ANCA, Genocide education project help bring Armenian writer’s masterpiece to congress

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Genocide Education Project (GenEd) have teamed up with internationally renowned publisher Doubleday Books to spotlight New York Times Bestselling author Chris Bohjalian’s upcoming novel on the Armenian Genocide on Capitol Hill and in communities across the United States.

Bohjalian’s widely anticipated tour-de-force, The Sandcastle Girls, which goes on sale on July 17^th, will take center stage beginning with a special Southern California kick-off luncheon with the author at the Universal Sheraton Hotel, hosted by the ANCA Grassroots Film and the Arts Committee and GenEd, followed by an evening presentation held at Woodbury University Fletcher Jones Auditorium.

 According to a press release by ANCA, Bohjalian will then be traveling to events in San Francisco, CA; Watertown, MA; Warwick, RI; New Milford, NJ and Washington, DC, where his Capitol Hill debut is co-hosted by Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsors, Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Bohjalian will be meeting with Congressional members throughout the day on August 1st and then offering remarks and signing books beginning at 6:00pm at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369.

Armenian Americans and interested readers are encouraged to pre-order The Sandcastle Girls online at discounted prices from the following sites or from their local book sellers.

“Bohjalian’s The Sandcastle Girls certainly belongs in every Armenian’s book collection, but more broadly, its powerful depictions of the horrors of genocide makes it a must-read for every American,” said Nora Yacoubian, Chair of the ANCA-WR Film and the Arts Committee. “Through vivid characters and a moving story line, the collective Armenian genocidal experience is presented in a way that touches us all.”

Genocide Education Project Chairman Raffi Momjian concurred, noting, “Bohjalian’s The Sandcastle Girls is a powerful educational tool to help readers – young and old – relate to a topic so abhorrent to us all, but so necessary to understand if we are to prevent future such crimes. Through Chris’ vision and story-telling ability – a whole new audience will learn about this tragedy and will, hopefully, be inspired to ensure the victims and the survivors are never forgotten.”