The Whole Megillah- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things: Each day brings new writing opportunities into my email inbox whether from Amherst Writers & Artists group leaders, past workshop leaders, or more formal organizations such as Writers Studio. I toyed with the idea of signing up … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things: Several writing instructors are now offering free online writing sessions to help us all deal with these trying times of the coronavirus. Check your local area for these, especially those affiliated with the Amherst Writers & Artists … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Announcing the First Annual “Chaiku” Contest | Guest Post by Amy LosakAbout a year and a half ago, thanks to the connective power of social media, several accomplished and award-winning Jewish women’s authors of books for children decided to form a group: The Book Meshuggenahs! We now have 16 members, and … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour | Final StopYou’ve now come to the final stop along the 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award blog tour, the culmination of a full week of insightful and inspiring award-winning author and illustrator interviews. Read about the blog tour and all 2020 … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things: I had grand plans to work on my genealogical memoir by taking a Creative Nonfiction advanced memoir class. But that was before the semester started. I just can’t get into my personal writing space at the moment … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History by Annette GendlerGendler, Annette. How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History. 2019, $8.95 The Whole Megillah (TWM): What prompted your interest in your own family’s history? Annette Gendler (AG): Two things: When I fell in love with a Jewish man in … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- AJL Announces 2020 Sydney Taylor Book AwardsFor More Information Contact: Rebecca Levitan, Chair Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee Association of Jewish Libraries www.sydneytaylorbookawards.org sydneytaylorbookaward@jewishlibraries.org January 27, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winners Announced Winners of the annual Sydney Taylor Book Award were … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Author’s Notebook | Crushing the Red Flowers by Jennifer Voigt KaplanKaplan, Jennifer Voigt. Crushing the Red Flowers. Ig Publishing, 2019. 308 pp., $12.95 The Whole Megillah (TWM): What inspired you to write Crushing the Red Flowers? Jennifer Voight Kaplan (JVK): Crushing the Red Flowers is a middle-grade story set in … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week NotesThree quick things: The Jewish Book Council has just announced its 2019 winners. I agree with some choices, like Michael Dobbs’s Unwanted and, of course, Lesléa Newman’s Gittel’s Journey. But another book that won I thought lacked any authenticity. Sigh. … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Two-in-One Author’s Notebook | Essie’s Revelation Summer by Deanie Yasner with Publisher Nancy SayreYasner, Deanie. Essie Rose’s Revelation Summer. Golden Alley Press, 2019, 241 pp. $8.99. The Whole Megillah (TWM): Essie Rose’s Revelation Summer captures so many historical (and emotional) details. How much of those came from your memory vs. research? How much … Continue reading →Barbara Krasner
- Mid-Week Notes
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Ideas Can Come from Anywhere–Even Jane Yolen
The first-ever Highlights Foundation workshop for writers of Jewish-themed children’s books took place at the founders’ home in Boyds Mills, PA from May 23-25. Throughout the following weeks, I’ll be sharing some highlights (no pun intended) of what the speakers … Continue reading
Tagged Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Calkins Creek Books, Carolyn Yoder, Debra Hess, Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, East/West Agency, Francoise Bui, Hachai Publishing, Highlights for Children, Highlights Foundation, Highlights Foundation Worksop, Jane Yolen, Jewish Book World, Lisa Silverman, Mary Kole, Penninah Schram, Rubin Pfeffer
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Author’s Notebook | Rich Michelson
Each month, The Whole Megillah features an interview with an author of Jewish-themed children’s books. For May 2010’s Author’s Notebook debut, we reached out to award-winning author Rich Michelson of Massachusetts. The Whole Megillah (TWM): When did you first realize … Continue reading
Jewish American Heritage Month and the Sydney Taylor Book Award
On May 7, Kathe Pinchuck, Outgoing Chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee posted in the AJL Blog, People of the Books, a list of Sydney Taylor Book Awards winners, celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. I urge you to … Continue reading
Museum of Jewish Heritage | A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
It seemed fitting that I would head into New York City today to research the St. Louis on the 71st anniversary of its sailing. After spending a couple of hours at the Joint Distribution Committee archives midtown, I traveled to … Continue reading
Book Review: Emma’s Poem–The Voice of the Statue of Liberty
Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty (Houghton Mifflin, 2010) Written by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Claire A. Nivola I must confess: I’ve been researching Emma Lazarus for about ten years. Since the Statue of Liberty’s 100th anniversary … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged Emma Lazarus, New Colossus, nineteenth century Jewish writers, Statue of Liberty
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This Month in Jewish History—The Tragic Voyage of the St. Louis
On May 13, 1939, more than 900 German Jewish refugees boarded the luxury liner MS St. Louis in Hamburg. They were filled with hope of a new homeland, rejected by Germany. Since Kristallnacht the previous November, and even before that, … Continue reading
