In this episode of The Neil Haley Show, Neil “The Media Giant” Haley speaks with New York Times bestselling author Sharon Cameron about her new historical novel, Up from the Ashes, a story of love, hope, resilience, resistance, and survival during the Holocaust.
Sharon begins by discussing why stories about history remain important today. She explains that books about the past can help readers understand how societies can repeat the same mistakes and what can happen when people begin to devalue other members of the human community. For Sharon, remembering history is not only about looking backward, but also about thinking about the choices people can make in the present.
The conversation focuses heavily on the idea of ordinary people finding strength in extraordinary circumstances. Sharon explains that this theme has influenced her Holocaust novels, particularly her interest in people who discover the resilience to stand up, make different choices, and maintain their humanity despite the circumstances surrounding them.
Sharon introduces Up from the Ashes, which tells the true story of Selma Wijnberg and Chaim Engel, two Jewish prisoners who met at Sobibor during World War II. Despite the horrific conditions and language barrier, their relationship became a source of hope and strength as they struggled to survive.
Sharon explains how Selma and Chaim chose to become each other’s source of support in the middle of an environment designed to destroy human dignity. Their story demonstrates how love, hope, and connection can give people strength even during unimaginable circumstances. Sharon describes their ability to find moments of humanity and hope as an important part of what ultimately helped them survive.
The discussion also explores the Sobibor prisoner uprising. Sharon explains that prisoners inside the camp organized a resistance and eventually attempted a mass escape. Hundreds of prisoners ran from the camp while trying to survive gunfire, mines, and the dangers surrounding the escape. Selma and Chaim were among those who escaped and survived the aftermath. Their story later continued beyond the war as they built a life together.
Neil and Sharon connect the story of Sobibor to the broader question of resilience. Neil asks why resilience can sometimes seem difficult to develop and discusses the importance of teaching people that life will include setbacks, difficult periods, and moments when they are knocked down. Sharon explains that resilience can come from recognizing that life does not always match the expectations people create for themselves.
Sharon encourages people to focus on real-life choices and their communities instead of unrealistic expectations created by social media. She believes resilience comes from hope and recognizing that individuals can make a difference.
Sharon shares how she transitioned from a lifelong passion for music to writing after discovering her interest in history and storytelling in her mid-30s.
She explains that becoming an author took years of learning, hard work, and understanding the publishing business, but she has never regretted pursuing her writing career.
Up from the Ashes was published by Scholastic Press on October 6, 2026. The novel is based on the true story of Selma Wijnberg and Chaim Engel and their experience at Sobibor, including the prisoner uprising and escape. Sharon Cameron’s official book information describes the novel as a story about the fight to survive and find love in the midst of one of history’s darkest periods.
📍To learn more about Sharon Cameron and her books, visit her official website at sharoncameronbooks.com.
