About Sheila Bali
Sheila Bali, historical fiction writer, is soon to complete her novel, Swans and Cranes, based on a family’s escape from the iron grip of post–WW II Russia during the turbulent 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The book focuses on a young girl’s experiences as her family’s world is uprooted, forcing them to flee their home and country to save their lives. Sheila holds a Fine Arts Degree from Concordia University, plus two graduate degrees from McGill University in art education and special education. She now lives in San Francisco Bay Area of California and paints with colorful words. Sheila is a member of CWC Tri-Valley Branch.
Érd, Part 3 Now, with the help of the woman at the census bureau, I had an address for my cousin, but no way of finding a taxi. Taxis in this city had no identifying markers, no black or white … Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized
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Tagged Erd, Hungary
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City of Érd, Part 2 Please read Érd Part 1 first at http://sheilabali.com/wordpress/?p=323 How does one find a cousin in a foreign land? On that crisp, cold, sunny day, my husband and I headed for Érd’s information center. Unfortunately, a … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories of my trips to Hungary
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Tagged birth dates, census bureau, Cousin, death dates, Dvořák, Erd, Hungarian, Hungary, long lost relatives, relatives, train
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The City of Érd, Part I After Vienna and Sopron, I had one final destination before our trip to Hungary came to an end—the city of Érd, a word derived from “forest,” where cavemen once lived. By mid-morning, my husband … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories of my trips to Hungary
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Tagged cavemen, Cousin, Dvořák, Erd, forest, Hungary, János, long lost relatives, old world villages, train, train station
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Has Anyone Seen Cary Grant Naked? The air in Vienna was sweet with the delicate perfume of pastries. My husband stood at the door of a quaint Viennese café while customers came and went and I pressed my face into … Continue reading →
In Sopron, my husband and I spent half a day visiting ancient ruins and the many colorful ethnic shops. Later, we figured we would drive into Vienna to sample its famous strudel, for Austria is renowned for its pastries. The … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories of my trips to Hungary
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Tagged ancient ruins, Austria, Beethoven, borders., cable car, cobbled stone streets, Motzart, music, Orson Wells, Red Cross, Sopron, Strauss, Vienna
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Revisiting the City of Sopron The city of Sopron had beckoned me to return for a visit. It plays a vital part in my novel, but my mental pictures of it had waned, or were full of inaccuracies. Being close … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories of my trips to Hungary
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Tagged 1956., autoban, autoban from Budapest to Sopron, Christmas, Hungary, landmarks, New years, November 1956, Sopron, Vienna, Western Hungary
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How History Leads to Historical Fiction I write historical fiction, and I’m quick to admit that I’m not a historian. I just love to write about the past. Flip open the pages of a historical novel and you are thrown … Continue reading →
Posted in My writing experiences
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Tagged 1956 Hungarian Revolution, coal mines, Histiric fiction, historical distortion, History, history archives, Irish potato famine, novels, Reading History, story telling, storytellers, Treaty of Versailles, volumes of history, Whales
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Katona József Theatre Katona (Soldier) József Theatre, a splendid construction in neo-baroque style, designed by two renowned Viennese architects at the turn of the nineteenth century, is near the center of Kecskemét. I was anxious to check out its sumptuous … Continue reading →
Kecskemét City Hall It had taken us over an hour to drive from Budapest to Kecskemét, and by the time we arrived the sky was cloaked in darkness. I had things to do and see. My cousin—my generous escort—suggested we … Continue reading →
The Story of Kecskemét This week I want to share with you my stop in Kecskemét, the eighth largest city in Hungary, situated almost dead-center in the country and surrounded by a great plain. My father’s military base was located … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories of my trips to Hungary
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Tagged colonel, Danube, father, goat, Kecskemet, Kecskemet city, lieutenant, market place., militray base, Renaissance buildings in Kecskemet, Shattered Tears, Tisza River
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