Nola Lorraine asked Ruth Bonetti:

'Burn my Letters' has an intriguing title. What was the juiciest bit of information you found out about your ancestors? (as long as that wouldn't be a spoiler).

Ruth Bonetti Ah, that's a fun question. My research showed me that no sheep is entirely black or white. It allowed me to give credence to Great-Uncle Karl Johan, whose own book pleaded (in caps) "GIVE ALL MEN THEIR DUE!"
I knew there had to be a reason why Russian military policy looked for him in Suez as he fled Finland for Australia. A clue came from his letters when he described himself as a "pen-fighter." During the Oppression of Finns 1899-1908 the Russian overlords shut down many newspapers.

Finnish family give "KJ" more credit than do my Aussie relatives who dismissed him as an eccentric black sheep, whereas Granddad was revered by family and peers, as the Migrant-Made-Good. I identify with both through (magical realism) conversations, but have a soft-spot affinity and odd relationship with KJ. His photo graces my author events and through our Facebook page "Burn My Letters: Karl Johan Back" he enjoys posthumous PR for his books published in 1918 and 1920.

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