Author Deborah Levison On The Main Empowering Lessons She Wants Readers To Take Away From Her Writing

Unfortunately, the themes of THE CRATE are relevant today: of hatred and intolerance and racism. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens in a society when hate is allowed to fester. About what can happen if we aren’t vigilant in combating it. How violence is like a pebble thrown into a pond that sends out ripples for generations. It is a story of legacy, of families coping with loss, of inheriting grief and pain “like unwanted family heirlooms.” In the book the “crate” is both literal and metaphorical. Yes, there was an actual crate — and metaphorically, we lifted its lid and all these terrible memories emerged.

As part of my interview series on the five things you need to know to become a great author, I had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah Levison.

Deborah Levison’s debut book, THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice, is a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust and is the winner of seven literary awards.

New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child called it “impressive and important” and James Rollins said it was a “gut punch with such harrowing moments that you have to stop and take a breath… treat yourself to this journey and be transformed.”

Reviewers have called THE CRATE “gorgeous and poetic,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a brilliant story,” while The Jerusalem Post wrote: “exquisite.”

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path?

When I was little, I spent countless rainy days roaming the dusty stacks of my local village library. Up there, in the northern woods of Canada, my best “friends” were Anne Shirley and Nancy Drew, Miss Osborne, the Pevensie children, Heidi and Sooner and Ramona. All their magical adventures swept me away; I…