Finding Thalhimers

Three months after the book’s launch on October 16, 2010, I’m pleased to announce that we’re down to approximately 300 copies of Finding Thalhimers! We printed 5,000 hardcover copies, and they’ve sold beyond my wildest dreams. Although the venture is not likely to be a big profit-maker (few books are), the experience of sharing it has benefited me in ways I hadn’t predicted. I’m flattered, honored, and — quite honestly — relieved that you, the readers, are enjoying this book. Beyond that, I am grateful for your enthusiastic responses to it.

Every day I receive emails, Facebook messages, actual hold-in-your-hands letters, and even gifts expressing that you emotionally connected with the characters, learned something new, recalled pieces of your own stories, were inspired to write your own books, etc. Our housepainter, whose son has served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, told me that my book brought him to tears. Three people stopped me at the JCC today to tell me how they connected with the book, one of them letting me know that she lost her whole family in a concentration camp and is so proud of me for being a young person who appreciates my family’s history. Oftentimes these words are more beautiful than anything I could ever write.

One woman told me about connecting with her mother after reading the book. They talked for hours about her mother’s memories of working as a fashion model at Thalhimers in the 1940s. Another woman came up to me after a lecture and said, “I still have a receipt for my grandmother’s wedding gown that she purchased at Thalhimers. Would you like to see it?” Of course, my eyes lit up as I said, “yes ma’am, I would.” She mailed it to me several weeks later, and I gasped when I noticed that the receipt was dated 1898. It included every element of her grandmother’s wedding gown, down to the hook and eye closure, underpinnings,  and matching parasol. What a gift, this snapshot of Thalhimers’ in 1898…and the fact that such a receipt was passed down through the generations and into my hands here in 2011!

Walking the dog the other day, I ran into a neighbor who had read the book. She said the most wonderful thing: “Thank you. Thank you for sharing those stories.” Those words speak straight to my soul. What can be more gratifying than gratitude?

So, with that, I would like to say thank YOU. Thank you for sharing your experiences and memories with me, thank you for reading and appreciating my work, and thank you for helping to ensure that my family’s story and store will not be forgotten.