The Invincible Heart

Lithuania amazed the world when it stood up against the great might of the Soviet Union and won its independence during the twentieth century. A revolutionary country with a colorful history, Lithuania defended and preserved its language and culture even as it suffered relentless transformations by external forces. The country was changed from an empire extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea into a nation that vanished from the maps of Europe under the iron rule of Russia. With exceptional courage her people fought back and eventually claimed their independence. Today Lithuania is recognized as an equal partner among the world’s nations. The young Lithuanian in this story epitomizes the steadfast character and life-sustaining values of the heart of her homeland. This stirring historical novel is based on the true story of a girl and her country on the road to freedom. It is a story of perseverance, compassion, loyalty, determination, and love for a country that for several hundred years existed only in the hearts of its people. This is a story of the invincible heart.

Preface As a genealogist who spent several years researching ancestors, I wanted to do more. I did not want just to gather family names. I wanted to weave together all the records, papers, memories, history, photos, and random facts into a book, one that summarizes my research, tells a meaningful story, and shares a legacy. As you read this book, you will come to understand why I chose my Lithuanian grandmother as my main character. The Invincible Heart is an historical novel based on the life of Jadvyga Vaitkutė and her homeland. Be filled with admiration for the Lithuanian people as you relive the victories and devastating defeats in this chronicle of their country. Travel with Jadvyga while she experiences the horrors of life in steerage when courageously making her unforgettable journey to America in 1901. Discover how political unrest, terror, raging fires, epidemics, threats of imprisonment, and the relentless iron rule of Russia affect the heart of this young Lithuanian and her homeland. My journey while writing this book was full of surprises. I learned not only about the process of writing and publishing a manuscript but also about my family. This was one of the most emotional and rewarding journeys I have ever taken. Shortly after I began writing, my husband was diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer. He died before the book was published. During the months of his illness I was so thankful that I could look to my grandmother’s example for strength and face difficult times with courage and grace. The research and the writing changed me. I now am more grounded in the knowledge of my past, and in my day-to-day activities I recognize evidence that the blood of my Lithuanian ancestors runs through my veins. My grandparents had seven children. One of them, my father Philip John Krausman, is still alive as of this writing. He will be 100 years old in May 2016. He is healthy, and his mind is quite alert. I am so thankful for the hours I spent with him recording stories of his childhood and early years. His sister Ida died in 2015 at the age of 107, but not without leaving almost twenty pages of well-written memories that were distributed at her funeral. This is an historical novel. As you read it, try to put yourself in the setting and experience the time and place. Perhaps you will be as affected and changed as I was while composing the chronicle. Phyllis J. Edwards February 14, 2016 Newark, Delaware

About the Author Phyllis J. Edwards was born in Baltimore, Maryland. The granddaughter of Lithuanian immigrants, she is a member of several genealogy groups and continues to conduct research on her family history. Phyllis is a frequent speaker at non-profit organizations in her area. She developed and leads a five-session workshop on Writing Family History and teaches many related classes. Phyllis spent endless hours interviewing, studying, and completing research for this book. She currently resides in Newark, Delaware.