The period immediately following World War II remains one of the most underexplored chapters in Holocaust history — the moment when liberation gave way to the daunting task of rebuilding a life from rubble. Sibylline Press is bringing that harrowing transition to readers with a new work of historical fiction that zeroes in on one woman’s struggle to find herself again after losing everything.
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What happened after the end of World War II for thousands of Holocaust survivors is a little-known story that needed telling.”— Vicki DeArmon, Publisher of Sibylline PressSAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, October 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Sibylline Press has announced the release of After the End: A Postwar Novel, written by Kelli Christiansen. This work of historical fiction examines the aftermath of World War II through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor, grappling with the question of how one moves forward after unimaginable loss — how to reclaim identity and carve out a future shaped by both memory and hope.
For protagonist Sarah Morgenstern, the war’s conclusion marks only the start of a different kind of fight. When the gates of Wöbbelin concentration camp swing open on May 2, 1945, liberation brings no celebration for Sarah. Instead, she confronts a void she doesn’t yet know how to fill. Dressed in a tattered uniform and stripped of everything except her will to survive, she is no longer a prisoner — but she is also far from free.
Now classified as a “displaced person,” Sarah must navigate a shattered landscape of barbed wire and bureaucratic red tape under the scrutiny of American liberators. Her path takes her from the crowded barracks of Feldafing to a translator’s desk with the U.S. Army, where she begins the painful search for remnants of her family and the person she once was.
Over the course of the chaotic year that follows, Sarah wrestles with the ghosts of her past while daring to envision a life beyond them. After the End tells a story of survival layered upon survival — of grief, of resilience, and of the fragile, stubborn hope that makes starting over possible even when everything has been taken away.
“What happened after the end of World War II for thousands of Holocaust survivors is a little-known story that needed telling. Kelli Christiansen has risen to the challenge in this beautifully told historical fiction,” said Vicki DeArmon, publisher of Sibylline Press.
Christiansen will mark the launch of her debut novel on Thursday, November 5, at 6 p.m. at the Glen Ellyn Public Library in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The event will feature insights into her writing process, short readings from the book, and a Q&A session with attendees. More information is available HERE.
Advanced praise for After the End includes:
“A Jewish girl searches for her family in the aftermath of the Holocaust in Christiansen’s historical novel… The novel’s strengths are its characters, especially the determined Sarah, who will no doubt serve as an inspirational heroine.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Christiansen’s nuanced debut details a Holocaust survivor’s journey after WWI… the result will move readers.” –Publishers Weekly
“After the End is a must-read novel that puts flesh on the bones of what it truly means, on the individual level, to begin—and live—again.” –Patricia Crisafulli, New York Times bestselling author of the Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series
About the Author
Kelli Christiansen has built her career in publishing as a writer, editor, agent, instructor, and bookseller. Her work has appeared in outlets including Chicago Book Review; Chicago Life; Faith, Hope & Fiction; Midwest Book Review; Midwestern Gothic; and San Francisco Book Review. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Northern Illinois University and holds a Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) from the University of Chicago.
After the End: A Postwar Novel
By Kelli Christiansen
Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9798897400324
Trade Paperback: $21.00
380 Pages
October 20, 2026
Published by Sibylline Press — Publishing the brilliant work of women authors over 50.
About Sibylline Press:
Sibylline Press exclusively publishes the work of women authors over 50. Founded in August 2022, the press is owned by ten women of a certain age and currently releases nearly 50 titles a year. Its catalog spans commercial and literary fiction, mystery, adventure, fantasy, romance, memoir, and writing craft. The press takes its name from the Sibylline Scrolls, the ancient writings of wise older women known as the Sibyls. More at sibyllinepress.com; follow on FB and IG @sibyllinepress.
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Why it matters: This novel sheds light on a frequently overlooked chapter of Holocaust history — the long, uncertain road after liberation — and amplifies the voices of women authors over 50 through Sibylline Press’s unique publishing mission. For readers, it’s a reminder that survival is not a single moment but an ongoing, deeply human process of rebuilding.
Jenny McIntosh
JMPR
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