
Does it matter where and under what circumstances you are born? What is really interesting is where life takes you. It is generally believed the outcome is based on choices made in life. While that assumption is valid for most, I don’t believe it’s the case for those of lowly birth who were removed from such an existence due to being adopted into more comfortable circumstances.
Taking into account my lowly birth in a far away jungle hut, who could have foreseen that world politics would play a hand in how my life unfolded and that I would grow up German, albeit in the country of my birth? After receiving a fine education, I became a fashion model and actress in Europe, married a handsome Irish American in Munich, and moved to the US, where I earned a doctorate and became a professor of cultural, art historical, and social studies at SUNY, Empire State College in Upstate New York.
It was often suggested I write about the “magical” story of my life, that it would make a great movie. But what seemed like a fairytale to others and to me at the time as well, was not necessarily so. When I initially sat down to write Split at the Root, I was already over 50 years old. I had undergone years of therapy that had taken me on a journey to retrieve from repressed memory what I knew about my birthmother. The primary reason for writing was the budding novelty to adopt exotic children into mainstream White American and European societies. For one or another reason, the manuscript did not get published, perhaps because those in the field were themselves adopting foreign-born children.
The themes in my book, offered from the perspective of the exotic child in a White world, are even more urgent to be explored today. So, I retired, and last year dusted off the manuscript and began to work on it again to present it to the world: a much larger world than would have seen it 17 years ago.
Split at the Root reveals how the magic carpet my adoptive mother so lovingly and carefully wove, could at times become a mangy rug to be cruelly pulled from under me, leaving me bereft, confused, and wanting on so many levels.
SEP
I’m looking forward to reading the e-book! Your journey sounds like it was full of complications . . . . I believe writing about your journey helps a person to come to grips with their own individual “challenges” along life’s path.
Congratulations!
So far so good… Thank you, Ron!
I am so excited to read this memoir! Knowing Catana as an articulate observer of life and people across all countries, generations & cultures, I know this will prove to be a most enlightening & fascinating read! Bring it lady!
Thank you for the kind words, Sheron! The ebook proof still needs a bit of trimming, but looks good on my Kindle. After a last thorough read-through, you will be able to download it! Cheers!
I have know this beautiful lady for years,. many more than some of you have and in a very different way. I must say her book doesn’t surprise me, her talents are many and in this book you will gain great insight into a life filled with twists and turns that would and could destroy one. In this case Catana has proven to be a strong, capable, highly intelligent woman of great intentness. I’m proud to say I know you Catana and I wish you great success with your book.
Jackie
Jackie, I’m in awe that you manage to move around on the web as brilliantly as you do! Thank you so much for your comments, it means a lot to hear from you. The ebook is available in the next few days. Finally.
Catana,
Your story, at last revealed, takes my breath away. You have done a masterful job in reclaiming your past and presenting your journey to the world. Fred would be so pleased and proud.
Jeanne
Thank you so much, Jeanne! I am delighted you read the book and found it interesting!