Marguerite Charlotte Kirchner was born on March 13, 1925 in Holland, to an Austrian father and French mother. In this memoir she tells the harrowing story of her life in World War II Germany, where her father moved the family shortly after Hitler came to power. Wanda Rodgers Reynolds discovered Marguerite's writings at an estate sale in Florida. Fascinated by Marguerite's dramatic story and unusual perspective, she compiled the material into chapters and helped prepare them for publication. She is a retired businesswoman living in Winter Park, Florida, and has published her own memoir, Journey to the Son, about adopting a son from India. Mary Rodgers Frazier assisted in compiling and researching Marguerite Kirchner's story. She is a retired French and English teacher and wrote education and training programs for pharmaceutical, manufacturing, printing, and food corporations. She lives in Wheatfield, Indiana, and Palm Bay, Florida.

Melanie Wilson edited Ms. Kirchner's original manuscript. She is a social worker, researcher, and writer specializing in child and adolescent well-being. She lives in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.