A Meaningful Season of Speaking, Storytelling, and Full‑Circle Moments

Summer has always been a time that reminds me to slow down, reconnect with what matters most, and take care of our health and spirit. As I’ve been doing the same, I’ve also continued the work that fuels me every day, and I’m grateful to share a few meaningful updates.

Over the past several months, I’ve been refining my brand and message as a Human Spirit Speaker. This direction feels right because it reflects the heart of my work. It’s about inspiring resilience, courage, and hope through the stories that shape us.

One of the highlights of this season has been the release of my new speaker reel. In my effort to attract opportunities to share my important messages from the stage, I’ve updated my homepage and YouTube channel to feature it more prominently, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet.

Another milestone is my upcoming presentation in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The official flyer and press release are now ready, and I’m honored to share them. This event holds special significance because of the historical themes I present and the connection to my parents’ extraordinary story as survivors of both the Holocaust and the Nagasaki atomic bomb.

I was deeply touched to learn that a few people in Florida are traveling to Los Alamos to hear me speak, combining it with visits to family in the area. Their support is a humbling gift. If you know anyone in the region who may wish to attend, feel free to share the flyer. You can also read the full press release for more details.

I’m also working on the final draft of my newest book, So I Married a Magician, and I want to extend my continued gratitude to those who have already supported this latest endeavor. This book is sure to bring smiles to many faces at a time when we need all the more reasons to smile. There’s still time to show your support and pre‑order your copy.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Wishing you strength, meaning, and moments of joy as we move through the rest of summer.

Warm regards, Roslyn Franken Human Spirit Speaker | Author | Resilience Expert Inspiring the Human Spirit. One Story at a Time. RoslynFranken.com

From Auschwitz and Nagasaki to Los Alamos: A Story Coming Full Circle

As we move into the heart of the holiday season, I’ve been reflecting on some of the moments that have meant the most to me this year. One of the most meaningful and unexpected moments happened recently during a visit to friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was one of those unforgettable experiences that remind me why I continue sharing my parents’ story of survival, love, and triumph.

These friends once worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the atomic bomb was developed. They were very excited to take my husband and me to the Bradbury Science Museum, the Lab’s official museum. The museum offers visitors a powerful look at the Lab’s beginnings during the Manhattan Project and how its work continues to support global security today.

As we stood in front of a life‑size replica of the Nagasaki bomb, I overheard two women discussing it. Without thinking, I turned to them and said, “You see this bomb here? It saved my father’s life.” Their jaws dropped.

I explained that while my father was a prisoner of war in Japan, my mother was fighting for her life in Auschwitz. Their eyes widened.

I told them I had written a book about my parents' amazing story called Meant to Be, and they asked how they could get a copy. I handed them my business card, thinking that would be the end of it. But it wasn’t.

They then asked if I was one of the speakers that night at the historic Fuller Lodge. Fuller Lodge is the 1928 log building that served as a central gathering place for scientists, families, and visiting personnel during the Manhattan Project, including Oppenheimer. The Manhattan Project was the secret wartime effort that brought scientists to Los Alamos to develop the first atomic bombs. I’d seen the film Oppenheimer, but had forgotten that several scenes were filmed at Fuller Lodge, which we were told was filled with camera crews during production. I had no idea there was a speaker series held there.

I stepped inside Fuller Lodge, imagining what an honor it would be to speak as part of their speaker series in the very place where Oppenheimer and the other scientists gathered who developed the bombs. Then, through a series of truly “meant to be” events, I was introduced to the Director of the Los Alamos Historical Society, which runs the Los Alamos History Museum as well as the speaker series. When he learned that I am the daughter of an atomic bomb survivor and a Holocaust survivor, he championed getting my book added to the museum’s gift shop, and getting me booked to speak there in September 2026.

Seeing Meant to Be on the shelf at Los Alamos was a profound, full‑circle moment. It honors my father’s side of my parents’ story in the very place where the bomb that saved his life was developed. And it allows me to continue sharing my parents’ extraordinary story with new audiences.

If your organization, community, or workplace is looking for a speaker who brings history to life through resilience, hope, and human connection, I’d be honored to share my parents’ story with your group. Feel free to reach out. I’d love to explore how we can create a meaningful experience together.

So I Married a Magician: Help Launch This Hilarious & Heartfelt Memoir of Magic, Mayhem & Mishaps

If you’ve heard me speak or read one of my previous books, you know I love sharing true stories that inspire people with hope and positivity.

Today, I’m inviting you into a new kind of adventure—one that’s a little more theatrical, a little more light-hearted, and a lot more magical.

ANNOUNCING...My new book is in the works!

It’s called So I Married a Magician: A Hilarious and Heartfelt Memoir of Magic, Mayhem, and Mishaps 

It’s the true story of life behind the curtains with Comedy Magician Elliott Smith—my husband, creative partner, and co-conspirator in the magic of life. Some of you may even know him or seen him perform.

In a world that can feel dark and overwhelming these days, this fun-filled memoir is my way of bringing light, love, and laughter to the world — and joy back into our hearts and conversations. As a cancer survivor turned author, speaker, and coach, I’m honored to share this story with you.

I’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to help bring this book to life, and I’d be honored if you’d take a look, share it, or support it in any way that feels right.

I first launched this campaign quietly with close family and friends, and now I’m expanding it to include you—my wider circle of readers, supporters, and kindred spirits. To those who’ve already supported the campaign, I thank you whole-heartedly for being among the first to support my mission to bring light, love and laughter to the world!

Your support helps me share this story faster — and reach those who need its light the most.

Watch the trailer and visit SoIMarriedAMagician.com.

Explore the campaign, learn how to contribute, and discover what you’ll receive in return:

Every contribution makes a difference, regardless of how big or small. I’m so grateful to welcome you into the growing community of supporters behind So I Married a Magician.

Thank you for being part of my journey. Your support—past and present—means the world. I can’t wait to share this new chapter with you.

With love and laughter,

Roslyn Franken

Award-winning Author, Speaker & Coach

Inspiring Hope & Positivity

www.RoslynFranken.com

https://www.facebook.com/roslynfrankenfanpage

From Surviving to Thriving: Celebrating 30 Years Cancer-Free with a Gift for Women Survivors

October 17, 2025 marks a powerful personal milestone: 30 years cancer-free since completing my final chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Diagnosed at 29 with a tumor in my neck, I endured nine months of grueling treatment and the emotional upheaval that followed.

It all started with a persistent pain and swelling in my neck that just wouldn’t go away. I knew something was wrong. An ultrasound revealed a tumor, and during the biopsy surgery to remove it, they discovered it was much larger and deeper than expected — so deep, in fact, that it was dangerously pressing against the main artery to my brain.

I still remember the following weeks of anxiously waiting on pins and needles for the results of the biopsy. And then the day came when the surgeon said to me three of the scariest words to come out of a doctor’s mouth — “You have cancer”. 

The fear and shock was immediate and overwhelming. What followed was months of physical pain and discomfort from the chemotherapy treatment with all its nasty side effects. But the hardest part wasn’t just the treatments — it was the emotional upheaval that came after.

People often talk about “getting back to normal,” but for cancer survivors, it’s not that simple. There’s no going back — only forward. 

It's not about getting back to normal, it's about finding your new normal and so you're left to redefine what your new normal looks like. You carry the fear of recurrence. You navigate a new relationship with your body, your health, and your future. And you ask yourself: How do I want to live now? How do I thrive with this second chance I’ve been given?

To mark this milestone, I’m sharing a complimentary guide I created for women cancer survivors. It’s filled with gentle strategies and insights to help you reconnect with your strength, restore your wellness, and rediscover joy.

Whether you or someone you love is newly out of treatment or years into survivorship, this guide is a meaningful first step.

And if the guide resonates with you, you’ll be invited to explore a self-paced online course I created for women cancer survivors, especially those navigating life after treatment while balancing professional and family responsibilities. It’s filled with tools for healing, health, hope, and empowerment.

I created it for women who want to go deeper — emotionally, spiritually, and practically — and who are ready to move from surviving to thriving, embracing life fully after cancer.

If this message is meaningful for you, please share it with others who could benefit.

With love and gratitude,

Roslyn

So excited to announce launch of "Meant to Be" eBook on Kobo

Ask and ye shall receive! When I speak at live and virtual events, I’m often asked if my book, Meant to Be, is available as an eBook. Until recently, it was only available on Amazon Kindle, but I’m excited to announce that due to popular demand, Meant to Be is now also available in digital format on Kobo!

Check it out today and enjoy reading my award-winning book on your preferred e-reader! 

Get the eBook on Kobo Now

I'd love to hear what you think of the book and what you liked best about it. If you like, you can even be one of the first to review it on Kobo 😊

Inspiring teens in the Netherlands with my parents’ story of love and hope after surviving horrors of WWII

I recently travelled to the Netherlands where I was invited to give a series of four school presentations to hundreds of students age 14 – 17 to tell the story of my parents’ remarkable survival, love and triumph over evil. I shared how my parents experienced and witnessed the worst of humanity first-hand during World War II and were able to still find love and joy in the aftermath despite the trauma of their past.

My mother, Sonja Pagrach, survived the concentration camps of Nazi Europe. First, she was taken at 15 to Camp Vught in the Netherlands, the only SS concentration camp outside Nazi Germany during the Second World War, where she was imprisoned for a year before being deported to Auschwitz. She faced death in the gas chambers three times and survived. My father, John Franken, was 18 and in the Dutch Navy Air Force when he was captured at sea by the Japanese to become a prisoner of war. He survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb.

With rising teen depression and suicide, teens need to hear this story, now more than ever. They need to know that you can go through terrible things in life, but you can still find love and joy in the aftermath.  My parents are incredible role models for all of us and especially for young people.

The presentation at Gymnasium Beekvliet school was covered by the media in the Brabant Dagblad DTV Niews television.

An important message for students I convey with this story is that at the end of the Second World War a global vow was taken by the United Nations that said 'never again'. These teens are the future, the next generation. They need to know that they can do things differently. They don't have to let things like this happen again and again. It all starts with them, and I want to teach them that they have the power of making their own choices in their thoughts, beliefs and actions.

I wrote an award-winning book about my parents’ story called Meant to Be: A True Story of Might, Miracles and Triumph of the Human Spirit.

"A daughter's moving tribute to her parents, full of heartbreak that leads to uplift"  - Kirkus Review

"A beautiful, moving book that will touch the heart" - NFAA Book Awards Program Review

My book is featured in the collections at the prestigious Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Museum of American Jewish Military History in Washington. It is also available for purchase on site at the museum store of  the Florida Holocaust Museum of St. Petersburgin Florida and the Camp Vught National Memorial in the Netherlands. It is also available on my website, Amazon and other major online book retailers.

The book is being made into a feature film currently in development.

For more information, visit me online at www.RoslynFranken.com

Launching THE A LIST Kindle eBook for healthy eating and positive living at a limited time discount price Feb 19 - 25

The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living, is a self-help book I wrote and first published back in 2006. As a proud cancer survivor who also overcame my food and weight issues, I am very proud of this book as it has helped thousands of others change their lives one bite at a time for a healthier body and happier life. After many requests, I have FINALLY published it as a Kindle eBook now available on Amazon.com for $7.99. If you buy the book between February 19 – 25, 2023, you can take advantage of the launch promo price at only $3.99.

Why and how did I come to writing this book? Here's the story...

When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at 29, I was in shock. How could I have cancer? I was only 29. I was full of plans and hopes and dreams for my future so battling cancer was not exactly part of the plan. The good news is that after 9 months of chemotherapy and keeping a positive attitude, I beat it. Yup, I beat my cancer and 27 years later, I remain cancer-free. 

At 39, I got on the scale to discover that I was at my heaviest weight. How could I have let myself put on all those unwanted pounds? Maybe I was subconsciously thinking, "Hey, I just beat cancer, I deserve that piece of chocolate cake. I deserve to celebrate just having survived it." Who knows, right? I can't say for sure how I allowed it to happen, but the bottom line was that I had already lost my health to cancer. So, now afraid of putting myself at risk of getting cancer again, or heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and/or any other diet and weight-related diseases, I chose to fight back once again, only this time to win my battles with food, weight, and lifestyle obstacles once and for all. I won that battle too. How? The answer is what makes up the life-changing principles that I discovered through my weight loss journey to a healthier body and happier life that I share in my internationally acclaimed book, The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living, now available as a Kindle eBook.

In The A List book, I offer practical tools, personal insights and positive inspiration to help people BREAK FREE from self-sabotaging eating, thinking and lifestyle habits; REACH, MAINTAIN and ENJOY a healthy weight and positive lifestyle; TRANSORM their relationship with food for results to last a lifetime; MINIMIZE weight and lifestyle related health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer and more; REDUCE menopausal symptoms; and INCREASE energy and sense of well-being. The book outlines the my 9 guiding principles for healthy eating and positive living each starting with the letter "A". I explore each as a necessary ingredient for achieving greater health, lasting weight loss and control, and enhanced quality of life.

Along with loads of practical tools and information, I share personal insights from my own struggles with food, weight, and life management challenges plus real life examples from my weight loss coaching clients. With self-reflective coaching style questions, I help people understand themselves and their relationship with food and their inner selves in a newer, deeper and more meaningful way. This helps them relearn how to eat properly and improve their quality of life by making healthy, balanced food and lifestyle choices. The book also includes fast and easy healthy recipes.

Available now as a Kindle eBook on Amazon.at a special discount promotion price in effect February 19 – 25 for only $3.99, regularly $7.99.

For more information, visit https://roslynfranken.com/about-the-a-list-book.html.