The Soldier, the Avatar, and the Holocaust: WWII Germany, Jan.-May, 1945

Did the Holocaust really happen? Seventeen-year old computer nerd Beth needs to know, so in 2017 she becomes her own avatar and time-travels back to 1945 to accompany her 19 year-old great-grandfather Sandy through the last five months of WWII. Along the way, she joins with two other teen time-travelers to meet three young German girls who share their stories of survival of the various armies that invaded their town. She goes to 1945 Ohio to meet her 18 year-old great-grandmother who waits for her young soldier to come home, then returns to Sandy and his 42nd Rainbow Division for the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. As a result, Beth discovers both the insidiousness of hate and the power of love.Ronni Sanlo, writer and retired UCLA professor, tells the story of the last five months of WWII through the actual letters her father, Sanford ＂Sandy＂ Lebman wrote to her mother, but from the point of view of a 17 year-old girl from 2017. The book is historical in that much of the story is true according to Dr. Sanlo’s extensive research. The part about the avatar, of course, is not. But could it have happened

Dr. Ronni Sanlo is the author of The Soldier, the Avatar, and the Holocaust and The Purple Golf Cart: The Misadventures of a Lesbian Grandma as well as many academic publications. She is the Director Emeritus of the UCLA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center (LGBT) Center and a frequent keynote speaker and consultant.. Now retired, Dr. Sanlo was the Senior Associate Dean of Students and professor/director of the UCLA Masters of Education in Student Affairs and on the higher education faculty at California State University Fullerton. Prior to her tenure at UCLA, Ronni directed the University of Michigan LGBT Center, and was an HIV/AIDS epidemiologist in Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, and a masters and doctorate in education from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Her consultation, research, and many publications focus on sexual orientation issues in education and higher education. Dr. Sanlo is the founding chair of the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals, and is the originator of the award-winning Lavender Graduation, a commencement event that celebrates the lives and achievements of graduating LGBT college students. She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, and grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida. She attended Temple Beth Torah. Ronni continues to research and write, focusing primarily on LGBT history which is the foundation for the award-winning 2014 documentary Letter to Anita. When Ronni isn’t playing passionate but rotten golf, she is writing, kayaking, traveling, or just having fun in general. She lives with her partner, Dr. Kelly Watson, in Palm Springs, CA and Sequim, WA. Contact Ronni for book signings, speaking engagements, and discussion at ronni@ronnisanlo.com.