A Conversation with Christine Fallert Kessides, Author of Magda, Standing

Christine Fallert Kessides became a first-time novelist at age 70, when her young adult book, Magda, Standing, was published and received significant acclaim. Christine was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was interested in the fact that all her ancestors (those she could identify) were from Germany. After reviewing her family genealogy and reflecting on some of her relatives’ experiences, she was inspired to write Magda’s story.

About the novel Magda, Standing: When her father pulls her out of high school to care for her invalid mother and little brother, sixteen-year-old Magda is devastated—but the greater challenge is saving her family in the face of a war and pandemic.

Magda, Standing -- a YA (Young Adult) historical novel released June 2023 from Bold Story Press -- concerns a girl in a German immigrant family in Pittsburgh in 1916-19, confronting the impacts on her family of World War One and the Spanish flu.

The novel speaks to many themes that young people confront today: Balancing the demands of family and tradition with their own ambitions; seeking education despite financial obstacles; dealing with mental illness in a family member; feeling public resentment of immigrants; facing first-time independence from home; and confronting violence and death. Awards include:

• Gold medalist - 2024 Ben Franklin Award from Independent Book Publishers Association, IBPA - for Young Adult Audiobook
• Silver medalist - 2023 Story Circle Sarton's Book Award - Young Adult category
• Bronze medalist - 2023 MOONBEAM Children's Book Award - Young Adult Fiction: Historical/Cultural
• Finalist for the 2023 international Eyelands Book Award for published Historical Fiction/Memoir

In this episode, we discuss themes in her book that touch on immigration to the U.S., the effect of pandemics and how the devastation of the Spanish Flu outsized the Covid-19 pandemic in fatalities, the critical importance of nurses, World War I, family and the challenges attendant to coming of age. Takeaways from Magda, Standing, include driving hard to pursue one's dreams and how we can survive almost anything with support, particularly from family.

Christine attended college and graduate school at Northwestern University and Princeton University, respectively. She had a career writing policy reports for the World Bank on international development. In her spare time, she volunteers with nonprofits that support women and families and especially enjoys reading, travel, yoga and sharing books with friends. She lives outside Washington DC, in suburban Maryland with her husband, and sees their four children, two grandchildren, and four grand-dogs as often as possible.

Christine currently is writing the sequel to Magda, Standing, as well as working on a children's picture book. She spoke about Magda, Standng at the historic Chautauqua Institution (live and on Zoom) in August.

Learn more and follow Christine:

⁠www.magda-standing.com⁠

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091383818477

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdastandingnovel/