Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

Send us Fan Mail Picture this: you're cozied up in your favorite reading nook with a warm cup of tea in hand, excitedly turning the pages of a riveting new book - Flower in the River . But wait, what if you could enjoy this literary escapade without having to turn a single page? Yes, that's right, the book is now available as an audiobook! On that note, we'll share some behind-the-s...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the past and peek behind the lens with legendary photographer Jun Fujita - join me as I continue my captivating conversation with Fujita's great-nephew, Graham Lee. We'll hear insider stories about Fujita's unique photographic style and his creative partnership with his wife Florence Carr Fujita.  (In case you missed it, please listen to Part 1 of our conv...

Send us Fan Mail Exploring my family's history has been an extraordinary adventure, but it's bittersweet. I'm haunted by the Eastland Disaster, especially since all who were there are now gone. There is one individual who I have always wanted to meet —Jun Fujita, the courageous photographer who fearlessly captured the essence of that fateful day, July 24, 1915. But fate has a way of...

Send us Fan Mail History is not just facts and events. History is also a pain in the heart and its soul. If we tell that story with an open heart, we can leave an amazing legacy for future generations. - Ken Burns Lots of Eastland Disaster news this week! We're taking a little detour from Flower in the River this week to view t he Eastland Disaster through some fascinating lenses. A Tip of th...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a thrilling ride through time, exploring how the ghosts of our pasts shape our futures. Even regrets can be useful if you know how to work with them!  Episode 21 introduces Chapter 5. Living in the Past. Join Zara and brand-new character E lly DeAngelo as Zara excavates long-buried regrets and revisits forgotten memories. Unravel the impact of past experiences on pre...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how the tragedies of the past can shape the inspiration of the present? Join me on an emotional journey through my family history in Trading Places, Trading Fates (Episode 20), where I delve into the haunting tale of the Eastland Disaster that forever marked my lineage. As an author and family historian, I continue to share my personal rumination on how this historic...

Send us Fan Mail Note: this is a special episode commemorating the 108th Anniversary of The Eastland Disaster (July 24, 1915). Can you imagine the excitement of a 19-year-old embarking on what is supposed to be a fun-filled journey, only to have it end in one of the most disastrous maritime incidents in history? Episode 19 of Flower in the River podcast is the personal account of my family's...

Send us Fan Mail This episode introduces the “original storyteller,” my aunt, Pearl Donovan Cerny. Have you ever wondered how the ripples of a historical event shape the lives of those who follow? Imagine the Eastland Disaster of 1915, one of the deadliest incidents in Chicago’s history, and the trajectory it set for my family. Pearl’s family history document--which introduced me to the Eastland D...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever been seized by the uncanny sensation of déjà vu? That's today's topic on Flower in the River Podcast, Episode 17,  Deja Vu and Genetic Recollections. Your host, Natalie Zett, embarks on a personal journey tracing back to an unassuming road trip and a mysterious manuscript that drew connections far beyond the realm of the ordinary. Echoing the words of Frenc...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine finding yourself at an unexpected fork in the road, faced with a revelation that could change everything - your perception of yourself, your family, your history. Zara continues grappling with her family's tragic past, her ensuing spiritual journey--and the scars of the Eastland disaster.  Zara eventually discovered there was  power in creating meaning from the traged...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating through her tumultuous family life, Zara grounds herself in the sanctuary of her church. Simultaneously, in Episode 15 of  Flower in the River podcast, Zara's enchantment with her mysterious Aunt Magda continues to thrive. At first glance, her religious devotion and fascination with Aunt Magda, who is emblematic of magic, might appear contradictory. But is the cont...

Send us Fan Mail Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide. Take care of yourself if you choose not to listen. Welcome to Episode 14 of Flower in the River! From childhood to adolescence, we possess unique wisdom that often fades with age. But fear not! In this episode, we uncover the truth that this wisdom is not lost forever. Highlights: Recap: We're taking a break from Aunt Magda&apo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 13 of Flower in the River . This episode focuses on Aunt Magda as she continues sharing insights and guidance with Zara—while trying to give Zara space to make her own discoveries. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: Aunt Magda’s Principles & Personality : Magda, a powerful  clairvoyant, balances providing guidance without fostering dependence. She encou...

Send us Fan Mail “ You’ll always have more to fear from the living than the dead .” Magda Vrabel Velgyak. Welcome back to Flower in the River podcast, Episode 12. Get ready to tiptoe deeper into the bewitching wilderness of the supernatural on this week’s episode. We’ll learn about a place where traditions come wrapped in the cloak of magic, and the air is laced with the allure of mystic herbs. Th...

Send us Fan Mail Deep Dive into the Unknown Welcome to Episode 11! After 10 episodes, we're finally diving into the supernatural and paranormal elements of Flower in the River .  You’ll soon see why it’s better to slow-drip certain bits and pieces into these episodes. Too much, too soon would give you a psychic hangover and we don’t want that.  A Haunting Connection Our main character, Zara,...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the magic of synchronicity and ancestral ties in Episode 10 of Flower in the River podcast "Synced & Serendipitous"!  Some EXCITING News: The Eastland Disaster Historical Society (EDHS) began  promoting Flower in the River .  The feeling of excitement and honor is palpable on this end, considering the deep-rooted history shared between EDHS and me. Thank yo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 9 : Melancholy Manor - Tales from the Lavish Abyss Trigger Warning: Addiction, Violence, Accidental Death, and Suicide In this episode, I will discuss various topics that may trigger or be sensitive to some listeners. If you find these topics triggering, PLEASE SKIP THIS EPISODE and take care of yourself, OK? Episode 9 dives deeper into the story of "Annie's Gran...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 8 explores "Annie's Granddaughter" (Part 2), and delves deeper into the narrative of the protagonist, Zara Vrabel, as she finds herself confronted by her own personal history while trying to unravel the enigmatic past of the lost branches of her family tree.  Zara grapples with her bewildering familial background--and the Eastland Disaster. While doing this,...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this special mini-episode of the podcast, where I want to recognize the incredible work of Miblart, a book cover (and more) design company based in Ukraine. Miblart created the cover for my book, Flower in the River, and they did so in the midst of the horrific invasion of their country. Despite the danger and uncertainty, the team at Miblart worked tirelessly to create...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 6, Annie's Granddaughter (part 1), opens in 1997-- this is 82 years after the Eastland Disaster of 1915. When we meet the protagonist, Zara Vrabel, she is asleep--literally and figuratively. Since a career as a professional somnambulist wasn't viable, she staggered through each day. However, she's about to get an epic wake-up call when she learns of her fami...

Send us Fan Mail This episode spotlights two small towns you probably have never heard of (1) Sycyna, Poland, and (2) Fall Creek, Wisconsin. These locations are featured in Flower in the River ( and Fall Creek is called Falling Brook). Sycyna, Poland , was home to my great-grandmother, Bertha. She was in the middle of a love triangle, an arranged marriage, and an ex who just couldn’t quit her and...

Send us Fan Mail "The Pfeiffer children heard it first from neighbors who heard it from other neighbors who heard the Newsies screaming in the streets. What they heard was some version of this story, picnic ship capsized in the river with people aboard!" Chapter 1. A Family Tale Untold. Flower in the River. Natalie Zett This episode includes two passages from A Family Tale Untold , which...

Send us Fan Mail We can't discuss the Eastland Disaster of 1915 without introducing Western Electric --the company that sponsored the ill-fated employee picnic where 844 were killed in the Chicago River.  Western Electric's impact on Chicago was immense during its prime. From providing employment opportunities to stimulating the economy, Western Electric significantly impacted the region...

Send us Fan Mail "Stories may remain untold, but they are hardly lost, only misplaced for a time. The blood travels like a river through the body, and it remembers, it always remembers." -- Flower in the River, Chapter 1, A Family Tale Untold.    This episode opens on the worst day of my maternal grandmother's life--the day of The Eastland Disaster. The day  when her nineteen-year-o...

Send us Fan Mail Hello there! This podcast, or maybe "book-cast," centers around my book, Flower in the River, which opens with the Eastland Disaster of 1915 (in Chicago), where 844 perished. The book describes how losing a relative during that tragedy affected my family for generations. Although it's historical fiction, it's based on the actual events and the real people who p...