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Veterans Day and The Stolen Children of War and the Paris Circus with a secret by Jina Bacarr

November 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat tagged as Jina Bacarr, new release, The Stolen Children of War, Veterans Day

When Jewish mothers arrived at Auschwitz holding tight onto their children, they had no idea their little ones would be ‘stolen’ from them and murdered after the selection. Innocent babes with chubby cheeks and big eyes along with young boys still in short pants and shy little girls in pigtails.

It’s a fate too horrible to think about… yet it happened.

I shall take a moment. Reflect on what I wrote. I have no clever phrases to make you smile as I’m wont to do in my posts… only the truth.

Children died during the Holocaust. No one knows exactly how many, but the estimate is around one and half million Jewish children. I feel the sorrow of loss every time I see the sepia photo of a Jewish child bathed in innocence who never had the chance to breathe the air of freedom again once they were huddled into a cattle car and sent to a camp. Who died alone without their mother’s arms around them, her gentle voice whispering in their ear.

That’s when I remind myself I’m so lucky to have grown up a happy child with my books and my dolls and wonderful parents. Today is Veterans Day and we honor our servicemen and women who wore the uniform and fought for freedom and still do in our world. So instead of a witty poem or funny story, my heart is heavy and I ask you not to forget these children even as we honor our soldiers.

Hug your children tight today. Even if they tower over you and aren’t babies anymore. Because somewhere in the world, a mother can’t do that. Her tears have dried, but not the pain in her heart. That’s what we’re still fighting for. To save the children. God help us.

Jina

‘The Stolen Children of War’

A story told in Book 1 of this 2 book series about children hidden in plain sight in Occupied Paris 1943. In the circus.

If it’s not horrible enough my heroine Lia de Montieri, Queen of the Trapeze, has to fight the Nazis and a despicable Gestapo man in 1943 Occupied Paris, she also comes up against a depraved creature known as ‘The Magician’ because of his amazing ability to restore a woman’s face…

He lurks in the shadows only coming out to threaten what Lia holds most dear…

‘The Stolen Children of War’ is the story of a mother’s sacrifice, make that ‘mothers’, when Lia helps a Jewish woman about to be deported by helping her little girl and young boy escape.

And oh, there’s an adorable baby elephant, too.

‘The Stolen Children of War’
Amazon Kindle:
US: https://a.co/d/7iR9Xar
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/9RF8E77

It is 1943 in Nazi-occupied Paris, and nobody is safe. Nobody, except perhaps one small group of people, who’ve always existed outside the law… in the circus.
Boldwood Books

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When the world was black and white but the circus was a colorful place by Jina Bacarr

October 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category circus, Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as cirucs, Paris, thriller, trapeze, writing, WW2

Hitler loved the circus.

According to classified reports uncovered after the war, the Fuehrer would sit in the front row of the circus and cheer on the performers he perceived to be ‘working class folks’ putting their lives on the line.

He loved the ‘woman in danger’ element in the acts, as my heroine Lia di Montieri discovers when she appears in a circus in Germany in the 1930s. I shan’t spoil the surprise, but we follow Lia’s career, her heartbreak over losing her baby, and how she makes a daring leap to join the Resistance to save Jewish children.

I’ve always been fascinated by circuses since I was a little girl. Especially the trapeze. We had a swing set in the backyard when I was growing up and I’d try every crazy trick I could think of, pretending I was flying under the big top, that I was ‘an angel without wings’ until one day the swing broke. Then we moved. As we did a lot in those days.

And so ended my circus dreams.

Finally, I can fly again! In my Boldwood Books upcoming WW2 novel about Occupied Paris and the circus.

‘The Stolen Children of War’ is…

The heartbreaking story of Lia di Montieri, Queen of the Flying Trapeze, who loses her own baby and risks her life to save innocent children from the Gestapo.

An adorable baby elephant named Bebe.

And lurking in the background is a serial killer preying on circus queens who threatens to destory what Lia holds most dear.

I wanted to write a story about circuses with a twist — there’s danger under the big top at every performance… lions, tigers… knife throwers… high wire walkers, trapeze artistes flying 100 mph from the flybar to the catcher, but what if there was also a killer watching their every move, ready to strike?

You’ll find all that and more at Le Cirque Casini!

It’s a psycological thriller with a mad doctor serial killer, beautiful circus queens in danger, heroes willing to die to protect them, baby animal ‘cuteness’, and ‘stolen children’ who will steal your heart.

Step right up, ladies and gents, and let’s go to the circus!

Now on NetGalley for all you book bloggers and reviewers.

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My own private war to write ‘The Stolen Children of War’ by Jina Bacarr

September 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category circus, Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as children, circus, France, Paris, writing, WW2

War is hell.

Writing can also exact a toll on you that’s hard to come back from. I don’t propose to compare the valiant efforts of our soldiers, amazing servicemen and women, to me sitting safe behind a computer and writing about war. Not at all. I never served in combat, but I did counsel men who did (this was before women were allowed to fight in combat) and I heard the stories late at night sitting around a big, ole aluminum coffee pot in the US Army Service Club or playing pool with the men. We had a lot of soldiers passing through on their way ‘back home’ who felt more comfortable talking to me about their experiences than their families.

I was so young… and not a trained counselor or psychologist. But I did have one thing: I’m a good listener. Something taught to me by the nuns, especially the wise and round-faced Sister Mary Celestine at St Peter’s. I learned a lot from these Army and Air Force soldiers about brotherhood and loyalty and being ‘blooded’ and that unbreakable bond these men had with their units. I envied that. I wondered how we women would fare in such tense situations under fire.

Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to write about women in war.

My last several books are about Paris during the Occupation by the Nazis and the brave women who fought in the Resistance even as they fell in love and raised children. But writing about such intense times does take a toll on you. Especially when you’re fighting your own pain from an accident and struggling to make a deadline. (I thank God for my fabulous editor Isobel who was with me during this time and never gave up on me.)

Then I remember the sacrifice made by the women and men fighting the Nazis. My God, would I have had the courage to do as they did? I like to think I could and every day I strive to do what I can to help others… whether it’s at the market and someone needs help, or a nervous, new receptionist at my doctor’s office starting her first job.

The world is a scary place.

I also give thanks every day for what I have. Shelter, food, my treasured books I’ve collected since I was a little girl. And the Internet. Which allows me to share my heartfelt stories with you.

So, here we are… the hot days are slowly giving way to cooler temperatures. And with the advent of Fall, I’m so excited to announce my next Paris WW2 book, The Stolen Children of War.

I’m so thrilled with this fabulous cover.

It’s so circus-y!

That’s Lia, my heroine. A trapeze artist and trick rider since she was a kid.

The two children she saves will steal your heart as they did mine!

There’s also a stolen baby, handsome heroes, and an adorable baby elephant.

And a mystery, too… a madman threatening circus queens….

It’s a glorious ride of heart, passion, and razzle dazzle under the big top!

Can’t wait to introduce you to the world of circus during the Occupation of Paris 1943 when the children needed the joy of circus more than ever!

Out 10th November https://mybook.to/ChildrenOfWar

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Anyone remember paper dolls? Why AI can’t compete with a trip down memory lane by Jina Bacarr

August 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as AI, France, German, imagination, movie star, paper dolls, Translation, writing

I have the best memories when I was a kid playing with my paper dolls.

From Sleeping Beauty to In Old New York (Colonial Paper Dolls), I cherished these fragile cardboard dolls with paper dresses with tabs that never stayed on (bobby pins worked!) and kept them in my box of treasures.

Yes, I still have them.

I invented names and personalities for each paper doll, designed clothes for them, and stuck them between the pages of my math book so I could play with them when I was supposed to be doing homework.

As a child, I didn’t have AI answering questions for me, or a cellphone screen telling me what to think, wear, or ‘influence’ me. I made up the stories and created worlds with my paper dolls down to the smallest detail.

And that is what forged my writing.

Imagination.

We writers must continue to craft stories to engage readers to encourage them to use their imagination, even if the words flicker across a computer screen and not the printed pages of a book. To bring our characters into their world so they can identify with them, to feel for them when they’re sad, happy, fall in love.

It’s called being a human. AI has its place, I don’t dispute that, but it’s not the whole enchilada. How can it be?

I doubt AI ever played with a paper doll.

Have you?

My best wishes to you!

Jina

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We have a new German translation for THE RESISTANCE GIRL.

Paris, 1943. Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema, and adored by fans. But as Nazi officers swarm the streets of Paris, she is spotted arm in arm with an SS Officer and her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her.

However Sylvie has a secret – one she must protect with her life…

Paris, 2020. Juliana Chastain doesn’t know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.

So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother’s possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother – especially as she is arm in arm with a Nazi Officer…

Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?

But as she delves into Sylvie’s past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.

Here she is from DP Digital Publishing: Die Tochter der Résistance

Ein historischer Roman über das Schicksal einer jungen Frau

The Daughter of the Resistance | A historical novel about the fate of a young woman

Wenn Sie in Deutschland sind, hier ist der Link:

https://www.digital-publishers.com/de/romane/die-tochter-der-resistance-historisch-ebook

I’m also excited to announce The Resistance Girl is also being translated into French and Dutch…

Here’s a fun video I made about Sylvie Martone, the heroine of The Resistance Girl:

See you soon!!

Jina

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Lost… no, Found in Translation and where the heck have I been? by Jina Bacarr

July 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as France, German, movie star, Translation

Sister Mary Celestine would be so upset with me… like the time she made me kneel on my desk and measured with her ruler to see if my green uniform touched the polished blonde wood.

It didn’t.

I was in total teen rebellion, making my uniform shorter so I looked ‘cool’.

I wish I could say I was in teen rebellion to explain my absence, but I just haven’t been my best for a while. I’m homebound, rarely go out or post on social media, and my poor motorcar barely has any miles on it; in other words, I’m trying to heal from injuries sustained several months ago. And continue to write. I’d rather ship myself off to a desert island with teeth-gnashing raptors than let my editor down. Isobel has been so understanding, working with me and giving me extra time to finish my next book. And I did it.

I’m working on edits this week when I realized it’s time to post. Then I realized I missed last month… and before that. I apologize. I’ve been living with massive headaches and hand and shoulder injuries… well, I’m not a downer type, so let’s talk about some majorly good stuff… like finishing my book due out later this year.

And a new German translation for THE RESISTANCE GIRL.

However Sylvie has a secret – one she must protect with her life…

Paris, 2020. Juliana Chastain doesn’t know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.

Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?

But as she delves into Sylvie’s past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.