Ilona Zwolska – författare

What if the most powerful kind of magic wasn't a spell-but a memoryIn this quietly captivating middle-grade adventure, two curious children uncover a forgotten legacy beneath the surface of modern-day Egypt not through battles or bravado, but through listening, remembering, and asking the questions adults no longer hear. Whispers of a Golden Snake honors the intelligence of young readers while offering parents a story rich in cultural curiosity, emotional depth, and values that resonate: kindness, courage, and the quiet strength of truth.When Jenny from New Jersey and Michael from Montreal arrive in Egypt, they expect sun, museums, and maybe some old legends. But a pillow fight accidentally triggers a hidden mechanism and a golden snake begins to stir.From a house filled with strange memories to a crystal sandal guarding ancient secrets, Jenny and Michael soon find themselves inside a living story one that vanished from history but refuses to be forgotten. No wizards. No monsters. Just two kids brave enough to listen when no one else does.With a whisper, the past awakensAnd their truest wish may be the key to everythingFor thoughtful adventurers ages 8 to 13 who loveMysteries hidden in plain sightQuiet magic and symbolic cluesStories of wonder, memory, and imaginationAudiobook coming soon narrated with warmth and wonder, perfect for bedtime listening or car rides. Because some stories are meant to be heard.Written by Ilona Zwolska, a world traveler and associate of the United Nations, this story draws from a life spent listening to cultures, histories, and untold voices. Her passion for memory, meaning, and imagination is what brings Jenny and Michael s journey to life for children everywhere who still believe in wonder.

Michael and Jenny have always shared a curiosity for the unknown. Wherever they travel, unusual discoveries seem to follow-ancient clues, forgotten symbols, and mysteries that refuse to remain buried.During what should be an ordinary family trip abroad, the two friends encounter something that no guidebook can explain: a silent stone guardian watching from the shadows of an old building. No plaque describes it. No history records it. Yet the statue seems strangely alive, as if it has been waiting for someone to notice it.Jenny carries with her an unusual object from a previous journey an ancient scroll whose meaning has remained hidden. When strange vibrations begin to ripple through the quiet corridors around them, the children realize the scroll may hold the key to something far greater than they imagined.As the mysterious symbol of a jackal begins to awaken, Michael and Jenny discover that the world around them may not be as fixed as it appears. Somewhere beyond the walls of the present lies a hidden passage one that may lead into the distant past.But opening ancient gates is never without risk.Guided by courage and friendship, Michael and Jenny step toward a mystery that has waited thousands of years to be rediscovered.But once the path is opened, one question remains:Will they be able to find their way back?

She escaped the Iron Curtain-but freedom came with a price.Born to an American father yet raised in the closed world of Soviet society, Catherine grows up navigating a life defined by silence, caution, and quiet resilience. Every conversation carries risk. Every opportunity is watched. Behind the facade of ordinary life lies a system that controls movement, ambition, and even the possibility of escape.When an unexpected chance to leave appears, Catherine steps into a journey that will carry her across a tense and divided Europe-and ultimately toward the promise of America. From the guarded streets of Moscow to the sunlit squares of Rome, from diplomatic corridors in Vienna to uneasy refuge in Frankfurt, she must rely on instinct, courage, and the fragile trust of those willing to help her.But the path to freedom is never simple. Hidden motives, political intrigue, and sudden tragedy threaten to unravel everything she has fought to achieve. As the past begins to reveal disturbing questions, Catherine must decide whom she can trust-and what price she is willing to pay for a life beyond the reach of the system she left behind.'Hostages for Life' is a gripping historical novel of courage, survival, and the relentless human search for freedom in the shadow of Cold War.