Topeka author wins four gold medals for book on Holocaust survivor

THAD ALLTON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL In this file photo from May, Nancy Sprowell Geise speaks at the 2016 State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration. Geise’s book, “Auschwitz #34207 — The Joe Rubinstein Story” won gold medals in four categories over the weekend at the Florida Authors and Publishers Association annual conference: Autobiography-Memoir; Biography; Education; and Nonfiction Adult.

A Topeka author who chronicled the amazing story of a Holocaust survivor won four gold medal awards last weekend at the Florida Authors and Publishers Association annual conference in Orlando, Fla.

Nancy Sprowell Geise’s book, “Auschwitz #34207 — The Joe Rubinstein Story” won gold medals in four categories: autobiography-memoir, biography, education and adult nonfiction.

The competition was open to books published in North America in 2015 and in the first half of 2016.

“The 2016 award winners exemplify excellence in publishing both regionally and nationally,” FAPA president Terri Gerrell said in a news release. “The awards continue to command the attention of industry professionals and readers.”

The winners were selected by 65 judges, including librarians, educators and publishing professionals.

Geise’s book, along with those of other award winners, will be on display May 31 through June 2, 2017, at the BookExpo America in New York City.

Sprowell met Rubinstein, now 95, several years ago while living in Colorado. Her book marked the first time Rubinstein had shared his experiences at Auschwitz and several other Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.

“Joe’s story is a remarkable account of the triumph of the human spirit,” Geise said. “While the Nazis took everything else, they were unable to take Joe’s love of life, love of people, and his unassailable joy. His is a story of faith, courage and hope … and discovering light in the darkest of places.”

Geise said organizers of the Florida competition told her they couldn’t remember another instance of a single book receiving four gold medals.

Geise’s book was released in 2015 by Merry Dissonance Press. It is available on Amazon.com.