, she co-authored the award-winning book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, and in 2016, wrote a companion workbook, My Living Memories Project Journal. The Takeaway Men is her first novel.

The Takeaway Men is the result of her life-long quest to learn more about the Holocaust, a thirst that was first triggered by reading The Diary of Anne Frank in the sixth grade. While teaching high school history, she introduced her students to the study of the Holocaust. At the same time, she also developed an enduring fascination with teaching about and researching the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case. Both of these topics are themes in The Takeaway Men.

Meryl holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from Hofstra University. She is a career educator. She lives in New York with her husband, Stewart. They have three married sons and six grandchildren. This is her first novel.

Meryl Ain's Books

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Book
The Takeaway Men: A Novel
(1) $9.49 kindleeBook,
The Takeaway Men: A Novelby Meryl AinPublish: Aug 04, 2020Historical Fiction
My Living Memories Project Journal: A Workbook to Help Adults Transform Their Grief into Positive Action and Living Legacies
Paperback,
The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last
Paperback,
The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Lastby Meryl AinPublish: Mar 28, 2014Advice & How To General Nonfiction

Meryl Ain Interview On 04, Nov 2020

"Author of Fiction and Non-Fiction, Meryl Ain has had several careers and reinvented herself numerous times. Her debut novel, The Takeaway Men is a fresh take on the impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their children. She writes with sensitivity and compassion. Meryl holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D. from Hofstra University."
Do you have a simple childhood memory that you could never forget?

Yes, as a matter of fact, it so influenced me that I adapted it as the title of my debut novel. One of my earliest memories was when I was about four-years-old and an official-looking man in a suit with dark hair and black horn-rimmed glasses came to our door. I ran to the door before my parents and looked at this strange man, asking him: “Who are you?” With a straight face he said to me, “I’m the takeaway man; I’ve come to take you away.”

I still remember the terror I felt.  Even though my mother told me that he was a supervisor who was coming to pick up our dry cleaning, I was not consoled.  My mother immediately complained and cancelled the cleaning service, but I still remember the little red delivery van in our neighborhood with a picture of a man in a kilt. For a long time, I became short of breath and ran and hid whenever I saw that truck. The thought that someone would take me away from my home and family became a real and persistent fear. The Takeaway Men became the title of my debut novel because it is a metaphor, not only for the Holocaust, but also for children's fears of being separated from their parents, both in history and today. 

What are the best reasons to attend Queens College?

The tuition is reasonable and the education is excellent. The current tuition for residents of New York State is $7,500 and about double that for out of state residents. In these trying times, an outstanding public university offers a great option. 

What was your reaction after reading The Diary of Anne Frank for the first time?

I first read it when I was in the sixth grade. I wanted to find out what happened to Anne after the diary ended. It started a life long quest to learn more about the Holocaust. I have been reading, researching, studying and writing about it ever since.

What is your experience being a Huffington Post contributor?

It was a great opportunity to give my views on issues that are important to me, including current events, education, parenting, and family. I still write essays for various publications and give my opinion. But I wanted to write a novel so I could raise questions – both timely and timeless -- and have readers think about the answers. The questions I raised in The Takeaway Men include:
1. How do we treat those who are different? Do we embrace and celebrate differences or treat them as “others?”
2. How do we react to evil in the world? Do we stand idly by or speak out and take action?
3. Why is it important to remember the Holocaust?
4. What information should parents share with children? Is it better to expose the painful truth or perpetuate secrets and lies?

How did you coordinate when co-authoring the award-winning book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last?

We had many conversations and meetings about the scope and format of the book and whom we wanted to interview. We were looking for individuals – both celebrities and others – who had compelling stories about how they kept alive the memories of loved ones. We compiled a list of people we wanted to approach and then we contacted them. We then interviewed the people who agreed to speak with us. After the book was ready to be published, we had to go back to each person with his or her interview, and get approval from him or her.

How useful do you think workbooks (exercise books) are as companion books to books about writing?

I think they are very useful. My companion journal, My Living Memories Project Journal, takes the message of the book and provides prompts for individuals to recapture their own memories. It has been well received, not only by individuals, but is used extensively, by those involved in bereavement counseling. 

How much time did it take to write your first novel, The Takeaway Men (from start to finish)?

I researched it for about two years and discussed various scenarios with friends and family, but discarded almost everything I wrote. In the third year, I began to write in earnest and everything seemed to come together. I had the sense that the characters were leading me.

What things would you need to consider when writing a Holocaust book for young adults? How do you start writing? 

It is crucial to consider what is the appropriate age to convey this information. Clearly, the sensibilities and sensitivity of young adults would need to be carefully considered. All Holocaust literature must be based on meticulous research.

After teaching about and researching the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case, how guilty, do you think, were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg of espionage and did they deserve execution?

It is now believed by scholars that Julius was likely guilty of spying, but that the information he passed along was not consequential.. Ethel’s brother David Greenglass admitted later in life that he had lied about her involvement to save his wife, Ruth, who was never charged. It is likely that Ethel was not a spy. In any case, the punishment was cruel and excessive. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the parents of two young sons, were the first and only Americans ever executed during peacetime for spying – still a questionable verdict in the case of Ethel and a cruel and unusual punishment for both in retrospect.

What were the career, education, and life steps it took to find your life's passion?

I’ve had several careers and reinvented myself numerous times. I’ve been a high school history teacher, an essayist, a cooking columnist, a reporter for a weekly newspaper, a school board member, and a school administrator. I’ve been passionate about all of these things when I was doing them. In my retirement, I became an author. I’ve tried hard to be resilient and remain relevant. I’m really enjoying writing fiction. I plan to write a sequel to The Takeaway Men.

What is the experience you had with your grandchildren you'll never forget?

There are so many experiences; It’s impossible to choose just one. I have six grandchildren and I remember clearly the day each of them was born. It is a miracle and blessing to watch each one of them grow and develop.

What does the future of "writing" look like to you?

People will always find writing as an outlet, a release, a passion and a way to get their message out to the world. There are so many outlets and ways to do that nowadays so I think the future is bright.

What kind of feedback do you have for AllAuthor? Would you recommend this platform to your other author friends?

Yes, I would. I appreciate the support and the opportunity to share The Takeaway Men with new readers. Thank you.

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