From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books.childrens

She lived in Vancouver. https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/irene-watts-1089127034
(with photo)
Irene N. Watts nee Kirstein was born in Berlin, Germany. As a young child her grandfather gave her a puppet theatre and she credits this gift with starting the creative process that would stay with her throughout her career as an educator, dramatist and writer. At age seven, Irene came to England on the Kindertransport, a rescue effort that saved thousands of Jewish children from the Holocaust. In 1968 she emigrated to Canada with her husband, Jim Watts, and their four children. She served as the director of the Citadel on Wheels/Wings bringing performances to schools throughout Alberta and the Northwest territories. Irene started the Neptune Theatre touring company in Halifax and was the first program director of the Vancouver International Children's Festival. She worked with Green Thumb Players and Arts Umbrella and had fond memories of her time spent with the White Rock Players.
Irene was a recipient of an Alberta Achievement award for outstanding service to Drama and a lifetime member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. Irene's literary journey began with writing plays for young audiences. She later achieved great success with novels based on historical fiction. Irene cherished her relationships with her fellow writers. Her books have won many awards, been translated into several different languages and been published world wide. Above all family was everything to Irene, and she will be deeply missed by her children Julia (Phil), Tania (Jean), Adam (Tiffany), Vicki (Bill), her eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, as well her sister Yehudit. No service by request. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Holocaust Education Centre.

About "Good-bye, Marianne":
"As autumn turns toward winter in 1938 Berlin, life for Marianne Kohn,
a young Jewish girl, begins to crumble. First there was the burning of
the neighbourhood shops. Then her father, a mild-mannered bookseller,
must leave the family and go into hiding. No longer allowed to go to
school or even sit in a caf|-, MariannerCOs only comfort is her beloved
mother. Things are bad, but could they get even worse? Based on true
events, this fictional account of hatred and racism speaks volumes
about both history and human nature."
Reviews: https://www.google.com/search?q=irene+watts+marianne&sca_esv=593152110&ei=xfyFZYztM4iaptQP0NqV6AU&ved=0ahUKEwjM44fi-6ODAxUIjYkEHVBtBV0Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=irene+watts+marianne&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFGlyZW5lIHdhdHRzIG1hcmlhbm5lMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSIsQUPECWM0OcAF4AJABAJgBWKABrwWqAQIxMLgBA8gBAPgBAcICCxAAGIAEGKIEGLADwgILEAAYiQUYogQYsAPCAgsQABiABBiKBRiRAsICBRAAGIAEwgIGEAAYFhgewgIFECEYqwLiAwQYASBBiAYBkAYE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#ip=1
http://www.irenenwatts.com/

https://www.jewishindependent.ca/meet-award-winning-artists/
(interview from 2017?)
https://www.jewishindependent.ca/tag/irene-watts/
(more about Watts)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_N._Watts
She also wrote picture books. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/irene-n-watts/
(two Kirkus reviews)
https://www.sfu.ca/~khuenema/KidLit/reviews2.html
(scroll almost to the bottom for reviews of Clay Man: The Golem of Prague (2009), and Touched by Fire (2013) )
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/177263.Irene_N_Watts
(reader reviews)
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