Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story Of Courage, Love And Survival

Description

May, 1992. Hana is twelve years old when her older sister Atka puts her on a UN evacuation bus fleeing the besieged city of Sarajevo. Thinking they will be apart for a short time, they make a promise to each other to be brave. But as the Bosnian war escalates and months go by without contact, their promise becomes deeply significant. Hana is forced to cope as a refugee in Croatia, while Atka and their younger siblings battle for survival in a city overwhelmed by crime and destruction. Then, when Atka manages to find work as a translator, events take an unexpected turn, and the remarkable events that follow change her life, and those of her family, forever.

Promotion info

This dramatic story of two sisters and their family gives a unique insight into the reality of the Bosnian conflict. The personal stories will attract significant media attention For fans of The Cellist of Sarajevo and Zlata's Diary The authors are immensely articulate and will be interviewed on radio, television and in the press

Reviews

'A beautiful story that turns from sorrow to happiness, redemption, restoration. Goodbye Sarajevo shows that sometimes out of dire circumstances, new lives, new beginnings are possible' Janine di Giovanni 'A sparky memoir of survival written by such driven and inspirational women' Independent 'Extraordinary... serves as a timely reminder of the staggering odds faced by many refugees hoping to reach safe homes' Sydney Morning Herald 'An amazing and heart warming story of one family's fight for survival against all odds' Irish Examiner

Author description

Atka Reid was born in Sarajevo in 1970. At the outbreak of the Bosnian war, she was a political science student. During the war, she worked as a reporter for a local radio station and as an interpreter for the foreign press. Upon her arrival in New Zealand she worked as a journalist in Christchurch. She later gained a Diploma in graphic design and worked as a graphic designer. She and Andrew, the New Zealand photojournalist she met in Sarajevo, live in Auckland with their two sons. Hana Schofield was born in Sarajevo in 1979. She spent two years living as a refugee in Croatia during the siege of Sarajevo. In 1995 she arrived in New Zealand with her family, speaking no English. In 2002 she graduated from the University of Canterbury with first class honours in Law and a bachelor's degree in Russian. Since then she has worked as a lawyer for a leading New Zealand law firm, and more recently for a City law firm in London. Hana is also a qualified performance consultant. She is married to James and lives in Auckland.