ALVIN ABRAM

SELF-EMPLOYED:

A.M.A. Graphics Incorporated 

(Publishing)
                 

C.A.T. Graphics & Print Limited

(Graphic Studio)

WRITING HISTORY

 

ALVIN ABRAM is a storyteller, writer and graphic designer of books. In 1995 he attended York University's Fourth Year Creative Writing Course at the age of 59, returning to the dream of his youth. In 1996 he followed that with an Outline Course at University of Toronto and in 1997 the Summer Creative Writing Course at Humber College.

 

In 1997, he self-published The Light After the Dark, a 244-page hard cover book of six true stories about children’s experiences of chance and circumstance during the Holocaust. Key Porter Books bought the rights in 1998. Alvin Abram has donated $20,500 of his royalties to several charities..

 

Why, Zaida? a fully-coloured illustrated, hard cover children’s book, was self-published in 2000. It is the fictional story of a nine-year-old boy who asks his grandfather: Why the old man has no father or mother. The grandfather uses a squirrel, a dog, a robin, a stick and a stream, grass and weeds as metaphors to answer the boy's question.

 

In 2001, Abram self-published The Light After the Dark II, a 271-page, soft cover book of six additional true stories about children’s chance and circumstance experiences during the Holocaust.

 

The Unlikely Victims, self-published in 2002, is a 244-page murder mystery about a Jewish Toronto Homicide detective, Gabe Garshowitz, who becomes involved in six cases while dealing with his own personal problems – aging and the loss of his wife.

Nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award by Crime Writers of Canada as one of the five Best First Novels for 2002.

 

His collection of short stories, Stories I Wrote, was published in 2003. It is a 274-page book of 18 stories assembled from the more than 30 stories and articles that have appeared in print since 1997 in such publications as Chicken Soup for the Parents Soul and Women’s World Magazine (New York).

 

An Eye For An Eye, the first installment of a trilogy, is a 428-page epic novel self-published in 2004. Author D. M. Thomas, winner of the Cheltenham Award and author of White Hotel, has described the novel as “a monumental work . . . a magnificent tragic tale”. A Holocaust murder mystery centered in Lodz, Poland, the novel spans the years 1921-1946 and revolves around the Jewish Ackerman family and the Catholic Zwonarz family. Winner of the 2005 International BookAdz Award for the Best Novel for 2004 published by a Canadian and American author and published by independent, university, small press and self-publishers or print-on-demand (POD) or self-published authors.

 

The Minyan, self-published in 2006, is the second novel in the trilogy. A 428-page soft cover novel that continues the story of the Ackerman and Zonarz families, it embroils them in current events in the year 2000 and brings them into contact with neo-Nazis and their threat against Israel.

 

The Dead Don’t Weep continuing the saga of Homicide Detective Gabe Garshowitz and his beautiful young partner, Detective Constable Iris Forester. This mystery deals with Gabe’s perennial foe, Harry Greco, and the troublesome Detective Sergeant Simon Munz. The cases Gabe and Iris try to solve throughout the novel all have a common theme – love in its many positive and negative forms.

 

Published Short Stories

 

“Ta-Ta-T-A-Ta”, “Stitch in Time”, “A Story in Two Words”

“The Credit Card Caper”, “Jealous Bullet”

in Wordscape Mystery Anthologies (1997), (1999), (2001)

 

“Jonas: The Baker”

in Winners Circle (1998)

 

“The Coat That Wouldn’t Die”

in the Canadian Jewish News (1998)

and North York Post (1999) and Thornhill Post (1999)

 

“Remember: Come Home”

in Fraternally Truly Yours (1999)

 

“The Photograph Album”

in Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul (2000)

and Women’s World Magazine (New York) (2001)

 

“Kugler”, “Touched by Love”, “Forgive Me”

in New Generation Tabloid (2001)

.

“If Only . . .”

in ARS Medica: Journal of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital (2007)

 

The Memories I Live With

Eugene Joseph (2002)

A Holocaust Survivor’s Memoir

Alvin Abram speaks regularly. He has had more than 100 speaking engagements and has been interviewed on radio and television in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

 

As a lifelong volunteer in the Toronto Jewish community, he is Past President of Leonard Mayzel Ontario Lodge B'nai Brith, Board Member of The Jewish National Fund (Toronto), Board Member of Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem and Board Member of Canadian Friends of Meir Medical Center.

 

 

ASSOCIATIONS:

1999-present  * The Writers’ Union of Canada

1998-present  * Crime Writers of Canada

1978-present  * Jewish National Fund (Toronto)

1997-2002       * Toronto Branch: Canadian Authors Association

1989-1994       * Baycrest Home for the Aged

1963-1994       * B’nai Brith Canada

1973-1986       * International Typographical Composite Association

                        * Toronto Typographical Association

1960-1970       * Muscular Dystrophy Association

 

 

TRADE PUBLICATIONS: International

            * Sales Promotions vs Minimizing Overhead Expenses

            Kansas City 1977

            * Mis-Management: A Contest No One Wants To Win

            Toronto: 1977

            * Don’t Die – Diversify

            Toronto: 1976

            * Why It Pays To Diversify

            Toronto: 1976

            * Overhead Minimizers

            Hartford: 1976

            * It’s Time To Get Out Of The Typesetting Business

            Los Angeles: 1975

            * The Need To Diversify To Stay In Business

            New Orleans: 1975

            * How To Increase Profits By Minimizing Sales Overhead

            Washington, D.C.: 1975

 

 

WHITE PAPER:

            * Workman’s Compensation:

              Computers Are Not Printing Equipment

              Toronto: 1974

 

 

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

2003-present  * Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem

2003-present  * Canadian Society for Yad Vashem

1989-1994       * Baycrest Home for the Aged (Volunteer)

1963-1991       * Community Volunteer (100 hours/year)

1978-present  * Jewish National Fund (Toronto)

1978-1979       * President: L.M.O.L. Lodge, B’nai Brith

1960-1970       * Founder/President:

                           Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Ontario

 

 

AWARDS:

2005    *Winner: International BookAdz Award for An Eye For An Eye

2004    * Meritorious Award for Community Involvement

               by Jewish National Fund (Toronto)

2002    * Nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award

               by Crime Writers of Canada for the

               Best First Novel: The Unlikely Victims

1989    * Best Bulletin Contest (Canada): B’nai Brith

1985    * Best Bulletin Contest (Canada): B’nai Brith

1980    * Man of the Year: L.M.O.L. B’nai Brith

1978    * Dare to be Profitable Contest

               (International Typographic Association)

1977    * Dare to be Profitable Contest

               (International Typographic Association)

1976    * Dare to be Profitable Contest

               (International Typographic Association)

               First Canadian to win the Award/

               First person to ever win it three years in a row

1975    * Award of Merit: B’nai Brith

1973    * Best Bulletin Contest: International B’nai Brith

1967    * Man of the Year: Grand Order of Israel

1958    * Designed books that won awards when a linotype operator

 

 

SPEAKING SUBJECTS:

            * Stories from the Holocaust

            * The Writing Craft

            * Yiddishkite in Fiction

            * Alzheimer’s Disease Can Be Painful

            * Coping With Your Aging Parent

            * How Long Can You Live Alone?

            * Homes for the Aged

            * Endowment Story

            * Frauds and Forgeries in the Art World

            * Don’t Die . . . Diversify

            * Recycle Your Garbage for Profit

            * Educate Your Clients

            * One Stop Shop: It Can Be Done