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: August 2010
Author’s Notebook | Eli Stutz
This is Part Two of an Agent/Author interview. Last week, The Whole Megillah featured agent Elana Roth of the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. Today, we feature her client, Eli Stutz, author of Pickle Impossible (Bloomsbury USA, 2010). The Whole Megillah … Continue reading
Agent’s Notebook | Elana Roth, Caren Johnson Literary Agency
This is Part One of an Agent/Author interview. Elana is Part One and her client, Eli Stutz, author of Pickle Impossible (Bloomsbury USA, 2010), is Part Two and an upcoming Author’s Notebook feature. Elana Roth is a literary agent with … Continue reading
Posted in Agents
Tagged Caren Johnson Literary Agency, children's book agents, Elana Roth, Eli Stutz, Pickle Impossible
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Librarian’s Notebook | Linda R. Silver
For August 2010, The Whole Megillah Librarian’s Notebook features an interview with Linda R. Silver. Linda is a librarian and a specialist in Jewish children’s literature. She has written two books on the subject as well as speaking, teaching, and … Continue reading
The Whole Megillah Mourns
My brother-in-law died suddenly of a heart attack Tuesday evening. He was only 56. Because we are now in mourning and because I’ll be on retreat, The Whole Megillah is taking a break and will resume with librarian, agent, and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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A History of Jewish Children’s Books—Part Three
Adapted from a talk given by Lisa Silverman, Library Director of Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, May 23, 2010 at the Highlights Founders Workshop, “Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books” Genres of Jewish Children’s Literature—Realism in Jewish Family Life The first book in … Continue reading
Tagged Are You There God, Bette Greene, Confessions of a Closet Catholic, Deborah Garfinkle, Highlights Foundation, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, Judy Blume, Lisa Silverman, Our Eddie, realism in Jewish family life, Sarah Darer Littman, Simone Elkeles, Storky, Sulamith Ish Kishor, Summer of My German Soldier, Writing Jewish-themed Children's Books
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Book Review: Once
Once Written by Morris Gleitzman (Henry Holt and Company, 2010–previously published in Australia) In the author’s note, Morris Gleitzman said he had read a book about Janusz Korczak, a Polish Jewish doctor and children’s author, who helped run an orphanage … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews
Tagged Holocaust literature, Janusz Korczak, Morris Gleitzman, Once
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The Whole Megillah Grows
Thanks to everyone–Jewish children’s book writers, librarians, editors, agents, and publicists–who have helped make The Whole Megillah a success. Given the great response, I’ve been thinking of expanding The Whole Megillah to offer: Workshops and retreats–I’m exploring a four-day workshop/retreat … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Jewish children's books, National Yiddish Book Center, The Whole Megillah
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