1960 DESTINATION ISRAEL

was written by the author for her children who don't know much about this period of her life.

In 1960, Israel was not exactly a tourist destination. Instead, the country was receiving a fascinating influx of Jewish immigrants from all over the world and Elsa, a "goy," was in the midst of them.

The voyage to Israel was at the invitation of a Jewish scientist who had studied in Holland. Elsa van der Laaken found employment in Beer-Sheba and Jerusalem and stayed in Israel for 2 1/2 years. The result was a collection of handwritten journals embellished with photos and historical notes that eventually shaped this book.

The author's writing challenge was to stay faithful to her younger self and her impressions of the State of Israel in its formative years. The story describes a series of events experienced by a young adult ready to grow up and leave home.

To learn more about the author, as well as her WW II memoir, "A Point of Reference," go to www.vanderlaaken.com.