Honoring the enduring bonds of long-distance friendships at the Moravian Book Shop June 1, author Judith Umlas signed copies of recently released, “Soulmates & Strangers: A friendship that lasted a lifetime.” Her visit corresponded, as it were, with National Pen Pal Day.

“When people hear about my book, they often share the most touching stories of pen pals they had growing up — and how powerful those connections through handwritten letters were,” Umlas said. “Some of those friendships even lasted a lifetime. I absolutely love hearing of them!”

“Soulmates & Strangers” tells the true story of two pen pals, Umlas’ mother in America, who was learning French, and her French counterpart, who was learning English. They began writing to each other in the 1930s and continued their correspondence for over 70 years, including the turbulent years of World War II, during which they shared their thoughts and emotions through letters. The story illustrates how friendship can transcend distance, cultural differences, and even language barriers.

“Before email or FaceTime, when snail mail was the only way to communicate across oceans,” Umlas explained, “my mother and her French pen pal created a family legacy. Their writings to one another preserve a precious time in the past, while inspiring generations in the future.”

At 18, Umlas traveled to France to meet her mother’s longtime pen pal — a woman with whom her mother had shared decades of heartfelt letters. Welcomed into the family, Umlas spent the summer fully immersed in the language and culture. She returned fluent in French, and the friendship between the two families grew to span generations.

Years later, following several visits between the two families, Umlas was given her mother’s collection of letters — written in French to her longtime pen pal. As she read through them, she came to appreciate the depth of their connection, reflecting, “They were soulmates and strangers,” she said.

Umlas is the author of several influential books including “The Power of Acknowledgment” (2006), “Grateful Leadership” (2013), and “The Power of Acknowledgment for Kids” (2013). She shared her 2022 release “Soulmates & Strangers,” with bookstore guests — many of whom were inspired by their own meaningful relationships to purchase the book, a heartfelt tribute to the timeless bond of friendship.

“We’re having a sisters’ weekend,” said Shari Wilson of Bethlehem, who stopped to browse the book and have it signed alongside her two sisters visiting from Connecticut and New York.

“Sisterhood brings us together,” she said. Inspired by the book, the trio may begin exchanging handwritten notes of their own — a thoughtful and creative way to bring them closer together when they live miles apart.

The power of handwritten correspondence — and its ability to forge lasting friendships with people of all ages and backgrounds — is at the heart of her book. Helping to rekindle the joy of pen pal relationships, attendees were encouraged to embrace the art of letter writing and its relevance in today’s digital age.

“Every once in a while, I get a handwritten letter which is something I can never throw away,” Umlas said, “Writing a letter is like a person putting their whole self into the communication, and it’s unlike any other form of communication.”

“My grandmother is always really into historical fiction and likes memoirs,” said Dylan Wallace of Bethlehem who found a gift for his own mother while browsing the bookshop and stumbling upon Umlas and her book,

“Seems like a nice cross-section of the two and something right up her alley,” he said.

“I have a pen pal in school,” said fourth-grader Benjamin Kelly of Emmaus, who met up with his longtime friend and former preschool classmate, Leo Servedio, at the Moravian Book Shop to celebrate National Pen Pal Day.

“It’s fun because every letter feels like a surprise,” he said.

“I want to have a pen pal, too,” added Leo. “I think it would be fun to write to my friend.”