Behind Silent Smiles

A Tale, Inspired by a True Story, of a Woman Who Would Not Become Bitter

“It’s okay. Filip is only showing off in front of his friends. It’s what boys do. It’s best to pay no mind and to keep quiet. Smile at him, then turn away.”

The lessons young Ctlina learned from her beloved grandmother carried her through the horrors of communist Romania, from the countryside to the streets of Bucharest and beyond, into her new life with her teenage children in far-away Sacramento, California.

Behind Silent Smiles is the tale of a woman’s journey to love and be loved in return. She can love others deeply in spite of unspeakable loss and abuse, but is she capable of giving herself the love she deserves?