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Meet award-winning author of The Paris Library at virtual event

Janet Skeslien Charles's 2021 book, based on a true story, was named one of the Best Books of 2021 by Amazon and Chapters Indigo

An award-winning author will be featured in an upcoming virtual event hosted by Creative Aging Books and Ideas.

Janet Skeslien Charles will discuss her book, The Paris Library — named one of the Best Books of 2021 by Amazon and Chapters Indigo — during an event taking place Thursday at 2 p.m.

Pre-registration is required for the free event and can be completed here.

Skeslien Charles, a native of Montana, grew up next door to a war bride named Claudine, “who captivated her little neighbour with stories of the appalling events that happened in Paris during the Second World War,” a news release noted.

“When I heard this story, I had to sit down and write it,” said Skeslien Charles.

“Even as a kid, I could see that Claudine was very brave to leave everything behind. It took a lot of courage for her to leave her job, her friends and her family in order to come to Canada. Claudine sparked my interest in going to France.”

Skeslien Charles was further intrigued while working at the American Library in Paris, where she learned of the bravery of the library’s workers during the German occupation of Paris in the war.

The Paris Library is based on a true story, and it is “a testament to the importance and the power of books, most especially in troubled and challenging times. The intricacies of friendship, which are built on trust and the intimacy of fear, can also be destroyed by those very traits.”

“The heroes in this book are not the soldiers at the front or the soldiers in the foxholes, but rather everyday people who refused to be bowed by the travesties of evil.”

Cece Scott, of Creative Aging Books and Ideas, conducted an interview with the author, which can be read here.