Alvin Abram is a
storyteller, writer and graphic designer
of books. He attended York University's
Creative Fourth Year writing course in
1995 at the age of 59, returning to the
dream of his youth. In 1996 followed
with an Outline Course at University of
Toronto, finishing with a Creative
Summer Writing Course at Humber College
in 1997.
Has had more than
30 short stories published since 1998:
Wordscape murder anthologies,
Women’s World magazine (New York),
Winners’ Circle, Chicken Soup for the
Parent’s Soul, North York Post, Bayview
Post, The Israeli Magazine,
Canadian Jewish News and in April
2007, ARS Medica, Mount Sinai
Hospital’s Journal of Psychiatry and
others.
Self-published
The Light After the Dark in 1997, a
244-page hard cover book of six true
stories about children who had
experiences of chance and circumstance
during the Holocaust. In 1998, Key
Porter Books bought the rights. It has
been published three times and sold in
several countries as well as reunited
people thought dead.
Self-published
Why, Zaida? in 2000, a fully
coloured illustrated, hard cover
fictional story of a nine-year-old boy
who asks his grandfather why the old man
has no father or mother. The grandfather
uses a squirrel, a dog, a robin, a stick
and a stream, grass and weeds as
metaphors to answer the boy's question.
Self-published
The Light After the Dark II in 2001,
a 271-page soft cover book of an
additional six true stories about
children who had a chance and
circumstance experience during the
Holocaust.
Self-published
The Unlikely Victims in 2002, a
244-page book about a Jewish Toronto
homicide detective, Gabe Garshowitz, who
becomes involved in six cases, resolving
them as he deals with his own personal
problems – aging and the loss of his
wife. Nominated for the Arthur Ellis
Award by Crime Writers of Canada as one
of the five Best First Novels for 2002.
Self-published
Stories I Wrote in 2003, a 274-page
book of 18 stories from the more than 30
stories and articles that have appeared
in print since 1997.
Self-published
An Eye for an Eye in 2004 (a
trilogy), a 428-page epic novel
described as, “a monumental work…a
magnificent tragic tale.” A
murder/mystery centered in Lodz, Poland
that spans the years 1921-1946. The
novel is about the Ackerman's (Jewish)
and the Zwonarz families (Catholic)
whose lives intertwine in the ebb and
flow of true historical incidents
before, during and after the Second
World War. Winner of the 2005
International BookAdz Award for the Best
Novel for 2004 published by a Canadian
and American author and published by
independent, university, small press and
self-publishers or print-on-demand (POD)
or self-published authors.
Self-published
The Minyan in 2006. Is the second
novel in the trilogy. A 428-page soft
cover novel that continues with the
Ackerman and Zonarz families and takes
into account current events in the year
2000, neo-Nazis, Simon Wiesthenthal and
the threat to Israel. Currently it is
being judged by Jewish Book Award.
The third novel,
Justice Delayed, will complete the
story in 2008. This novel brings
Detective Gabe Garshowitz, the Ackermans,
Burt Anthony and Janusz Zwonarz together
to combat the remnants of the evil that
they had encountered in The Minyan.
Alvin Abram has had
more than 100 speaking engagements, been
interviewed on radio and television in
Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
A volunteer in the
Toronto Jewish community all his life.
Past President of Leonard Mayzel Ontario
Lodge B'nai Brith, Board Member, Jewish
National Fund (Toronto), Board Member of
Canadian Friends of Boys Town of
Jerusalem, etc. Founder of the
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Ontario
and part of the inaugural committee
forming Bernard Betel Centre and Ileitis
and Colitis Foundation. Member of Crime
Writers of Canada and Writers Union of
Canada.
Website:
www.alvinabram.ca
Alvin
Abram