Author Talk: Haley Cohen Gilliland

Bedford Books is thrilled to welcome Haley Cohen Gilliland, author of A Flower Traveled in My Blood. Haley will be joined in conversation by communications strategist and journalist Jessica Rao.

Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.

About the book:

For readers of Say Nothing and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the epic true story of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo—grandmothers who fought to find their stolen grandchildren during Argentina’s brutal dictatorship.

In the early hours of March 24th, 1976, the streets of Buenos Aires rumbled with tanks as soldiers seized the presidential palace and toppled Argentina’s leader. The country was now under the control of a military junta, with army chief Jorge Rafael Videla at the helm. With quiet support from the United States and tacit approval from Argentina’s people, who were tired of constant bombings and gunfights, the junta swiftly launched the National Reorganization Process or El Proceso—a bland name masking their ruthless campaign to crush the political left and instill the country with “Western, Christian” values. The junta held power until 1983 and decimated a generation.

One of the military’s most diabolical acts was disappearing hundreds of pregnant women. Patricia Roisinblit was among them, a mother and leftist revolutionary labeled “subversive” and abducted while eight months pregnant with her second child. She gave birth in captivity, making one last call to her mother, Rosa, before she was never heard from again. Her newborn son was one of hundreds of babies secretly given to other families, many of them headed by police or military officers. For Rosa and other mothers of pregnant daughters and daughters-in-law, their grief was twofold—the disappearances of their children, and the theft of their grandchildren. A group of fierce grandmothers formed the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, dedicated to finding the stolen infants and seeking justice from a nation that betrayed them.

A Flower Traveled in My Blood is Rosa and the Abuelas’ extraordinary story, told by a journalist with unique access. With authority and compassion, Haley Cohen Gilliland brings this tale to life, tracing the lives of young mother Patricia, grandmother Rosa, and stolen newborn, Guillermo. At a time when speaking out meant death, the Abuelas confronted military officers and launched protests to reach international diplomats and journalists. They became detectives, adopting disguises to see suspected grandchildren, and even working alongside an American scientist to pioneer groundbreaking genetics tests.

A compelling mystery and deeply researched account of a pivotal era in world history, A Flower Traveled in My Blood takes readers on a journey of love, resilience, and redemption, revealing new truths about memory, identity, and family.

About Haley Cohen Gilliland:

Haley Cohen Gilliland is a journalist and the director of the Yale Journalism Initiative. She previously worked at The Economist for seven years, four of which were spent in Buenos Aires as the paper’s Argentina correspondent. Following her time at The Economist, she has focused on narrative nonfiction—bringing history and current events to life through fact-based storytelling. She has published long-form feature articles in The New York Times, National Geographic, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Vanity Fair, among other publications. She lives in New York State with her husband, two children, and dogs. A Flower Traveled in My Blood is her first book.

About Jessica Rao:

Jessica Rao is an award-winning journalist and media professional who has held contributor roles at CNBC and Gannett and overseen communications for Fortune 500 companies.

In addition to her media career, Jessica is the Vice President of the White Plains Library Foundation Board, and she hosts and produces literary events. She is seeking representation for her debut novel, Tuesday Night Special.

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