Avi de Turenne is an active member of SCBWI, with a BA in English (creative writing / playwriting emphasis) from the UCLA. His completed works include a collection of LGBTQ short stories, a gay, noir detective screenplay, an MG coming of age novel set in cowboy country, and a non-fiction work titled “All The Weird Stuff You Need To Know About William Shakespeare.” His previous work in playwriting and screenwriting has brought added benefits – an added emphasis on plot structure and dialogue. Through the SCBWI local chapters of West Los Angeles and West Hollywood, as well as several annual conferences, he has honed his craft with writing workshops, seminars and critique groups.

Additionally, Avi has a strong knowledge of the film industry and the history of Hollywood. He grew up in the household of a French immigrant filmmaker and loves movie trivia. He is also an avid chess player and participates in local tournaments. All these elements are drawn into the weave of the story.

Eitan Ginsburg also graduated from UCLA, with an undergraduate degree in History and a graduate degree in Jewish History. His writing experience includes historical papers, curricula, educational handbooks, as well as editorials and articles for local Jewish newspapers/newsletters. His strength in this work comes from his early career in formal and informal education, always seeking to connect the “story” in history with the lives of his students. An avid reader of history, mysteries, historical fiction and adventure stories, Eitan enthusiastically rejoined his high school writing partner and was an equal partner in the writing/editing process.

These two natives of Los Angeles bring together a lifelong love of history with a passion for writing to weave this unique tale. The book is thoroughly researched, first inspired by Steven J. Ross’s Hitler in Los Angeles. They were intrigued by the true story of the Nazi front organization, the German-American Bund, actively seeking to gain a foothold in late 1930’s America by allying with right-wing groups such as the Silver Shirts (US version of Mussolini’s fascist Black Shirts of Italy) and the KKK.

Together, they built a core story about friendship as two lonely boys forge a strong bond during their adventures unraveling the mystery of a stolen family painting and uncovering a murderous Nazi plot. Many of the places and situations are drawn from their personal experiences and family relationships as teens growing up in Los Angeles.

It was important for them to write a story that resonates with today’s politics, society and current events, striking a disturbingly familiar chord and highlighting the dangers of failing to learn from the past.