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Local Author’s Debut Novel “Klara’s Truth” Focuses on Trauma & Offers Tips for Healing

February 27, 2025 by Stacey Pfeffer

Mount Kisco resident Susan Weissbach Friedman has been a practicing psychotherapist for more than 25 years. Many of her patients suffered from trauma and a few have been Holocaust survivors or descendants of survivors. While the Holocaust did not directly impact her family, the concept of intergenerational trauma and a lifelong love of writing inspired her to write her debut novel Klara’s Truth.

The fictional novel took Friedman a decade to write and focuses on the protagonist, Dr. Klara Lieberman, an archaeology professor, who receives a letter from her estranged mother, Bessie, telling her that her absentee father since childhood is dead. Klara has always wondered about her father’s past during World War II in Poland which is now giving out financial reparations for land it stole from Jewish citizens during the war and her mother want to claim the money. Klara is not interested in the money – but she does want answers about her father and so she flies to Warsaw, determined to learn more. The book has received praise from Kirkus Reviews, Foreword Reviews and the Jewish Book Council.

Friedman has always been interested in archaeology and believes that psychotherapy often excavates memories. “Although I am not a Freudian, he did believe that psychotherapists were like the archaeologists of the mind by digging deep and Freud was very interested in artifacts much like Klara.”

During therapy, Friedman has observed firsthand how trauma affects people’s emotional development. “How big a life can people build or will they be more insular and afraid to take risks? There can be a level of fear about how much risk they will take and it can impact jobs, relationships and so many things. Plus, internally some people prefer to just become numb and when we start exploring it and digging deeper in therapy, it can hurt more initially,” she explains.

“Although I didn’t set out with the idea of writing a novel about trauma and healing on multiple levels – individual, family, societal, and geopolitical, I would say that Klara’s Truth touches on all of these areas as it focuses on healing past hurts and wrongs on many levels. The Holocaust resonates as a very palpable large-scale horrific trauma affecting millions, and in this way, it became an overshadowing backdrop for this largely present-day story,” explained Friedman.

Along with her husband, Friedman visited Poland in 2014, the same year in which her novel begins, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Friedman found the trip intense and informative, as she visited many desecrated Jewish cemeteries.

Writing her first novel was a labor of love while maintaining a full-time psychotherapy practice. The story was written in parts and needed a cohesive narrative so Friedman honed her craft at writing workshops at Sarah Lawrence’s Writing Institute and GrubStreet. At Sarah Lawrence, Friedman met a classmate Dr. Stephanie Newman, author of Barbarians at the PTA who encouraged her to work with a developmental editor to help piece together the disparate sections.

Friedman decided to close her practice last year to focus on her writing. “There was a lot of push and pull with that decision but I ultimately think it was the right decision,” she adds. She already has a prequel in development to Klara’s Truth and has been busy promoting her current book through podcasts, readings and book signings throughout the Hudson Valley and Boston.

In light of October 7th and an unprecedented surge in antisemitism she hopes the book will serve as a springboard for discussion about these important topics. “I think my book, from its 2014 perspective, is quite relevant to the discussion of how easily antisemitism can rise and manifest itself in huge and horribly destructive ways,” she concludes.

How to Find a Specialist for Trauma Therapy

Friedman offers these tips to those in need of therapy for traumatic experiences:

  • Look for a therapist trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and/or Somatic Experiencing. Research a therapist on Psychology Today’s website with these qualifications or go to EMDRIA, EMDR International Association Home, and then look for ‘Find a Therapist’. EMDR helps people to bring up buried and fragmented traumas more easily in a safe and contained way.
  • They can also go to Somatic Experiencing and then look for ‘Find a Therapist’. Both of these methods help people to resolve trauma and other stress responses. Somatic Experiencing is body centered, and helps people to connect more with what they feel in their bodies particularly around trauma.
  • Ask the practitioner about their training in these modalities, as some people are certified and have completed a long course of training and others haven’t.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: antisemitism discussions, healing from trauma, Klara's Truth, local author, Susan Weissbach Friedman, trauma from Holocaust

Excerpt From Jacqueline Goldstein’s ‘Ms. Murphy’s Makeover’

December 1, 2016 by The Inside Press

Jacqueline Goldstein’s Ms. Murphy’s Makeover is the story of a collapsing marriage and second-time-around love, but it also provides insider insight into a topical problem–the pitfalls of too much emphasis on standardized testing in schools today. An urban teacher and suburban wife, Charlotte Murphy, comes to suspect that her husband is cheating and that the principal of the vocational school where she teaches English has changed the answers on a Regents exam. Sensing their teacher’s unhappiness, her students contrive to give her a movie-star makeover. When they’re done, Charlotte doesn’t recognize herself and vows to change her life. Charlotte’s new life is complicated by the attention of Theodore Lagakis, the school’s dean, who has a hidden agenda. Whom can she trust? …

4th-cover“Bertie Trombetta died last night. A heart attack. The witch is dead!”

It took a moment for Charlotte to process this information. In the distance, a church bell chimed. Ask not for whom the bell tolls.

Natalie bowed her head and folded her hands in pretend piety, their lacquered red nails pointing to the ceiling. “There is a God, after all.”

Charlotte closed her eyes and swallowed hard. “Dead? Are you sure? She was here Friday, teaching across the hall.”

The image of Bertha Trombetta, smoking, floated before Charlotte’s eyes.

“Screaming her head off, probably. I bet she gave herself the heart attack. But I must say her timing was perfect.”

This was cold, even for Natalie. But the principal was under a lot of pressure. Charlotte thought she understood. “Are you saying the visitors won’t come?”

Natalie gave a short laugh. “Nothing can stop that.” She placed her hands on Charlotte’s desk and leaned in close. “Life goes on. That’s actually why I’m here. Charlotte, I need you to go to Bertie’s funeral.”

Charlotte immediately shook her head no.

Natalie waved a hand, anticipating Charlotte’s objection. “I know, I know. I should go myself. Normally, I would. But I can’t this week. Not with the visitors from State Ed here. And someone has to represent the school.”

Charlotte thought of an escape. “Does Lagakis know?”

Natalie nodded. “I just told him. He’s in his office, on the phone with the family.”

“Perfect. Send him. Or do we need him in the school?”

Natalie laughed a second time. “Be serious. But yes, he asked and I can’t very well refuse. You’ll have to go with him. I’m sorry.”

Charlotte exploded. “No! And Bertie wouldn’t want me there.”

Natalie smiled, showing newly whitened teeth. “She won’t know.”

Technically, Charlotte could refuse. But Natalie was more than her boss. She was a friend, of sorts. Twenty years ago, they had attended the same college. Natalie recognized Charlotte at a job fair three years ago and offered her the position of teaching English at a vocational high school for cosmetology.

At the time, downsizing at Francis’s firm had made the Murphys anxious, and Francis had been relieved when Charlotte was offered work. He’d kept his job, however, along with a big raise. Now he was after her to quit. And Charlotte didn’t want to.

Natalie pressed her advantage. “You owe me, sweetie. I need this.”

Charlotte made a last ditch effort. “Look.” She pointed at her stack of journals. “I’m swamped.”

“Sweetie, I know you don’t read those things, anyway.”

“I read every word. Unless they ask me not to. It’s for critical thinking.” Charlotte put air quotes around the last two words.

“Save the buzz words for the visitors. I need this, Charlotte. With you there, maybe Lagakis will behave himself.”

“Good luck with that.” Charlotte sighed. “But all right. Under protest. And you owe me.”

“Excellent. Now. A teensy suggestion. At the funeral, glam up a little. Lose the librarian look for a day. Black dress. Heels. Hair down.”

“The librarian look? Is it that bad?”

“Look, we are a school of beauty here. So. You have a black dress?”

“I do, but Francis says black makes me look—conspicuous.” Her husband had used another word, but Natalie didn’t need more ammunition.

“Oh, yes. Pope Francis. Was he speaking ex cathedra?”

Charlotte had to smile at the image of her husband in papal vestments.

“I’d be on the phone to my lawyer so fast.”
Maybe that’s why you’re divorced. Aloud, Charlotte said, “What does it matter what I wear?”

One of Natalie’s more annoying habits was whispering behind her hand. She did so now, although they were alone in an empty room. “You never know who will show up at these things. Bertie was always threatening to go to the media. There may be reporters. That woman had a big mouth.”

“So? Wait. Is something wrong? Is that why State Ed is coming?”

Natalie looked Charlotte full in the eye. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a purely routine visit.”

Jacqueline Goldstein
Jacqueline Goldstein

Chappaqua resident Jacqueline Grandsire Goldstein grew up in the Fordham section of the Bronx, and taught high school English there for 25 years. After retiring from teaching, Jacqueline began to take classes at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and also joined the informal writing workshop run by Joan Schulman at the Chappaqua Library. Her debut novel, Ms. Murphy’s Makeover, is a work of fiction, but it reflects her experiences as an urban teacher and suburban wife and mother. Jacqueline will be reading excerpts, taking questions, and signing books at nearby public libraries in December 8 (in North Castle), January 7 (in Bronxville, and January 21 (in Mount Kisco). For more information, visit www.jacquelinegoldstein.com.

Filed Under: Book Excerpts Tagged With: book, Chappaqua Author, Jacqueline Goldstein, Library Readings, local author, local writing, Miss Murphy's Makeover

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