On February 22, the AFSD welcomes three authors: Vanina Joulin-Batejat, Claude Koehl, and Kitty Morse, whose diverse backgrounds and literary styles promise a rich and engaging experience for attendees. The event will be animated by Daria Samokhina, our book club coordinator. Program: 2 p.m.: Q&A session animated by Daria Samokhina 3 p.m.: book signing and meet the authors Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to attend. Free for members, $5 donation for non members to support our association. The event can be attended with minors. They remain under the responsibility of the parents at all times. Address: 6390 Greenwich Dr, #185, San Diego, CA 92122 More about the authors - Vanina Joulin-Batejat brings her expertise as an international consultant and Executive Coach to her first novel “A la Recherche du Sens Perdu”, blending personal experiences and her experiences in intercultural business development with her passion for storytelling. Vanina explores universal themes with great sensitivity, while offering a hard-hitting reflection on the human condition and contemporary challenges. Through these interwoven narratives, the novel offers a veritable autopsy of our societies, questioning notions of resilience, identity and the quest for meaning. Her work reflects her deep understanding of human connections and cultural dynamics. - Claude Koehl, a trailblazer in intercultural communication, will discuss her book The American Way of Life: The Foreigners’ Perspective. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Claude founded Intercultural Services in 1994 to enhance cross-cultural leadership and communication skills, aiding global employees in navigating cultural differences and adapting to new environments. Her book reflects her personal journey and professional insights, offering a unique perspective on life in a new country. With a Master’s in Social Psychology and degrees in Teaching, Health Promotion, and Organizational Development, Claude is fluent in English, French, German, and Italian, and continues to perfect her Spanish. - Kitty Morse, an award-winning author born in Casablanca, Morocco, intertwines personal history and culinary heritage in Bitter Sweet: A Wartime Journal and Heirloom Recipes from Occupied France. Inspired by family documents discovered after her mother’s passing in 2017, the memoir delves into her great-grandfather’s journal detailing the German advance in Le Grand Est (Alsace/Lorraine) in 1940, and her great-grandmother’s notebooks containing 65 heirloom recipes. The story unfolds in Nancy and "Châlons-en-Champagne," blending the cuisine bourgeoise of her Ashkenazi ancestors with poignant family history. Kitty’s maternal great-grandmother, Blanche Lévy-Neymarck, perished in Auschwitz, leaving a legacy of resilience, memory, and culinary artistry. More about Daria Samokhina Daria graduated in French literature at Notre Dame (MA) and Stanford (Ph.D.). In 2008, she moved to San Diego, where she currently lives, sharing her love for French language, culture, and literature with her students, family, and friends. Visit: https://www.afsandiego.org/events-1/rencontre-dauteurs-et-dedicaces-2 Alliance Francais San Diego on Instagram and Facebook
