Danna Horwood’s Debut Book Launch: A Living Reflection of My Dearest Children & the Magical Transformation of Our Learning Centre

Photo by Donna Waxman Photography. Scroll down for full album.

Three years ago, almost to the day, the Margaret’s Legacy Holocaust Learning and Jewish Advocacy Centre officially opened its doors at the newly renovated Hamilton JCC. It was a deeply heartfelt moment watching Tommy a'h and Sasha Weisz stand alongside their daughter Danna as they hung the mezuzah on the doorpost of the entryway. 

Last night, that same space became the setting for another deeply meaningful milestone in the Weisz family’s story. Guests stepping into the Learning Centre were shocked at the complete transformation of the sleek and modern museum space into a living reflection of Danna Horwood’s new book, My Dearest Children. 

Inspired by the aesthetic of the original book cover design, every detail of the evening had been thoughtfully curated by the talented Benjamin Baranas who surpassed the goal of creating a warm, nostalgic, elegant, reflective and deeply intimate experience. Together with Frank Moore who helped set the tone with lighting and music, Benjamin designed a cozy, inviting space that provided guests with a surprising escape from the real world for a few magical hours. 

Margaret’s Legacy bookmarks cascaded from the ceiling like a wisteria-draped, late-19th-century facade of a romantic European boutique bookstore. The ivy-covered champagne wall echoed the sentiment and feelings of being transported to a hidden gem tucked away on a historic cobblestone street. A picturesque blend of the old-world combined with modern luxury. 

Worn leather tufted seating, wrought-iron, metal and glass accent tables, plentiful greenery, glowing antique library-style lamps and ornate frames with meaningful epigraph quotes from the book, contributed to the undeniably whimsical atmosphere. It all quietly invited guests into Danna’s inner world of inspiration. 

My Dearest Children was integrated into the decor itself, with minimalistic displays of three or four books perched on coffee tables, rather than at a large folding table at the front of the room cluttered with mass-market stacks of books one might see at a typical book launch. 

Waiters circulated through the crowd carrying trays of beautifully crafted hors d'oeuvres. Cocktails at the bar were inspired by beloved family favorites, including Tommy’s signature dirty martini.

But the heart of the evening was not the décor. It was the people.

Friends and family filled the space with overwhelming warmth, encouragement, and pride. ARC readers spoke emotionally about the impact the book had already had on them, with one sharing that they had read it twice in a single month because they simply could not stop thinking about it.

One close friend flew in from New York City just for the launch, carrying her advance copy in hand to have it signed personally by Danna.

David, Sari, Mitchell, Jamie, and Danna’s mother Sasha stood alongside her throughout the evening, beaming with pride as guests embraced, laughed, cried, reminisced, and celebrated together. Messages from across the globe poured in throughout the night from loved ones unable to attend, all eagerly awaiting photos and videos and expressing serious FOMO at missing such a meaningful evening.

What became so clear throughout the night was that My Dearest Children is already becoming more than a memoir. It is becoming a conversation. A bridge between generations. A reminder to tell our stories while we still can. To consider the legacy we want to leave to the next generation and live life with intention in order to carry it forward.

Ways to Get Involved!

For those who asked how to support the book as it launches into the world, here are some very practical ways:

• Add My Dearest Children to your Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf and leave a review once you’ve read it.
  

• Leave a review on Amazon. When you include a photo or video with your review it helps boost exposure. 
  

• Share the link to the book with friends who might really benefit from reading it!
  

• Consider sharing the book with your local book club! There is a list of discussion topics that can be downloaded here. Or better yet, invite Danna or one of her children to the book club meeting when you're discussing the book!
  

• Visit local bookstores and libraries and tell them about the book. We will gladly send refundable copies to your local bookstore to help them test the market. Many book stores are more excited to carry the book when they can promote a meet the author event. Danna would love to visit other cities for a book signing! 
  

• Join our mailing list (at the bottom of the website) so you can find out about upcoming writing workshops, new blog posts and exciting new projects we can’t wait to share more about in the coming months. 
  

These small actions make an enormous difference in helping powerful stories reach new readers who may deeply benefit from them.