Mariette Goldberg was born in a refugee camp in Lausanne, Switzerland. She grew up in Paris and emigrated to the United States with her parents at the age of 13. Later, she studied comparative literature and taught college French and linguistics, while raising three lovely boys. She and her husband Edward (Eddie) are the proud grandparents of four perfect grandchildren, three best-behaved grand-puppies and one most personable turtle.

This book represents the culmination of a lifelong passion: to tell Mariette's mother's incredible story. A consummate listener, the author was raised by an equally consummate storyteller whose story had to reach a wider audience.

Mariette is currently working on a second book - a novel based on one of the characters in 'Mameleh'.