Monthly Archives: January 2020

Author’s Notebook | How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History by Annette Gendler

Gendler, 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

Posted in Authors | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

AJL Announces 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Awards

For More Information Contact: Rebecca Levitan, Chair Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee Association of Jewish Libraries http://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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Author’s Notebook | Crushing the Red Flowers by Jennifer Voigt Kaplan

Kaplan, 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

Posted in Authors | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Mid-Week Notes

Three 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

Posted in Mid-Week Notes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Two-in-One Author’s Notebook | Essie’s Revelation Summer by Deanie Yasner with Publisher Nancy Sayre

Yasner, 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

Posted in Two-in-One | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Mid-Week Notes

Three quick things: I received two invitations to teach: One to teach undergrad Intro to Creative Writing and one to teach undergrad Literature of the Holocaust at two different universities. Problem: They were both for Tuesday/Thursday at 2 pm when … Continue reading

Posted in Mid-Week Notes | 2 Comments

Writing Chai

With today’s post, I am starting a new The Whole Megillah feature: Writing Chai. This ad hoc feature will focus on the writing life, craft books, courses, the struggles, the triumphs. I look forward to your participation! I am interested … Continue reading

Posted in Writing Chai | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mid-Week Notes

Happy New Year, everyone! Today is the first day of a new year and a new decade. Three quick things: Every December I assess my year-end accomplishments and set long- and short-term goals for the coming year(s). A tool I … Continue reading

Posted in Mid-Week Notes | Tagged , | 2 Comments