Near the Danube Bridge wins top Book Excellence Award

Catherine Allen-Walters and Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo’s historical biography Near the Danube Bridge won a top prize in the Book Excellence Awards, standing out from thousands of submissions. The book centers on Kalman Hartig’s survival under communist rule in postwar Yugoslavia and is now available online.

Why it matters: - Near the Danube Bridge turned a family account of persecution, faith and survival into an award-winning historical biography. - The Book Excellence Awards recognized the book for writing, design and overall appeal, which can widen its reach with readers, reviewers and booksellers. - The story adds a little-known perspective on postwar Yugoslavia, religious persecution and the cost of defending personal beliefs.

What happened: - Catherine Allen-Walters and Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo co-created Near the Danube Bridge. - The book won a top prize in the Book Excellence Awards, which drew thousands of submissions. - The biography tells the story of Kalman Hartig, a Seventh-day Adventist and conscientious objector in postwar Yugoslavia. - The book is framed as a firsthand account of faith, persecution and survival under communist rule.

The details: - Kalman Hartig was born into a prosperous family in Yugoslavia and expected a future shaped by music and opportunity. - War and communist rule forced him to choose between his beliefs and compliance with the state. - He refused to abandon his convictions and was imprisoned, beaten and sentenced to hard labor. - The book says Hartig found strength through faith and the music that shaped his life as a violinist. - Hartig and his wife, Minka, later made a dangerous journey across divided Europe while searching for a freer future. - Catherine Allen-Walters is a professional violinist with a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s in humanities. - Allen-Walters’ study of religion, history, literature and world cultures shaped the book’s narrative approach. - Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo was born in Serbia and raised in Germany. - Lentulo is a licensed realtor and performs as a vocalist with the Bonner Singers and the Fallbrook Chorale. - Lentulo said the project began with a promise to share her father’s story after his death. - She said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 made the family history feel newly relevant. - Lentulo said she interviewed family members, reviewed personal correspondence and revisited letters Hartig wrote from labor camps. - Lentulo said Allen-Walters helped turn those materials into a historical narrative and wove musical themes through the book. - Book Excellence described the book as “a compelling and deeply moving testament to faith, perseverance, and the enduring strength of family.” - Kirkus Reviews called it “a poignant story of survival, faith, and family.” - The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores. - Readers can buy the book on Amazon. - More information is available at the book’s website.

Between the lines: - The award positions the book for readers of inspirational true stories, World War II and postwar history, and persecution narratives. - The timing of the interview suggests the authors are using the award to expand the book’s visibility beyond a family memoir. - The Ukraine war reference gives the story present-day resonance by connecting past displacement to current conflict.

What's next: - Allen-Walters and Lentulo are expected to keep promoting the book through online sales and their website. - The added award recognition could help Near the Danube Bridge reach more readers in the historical biography and inspirational memoir markets. - The authors also direct readers to follow their work on Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram.