M.A. Lossl's Blog, page 4
January 28, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway
I am delighted to announce that I am running a Mizpah Cousins Goodreads Giveaway until the 6th of March.Please check it out at:
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Good luck!
Media interest
Mizpah Cousins has garnered media interest since its launch. Articles published in the Wiltshire Times, York Press and local magazines. Sue Davis from the BBC invited me to a live radio interview. This morning a magazine arranged for a photographer to visit this afternoon. Mizpah Cousins is to feature in their February publication. I'm so excited.
Well, I'm off to wash my hair and apply make up!
I'll keep you posted.
January 19, 2015
A review from another satisfied reader.
As an author I really appreciate readers who take the time to review Mizpah Cousins. Thank you, to all my Goodreads readers who have done me the honor. The new year has started off well with a great review on Amazon from Elizabeth Sylvester-Gray.
'This story holds the interest from beginning to end. I was fascinated with the amount of research that went into it and can't find words to praise the author as much as she deserves. This is an excellent account of a family torn apart by war and while it is a combination of fact and fiction, the story is riveting. I am sorry now that I have finished the book.'
'This story holds the interest from beginning to end. I was fascinated with the amount of research that went into it and can't find words to praise the author as much as she deserves. This is an excellent account of a family torn apart by war and while it is a combination of fact and fiction, the story is riveting. I am sorry now that I have finished the book.'
December 27, 2014
Book research reunites family
On the 15th of November 2014, descendants of Amalia Lossl,(nee Demmel), were reunited with the descendants of her brother, George F Demmel.
Having found one another via Ancestry.co.uk, author M.A.Lossl with her family, finally met up with their long lost cousins, at the Prospect of Whitby pub in Wapping London.
Cousin David Callaghan, presented Margaret Lossl, with an engraved glass jug which has been in the Demmel family since 1928. The gift was received with a promise to research the inscription, that shows the jug was a commemorative Christmas gift from the Swedish Flag pub.
The family sat down together and enjoyed an excellent meal, served by friendly, helpful staff.
The family discussed how they have read Margaret's book, Mizpah Cousins, which chronicles the family's lives during the World War 1 era. After signing copies, Margaret was pictured with cousins, David Callaghan and Richard Demmel. David was enthralled by the family story which is based in the East End of London; his daughters have read the book, which enthused their interest in history.
The family went on to visit locations in London, from the book, which included Swedenborg Gardens formerly Swedenborg Square, where the Demmel family had lived.
The tour ended up at Tower Hill and the historic ceramic poppy display.Otto Henseluck who served as Robert Smith, was a cousin of the ancestors, Amalia and George Demmel, and is remembered at the merchant seaman memorial there. He lost his life in a German u boat attack in 1917; he was 17 years old.
The day was emotional and joyous. As the evening sky greyed over the East End of London, echoes of past lives reverberated as a family remembered those who had gone before. These lives which had been lost to living memory, are now forever chronicled in Mizpah Cousins:lives,loves and perilous predicaments in the Great War era.
To see an illustrated version of this story of the family's reunion in London, please visit:-
https://storify.com/MLossl/research-r...
Having found one another via Ancestry.co.uk, author M.A.Lossl with her family, finally met up with their long lost cousins, at the Prospect of Whitby pub in Wapping London.
Cousin David Callaghan, presented Margaret Lossl, with an engraved glass jug which has been in the Demmel family since 1928. The gift was received with a promise to research the inscription, that shows the jug was a commemorative Christmas gift from the Swedish Flag pub.
The family sat down together and enjoyed an excellent meal, served by friendly, helpful staff.
The family discussed how they have read Margaret's book, Mizpah Cousins, which chronicles the family's lives during the World War 1 era. After signing copies, Margaret was pictured with cousins, David Callaghan and Richard Demmel. David was enthralled by the family story which is based in the East End of London; his daughters have read the book, which enthused their interest in history.
The family went on to visit locations in London, from the book, which included Swedenborg Gardens formerly Swedenborg Square, where the Demmel family had lived.
The tour ended up at Tower Hill and the historic ceramic poppy display.Otto Henseluck who served as Robert Smith, was a cousin of the ancestors, Amalia and George Demmel, and is remembered at the merchant seaman memorial there. He lost his life in a German u boat attack in 1917; he was 17 years old.
The day was emotional and joyous. As the evening sky greyed over the East End of London, echoes of past lives reverberated as a family remembered those who had gone before. These lives which had been lost to living memory, are now forever chronicled in Mizpah Cousins:lives,loves and perilous predicaments in the Great War era.
To see an illustrated version of this story of the family's reunion in London, please visit:-
https://storify.com/MLossl/research-r...
December 16, 2014
Christmas 100 years ago
The Dog Who Smokes café in Versailles, was Ernst Lossl's favourite place for a tipple. In French, the café called Au chien qui fume, has a statue of a dog puffing away, over the front door .
This time 100 years ago, Ernst was no longer able to visit for a glass of beer. His wife Amalia and children, are in mortal danger after a fateful knock at the door of their apartment. The happy years spent living in Versailles, are now a memory. Ernst is no longer employed at the prestigious Trianon Palace Hotel Versailles. A fearful Christmas awaits them.
This time 100 years ago, Ernst was no longer able to visit for a glass of beer. His wife Amalia and children, are in mortal danger after a fateful knock at the door of their apartment. The happy years spent living in Versailles, are now a memory. Ernst is no longer employed at the prestigious Trianon Palace Hotel Versailles. A fearful Christmas awaits them.
November 16, 2014
Remembering Amalia: an epic WW1 journey
A true story of a mother’s ordeal during the Great War.
Amalia Demmel was a cockney lass, East End of London born and bred. Way back when in 1909, she fell in love with Ernst, a German waiter. They married and moved from grimy London town to beautiful Versailles in France. Ernst had secured a job as head waiter in the prestigious Hotel Trianon. Happy, halcyon days were spent raising children, one and two; busy saving for their dream come true - a restaurant of their own.
A harsh journey, fraught with peril ensues for mother and children, across the war muddied pit of France, through Switzerland to the Teutonic border. Here, Amalia is finally sent to her husband’s family in Munich. She is a cockney in Bavaria and can barely speak the language. The German family is starving and are hard pressed to feed the newcomers.
Amalia is put to work in a munitions factory. She is profoundly traumatised to know how her manufacture is being used; against her brother serving in the British Royal Navy; her cousin serving in the Merchant Navy, as well as her kinsman serving in the Allied forces.
The long emaciated years of war pass; will Amalia ever see her dearest husband again?
Read about Amalia's story in full in Mizpah Cousins.
Amalia Demmel was a cockney lass, East End of London born and bred. Way back when in 1909, she fell in love with Ernst, a German waiter. They married and moved from grimy London town to beautiful Versailles in France. Ernst had secured a job as head waiter in the prestigious Hotel Trianon. Happy, halcyon days were spent raising children, one and two; busy saving for their dream come true - a restaurant of their own.
A harsh journey, fraught with peril ensues for mother and children, across the war muddied pit of France, through Switzerland to the Teutonic border. Here, Amalia is finally sent to her husband’s family in Munich. She is a cockney in Bavaria and can barely speak the language. The German family is starving and are hard pressed to feed the newcomers.
Amalia is put to work in a munitions factory. She is profoundly traumatised to know how her manufacture is being used; against her brother serving in the British Royal Navy; her cousin serving in the Merchant Navy, as well as her kinsman serving in the Allied forces.
The long emaciated years of war pass; will Amalia ever see her dearest husband again?
Read about Amalia's story in full in Mizpah Cousins.
September 1, 2014
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Writing Mizpah Cousins: Life, love and perilous predicaments during the
Great War era, was the best of times and the worst of times.
I found struggling to find the right words, lonely days with the computer and the maze of punctuation rules, to be the worst of times; however researching this true story, has been the best of times. I found one of the most important archives has been family members, who kindly contributed memories, documents and photos. All the toil has definitely been worth it, as sharing the story of Mizpah Cousins with enthused readers, is, the very best of times.
Margaret
Great War era, was the best of times and the worst of times.
I found struggling to find the right words, lonely days with the computer and the maze of punctuation rules, to be the worst of times; however researching this true story, has been the best of times. I found one of the most important archives has been family members, who kindly contributed memories, documents and photos. All the toil has definitely been worth it, as sharing the story of Mizpah Cousins with enthused readers, is, the very best of times.
Margaret
