Ilona RyderIlona Ryder was born in Vienna, Austria, July 9, 1947, to Michael and Ada Vondrak. At age seven, she was adopted by Ada's second husband Frank, and in 1956 this little family emigrated to Alberta, Canada, where she also gained a much younger sister ad brother. Her teenage years on a farm gave Ilona a respect for nature and an appreciation for the simple things in life. The family moved to Edmonton in 1965.There was no contact between Ilona and her biological father until 1969 when she travelled to San Diego. Meeting him was life- changing for her. It led to a rewarding relationship with Michael, his second wife Frances and their daughters Felicia and Mia.Over the years, Ilona with husband Gary visited the VonDraks, and she came to know more about the family history. Eventuallyshe researched and wrote the personal biography of her grandfather Michael Curtiz, the Warner Brothers director most well known for Casablanca. Now, in this her third book, Ilona turns to her father's life story, and his life in art. Read More Read Less