Author: Patricia Furstenberg

Patricia Furstenberg writes with passion about history that blends with fiction, about war heroes, human or canine, while her poems and children's books are uplifting and humorous. Welcome to her blog, Travel, History, Fiction ~ Romania & South Africa ~ 'For what is wind, but the amassed power of words long ago uttered?'
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Historical Tales from the Romanian Highlands Now in Dreamland

Historical Tales from the Romanian Highlands

Discover the little-known stories that influenced the history and folklore of Romanian highlands now in “Dreamland,” described as “a captivating read, delightful and fascinating” and “a magical tour through Romania’s history and folklore” through skillfully written 100-word stories.

If you enjoyed traveling to the lush Romanian Banat region via forgotten stories you will love today’s highland tales: wolves, witches, gothic warrior women and shepherds!

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Kindred Threads in Embroidery, Old Turkish Attire and Calligraphy

Recently I discovered kindred threads between Greek and Romanian embroidery, Romanian blouse IA and a red and black Greek needlework

Recently I discovered kindred threads between Greek and Romanian embroidery and marveled at old Turkish attire and Arabic calligraphy. My daughter invited me to attend the Threads of Tradition: Turks, Turbans and Artistic Innovation exhibition curated by Professor Raita Steyn from the University of Pretoria, with a live calligraphy demonstration by Master Refik Carikci.

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New Thrillers: What The Years Remember and For The Hell Of It

photo of person flipping book page

Two new thrillers, What The Years Remember by Lisette Brodey and For The Hell Of It by John Dolan are the talk of the town, or at least Twitter, lately. Whether you’re drawn to Brodey’s unnerving tale of sibling rivalry and revenge or Dolan’s dark, sardonic wit in a world of crime and chaos, these books will leave you questioning what’s real—and who you can trust. Stay with me and let’s dive into the twists and turns of these two mind-bending stories, where nothing is as it seems and no one escapes unscathed.

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The Role of Storytelling in Literacy, Chatting with Twinkl South Africa on International Literacy Day

role of storytelling in literacy Twinkl SA Patricia Furstenberg

To celebrate International Literacy Day I had the joy of chatting with talented Magret Botman, Segment Manager: Intermediate Phase Twinkl Ltd, about the Role of Storytelling in Literacy.

We also discussed early memories of reading; my writing process; why is storytelling important in the context of literacy education; using storytelling as a tool in the classroom; how digital age impacts children’s storytelling and reading habits, and what changes I would you like to see in the way literacy is taught in schools:

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