Sharon Bially's Blog, page 4

Bold Decisions, No Regrets: Wendy Dubow Polins

Architect, art historian, teacher and mother of two, Wendy Dubow Polins is also the author of the profound novel Fare Forward, picked by the Jewish Book Council to present as a book festival suggestion in over 100 cities.  In order to accept that invitation on time, Wendy had to end her agreement with a literary agent and publish Fare Forward on her own.  This bold decision has proven to be for the best, empowering her to take the words of Golda Meir to heart and fight for the things in life ...

Book Installments Returning Soon!

When Veronica's Nap came out in paperback in July, I mentioned that I'd be pausing the online serialization of the book for a while. 

Well, it's been a while….  So beginning next Tuesday, October 11, the *blovel* serialization will resume here.

(You may have noticed that I've switched the site around a little, with my blog now on the front page and the book installments now on the tab called "The Novel.")

I've learned through this blogging experience that most people do want to read at their...

Simple Promo Tip for Authors #2

With Veronica's Nap out in paperback, I've been thinking a lot about book promotion and taking note of what seems to work — and what doesn't.  I'll be sharing my thoughts on smart , easy, cost-free or cost-effective tips here from time to time.

Here's one I like:

BLOG ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN WRITING.

Surprising as it might sound, blogging about writing isn't really an effective way to help promote a book, for two simple reasons:

1)  The broader writing population is not necessarily your...

Fighting Breast Cancer: Interview with Allison Bially

A few weeks ago I mentioned in a blog post that my youngest sister, Allison, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.  Allison has always filled me with inspiration.  The mother of two adorable young girls (my nieces!), she also holds a busy, travel-filled job in a non-profit focused on improving energy efficiency.  True to her energetic, can-do personality, she's tackled her health challenges and added them to her already-full plate with grace and nerves of steel. I'm humbled...

The Pitfalls of Praise

Last week I took my twelve-year-old son to the first meeting with the tutor who'll be helping him learn the Torah portion for his Bar Mitzvah next June.  (Eeeek!)

Half-listening to the tutor's introduction and my son's clumsy reading of a couple of Hebrew prayers, I was about to check out altogether and succumb to my mental to-do list when I heard the tutor clap and declare, "You are SUCH a good reader!"

I cringed.  I'm no Hebrew scholar, but even half-listening it was pretty clear to me that o...

Thank You, Friends!

Since launching this blog just about a year ago (September 14, 2010) I've felt incredbly lucky to have met an amazing network of  new friends online. 

With the blog about to change a bit (stay tuned) now that there's an actual book called Veronica's Nap, I want to give a heartfelt nod of gratitude and virtual hug to the people I've met through this blog whose regular comments have been my water-cooler conversation and warm, comforting cup of tea — not to mention a great source of inspiration...

It Takes a Crisis

Last Saturday I traveled from my home in the Boston-area to Portland, Oregon, where my youngest sister Allison lives with her husband and two daughters.  Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, and has since gone through a pretty dramatic series of procedures including a bilateral mastectomy.  She's now in the throes of chemotherapy.

Over the course of our few days together, our conversations invetably wandered to a topic you'd expect to come up at class reunions but not at...

A Triathlete's Inspiration: Michelle Papagan Powers

 

Michelle Papagan Powers gives the words *success* and *inspiration* a whole new meaning. Her e-mail signature touts her as "Facility and Offspring Manager, Republic of Powers," but that's just her day job.  On top raising her 4 children under the age of 10, she channels her boundless energy into competing in triathlons.  At 45, she's become an accomplished athlete, ranking second overall female and first in her age group in the May 2011 Rhode Island Multisport Duathlon and placing in the...

Men Need Passions Too

A recent blog post by Nina Badzin got me thinking, as I often do, about hobbies and passions.

Both are essential to happiness, Nina says — adding that the time she's spent on her own serious hobby, writing, has "amounted to something priceless: pride and a deep personal joy."

As one who invests as much in writing, blogging and dancing as I do in my family and my job, I couldn't agree more.

But something puzzles me about this conversation: It seems to get much more air time among women than...

Shiva, Food & Ghosts: Interview with Jael McHenry

 

Jael McHenry's debut novel, The Kitchen Daughter, has received much praise for it's many fascinating angles, from life with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome to cooking and conjuring up ghosts.  But as I read it, another, completely unexpected element of the story grabbed my attention: the Jewish tradition of sitting shiva after a death, and of bringing meals to the family of the bereaved.  I couldn't help wondering what inspired Jael, who doesn't have a Jewish background (don't let...