The Children’s Literature – Panel Interview

How do we represent Africa as a multicultural, multifaceted continent to our readers? How do we embrace diversity in early readers for Africa’s kids? And how do we market our wonderful African stories to a Eurocentric world? In this Zoom discussion five experts explained how to open doors to the rest of the world and how to be proudly African in our offering.

In this Zoom discussion five experts explained how to open doors to the rest of the world and how to be proudly African in our offering.

By Caroline Kurtz|2023-04-04T17:31:03+00:00December 9, 2021|Interviews|

What Readers are Saying

” I pretty much inhaled this book. I read it fast because of the sustained tension in both the domestic and the professional sides of your life. And you present such a clear evocation of exactly what it was like to be in the scenes you describe–the vividness and specificity took my breath away! ”

Trudy Keheret-Ward, Private correspondence

“Today is Tomorrow” is indeed an incredible statement of hope for all who would like to see the light at the end of the tunnel in South Sudan.

Bishop Dr. Arkanjelo Wani Lemi, Chair of the Technical Committee for establishment of the Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Commission

“A lot of your memoir resonated with how I have interpreted my life between my two homes, how I have interacted with religion, and the place/value Ethiopia has in my present American life. ”

Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew, Fact checker for A Road Called Down on Both Sides

“Caroline Kurtz takes her readers on a journey from Oregon, to Maji, Ethiopia, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Pasadena, California and back to Ethiopia and America with beautiful description, emotional moments, and an enduring love for the people of Ethiopia.”

Janelle M., Amazon.com - Five Stars!

” Working side-by-side with (Caroline) in Sudan, I can say that the realities she describes with such sublime word pictures are all real. She is an artistic wordsmith, and it was my privilege to have her as my right arm at Wunlit where the people made their peace become real, mal mi chum-chum, sweet peace, for a time. ”

Bill Lowrey, Facilitator of Wunlit People-to-People peace conference

“This beautifully written book is a wonderful read. The story unlocks the power a place and its people can have in helping us become who we should be. I highly recommend this for anyone.”

Laurie Curtis, Amazon.com - Five Stars!

“If you ever dreamed of adventure thrust upon you at an early age, Caroline Kurtz will tell you all about what happens in this story full of lovely detail starting with her arrival at age five in Maji, Ethiopia with her missionary parents.”

Kathryn Gearheard, Amazon.com - Five Stars!

” I started to dread the end as I could not have enough of your reflections on several themes about our common experiences of belonging to both Ethiopia and the USA. ”

Dr. Woubeshet Ayenew, Fact checker for A Road Called Down on Both Sides

” I loved this memoir by Caroline Kurtz. It is a beautifully written account of growing up In two countries that are worlds apart, Ethiopia and the United States. For me, one of the best qualities of the story is that it is not sugar-coated. ”

Nancy McLain, Amazon.com - Five Stars!

Author & Speaker

Caroline Kurtz has been an avid reader and storyteller since childhood. She widened her verbal world by expanding into another language—Amharic—and into writing. Caroline is also a practiced preacher, speaker, and discussion leader. She is available to churches and book clubs in person or by Zoom. Learn more here.

Mailing Address

PO Box 17652
Portland, OR 97217

Get in Touch

Non-Profit E.D.

Caroline is the Executive Director of Maji Development Corporation (MDC). She works with community leaders (in Amharic over Skype-to-phone during Covid) to bring solar energy, clean water and women’s empowerment in Maji. MDC partners with an Ethiopian non-profit with a branch office in Maji. Visit MDC’s site here.