- November 28, 2024
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After three years of travel, interviews, writing and then re-writing, Marty Price introduced his book, “Gretel’s Cross” at a book launch March 19 at St. James Episcopal Church, where he is a member.
A crowd filled the Parish Hall.
“We’re really proud of him,” said Ruth Dotson, president of Friends of St. James. “What an endeavor. He was so passionate about it.”
Proceeds will benefit Friends of St. James, which raises money for the church.
The book tells true stories of tragedy and romance in a German family in the turbulent time between the two world wars.
“I would read parts of it and just be moved to tears,” Dotson said.
Price’s friend, Hubert Forner, was born in Germany. Price, a history major in college and later a teacher, was intrigued by the stories he would hear of the Forner family.
He decided to write the book after talking to Forner’s family members about stories going back three generations, including the economic collapse and the rise of the 3rd Reich. There was forbidden romance and suicide, as well as the normal joys of life.
“I was immersed in another culture. People shared stories,” Price said, “some scandalous and some sad.”
Price calls the book fiction based on historical fact, because he had to create some characters and incidents. For example, one woman actually died in 1920 so no one actually knew her.
“I had to make up a personality,” he said.
“I was immersed in another culture. People shared stories.”
MARTY PRICE, on research for his book
Also, he found, after creating a draft, that many people didn’t want actual names of their relatives used.
He said he thinks the people didn’t actually think he would write a book when telling their stories, but after they saw a draft, they didn’t want to identify their ancestors, because of the scandalous nature of some of the stories.
During the war years, the book is set in Uberauen, a medieval walled town where lives intertwined as the people waited out the hostilities. Price noted it was interesting that the families stuck together at that time, while today, they often drift apart.
Price lived in Germany for 17 years and taught school there for the U.S. Army, so he knew the country and the language.
Providing the German translation was Helmut Forner, who lives in Germany. At the book launch, he agreed the book is an honest telling of the history.
Now retired, Price moved to Ormond Beach in 1987. He taught school in Holly Hill and for 15 years was a library media specialist in St. Augustine.
Getting the book published is a feeling of accomplishment, but also a “huge relief,” Price said, because there wasn’t much time for other activities during the three years.
He self-published the book with the help of Sagaponack Books & Design, of St. Augustine.
