Orphaned Austrian Girl Recounts World War II Story in New Book

From the author of the humorous ""Hunting? Don't Forget the Toilet Paper!" and the biography "Hickory Bob: The Bob Harmon Story" comes a new remarkably inspiring historical biography that bespeaks the strength of the human spirit. Set in World War II, Richard E. Cooper's third book, Josie: A Young Girl Coming of Age in Nazi Europe takes readers through the harrowing experiences of a homeless little girl in Austria who eventually found her own redemption.

Set in Austria-the pre-war, wartime, and post-war period-and later years in America, Cooper's latest book traces the journey of an orphaned young girl orphaned as she overcomes the trials of war, evades the invading Soviet army, and comes to America to build a new life. Since very few people have experienced such a life as Josie, Cooper was convinced that her extraordinary life needs to be told.

The book covers a brief "golden age" in Austria-a time that many historians have overlooked. Then it also shares about the people surrounding Josie's life including Maria Fodinger, Josie's loving godmother, Ron Parkhurst, who brought Josie to America, and Harold Baker, who brought stability to her later years.

An excerpt from the opening lines of the first chapter read:

"The sun glinted off their fluttering sides as they fell to the earth, a daily reminder that life was short and could end with a thunderous explosion. Then, there was the piercing whine, and if it became louder and louder, tomorrow might never be seen."

Josie: A Young Girl Coming of Age in Nazi Europe is a story that truly reveals that courage can conquer all. With recent news about refugees caught up in wars in the Middle East-Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan-the story reminds everyone that at any time in history, courage is necessary to succeed. Being a friend of Josie's "significant other" for the last 27 years, Cooper has beautifully crafted a real life tale highlighting that sufficient courage and determination can overcome the worst of hardships.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author
Richard Cooper is a native Missourian and a graduate of Kansas State University. He has worked in radio and television production and spent 30 years teaching history and government at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri. Since retiring from education in 1992, he has become a writer of feature stories and local government news for the Lamar, Mo. Democrat newspaper. This is his third book. The first, Hunting? Don't Forget the Toilet Paper!, was a humorous memoir of nearly forty years of upland game hunting with longtime friend Don Lamm, who was coauthor. The second was Hickory Bob: The Bob Harmon Story, a biography of major league pitching star of the early twentieth century. He and his wife, Mae, currently reside in Lamar.

Josie * by Richard E. Cooper
A Young Girl Coming of Age in Nazi Europe
Publication Date: April 12, 2013
Trade Paperback; $15.99; 59 pages; 978-1-4836-1511-0
Trade Hardback; $24.99; 59 pages; 978-1-4836-1512-7
eBook; $3.99; 978-1-4836-1513-4

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For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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