Reviews

Guardians Down Under: The Unsung Heroes Saving Australia’s Vanishing Wildlife

Review by The Albany Herald

Guardians Down Under Highlights Vets and Volunteers Rescuing Australia’s Vanishing Wildlife

As the world faces a growing biodiversity crisis, published author Claudia Clark releases her timely and impactful new book, Guardians Down Under: The Unsung Heroes Saving Australia’s Vanishing Wildlife, highlighting the extraordinary efforts of individuals fighting to protect endangered species across Australia.

With over 3 billion animals affected by climate change, disease, habitat destruction, introduced species, and the cultural acceptance of culling native animals, Clark’s work sheds light on the tireless and awe-inspiring efforts of rescuers, volunteers, caregivers, and veterinarians working on the frontlines. Their selfless dedication to wildlife rescue and conservation provides hope in the face of these immense challenges.

Inspiring Stories of Courage and Action

Through her recent travels to Australia, Claudia Clark visited wildlife sanctuaries, and rescue centers, and met with veterinarians and volunteers on the frontlines of conservation. Her firsthand experience offered a unique perspective on what it truly takes to rescue and rehabilitate these animals.

“These are the real heroes—people working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Australia’s wildlife has a future,” said Clark. “I wanted to bring their stories into the spotlight because their efforts provide us with hope, particularly since these individuals are often modest about their contributions. When referred to as heroes, they often respond humbly, saying, ‘We are not heroes; it’s just who we are.

Claudia Clark, “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel”

(New York: Disruption Books, 2021), 301 pp. Claudia Clark, “Lieber Barack: Die außergewöhnliche Partnerschaft zwischen Angela Merkel und Barack Obama” (München:

Review by Britta Waldschmidt-Nelson

Claudia Clark, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel (New York: Disruption Books, 2021), 301 pp.

Claudia Clark, Lieber Barack: Die außergewöhnliche Partnerschaft zwischen Angela Merkel und Barack Obama (München: Novum, 2021), 340 pp.

This book, about the “extraordinary partnership” of U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, examines the relationship between the two important political leaders from their first phone call in January 2009 to the end of the Obama presidency in 2017. The author is an American social activist, who moved with her husband to Germany in 2017, and her goal is to show how a special bond between Merkel and Obama evolved, “transforming them from world leaders skeptical of one another to good friends and close confidants” (5). After a brief introduction and a survey of both protagonists’ upbringing and early political careers, the book examines how the first African American U.S. president and the first female, East-German-born chancellor related to each other from their first meeting to the end of the Obama presidency.

Their early encounters were polite but not overly cordial since Merkel was by far “less mesmerized by Obama than her fellow citizens,” and her refusal to let Obama speak at the Brandenburg Gate when he was visiting Germany during his campaign for the presidency in 2008 had created a certain tension between them (2). Moreover, they disagreed on several political issues—especially regarding economic matters. Thus, a close friendship between the young, charismatic, liberal Obama and the rather stoic, middle-aged, conservative Merkel seemed rather unlikely in early 2009. Nevertheless, as Clark’s analysis of every meeting of the two leaders and dozens of their speeches convincingly shows, Merkel and Obama soon overcame their initial reservations and developed a strong, positive bond, based on mutual respect, trust, and even admiration.

The book’s thirteen chronological chapters examine highlights of their relationship, such as their joint visit of the Buchenwald concentration camp in 2009, Obama awarding Merkel the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011), or Merkel’s invitation for Obama to speak at the Brandenburg Gate (2013), but also disagreements and tensions between the two leaders, e. g., regarding the Greek financial crisis, the Guantánamo question and, above all, the NSA spying scandal which came to light in 2013. Despite some setbacks—especially after Merkel found out that the NSA had tapped her personal phone—Clark argues that the two leaders were always able to work out their differences and developed a personal friendship, which went well beyond the usual relationships of political leaders. One reason for their special understanding of each other might have been that they both had come to power from positions of classic political outsiders: his being the first African American president of the United States, she the first female and East-German-born chancellor of the FRG. “Angela and I don’t exactly look like previous German and American leaders” became one of Obama’s and Merkel’s favorite remarks (119). The book also notes that despite Obama’s charismatic public persona, he tended to be relatively quiet, at times even “extremely introverted” in private, and that he, therefore, had an easier time connecting with the calm, pragmatic, and rather reserved Merkel than with some of the other European leaders, e. g., the rather flamboyant French President Nicolas Sarkozy (5-6). According to his close political advisor Ben Rhodes, there was no other foreign leader whom Obama admired more than Merkel, who became “the president’s closest partner over the course of his entire Presidency” (208). Obama soon called Merkel by her first name and repeatedly stressed his admiration, trust, and fondness for her. More remarkably, the chancellor eventually also began to refer to him as “Dear Barack,” addressing him with the German informal pronoun “Du” instead of the formal “Sie,” which is highly unusual for a conservative German politician (88-89, 111, 172). As the author points out, when Merkel found out that the NSA had even tapped her personal cell phone in 2013, she was so upset that she did not call Obama “Du” or “Dear Barack” for almost two years (172).

Clark’s book traces the relationship between Obama and Merkel in meticulous detail, citing extensive quotations by the protagonists as well as journalists, and contextualizing their various encounters in the given political landscape. The author also includes a number of little-known anecdotes, such as one of a three-hour private dinner and talk that Merkel and Obama shared at the Adlon.

Dear Barack Book Review

Dear Barack – The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Review by Cook Scrap Craft

Once a generation, it seems, there comes an international alliance between two world leaders that goes beyond mere political handshaking. Roosevelt and Churchill, Reagan and Thatcher, and Obama and Merkel. Claudia Clark’s new book Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel takes a closer look at what caused President Obama and Chancellor Merkel’s relationship to verge into friendship territory.

There’s a line toward the end of the book that really sums things up nicely, at least for me. On page 210, Clark writes, “While plenty of world leaders … had talked about supporting Obama, Merkel had actually done it.”

And vice versa.

Clark’s book takes us through all the visits and joint press conferences between Obama and Merkel, looking at how their body language toward each other changed over the years and the words they used for each other developed. Merkel eventually ended up calling Obama “lieber Barack” or “dear Barack”. The book goes into the challenges that each leader faced both in their home nations as well as on the world stage. And how when each of them needed support the most, they were there for each other, despite their difference of opinion.

If you ever wanted to know what made the Obama-Merkel relationship so strong that SNL lampooned it, then this book offers you answers. The book also challenges future leaders to live up to the standard set by Obama and Merkel.

I didn’t really know much about Angela Merkel before reading this book, but now I’m intrigued and want to read more about her!

Motherhood Moment Book Review

Book Nook: Dear Barack – The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Review by Bekah

I recently had a chance to review Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel by Claudia Clark. I was intrigued by this book because I have a special interest in Germany, having traveled there quite a few times and had the chance to live and work there. Obama was also one of the first presidents of my adult life. So I hoped being able to read a book that connected the two of them would be fascinating.

I wasn’t disappointed. Although the book is a little dryer than fiction or some of the other “fun” non-fiction books I get to read, it was still very interesting and clearly well-researched. The book details a little bit about each politician’s background before going through their overlapping political timelines. One thing I really loved about the book was how much it made use of actual quotes from Obama or Merkel about the other person.

Even though the two of them often had different ideas on how best to solve challenges facing the world, they clearly had mutual respect for each other. The book covers the key highlights of events that shaped their political relationship, and gives more insight into how they got along, with the benefit of exploring speeches and quotes in one book instead of spread out over years. It’s definitely a great read for anyone interested in politics, particularly for those who are fans of either Obama or Merkel.

Claudia Clark is an author, speaker and activist focused on social justice and democracy. In 2017, Clark and her husband moved from California to Germany, where she served as the national Get Out the Vote (GOTV) coordinator for the Democrats Abroad Germany chapter from January 2019 to May 2020. Clark has several advanced degrees, with a focus on social work, women’s history and labor relations. She currently lives in Berlin, where she is conducting research for her next book which will compare the experiences of the Northern Irish during the height of the IRA conflict with the East Germans during the Cold War.

Midwest Book Review – Margaret Lane

Synopsis: Today, we know US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two of the world’s most influential leaders, together at the center of some of the biggest controversies and most impressive advancements of our time. But while their friendship has been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story.

Taking office at the height of the 2008 global recession, Obama was keenly aware of the fractured relationship between the US and Europe. And for her part, Merkel was suspicious of the charismatic newcomer who had captivated her country.

Faced with the challenges of globalization, the two often clashed over policy, but (as the first Black president and first female chancellor) they shared a belief that democracy could uplift the world. United by this conviction, they would forge a complicated but inspiring partnership.

“Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” by Claudia Clark is a thoroughly researched document of the parallel trajectories that led to Obama and Merkel meeting on the world stage and the trials, both personal and political, that they confronted in office. At times in the leaders’ own words, “Dear Barack” details such events as Merkel’s historic acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the 2013 NSA spying scandal, demonstrating the highs and lows of this extraordinary alliance.

A story of camaraderie at a global scale, “Dear Barack” shows that it is possible for political adversaries to establish bonds of respect (and even friendship) in the service of the free world.

Critique: As informative as it is well written, organized and presented, “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” must be considered essential reading for both its political biographical value and for its inherently interesting details about one of America’s most popular presidents working against a stonewalling opposition in the Senate, and one of Germany’s most effective leaders in the post-Cold War era. While also available for personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college and university library Contemporary Political Science & Political Biography collections.

Editorial Note: Claudia Clark is an author, speaker, and activist focused on social justice and democracy. In 2017, Clark and her husband moved from California to Germany, where she served as the national Get Out the Vote (GOTV) coordinator for the Democrats Abroad Germany chapter in preparation for the 2020 presidential election. Clark has several advanced degrees, with a focus on social work, women’s history, and labor. She currently lives in Berlin, where she is conducting research for her next book about the rise of the alt-right in Europe.

Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Review by Franklin Bauer, The Book Commentary

Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel by Claudia Clark is an amazing take on the relationship between the presidents of two free countries — Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. In the introductory note, author and activist Claudia Clark exposes the inspiration to craft this incredible work. The idea struck her while watching Obama and Merkel in a joint press conference in November, 2016 and noticing how upset Merkel was when asked if she thought it would be the last of such an event as President. Then in March 2017, during Merkel’s first trip to Washington, DC, the author couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast when Trump refused to shake Merkel’s hand. This book answers the question: What defined the wonderful relationship between Obama and Merkel?

In this book, the author explores the histories of the two presidents and how they rose to power. She paints portraits of two people who are resilient and determined, visionaries of our time. Merkel worked her way from a difficult childhood overshadowed by the Iron Curtain to become a respected politician and the first East German Chancellor of a united Germany while Obama beat the odds to become the first black American president. This book discusses the special friendship between the two leaders, their core values and political ideologies, the differences they had and what strengthened the bond of that friendship. Readers will read about the strained relationship between the US and Europe, the differences in policy between the two presidents, and what made them fond of each other. The book brims with historical references, compelling opinions on contemporary politics, and the role that Merkel and Obama played in shaping contemporary geopolitics. While this is a book about the beautiful friendship between Obama and Merkel, it reads like an intelligent expose on current political issues. It is well-researched and expertly written. Claudia Clark’s writing is excellent and she possesses superior storytelling skills and the ability to keep readers absorbed ass they turn the pages. Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel is a beautiful work that entertains as much as it informs.

Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Review by Matthew Novak, The Book Commentary

Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel by Claudia Clark is a wonderful book that deftly explores the fascinating, somewhat enigmatic relationship between two powerful leaders: Barrack Obama and Angela Merkel. The author is a social activist who moved to Germany in 2017, and having witnessed Donald Trump’s first meeting with German Chancellor Merkel, she noted that it couldn’t have been more different from encounters with Charismatic Barrack Obama. This book explores the relationship between Obama and Merkel, allowing readers to understand the core of their political alliance and partnership, their personalities, leadership styles, and political philosophies while uncovering interesting biographical moments that augment the dazzling portrait of their relationship.

Claudia Clark’s book is extensively researched and it captures important historical moments in American-German relations. In this narrative, readers will get to understand how Merkel got to use the more familiar tone when addressing Former President Obama, identify strained moments in the relationship between Germany and the USA, and the strength of a friendship that crystallized the alliance between the two countries. Claudia Clark is a wonderful writer whose phraseology exhibits unique clarity; the prose is crisp and littered with terrific descriptions. From personal opinion to compelling and authoritative references, the author comes across as an expert in the subject, weaving details of the historical climate that witnessed Obama’s rise to power, the troubling economic recession, and the fractured relationship between the US and Europe. From discussing Angela Merkel’s difficult childhood behind the Iron Curtain and how she morphed into a brilliant Politian who eventually became the first East German Chancellor of a free and united Germany to effectively and intelligently capturing the rise of the first black American President, Clark maintains a powerful grip on the readers, thanks to the dazzling prose and her ability to entice readers with interesting details and fascinating political analysis. Dear Barack informs, entertains, and documents history.

A book about the remarkable friendship of Merkel and Obama.

Review by Inken Kaiser, KPV Hesse

DEAR BARACK, THE EXTRAORDINARY PARTNERSHIP OF BARACK OBAMA AND ANGELA MERKEL

Two different heads of state with the same goals and ideas are getting closer, respecting and trusting each other and both nations are benefiting from this friendship. This only becomes clear against the backdrop of Trump’s presidency, what partnership and understanding between two states mean for everyone. This book does not focus on politics and its measures, but on the partnership of the two heads of government with their professional and also private lives.

It looks at common stages and milestones in the lives of two individual personalities who have a unique relationship with each other and who have each developed an exceptional style of leadership. Not always united in their opinions, yet both strong in respecting, being accountable for, and rethinking their actions. An impressive and interesting read – and not just for those interested in politics.

Dear Barack

Review by Literary Titan

DEAR BARACK, THE EXTRAORDINARY PARTNERSHIP OF BARACK OBAMA AND ANGELA MERKEL

Human beings can always find common ground if they try hard enough. Being on two sides of disagreeing continents does not necessitate an enmity. Barack Obama and Angela Merkel understood this. It did not start with an obvious affinity for each other. Angela Merkel was adamant to warm up to the incumbent president of the U.S. Barack Obama was desperate to repair the strained relationship between America and Europe as well as get the country through the recession. He had his work cut out for him. It took a while but they finally developed a relationship based on mutual respect and genuine friendship as well as a harmonious effort to serve their people. Author Claudia Clark does a fantastic job of bringing this all together in her illuminating book, Dear Barack.

This is basically a buddy story. Only it is not fiction and the main characters are two of the most powerful people in the world. It is an eye-opening story about the human capacity to overcome the urge to become enemies in the pursuit of the interests that suit their cause. It may have been a difficult time in more ways than one but these two leaders were guiding lights not just for the people in their countries but for the world. It also renews hope that good leaders do exist, especially after the administration that succeeded Obama’s. The story is especially interesting that both of them were outliers – Barack, the first black president, and Angela, a female leader in the free world.

Claudia Clark has narrated history in a way that is engaging and uplifting. You do not need to be a history fanatic to enjoy this book. The author conveys history in a way that is compelling and captivating. She pulls in the reader and puts them in the meetings and private conversations between the two. This is a well-researched account of the inspiring relationship between these two highly admired leaders. Her regard for both of them shines through her words and her tone.

The author even adds a little bit of Obama’s wit and charm to the story. Her narration is nothing short of gripping. It is the kind of book you discuss with your friends and family because there is so much intellectually invigorating content.

You cannot help but shed a tear when Angela does as she watched her friend and fellow leader leave office. You will definitely chuckle when you read about Obama’s sign-off to his friend. Dear Barack is a beautifully written book about a wonderful partnership.

Pages: 336 | ASIN: B09HL8VQB1

A delightful, well-researched account of two leaders’ unlikely friendship.

Review by Kirkus

DEAR BARACK, THE EXTRAORDINARY PARTNERSHIP OF BARACK OBAMA AND ANGELA MERKEL

A debut political book explores the unique partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.

Shortly after Donald Trump’s first meeting as president with German Chancellor Merkel, Clark could not help but notice the “stark contrast compared to her interactions with his predecessor.” As an American-born social activist who moved to Germany in 2017, the author realized that, in terms of contemporary world leaders, Obama and Merkel “had a truly memorable relationship…that should be memorialized in some way.” In this work, Clark examines the improbable friendship between the charismatic, liberal Obama and the technocratic, center-right Merkel. Indeed, the book emphasizes in its well-written historical narrative how the first visit between the two was “touchy,” as they held different views on economic recovery following the 2007 recession, and how the “no-nonsense” Merkel was far “less mesmerized by Obama” than her contemporaries. Dissecting the biographies, personalities, and political styles of Obama and Merkel, the author effectively describes how the two became “good, loyal friends and partners” regardless of their “differences of opinion.” Despite his public persona, the book notes, in private Obama could be “extremely introverted,” and he had trouble connecting with French and British leaders. Yet with the equally stoic Merkel, Obama realized by the end of his first term in office, he had found a close confidant. Though the two never saw eye to eye politically, and American-German relations were at times strained (including following revelations of United States spying on German citizens and politicians), they developed an affectionate friendship. Not only did Merkel refer to Obama by the endearing phrase “dear Barack,” she also eventually publicly addressed him with the German informal, second-person pronoun du rather than the standard, formal Sie. Clark traces the friendship of Obama and Merkel in meticulous detail with charming anecdotes and expertly places their bond within the historical contexts of other world leaders’ relationships. And while perhaps overly fawning at times in its portrayals of both the policies and personalities of the two allies, this volume is a welcome read in a world where politics is so often cold and ruthless.

A delightful, well-researched account of two leaders’ unlikely friendship.

Claudia Clark: Dear Barack

Review by Michael Schmitz

A remarkable work of over 300 pages. It tells – and more importantly proves – the story of the two world leaders over the entire 8 years of Obama’s reign and beyond. The author gathers all conceivable evidence during this period, analyzes the events and their impact on the working relationship of the two. She describes how from an initial skepticism trust and – despite many also different opinions – a very good working basis develops. Sometimes too detailed and exact, sometimes already conceivable but still speculative on the relationship level, but this does not detract from the book. For it is a very accurate description of the events of the eight years, which had a lot to offer: from the effects of the financial crisis, spying, Libya, the euro and Greek crisis to the migration crisis. In doing so, the author also traces a picture of a good part of the chancellorship, which is just coming to an end these days.

With the election of Donald Trump and the accompanying dumbing down, unreliability and insincerity of world politics, Obama is trying to secure the foundations of democracy through personal and trusting contact with Merkel – at least for the transition period. It is nice to see how he relies on Merkel as a power woman and representative of democracy in this regard.

Overall, a comprehensive and detailed look back at an exciting, political time with two outstanding personalities who trust each other. Very nice, analytical work.

Media Articles

An Extraordinary Partnership

USA Today – Article Written By Claudia Clark

“If [Chancellor Angela] Merkel had been offended that [Pres. Barack] Obama failed to visit Berlin, she did not let on publicly. By now, she recognized the President’s enormous popularity in Germany, and she seized the opportunity to welcome him back.“

THE DAY immediately after Pres. Barack Obama’s 2009 speech in Cairo, he made a sojourn to Germany. As part of his broader goal of visiting historic World War II landmarks on this anniversary trip, he opted to visit the city of Dresden, followed by a tour of the former concentration camp of Buchenwald. In the years that followed World War II, Dresden had become famous for the gruesome bombing campaign led by the British and American armies, a multiday military offensive that ultimately resulted in the deaths of between 18,000 and 25,000 Germans.

Reflecting Obama’s tremendous popularity among the German people, the local citizens held a two-day welcoming party on the city’s historical market square in anticipation of his visit. Mayor Helma Orosz saw the President’s visit as “an important event” in the city’s history.

While the citizens of Dresden were happy about the President’s visit, his decision to go there in lieu of the traditional official state visit to Berlin caused controversy in both countries. Some Germans viewed the decision as a slight to Chancellor Angela Merkel, while her foreign policy critics went so far as to blameMerkel for what they saw as a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Germany since Obama had taken office.

Read More …

Camaraderie On The World Stage: The Extraordinary Alliance Between Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

TheGenZPost.com – Article Written By Claudia Clark

(L) Former U.S. President Barack Obama and (R) Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (photo credit: Reuters)

United by a belief that democracy could uplift the world, former U.S. President Barack Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel formed a friendship that transcended their disparate political views, connecting in a way that enabled them to navigate their countries through some of the most challenging events of the 21st century.

While most political pundits knew about the partnership these two created, few knew the full story — until now.

Obama was a left-leaning Democrat, Merkel a member of Germany’s far-right Christian Democratic Union, yet together, they found a way to help heal the fractures that existed between the U.S. and Europe at that time.

The new book, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, gives readers an inside look at one of the great political friendships of the modern world, as told through key moments that shaped the 21st century.

It is a thoroughly researched exploration of the parallel trajectories that led to Obama and Merkel meeting on the world stage, and the trials — both personal and political — that they confronted in office. In the leaders’ own words, the book details such events as Merkel’s historic acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the 2013 NSA spying scandal, demonstrating the highs and lows of this extraordinary alliance.

A story of camaraderie at a global scale, Dear Barack is a “fit-all” in terms of politics and shows that it is possible for political adversaries to establish bonds of respect — and even friendship — in the service of the free world.

Read More …

Camaraderie on the World Stage: Dear Barack Traces Extraordinary Political Alliance

The Metropolitan

United by a belief that democracy could uplift the world, former U.S. President Barack Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel formed a friendship that transcended their disparate political views, connecting in a way that enabled them to navigate their countries through some of the most challenging events of the 21st century. While most political pundits knew about the partnership these two created, few knew the full story — until now.

“Their relationship was by no means linear,” said author and activist Claudia Clark. “They had their differences. The important thing is that despite their differences, they came out on top. They came out stronger because they had enough respect for one another.”

In Clark’s new book, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, she gives readers an inside look at one of the great political friendships of the modern world, as told through key moments that shaped the 21st century.

Obama was a left-leaning Democrat, Merkel a member of Germany’s far-right Christian Democratic Union, yet together, they found a way to help heal the fractures that existed between the U.S. and Europe at that time.

Dear Barack is a thoroughly researched exploration of the parallel trajectories that led to Obama and Merkel meeting on the world stage, and the trials — both personal and political — that they confronted in office. In the leaders’ own words, the book details such events as Merkel’s historic acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the 2013 NSA spying scandal, demonstrating the highs and lows of this extraordinary alliance.

A story of camaraderie at a global scale, Dear Barack is a “fit-all” in terms of politics and shows that it is possible for political adversaries to establish bonds of respect — and even friendship — in the service of the free world.

Claudia Clark is an author, speaker and activist focused on social justice and democracy. In 2017, Clark and her husband moved from California to Germany, where she served as the national Get Out the Vote (GOTV) coordinator for the Democrats Abroad Germany chapter from January 2019 to May 2020. Clark has several advanced degrees, with a focus on social work, women’s history and labor relations. She lives in Berlin, where she is conducting research for her next book.

Successfully Working Together in Polarizing Times

Featured in Communication Intelligence Magazine, article by Michael Toebe

Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Working with people who are dissimilar in personality and thought can prove perplexing, if not impossible, yet it doesn’t mean that successful working partnerships cannot be developed.

“Dear Barack, The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel,” is a book written by Claudia Clark that examines how their relationship succeeded, leaving clues for others to consider.

Clark, holding a masters in U.S. history, in writing about President Obama and Chancellor Merkel, said, “… the two learned not only to work with one another but to respect one another – and sincerely like each other.”

The book dives into “how their relationship evolved, transforming them from world leaders skeptical of one another to good friends and close confidants.”

Read More …

Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Claudia Clark Is Helping To Change Our World

Featured in Authority Magazine, Article by Yitzi Weiner

Writing the book is only a miniscule amount of work that it takes to get a book published. Writing a book is like starting a business and requires a lot of organization and resources. Everything from setting up a website to securing speaking engagements to promoting the book to finding an agent and publisher. All of these tasks AND MUCH MORE are required to get a book published, and that requires a lot more time, money, and patience than writing a book. Writing the book is the easy part….

Read More …

The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

By Reel Chicago

As the devastation unfolds in Ukraine, political activist and author Claudia Clark delivers a potent reminder of the importance of alliances between countries and world leaders in her extensively researched, compelling new book, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.

Informative, entertaining and timely—with a chapter devoted specifically to Russia and Vladimir Putin—Clark’s narrative details one of the great political friendships of our time and shows that it is possible for political adversaries to establish bonds of respect—and even camaraderie—in the service of the free world.

Read More …

Angela Merkel Announces She’s a Feminist Before She Steps Down—Too Little, Too Late?

Feature by msmagazine.com

Many of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s lifestyle choices and the policies she implemented supported the cornerstone of feminist principles—even if her words did not reflect it.

Read More …

EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Dear Barack by Claudia Clark

Feature by SFnewfeed.us

BERLIN, GERMANY (7/19)- The book Dear Barack is a fascinating book
which is coming out, which details, one of the great political friendships
of the modern world, as told through key moments that shaped the
twenty-first century. Today, we know US President Barack Obama and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two of the world’s most influential
leaders, together at the center of some of the biggest controversies and
most impressive advancements of our time. But while their friendship has
been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story.

Read More …

Media Events

Claudia Clark author of MY PARTNER, MY FRIEND

Program Meeting – April 2019
Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30 PM

April’s speaker will be Claudia Clark, author of MY PARTNER, MY FRIEND The Relationship between U.S President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. The book explores how the relationship between Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world, and why their partnership is so important to today’s world leaders – the transformation of their relationship exemplifies how it is possible for political adversaries to establish a bond of trust, respect, and even friendship.

Clark received her BA in History and Public Policy from Michigan State University, where she served as President of the College Democrats and was active in Amnesty International, NOW, and Pro-Choice groups. She holds an M.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Masters in U.S. History with an emphasis on women’s history from San Jose State University, and an MSW from the University of Michigan with an emphasis in Community Organizing.

Clark has worked on numerous political and social justice campaigns, including serving as a campaign manager for a school bond measure for the South San Francisco Unified Schools Campaign; a community organizer with ACORN; a field organizer for the South Bay Labor Organization, San Jose, CA; and a field organizer for the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy families. Her volunteerism includes many Democratic Party organizations, NAACP groups, Planned Parenthood affiliations, and Toastmaster’s International.

Clark and her husband recently moved from San Jose, California, to Landshut, Bavaria, Germany where she was recently elected as the national, Get OutThe Vote Coordinator (GOTV) with the Democrats Abroad Germany Chapter. She is currently conducting research for her next book about West German families who were separated by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War.

For more information about joining AAUPW or attending a future meeting, check out How to Join or contact our club president at: info@aaupw.de

An Evening with Author Claudia Clark

Posted by Marc Castagnera | Hamburg Chapter Chair, Germany

Democrats Abroad Hamburg is proud to present an evening with Claudia Clark, the author of the upcoming book, MY PARTNER, MY FRIEND. Her book “…explores how the relationship between Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world.”

The evening will begin at 6:30 with a Meet and Greet before Ms Clark begins her talk at 7pm.

Clark received her BA in History and Public Policy from Michigan State University, where she served as President of the College Democrats and was active in Amnesty International, NOW, and Pro-Choice groups. She holds an M.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Masters in U.S. History with an emphasis on women’s history from San Jose State University, and an MSW from the University of Michigan with an emphasis in Community Organizing.

Clark has worked on numerous political and social justice campaigns, including serving as a campaign manager for a school bond measure for the South San Francisco Unified Schools Campaign; a community organizer with ACORN; a field organizer for the South Bay Labor Organization, San Jose, CA; and a field organizer for the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy families. Her volunteerism includes many Democratic Party organizations, NAACP groups, Planned Parenthood affiliations, and Toastmaster’s International.

Clark and her husband recently moved from San Jose, California, to Landshut, Bavaria, Germany where she was recently elected as the national, Get OutThe Vote Coordinator (GOTV) with the Democrats Abroad Germany Chapter. She is currently conducting research for her next book about West German families who were separated by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War.

Monthly Meeting – Special Guest Speaker Claudia Clark, Author of My Partner, My Friend: The Relationship between U.S President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel

Posted by Emily Froemel | Munich Chapter Vice Chair

Local member Claudia Clark will be giving a book talk on her book My Partner, My Friend. The book explores how the relationship between President Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world.  My Partner, My Friend explains why Pres. Barack Obama’s and Dr. Angela Merkel’s partnership is so important to today’s world leaders – the transformation of their relationship exemplifies how it is possible for political adversaries to establish a bond of trust, respect, and even friendship.

Radio Appearances

From ‘less than’ to ‘greater than:’ Obama and Merkel and their partnership

The Jefferson Exchange

Gone but not forgotten: such is the status of two major leaders of the western world, U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

They worked together well, guiding their countries through the minefield of 21st Century global politics, giving support when it was appropriate, and criticism when it was needed. And they reached their lofty positions from “less-than” beginnings: Obama was the first Black American president, Merkel the first former East German to lead the unified Germany.

Claudia Clark tells the story in Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. We get a sketch in a visit with the author.

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Community Focus with Host Matt Nie

Matt Nie, host of Community Focus on radio 89.1 WBSD FM interviews Claudia Clark on what lead her on the journey to author the book “Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel”.

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Suzanne Lynn, Media Host, Author Interview Radio Shows

Oct 21, 2021

“Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” by Claudia Clark

One of the great political friendships of the modern world, as told through key moments that shaped the twenty-first century.

Today, we know US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two of the world’s most influential leaders, together at the center of some of the biggest controversies and most impressive advancements of our time. But while their friendship has been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story.

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Headlined Show, Shadow Politics

September 19, 2021

Shadow Politics with Senator Michael Brown and Maria Sanchez and guest Claudia Clark

Our guest is CLAUDIA CLARK, Author of ‘Dear Barack’ – We know US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two of the world’s most influential leaders — together at the center of some of the biggest controversies and most impressive advancements of our time. But while their friendship has been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story. Maria and I will discuss this extraordinary relationship with author Claudia Clark.

Listen Here…

Podcasts

Dear Barack – Claudia Clark

The Not Old – Better Show

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s show is generously brought to you by Ka’Chava, Elysium Health, and Newspapers.com

Working with people who are dissimilar in personality and thought can prove perplexing, if not impossible, yet it doesn’t mean that successful working partnerships cannot be developed.

One such partnership nearly didn’t happen; then, after it did, it nearly died. One of the great political friendships of the modern world is between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two of the world’s most influential leaders, together at the center of some of the biggest controversies and most impressive advancements of our time. But while their friendship has been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story.

Listen Here…

Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel – Claudia Clark

Angela Ross, SoCal Voices, Episode 69:

Claudia Clark is an expatriate activist, historian and author of Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Claudia discusses the inspiration behind her book about two of the world’s most influential leaders, and her struggles to get published. She also shares her views on current events through the lens of an American living in Berlin.

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Mutual Respect: Merkel and Obama with Claudia Clark

Secular Left, Episode 42:
Merkel and Obama, The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Community Organizing with ACORN

We talk to Claudia Clark about her book “Dear Barack” that explains the unique partnership of President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Claudia also gives the European viewpoint of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and finally we discuss her time as a community organizer with the group ACORN.

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Dear Claudia

Jeremy Garcia, Get In Loser (We’re talking LGBTQ+ & more)

This week I had a chance to speak with Claudia Clark, author of “Dear Barack: The extraditionary partnership between Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.” Claudia is an author, activist, historian and expat. We had a wide ranging chat on her book, abortion rights, the rise of authoritarianism and so much more. Don’t miss out on this fascinating conversation taped live from Berlin – a Get In Loser first!

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Obama and Merkel: The Extraordinary Partnership

Dan Snow’s History Hit

U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are two of the world’s most influential leaders, together at the centre of some of the biggest controversies and most impressive advancements of our time. Taking office at the height of the 2008 global recession, Obama was keenly aware of the fractured relationship between the US and Europe, while Merkel was initially sceptical of the charismatic newcomer who had captivated her country. Despite their partnership having been the subject of both scrutiny and admiration, few know the full story.

Upon Merkel’s departure from office after 16 years last month, Dan is joined by Claudia Clark, author of ‘Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel’. They discuss Merkel and her administration, where the partnership between Obama and Merkel began, the historically significant parallel trajectories that marked the highs and lows of their extraordinary alliance, and the continued influence of their legacy on global politics.

If you’d like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit – subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

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Claudia Clark explains the Merkel & Obama partnership

In this episode, Audra and Gunther are talking with Claudia Clark, a US-Expat, presently living in Germany.

Claudia also holds an M.A. in Labor Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master’s in U.S. History with an emphasis on women’s history from San Jose State University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan with an emphasis in Community Organizing.

Presently, living in Germany, Claudia is the national Get out the Vote (GOTV) coordinator for the Democrats Abroad Germany Chapter. In this role, Claudia is responsible for helping to secure American Democratic ex-pat voters living in Germany to cast their ballots from abroad.

And in the long lineup of accomplishments, Claudia is also the author of “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel”

Claudia joined us via Zoom – we apologize for some inconsistent audio levels.

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Claudia Clark on Angela Merkel and Barack Obama’s Political Partnership by Womanhood & International Relations

By Natalia Bonilla

Womanhood and International Relations is a bi-weekly podcast created by Natalia Bonilla to explore the intersection of feminist theory from a personal to an international level.

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The Tom Sumner Program

Interview with Claudia Clark

The Tom Sumner Program features guest interviews, comedy, local music and more.

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Obama and Merkel: Fence Mending

The Podcast with John C. Lemon

In this episode of The Podcast with John C. Lemon, I converse with Claudia Clark, Author of Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership Between Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. She joins me today to discuss the relationship and legacy of the former United States President and the Chancellor of Germany.

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Claudia Clark (Spoken Label)

April 2021

The book is described as “Dear Barack explores how the relationship between Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world.

Dear Barack explains why Barack Obama’s and Dr. Angela Merkel’s partnership is so important to today’s world leaders – the transformation of their relationship exemplifies how it is possible for political adversaries to establish a bond of trust, respect, and even friendship.”

Listen Here…

That Thing About Writing My First Book
One More Thing Before You Go

Michael R Herst EPISODE 62, 2nd February 2021

In this episode we have a conversation with Claudia Clark who is an Ex-Pat currently living overseas, who shares her journey of researching and writing her book My Partner, My Friend which explains why Barack Obama’s and Dr. Angela Merkel’s partnership is so important to today’s world leaders, and how the transformation of their relationship exemplifies how it is possible for political adversaries to establish a bond of trust, respect, and even friendship. My Partner, My Friend explores how the relationship between Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world.

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Can Biden Mend Fences With Europe?

The Gary Baumgarten Report

The relationship between the United States and Europe deteriorated the past four years. Most notably between President Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe’s longest-serving democratic leader. Claudia Clark, author of the book My Partner, My Friend, which details the close relationship between former President Obama and Merkel, takes a look at how that all eroded during the Trump administration. And makes some predictions about the chances of restoration during a Biden presidency.

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Leadership, the future and tea

Talking leadership in politics with Claudia Clark, Andy Davies

Leadership, the future and tea: Special Guest Claudia Clark. Claudia has written a book entitled ‘My partner, my friend’ about the relationship between Angela Merkel and Barack Obama. There are some great leadership examples to takeaway to the business world and it’s fascinating to hear Claudia’s experience of writing the book.

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Claudia Clark – Obama and Merkel: Inclusive…

The Global Fluency Podcast

Join us for this fascinating conversation with Claudia Clark, author of “My Partner, My Friend: The Relationship Between President Obama and German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel.” During this episode, we explore the cross-cultural communication between these two political figures. It is an intriguing exploration of how differing communication styles can foster inclusion, as well as lead to authentic interpersonal relationships and friendships.

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Interviews

The Political Oddcouple:
The Unsual Friendship Of Two Of The Most Different Leaders

A story of camaraderie at a global scale, Dear Barack shows that it is possible for political adversaries to establish bonds of respect—and even friendship—in the service of the free world.

Deepak Kaistha – DKODING

Dear Barack is a thoroughly researched document of the parallel trajectories that led to Obama and Merkel meeting on the world stage and the trials, both personal and political, that they confronted in office. At times in the leaders’ own words, the book details such events as Merkel’s historic acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the 2013 NSA spying scandal, demonstrating the highs and lows of this extraordinary alliance.

Claudia Clark brilliantly captures a relationship that has had such significant impact on global politics in recent times. She goes beyond the mere professional bond between Obama and Merkel to reveal the enormous impact personality, charisma, and mutual respect have on political cooperation. A truly enlightening piece that not only details how the German-American relationship has been, but how fruitful it can be.
~ CANDICE KERESTAN, PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATS ABROAD GERMANY

One of the great political friendships of the modern world, as told through key moments that shaped the twenty-first century — Author Claudia Clark shares her reasons for writing “Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel” in an exclusive interview with DKODING:

Tell DKODING a bit about your book — Dear Barack!

The name of the book is Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. As the title suggests, it is primarily about the relationship between former U.S. President Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. However, the second thesis of the book, and perhaps is how important it is in today’s globalized world for world leaders of allied nations to have reliable and trusting relationships.

More…

Interview with author Claudia Clark: Exploring the Obama-Merkel political relationship

By Christy Birmingham-Reyes – When Women Inspire

Recently I had the opportunity to interview author Claudia Clark about her new book Dear Barak: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. Her book explores the political relationship between former US President Barak Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. As Clark explained to me, the secondary theme of the book is the importance of trusting and reliable relationships between world leaders in today’s globalized environment. Below is my Q&A with the author.

What inspired you to write the book?

While the decision to write Dear Barack was a long time in the making, the final press conference between Obama and Merkel in November 2016 started the process. I was immediately struck by how visibly upset Merkel was when questioned by a journalist about this being their last such event together in an official capacity.

In both the days leading up to that final event and the days that followed it, I could not help but notice stories in the media regarding the strong bond between the two leaders. Journalists often noted Merkel’s use of the affectionate phrase “dear Barack,” and Business Insider ran a story titled “16 photos that demonstrate Obama and Merkel will truly miss one another,” which illustrated to me that others had also witnessed the chemistry between them.

I kept these images in the back of my mind but did not dredge them up again until March 2017, during Merkel’s first trip to Washington, DC, to visit President Donald Trump. I watched as Trump refused to shake Merkel’s hand, and noted the stark contrast compared to her interactions with his predecessor.

It was then that I realized Obama and Merkel had a truly memorable relationship — one that deserved special recognition, one that should be memorialized in some way. Less than a year later, from the other side of the Atlantic, and only six months after our move, I turned over a 250-page manuscript for review by the first of two editors and a translator, beginning a process about which I knew nothing — how to get a book published.

More…

Author Interview – Claudia Clark – Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Claudia Clark talks about writing her new book, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.

Written by JJ Barnes

I interviewed author Claudia Clark about her life and career, what inspired her to start writing, and the work that went into her new book, Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I am an American living in Berlin (via Michigan and California) I am a historian, feminist, and fourth generation progressive political activist. I received my BA in history and public policy (with a French minor) from Michigan State University, my Master’s degree in Labor Relations from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, my MA in history with an emphasis on women’s history from San Jose State University, and my Master of Social Work with a focus on community organizing from the University of Michigan.

I speak English, French, and Spanish fluently, and am working on learning German. I have worked on many social justice campaigns including a school bond measure in South San Francisco, California and a field organizer for abortion rights in South Dakota.

Claudia Clark

In August I am going to get my certificate at the International Travel Tour Management Institute so that I can work part time as a tour guide. Additionally, in September I am going to spend two months in Rouen, France to prepare to take the French proficiency exam (DALF) to help improve my chances of obtaining a job working with an NGO or the UN.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

When I was a child, I was creative and had a gift that my mother encouraged me to attempt to write—as a child I always assumed I would be a creative or fiction writer. However, once I entered high school and college, analytical and nonfiction writing took so much of my time that I simply did not have the time to write creatively like I did as a child.

When did you take a step to start writing?

When I was in elementary school, the local university had a contest for children to write a story and winners selected had the opportunity to present their work at the university among other students, and writers across the area. My elementary school teacher encouraged me to enter—I am an avid animal lover, and if I weren’t a political activist I would work doing something with animals. I wrote a story about a mamma koala Kristi, and her joey Kandi. The short story gave me enough recognition that the story won first place for my elementary school and I was able to go the young writer’s conference.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

I wrote my book in the middle of Covid, so many places were shut down, and there were delays because book fairs etc. were cancelled, but from start to finish it took me 4 years to write the book—from research to publication. Of actual writing time, maybe 18 months. The rest of that was “down” and waiting time.

What made you want to write Dear Barack?

I visited Berlin as a teenager for the first time in 1990 and fell in love with the city and knew I wanted to move there eventually, and for a variety of reasons that “eventually” happened in 2017 when my husband received a job offer with a company in southern Germany. However my German was not good enough to work in a professional setting and I knew I needed to do something that would keep myself busy without interfering with my German language classes.

I happened to hear Trump’s rhetoric about the usefulness of NATO, and compared it with how the media depicted Merkel and Obama’s relationship, and I realized Obama and Merkel really had a remarkable partnership—one that should be memorialized in some way. I remembered reading books about the relationships between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, so I began to research if there were enough substance between Merkel and Obama’s partnership to warrant such a book, and the next thing I knew I had a 250 page manuscript.

What were your biggest challenges with writing Dear Barack?

I was an unknown author and I was attempting to write a major piece of nonfiction about two of the most powerful people in the world. I knew the story was worth telling, but the challenge was convincing people (i.e. publishers) that I was the right person to tell the story.

I attempted several times to contact key people from both the Obama and Merkel’s administrations, and my emails/phone calls went unanswered. Hence, because I was relying on secondary sources, I knew the book needed to be impeccably researched to combat this downfall, so I ensured that not only did I use a lot of sources, but a wide range of resources—everything from biographies to newspaper articles, to video clips—if it were at all relevant, I used it.

What was your research process for Dear Barack?

I started with biographies written about Obama and Merkel—then I used a couple of the bibliographies from my favorite books and used those sources as well. I used newspaper articles and news sources on both sides of the Atlantic—for example, if Obama were in Berlin for a visit, I would see what the New York or LA Times said about his trip to Berlin as well as the traditional newspapers and magazines in Berlin and even Europe said. Conversely, when Merkel was in Washington, I would see what the German magazine Der Spiegel said about the visit (German equivalent to Time magazine) and compared what they said with what American newspapers said.

Fortunately most of my work was public domain, so I watched youtube videos recorded by the White House archives and watched the press conferences and other official meetings between the two of them, and I compared those video clippings to the official transcripts which were released . Because so much of the interaction between the two was based on non verbal communication that was not reflected in the transcripts, I would watch the videos for the visual impact of the visit and compare the exchanges for accuracy with the official reports released by the White House.

Dear Barack

I simultaneously had the book translated, and my translator would confirm and verify the German side, and informed me of corrections (she even found a few mistakes in Merkel’s official translator)

How did you plan the structure of Dear Barack?

At my publisher’s suggestion, I wrote a preface or author’s notes section which explained who I was and why I decided to write the book. Then, I wrote an introduction chapter where I outlined the book and thesis. Because Obama was the first black president of the U.S. and Merkel had been the first female chancellor of Germany, I knew a biography chapter made sense, so I knew that Obama and Merkel had 11 official encounters (state visits for example) during their time together, I planned one chapter for each of those meetings—which was the bulk of the book.

There was one scandal (the spying scandal where it was discovered Obama had wiretapped Merkel’s cell phone) that was important enough that I gave that its own separate chapter, and then a conclusion where I tied everything together. Because Merkel remained in office after Obama left, I added an afterward which described what had happened to the relationship between the U.S. and Germany post Obama.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Dear Barack need?

Because I knew I was an unknown author, I faced an uphill battle, and I did not want to give a publisher any reason to turn down my book. Hence, I had two professional editors (and my translator) review the manuscript before it even went to any publisher.

People told me it was unnecessary for nonfiction that if a publisher were interested they would take the manuscript and send it off to an editor anyway, and while that was true, I still do not regret having the manuscript in good condition before allowing publishers to see it.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?

Writing a book is a business and be prepared to spend a lot of money getting it published and sold. I was not prepared for that component—I am not just talking about paying for editors, but most publishers do not help with publicity, so be prepared to spend the money on PR and marketing and other expenses associated with getting a book published and sold. Writing a book is only about 1/100th of the work required to actually get a book published, so be prepared for that both emotionally and financially. I am just fortunate I had the resources to do it.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I am currently researching a book comparing the lives of people in Northern Ireland in the 1970s/80s at the height of the divisions in their country with the lives of Germans in Eastern Germany and Berlin during the Cold War. Both nations/people divided by walls. How were their lives similar? How were they different? Common lessons between both experiences.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes—I have worked on many social justice campaigns and have done work I am very proud of, but this is my biggest accomplishment. I can say that I am a published author in two languages

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Website: https://www.claudiaclarkauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Claudia-Clark-Author-2185350048200575

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiaclarkauthor73/

Linked In:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-clark-7682492/

Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-clark-7682492/

Carol Ann Kauffman’s Vision and Verse

INTERVIEW: Nonfiction Author Claudia Clark

Q: Good morning, Claudia, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for Art and Authors. Can you tell us a little about what you’ve written?
A: Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

Claudia Clark
Berlin, Germany

Q: What is your favorite genre to write?
A: Nonfiction

Q: Favorite food.
A: Pizza

Q: Tea or coffee?
A: Coffee

Q: Pizza or ice cream?
A: Pizza

Q: Wine or beer or soda or what?
A: Coke

Q: Where would you like to visit?
A: Australia

Q: Favorite musical artist.
A: Beatles

Q: Do you listen to music when you write? What?
A: In my spare time, I play flute/piccolo in community bands. My ambition to be a successful musician outweighed my talent, so I listen to the music of James Galway or Jean-Pierre Rampal for inspiration when I write.

Q: What makes you laugh?
A: I like older comedy shows like I Love Lucy, and the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

Q: Me, too. I love those old comedies. This is an ART and AUTHOR blog, so I am obligated to ask: Favorite work of art or sculpture.
A: Claude Monet’s : Beach in Pourville

Q: How old were you when you started writing?
A: 11 or 12

Q: Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
A: Outlines

Q: Describe your perfect evening.
A: Dinner at a nice restaurant with my husband and another couple followed by a night at the theater, musicals are my favorite.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: Hiking in the mountains.

Q: What do you do when you get a writer’s block?
A: I put the writing aside and focus on something else for a while—find a new hobby or take a new class.

Q: Who is your favorite author?
A: Toni Morrison

Q: Best book you ever read.
A: Poisonwood Bible

Q: Last book you read.
A: The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Matron.

Q: What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
A: I absolutely love animals, so I would probably do something working with them—maybe in the capacity such as Jane Goodall with her work with chimpanzees, or a wildlife refuge in Australia working with koalas or kangaroos.

Q: Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
A: My mother—she influenced me to write from a very age. She read my stories, took me to writing conferences –even when she could barely pay the fees, and encouraged me.

Q: If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
A: Marie Curie. I have prided myself as a feminist since I was five years old. Unfortunately, I am absolutely horrible in math and science, and that has created turmoil—I advocate women can do anything, but I, personally hate math and science. Nevertheless, I have nothing but respect for women trailblazers—especially in those fields. I would love to get a first hand account of all her experiences and obstacles she faced.

Q: What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
A: To have a tough skin, and a lot of patience. Writing is a very tough business and rejection is par of the course, but if you have faith in your skill and passion, to keep at it, and your break will come.

Q: Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Website: https://www.claudiaclarkauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Claudia-Clark-Author-2185350048200575
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CClarkAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiaclarkauthor73/
Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-clark-7682492/