Clara Franklin

Clara Franklin was born in Poland. When the Second World War started her father was imprisoned and executed for disobeying German Soldiers’ orders. The family was taken to labour camps in Germany. Clara was too young to work and was separated from her family not to see them for the next 20 years. When the war ended she returned to Poland.

She studied hard to gain a diploma in midwifery; she married and had a family of her own. Finally at the age of 30 she was able to join her family in Australia. Not speaking a word of English she was unable to work in her profession as a mid-wife. Clara became a “blue-collar” worker. After two years she started in the ‘fashion industry’. In the early 1980s Clara opened and operated a very successful boutique until her retirement.

Sadly in a hit and run car accident Clara lost her husband. A few years later she re-married and the couple lived in Bathurst NSW for 40 years, until Fred’s death in 2013. She now lives in Brookfield Victoria close to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ottavia’s Story is Clara’s third book her first novel Angel Wings was published in 2008 her second Entwined Lives in 2015. Clara’s long life dream to write a book came true after she retired at the age of 73 she is now 82.