Victoria Waterman: Who She Left Behind
Book Launch
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Worcester Historical Museum

Books available for sale at the launch.

Waterman invokes the voices of her ancestors and makes their stories come alive in her compelling novel.
–Judith Saryan, Project Manager, AIWA publication of three book translations of Zabel Yessayan

Who She Left Behind is a captivating historical fiction novel that spans multiple generations and delves into the emotional lives of its characters. Set in various time periods, from the declining days of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey to Armenian communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the 1990s, the book provides a deep immersion into a lesser-known era. The story revolves around themes of survival, motherhood, and love, drawing inspiration from the author's own family history. The narrative is framed by a mysterious discovery of Armenian dolls at Victoria's grave many years later, which leads her on a quest for redemption of the secrets she left behind.

Victoria (Atamian) Waterman is an accomplished advocate for women and girls, dedicating her career to promoting leadership and empowerment. She has made significant contributions through various platforms such as her TEDx talk titled "Today's Girls are Tomorrow's Leaders," numerous op-eds, media interviews, and receiving awards.

Growing up in Rhode Island in a multicultural and multilingual household with Armenian Genocide survivors has greatly influenced her storytelling abilities. Now, Victoria aims to shed light on the often-overlooked stories of courageous women who not only survived but resisted the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, becoming the pillars of reconstructed communities after the war.

Victoria's dream of writing a historical fiction novel about her family's survival and immigration to the United States became a personal goal when she discovered flowers at the gravesite of her late aunt, whom she was named after. Aunt Vicky had passed away in 1963 and had no children. Intrigued by this mysterious gesture, Victoria embarked on an extensive research project to unravel the secrets surrounding her family's past. Her tireless efforts and discoveries will finally be unveiled in her debut novel.