Martin Hausvater is the author of the family memoir Hausvater: From the Jewish Underground to NYC's Underworld.
Q: What inspired you to write this family memoir?
A: In 2021, I suffered a stroke that left me largely confined to my home for several months. During that time, my business was struggling, my future was uncertain, and I had a lot of time to reflect on my life and family history.
As I slowly recovered, a friend took me out to lunch and asked about my family. After hearing the story, he suggested I write a book. I thought he was crazy. A few days later, his son called me and encouraged me to do the same. Their persistence gave me the push I needed to finally put generations of family stories into writing.
Q: How much did you know about your grandfather’s story as you were growing up?
A: Most of the stories that appear in the book were passed down to me over many years by my grandmother, aunt, father, and, to some extent, my mother. As the third generation, I often felt a responsibility to preserve stories that might otherwise have been lost. Family stories were a regular part of life growing up. Some were told so often that they became permanently embedded in my memory.
Q: How did you research the book, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: The book is based primarily on family history that was preserved through storytelling rather than traditional research. I relied heavily on notes, memories, and conversations with family members, including checking details with my siblings to ensure I remembered events correctly.
What surprised me most came after the book was written. One reader described both my grandfather and father as chameleons, people who continually adapted to changing circumstances in order to survive and succeed. I had never thought of them that way before, but the observation struck me as completely accurate.
Q: What impact did it have on you to write this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
A: Writing the book also helped me better understand my place in a three-generation story. I came to appreciate not only the sacrifices my grandfather made and the lessons my father taught me, but also the responsibility of preserving those experiences for future generations.
I hope readers come away with a deeper appreciation for family history and the importance of preserving stories before they are lost. I also hope they see how resilience, courage, and determination can carry people through extraordinary challenges. Many of the individuals in this story faced difficult circumstances and refused to be defined by them.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: At the moment, I am focused on introducing readers to Hausvater and completing the audiobook edition. At the same time, I have begun organizing material for a sequel. There are many family stories that did not make it into the first book, and I believe there is still much more to tell.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: One of the lessons I learned while writing Hausvater is that every family has stories worth preserving. People often assume their history is ordinary because they grew up with it, but when those stories are shared, they can reveal remarkable journeys, sacrifices, and surprises. I encourage everyone to learn as much as they can about where they came from before those memories disappear.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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