The Prince & The Cadillac

Maria Woelfl has probably overcome more hardships and experienced more painful losses than most. Yet she is not merely a survivor; she is a "creator." With courage, guts and determination, Maria managed to transform every challenge into yet another opportunity for personal growth.

Her story begins with her emigration from Rumania to rural North Dakota at age 15 at the end of World War II. Upon arriving with four other members of her family, Maria spoke no English and was unable to attend school. Her American relatives needed her to work on the farm and seek odd jobs in the neighboring towns.

Petite and alluring with an oval face and velvet brown eyes that sparkled when she smiled, it didn't take long for local yokels to lasso this innocent young refugee into a compromising position-leaving her defenseless and forced to deal with the consequences.

Anyone who has ever been uprooted by war or any equally traumatic event that cost them the loss of family, country, language or livelihood will relate to Maria's memoirs. She is a shining example for every person who truly desires ultimate joy, personal fulfillment and love of life, self, and others.