Dream develops into author's first novel

Leslie Throneberry of Wartrace examines the first copy of her book, 'Tattered Star,' about a young Jewish woman surviving World War II in Berlin. She will sign copies from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hastings in Tullahoma. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

For more than 10 years, one particularly vivid nightmare has been haunting the dreams of Leslie Throneberry. The Shelbyville Central High graduate, who now teaches at the Child Development Center in Shelbyville, recalls being chased, and having to walk endless miles to escape.

"You know how you have a bad dream and you can't wake up -- or you wake up in a cold sweat?" she asked. "One night, I had a very clear vision and had to write it down."

The dream evolved into "tattered Star," her first novel. The story, like Leslie's dreams, is haunting. Nadiyah, the main character, is a Jewish teenager living near Berlin in 1939. While most of her family is sent to concentration camps, because of her unique beauty, she is sent to be a prostitute for the Nazi soldiers.

"It is an adult book," said Leslie. "It is purely adult fiction."

Because of the subject matter, some people may find the content graphic, both in matters of sex and violence, but it reflects the true horrors and injustices of a horrific and unjust regime.

Although the book is rough in places with some of the earmarks of a first novelist, the basic story line is strong and its theme is stronger -- even in the darkest hours, in the most degrading moments, we can find hope and we can survive.

The book is published by Publish America, which assists Leslie in cover design, distribution, and marketing. Although the company uses publish-on-demand technology, it states that it is more like a traditional publisher in its business model. One of the things it does for its authors is arrange book signings.

"I'll be at Hastings (in Tullahoma) Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.," said Leslie.

The company also gets her book listed online, including Amazon.com, where she has already sold several copies. She'll have another signing sometime in January at the Hastings in Murfreesboro and a second book coming out about the same time.

The second book, "Hindered Secrets," is about a young Tennessee woman who goes to college in Atlanta and finds herself in a bad relationship. She takes her children and returns home, trying to escape. Although it isn't autobiographical, Leslie has drawn on her own experiences for it. She attended an art school in Atlanta before getting her associates degree in education at Motlow and her bachelor's at MTSU.

She has two children, Taylor, 11, and Maddie, 5, and a husband, Thomas.

"He hasn't read my books," Leslie said, laughing.

Writing "tattered Star" went quickly for Leslie, She submitted it to the publisher in May and the first book was ready in June. The writing was also therapeutic.

"I've always had these dreams about being a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany," she said. "A lot of people talk about former lives … you never know."

But Leslie does know one thing.

"Since I wrote the book, I haven't had the dream."