Out of the Transylvania Night

“I’d grown up in the land of Transylvania, homeland to Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, and worse, dictator Nicolae Ceausescu,” writes the author. “Under his rule, like vampires, we came to life after sundown, hiding our heirloom jewels and precious documents deep into the earth.” Fleeing to the US to rebuild her life, she discovers a startling truth about straddling two cultures and striking a balance between one’s dreams and the sacrifices that allow a sense of “home.”

“Aura’s courage shows the degree to which we are all willing to live lives centered on freedom, hope, and an authentic sense of self. Truly a love story!” —Nadia Comaneci, Olympic Champion

“A stunning account of erasing a past, but not an identity.” —Todd Greenfield, 20th Century Fox