Artist John Kiss, known for work on canvas, is now venturing into the crowded field of debut novelists, where the question isn’t just whether an artist can write, but whether they should.
First a peace-promoting graffiti artist, then a pseudo–naive painter taking aim at global galleries with art, and now a debut novelist recounting Holocaust survivor stories, Kiss is, as the cliché goes, a jack of all trades. Kiss’ artworks have traveled the world, generating attention for their cultural significance. The 27 Club graffiti and The Peace Kids mural have earned Kiss spots in galleries worldwide. However, recently Kiss revisited an old hobby, playing with a pen and paper: “I wrote from a very young age,” says Kiss. “Some of the most fulfilling moments of my early life in elementary school were when I read out loud the stories I wrote to my classmates. A commitment to peace activism has long driven Kiss. Determined to deliver the message, the new author is willing to use whatever means will resonate and recognizes the historical power of the written word. Yet, skepticism about Kiss’ interdisciplinary skills lingers in both fields. Many are doubtful that Kiss can create the same impact using writing instead of art. Kiss believes that creativity will always find a way, no matter the art form.
“I think they can coexist. A creative person can be interdisciplinary. When I couldn’t convey my message through art as I had hoped, I found myself drawn back to writing, even though that wasn’t my original intention. I hold literature dearly, and now I want to take that love seriously, telling important stories.”
Kiss is in the process of releasing a debut novel, Under the Floorboards. It recounts the story of Dr. Felix Zandman, a young Jewish boy who lived through WWII. The story is set in Nazi-occupied Poland and recounts what it took Zandman to survive the war, taking to hiding in the floorboards of a Christian woman’s home. The book draws directly from Dr. Zandman’s experiences and firsthand accounts.
“The story of Dr. Felix Zandman surviving WWII, hidden under the floorboards of an amazing Christian lady, moved me. The moment my father introduced me to this story, I knew I had to tell it.”
Retelling a true story has its advantages, freeing the author from the challenge of inventing believable plots and realistic characters. However, it also carries a weight of its own. Kiss is committed to faithfully representing Dr. Felix Zandman’s life, which undeniably requires thorough research. The first step toward it, as Kiss believes, is uncovering lesser-known information.
“My writing process began with extensive research, as my novel is based on a true story. For this Holocaust narrative, I studied sources like the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Israel, which maintains files on every ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’ those who saved Jews during the Holocaust.”
Kiss’ research did not stop there. “I was fortunate to connect with Ruta Zandman, Dr. Zandman’s wife, who was instrumental in helping me tell this story. Her assistance was invaluable in clarifying some of my doubts and setting the record straight. She appears as a character in the novel. She had been there for him as he began to open up and share the trauma of his harrowing survival story. She even encouraged him to write and publish his biography, ‘Never the Last Journey.’ Her assistance in releasing his post-traumatic stress made her an invaluable part of his life.” However, Kiss’s dedication to staying true to historical events is challenged when portraying real-life individuals.
“When writing a character, I immerse myself in their experience and gauge my own physical reactions—whether it’s tears, anxiety, or physical stress. These responses guide me, helping me know I’m on the right track. I trust these subtle cues to lead me in my writing.” For a story to resonate deeply, it must be impactful. Kiss aims to convey this impact to readers by spending months immersed in the struggles that define real-life heroes. However, after spending so much time delving into trauma, Kiss believes this novel will leave a lasting impact on the author as well.
“I’ve been working on this novel on and off for a decade. I recall typing and crying over the first draft. Tears were all over my keyboard. What haunts me most about the story isn’t the violence or horrors, but the trauma—the protagonist’s struggle to open up to love and reveal his true self to his family. It’s especially poignant when his wife reaches out to pull him from his loneliness,” says Kiss.
Source: Kyu Oh
Kiss is no stranger to trauma. “Having grown up in Israel during the First Gulf War, I understand trauma firsthand, as do many of my friends. This novel has been a personal healing journey for me, and I hope it offers solace to others dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.” Kiss goes on to share that this book aims to make people think about social justice and hopes to challenge people’s views on the topic. “If this story can give others the bravery I didn’t have, it will have succeeded.” Will this novel mark a brand new chapter for the artist, or a leap too far into the unknown? Only time, and readers, will tell.
Source: Amazon
For centuries, history has swept women’s contributions under the rug and relegated them to the background of major events. The narrative, as seen in the most popular World War II movies like Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List, primarily focuses on male heroes. However, recent works of historical fiction are beginning to rectify this imbalance by exposing how women played powerful roles during pivotal moments in history only to be cloaked in shades of invisibility. Some authors behind the unveiling are Catherine Hokin, John Kiss and Laura Spence-Ash, who are reimagining the past and giving voice to the unsung women whose courage, strength, and sacrifices shaped the course of history.
During World War II, women stepped into male-dominated fields and roles, from working in factories to serving in the military. They welded, nursed, drove ambulances, and helped with the war effort in ways beyond what societies know and appreciate. Many women found themselves working in industries they had never imagined entering, all while carrying the ruins of war. These writers probe into how their crucial contributions ended up being frequently sidelined, and their stories ignored in favor of their male counterparts. Nevertheless, with society and literature evolving, the tide has been shifting. The strong female writers and their novels highlighted below are proving the power of contemporary historical fiction to bring women’s struggles and triumphs to the forefront: Three releases, The Train That Took You Away by Catherine Hokin, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash, and Under the Floorboards by John Kiss. These novels open to our eyes, the windows into the powerful roles women have carried with nuance, subtlety, and humility through war and trauma.
Hokin’s The Train That Took You Away, follows a young woman, Esther Spielman. She is living in Berlin with her family as the Nazis rise to power. After her father and husband are killed, she makes the tough decision to send her son, Sascha, away for safety. After Esther watches her son leave, she is left with only a painting in her house to feel the semblance of her remaining loved one. The painting features herself and her son in their home, in an embrace. With a tug in her heart, she is determined to reunite with Sascha. The story follows Esther as she survives whatever the Holocaust throws upon her, just to hold her son one more time. So that he will still have a parent living and surrounding him, to perceive the bond of his roots once more.
Esther’s story is one of determination and resilience. In a time of great loss, Esther lets the feeling fuel her drive to find her son and be together again. Even after she herself is taken away from home, Esther never sways from her tracks. Instead of submitting to the loss, Esther clings to the family that she is left with. The only family that she could possibly save. Her drive pulses with bravery, resilience, and the need to survive, all done for the sake of the love of her family and of her roots.
Historical fiction can be much more diverse in how it portrays the strength of women. Debut author John Kiss fleshes out this side of this genre as she approaches this theme more subtly and derivatively in her novel Under the Floorboards. In the novel, women, though operating from the shadows, sculpt the lives of others through their quiet courage, and sacrifice. The novel is set in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II. It follows the harrowing story of a young Jewish boy who narrowly escapes the Grodno ghetto and finds refuge under the floorboards of a Christian maid’s home.
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