Jewish Book Carnival discussion
Authors Announcing Their Books
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Philip
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Mar 28, 2017 03:54PM
Sounds very interesting , Debra. Was it based on personal experience?
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No, the author loosely based in on her experiences growing up in Pittsburgh, but it's mostly fiction.
Hi Everyone! My debut Memoir, "The Cape House", has just launched! The book takes place during the last six weeks of my mother's life, and describes how our relationship changed and impacted both of us throughout my life. My mother asked me to write the book before she passed away, and it was an eight-year passion project of which I am extremely proud. The feedback and buzz have been great; I encourage you to check it out! http://amzn.to/2lVbKTK.
You can also visit http://reabochner.com/2017/02/16/audi... for an audio excerpt and transcript.
Hello, everyone. I'm new to the group and so would like to bring my novel, True Identity, to your attention. It's about an Israeli Mossad agent who develops amnesia while working undercover in northern Iraq and Iran. As he slowly recovers his memories, he also finds himself receiving past-life visions of being a follower of the Biblical Abraham. With these insights, he sets out to prevent the assassination of the newly elected American president. Will he succeed? You can read more details at my website www.samuelgriswold.com, or check it out on Amazon. I'd love to hear your feedback. I'm so excited to have found this group of like minded readers and writers!
S. wrote: "Passover giveaway on Kindle:The Eagle & the Child: the Child is free on Kindle from 4/12/17-4/16/17. It is a suspense thriller whose axis spins on a family Passover gone wrong. I've already poste..."
I bought and read your book in March. I liked it very much, as I love jewish spy novels; but more so the fact of portraying personal sides of spies.
Hello fellow Jewish authors:Have you seen or read "Voyage of the Damned" and wanted to know what it was like to be a passenger on the doomed MS St. Louis, the ship that fled Germany in 1939 with more than 900 Jewish passengers on board?
A new memoir by a former passenger of the MS St. Louis is available on Amazon for those who are interested in learning more about this tragic voyage:
No Reply: A Jewish Child Aboard the MS St. Louis and the Ordeal That Followed
The Light: A Modern-Day Journey for Peace is a Gold Medalist in the International BMS Book Award Contest and won a Bronze in the IPPY’S for 2017!Currently on Goodreads Giveaway from May 12 to June 12, 2017. KINDLE Countdown begins May 22, 2017.
(Chapter 3, titled, "Masters of the Light" is dedicated to Moses)
While many have heard of the Near Death Experience this book is different as it searches for the common thread between us, in this world. This is not a book on the afterlife or what happens on the other side. Discovering a global context for the Near Death Experience is exciting and being the author I want to spread the word about another way we can view this phenomena.
Is a global spirituality possible? Maybe. This is a ground-breaking novel on the Near Death Experience that unveils the roots to a global spirituality.
A Modern-Day Journey for Peace moves us to consider if the Light of the Near Death Experience isn’t actually the bedrock of religion and the springboard for a universal connection. This modern-day story melds the varieties of religious experience into a visual whole. The essence of God becomes globally and tangibly defined. This story uncovers our prevailing spiritual unity despite our world’s seemingly different beliefs. Ultimately, there is a powerful spiritual bond we have with one another. Gods and the names for God have changed in every era, yet one dynamic remains constant—the Light.
Religion’s Common Denominator? . . .The Light
God does not have a religion.
God does not speak a language.
God does not have a culture.
It is we who require these things.
*Please note: Books do not come with award stickers at this time.
Hi everyone!As the summer is approaching I thought you may be interested in my new YA novel about a family of Jewish Bigfoot hunters, which is coming out from Simon Pulse this summer.
Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things, which has been called "the most hilarious, charming, feminist, Sasquatch-hunting book ever to grace a bookshelf,” will be out August 8.
Considering there are very few young adult books with contemporary Jewish content, I wanted to bring it to your attention.
The book, which is best described as Pride and Prejudice meets Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot, follows seventeen-year-old Samantha Berger and her quirky family as they go on the hunt for the mythical Sasquatch on reality television.
Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things
By Betsy Aldredge and Carrie DuBois-Shaw
Available August 8, 2017
Published by Simon Pulse, An imprint of Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781507202807
Ages 14 +
www.betsyandcarrie.com
http://www.simonandschuster.com/books...
I am excited to announce the release this week of my debut novel COME BACK FOR ME published by the New Jewish Press. http://amzn.to/2qRff4x Here is a synopsis from the book jacket:
Set in the aftermath of World War II, COME BACK FOR ME is the story of Artur Mandelkorn, a young Hungarian Holocaust survivor, who is desperately searching for his beloved sister, Manya. Seemingly light-years away in time and place, the tranquil life of teenager Suzy Kohn in 1968 Toronto is shattered by the sudden death of her uncle Charles. In a panoramic tale bound by love and understanding, by loss and memory, and by secrets and silences, Artur and Suzy’s stories come together in Israel after the Six-Day War. With heartfelt humanity, COME BACK FOR ME evocatively illustrates both the scars left by tragedy and the possibilities for healing.
"Writing with an historian's luminous clarity and a fictionist's hard-won freedom to imagine the past, Sharon Hart-Green takes the modern Jewish novel to new heights." -- Maxim D. Shrayer, author of Yom Kippur in Amsterdam
"Evocative and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, COME BACK FOR ME is a must read for anyone with a moral conscience and a soul." -- Leah Kaminsky, winner of the Voss Literary Prize for her debut novel, The Waiting Room
Sharon Hart-Green
https://www.sharonhartgreen.com/
My novel, ON BLACKBERRY HILL, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for YA in 2016, is currently available for 99c. on Kindle in a Countdown Deal (until July 12). /www.amazon.com/dp/1535262915The novel tells the story of two teenagers, mother and daughter, coming of age and falling in love at the same Jewish summer camp, twenty years apart.
'Explores the knotty relationships between family members in a realistic way without resorting to a sentimental, neatly-tied-up Hallmark ending.' -Association of American Jewish Libraries' AJL Reviews
Rachel Mann
rachelmannwriter.com
Rachel, I read your book a while ago- thought it was terrific and creative. I am not a YA, by the those standards, but was a camper as well. Not just for YA!! I believe I heard you speak at the JBC conference in May.
Kudos to you!
Stacey wrote: "Rachel, I read your book a while ago- thought it was terrific and creative. I am not a YA, by the those standards, but was a camper as well. Not just for YA!! I believe I heard you speak at the JB..."
Thank you so much, Stacey! Yes, I was at the JBC conference. Really appreciate hearing from you. -R
If you're an orthodox Jewish author on Goodreads, there's now a new group on Goodreads, (based on the existing 'Goodreads Reviewers' model) where frum authors can read and review each other's books on Amazon and Goodreads.You can find the group here:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The idea is the same as the 'Goodreads Reviewers' group, except all the books being read and reviewed by participating authors will be vetted to ensure they're suitable for an orthodox audience, i.e. all 'clean', 100% respectful of the Orthodox Jewish tradition, and with no promotion of ideas or belief systems that a typical orthodox Jewish reader would find offensive or otherwise 'icky'.
The basic idea is that participating authors sign up for a 'review round' with nine other authors, and are assigned 4 books to read.
At the end of each round they will have four objective reviews of their book on both Goodreads and Amazon, in return for reading the books of four other orthodox Jewish authors.
So if you're an orthodox Jewish author (or writing material that would be 100% suitable for an orthodox Jewish audience) please drop by the group and come say hello.
Rivka
Hello, everyone:A quick note to let you know about a giveaway for Rabbi Shai Held's new work (which I'm helping spread the word about). Please check out The Heart of Torah, Volume 1: Essays on the Weekly Torah Portion: Genesis and Exodus for details.
Many thanks!
Hi Erika,Kindly advise how to get on board for this giveaway book!
many thanks,
Anna
Anna wrote: "Hi Erika,Kindly advise how to get on board for this giveaway book!
many thanks,
Anna"
Anna, if click the link and scroll down, you should see the giveaway right there. (It's happening within Goodreads.)
Many thanks, Erica:-) I enrolled and hope to get this wonderful book; will have plenty reading time on my 12 hrs flight to Jerusalem:-)Thanks again!
Anna
My novel, The Damascus Cover, has been filmed starring John Hurt (all filming completed before his passing), Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the Israeli actors Aki Avni and Tsahi Halevy.The novel can be found here:
http://smarturl.it/damascus
Hi Howard,just watched the trailer of the film....amazing....sharing with my followers on Linkedin, if you don't mind, and Facebook, and Trailer....
Thanks for this important more than ever film
Anna
Howard wrote: "My novel, The Damascus Cover, has been filmed starring John Hurt (all filming completed before his passing), Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the Israeli actors Aki Avni and Tsahi Halevy.LOVED YOUR BOOK!!!!
New giveaway! The Heart of Torah, Volume 2: Essays on the Weekly Torah Portion: Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Enter here: http://bit.ly/2gBMiVU.
Police Detective Sergeant Steve Riback shares the inspiring and motivational story of Judaism on trial in Las Vegas. Visit www.koshercop.com for more!
Looking forward to reading your book. Sounds like it will hopefully be a hit.
Steve wrote: "Police Detective Sergeant Steve Riback shares the inspiring and motivational story of Judaism on trial in Las Vegas. Visit www.koshercop.com for more!"
I saw that article about you in Mishpacha a few weeks ago, it sounds like a great story. I look forward to reading your book.
And while I'm here, I may as well introduce my own book, First of the Fallen. This book, third in the dark Muse series, explains the history of the main characters in the series, Vi Gold and Lee marvin, and places the muse firmly in the Jewish tradition.http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/i...
Philip wrote: "And while I'm here, I may as well introduce my own book, First of the Fallen. This book, third in the dark Muse series, explains the history of the main characters in the series, Vi Gold and Lee ma..."Looks great. Am putting it o my list.
I was honored to be featured in Mishpacha and glad you enjoyed the article.
Hello, all. I'm happy to spread the news of this giveaway, for an inspiring and insightful new book that "addresses the mind while...touching the soul" (David Ellenson): The Going: A Meditation on Jewish Law by Leon Wiener Dow. http://bit.ly/2ihzAKi
I am pleased to offer my giveaway in historical fiction - one of 10 signed copies of my novel "Gravitational Fields: A Novel of Peacetime and War", spanning over 40 years of Jewish life. Available in giveaway for almost 2 more weeks.Duvid sees his family carried off by the Nazis, and can do nothing. His life takes many turns–he survives the death camps, becomes a partisan, settles in Israel, and finally Canada, silent about the past. On his death, his sons follow the clues their father has left secreted away in a suitcase for close to 40 years and find the impossible.
Gravitational Fields is a lyrical story, an epic tale of family, adventure, survival, and especially, love.
Gravitational Fields: A Novel of Peacetime & War
Announcing my new YA Chanuka-themed historical fiction novel, Spies and Scholars, sequel to Swords and Scrolls.Who can be trusted in these turbulent times?
The war between the Maccabees and the Greeks rages on. Miriam ventures into enemy territory as a spy for the Maccabees. Her cousin Elisha is caught in an internal battle. Can he trust himself? Can the faithful Jews trust each other? Can they put their own differences aside as they fight for the heart and soul of their nation?
Available from the Jewish Children's Book Club: http://jewishchildrensbookclub.com/bo...
As the publisher, I'm sponsoring a Goodreads Giveaway for "Almost a Minyan," an illustrated children's book. Enter by December 16th for a chance to win!
I'm happy to share that I've published A Debt of Death, the fourth book in the Adam Lapid series. This is a murder mystery taking place in Tel Aviv, 1951.The protagonist, Adam Lapid, is a Holocaust survivor and former soldier, who now works as a private investigator in Israel. This book, like the previous three novels in the series, is perfect for readers who like murder mysteries or private investigator novels, or for those interested in Israeli history.
Enjoy.
Today's the last day of the giveaway for "Almost a Minyan." Be sure and enter!
Jonathan wrote: "I'm happy to share that I've published A Debt of Death, the fourth book in the Adam Lapid series. This is a murder mystery taking place in Tel Aviv, 1951.The protagonist, Adam Lap..."
Nice..bet its as great as the last two I read. Buying it today.
Stacey wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I'm happy to share that I've published A Debt of Death, the fourth book in the Adam Lapid series. This is a murder mystery taking place in Tel Aviv, 1951.The prot..."
Thank you, Stacey. Happy reading.
Giveaway alert! Enter to win a copy of Leon Wiener Dow's THE GOING: A MEDITATION ON JEWISH LAW.http://bit.ly/2o41BKw.
And if you want to go ahead and buy: here's a code—PM18TWENTY—for a 20 percent discount. http://bit.ly/TheGoing
Hi, I'm Eric Housman-Houston. I hope you'll be interested in my father's remarkable story: THE LOST ARTIST
“A page-turner! Revealing important insight into little-known history of pre-state Palestine and World War II, this fascinating journey of a remarkable man is a rip-roaring story from beginning to end. I recommend it to everyone.”
Rabbi Mark S. Golub, JBS TV, jbstv.org
Attached is my recent hour-long interview on JBS TV, along with an 11-minute excerpt focusing on my father’s stolen Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), the only one earned by a Palestinian/Israeli soldier in the British Army, making it the most important WW II medal to the state of Israel.
In 2010 I received an email from Einat Amitay, a top computer scientist with a chair at IBM Israel, saying: “You may not know this, but your father is very famous in Israel.” Before leaving Palestine/Israel for New York City in 1948, my father illustrated a children’s book, AND THERE WAS EVENING (Vayehi Erev) (ויהי ער). Unbeknownst to him the book became a bestseller and timeless classic, now in its 42nd edition, often referred to as the pearl of Israeli children’s literature. After a sixty-year search for the artist, against all odds, Einat Amitay, dying of breast cancer, solved the mystery.
Moved by her story I wrote it as a present day backdrop to telling my father’s story of escaping Nazi Germany in 1934 at the age of 13 by going alone to Palestine, entering the Haganah at age 15, where he helped to save countless illegal Jewish immigrants, becoming a commando and highest decorated WW II Palestinian soldier in the British Army, and his tumultuous years in Palestine after the war up until the formation of the State of Israel.
While writing THE LOST ARTIST, I discovered that a crime ring within the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) stole my father’s DCM. Until his untimely death, Norman Palmer, renowned in British restitution law, represented the case on a mostly Pro Bono basis. Because of the overwhelming evidence, Norman felt confident that we would get the stolen medal, which is now in the possession of Lord Michael Ashcroft. Though Lord Ashcroft has been given unequivocal proof that he was ripped off by The London Medal Company, who fraudulently sold him the entire group of my father's medals even though we have all of his other medals, Lord Ashcroft apparently prefers to keep a stolen medal with spurious medals rather than to simply get his money back from the corrupt dealer who sold them to him.
Since the bad players seem to have no case other than the belief that we can’t afford to go up against a billionaire, one powerful organization or person behind us should force Lord Ashcroft to turn over the stolen medal. As public awareness is crucial, any help in getting the word out could be extremely helpful in achieving that goal. We will then donate the medals to a worthy cause, such as the Ben Shemen Youth Village in Israel, which I believe still takes in refugee and orphaned children, and saved my father’s life when he escaped Nazi Germany in 1934.
With your help I'm hopeful that the crime ring will end and all of the stolen medals from within the MoD will be united with their rightful owners.
Sincerely,
Eric Hausman-Houston
https://www.amazon.com/LOST-ARTIST-LO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxV1X...
http://jbstv.org/2017/08/lchayim-wwii...
If you happen to be an enthusiast of the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian periods, you will be hard pressed to find quality, Jewish characters among the literary giants. I find that to be quite vexing, to say the least! Too often, renowned authors such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer and Heyer offer characterizations which are superficial and/or insulting. Of course, there is the other extreme—a character so pure and angelic, that the reader is left pondering the theory of the “noble savage.” George Eliot’s, Mirah, is a prime example—the epitome of an Eshet Chayil, Mirah was Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah rolled into one!This brings me to the subject of Miss Jane Austen, a beloved author of the Regency period. In the whole of Miss Austen’s cannon, there is, I believe, just one mention of Jews or Judaism—and it is not pleasant. In the novel, Northanger Abbey, a categorically unsavory gentleman is overheard remarking to Miss Catherine Morland, “Old Allen is as rich as a Jew…” Austen is quick to note her censure; Mr. John Thorpe is such a repellent character, it is clear that reader should not take the man’s words to heart. Sadly, it appears that Miss Austen never actually met a Jewish person and therefore, neither did our beloved, Miss Elizabeth Bennett—nor any of the other, Austen heroines.
Along with the variety of films which speak to the adoration we “Janeites” have for the author, there is a genre known as fan fiction. Here, modern day authors rewrite the treasured stories in new and complex scenarios. We have so-called mash-ups between Austen’s characters and zombies, super heroes, aliens and—wait for it—Jews! One would think I would be satisfied at last, but sadly, that has not proven to be the case. Changing out one cliche for another does not make much difference to this gentle reader. I don’t necessarily want to read about a stereotypical, frum Bennett family—I want well-rounded, reflective, period characters that just so happen to be Jewish.
“Write what you know.” That is a famous quote attributed to Mark Twain. There is another aphorism that encourages, “Write the book you would like to read” and even further, Isabel Allende urges authors to, “Write what should not be forgotten.” These words were my inspiration. These thoughts were my motivation to write Destiny by Design- Leah's Journey. A stand-alone sequel to Becoming Malka, this book follows the fictional Abramovitz family from Russia to Argentina and incorporates the three mentioned maxims. I have written about what I know: Jewish Argentina. I have written a book I would like to read: A Jane Austen-inspired novel with Jewish characters. I have written that which should not be forgotten: In 1891, Baron Maurice Hirsch helped save the lives of countless, Eastern European Jews (including my ancestors) by establishing the Jewish Colonization Association. The “Moses of the Americas” worked in conjunction with the Argentine government and in doing so; he helped to create the second largest Jewish community outside of the United States.
You might say that I have hijacked Miss Austen’s characterizations in fashioning Leah and Mr. Bloomenthal’s roles. You might say this is a lightweight read, at best, with no real Judaic content to speak of. I humbly offer another point of view. Leah Abramovitz and Ernst Bloomenthal find themselves as strangers in a new land. At the cusp of a new era and with the backdrop of Argentina’s World Exposition, they are challenged to defy previously held perceptions and sensitivities. More importantly, they are challenged to question their own weaknesses and society’s failings. That is more than fan fiction, my friend—that is quintessentially Jewish.
Destiny by Design- Leah's Journey
Mirta wrote: "If you happen to be an enthusiast of the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian periods, you will be hard pressed to find quality, Jewish characters among the literary giants. I find that to be quite vexi..."Congrats to you. Cant wait to read your newest book.
Wishing you great success in this New Year.
Have a Happy and Healthy one!!
Stacey wrote: "Mirta wrote: "If you happen to be an enthusiast of the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian periods, you will be hard pressed to find quality, Jewish characters among the literary giants. I find that to..."Thank you Stacey! That is so very kind of you to say! I hope you enjoy the story. May this new year bring blessings of peace and well-being to you and yours!
Jonathan wrote: "I'm happy to share that I've published A Debt of Death, the fourth book in the Adam Lapid series. This is a murder mystery taking place in Tel Aviv, 1951.The protagonist, Adam Lap..."
Jonathan- I finished your book last week.
I thought it was creative and a great mystery to read.
You incorporated some quite important topics
I must tell you that the character of the father and relationship with his daughter that you created, really got to me.
I could just smack him.
Nice job!!!!!
What an awesome intro to your new book, Mirta. I loved reading it, and look forward to reading your two novels.Karen Tintori
Karen wrote: "What an awesome intro to your new book, Mirta. I loved reading it, and look forward to reading your two novels.Karen Tintori"
Thank you Karen!! I hope you will enjoy them both!
I'm excited to announce that Black Opal Books released my new novel, JERUSALEM STONE on Saturday. Susan Sofayov
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07968PVX7
Hi. Just saw your post.Congrats.
Book looks great.
Just bought it and will write a review the sec I finish it.
Stacey wrote: "Hi. Just saw your post.Congrats.
Book looks great.
Just bought it and will write a review the sec I finish it."
Thank you so much!
Hi there. My book The Right Thing to Do at the Time is coming out on Thursday. It's a queer and Jewish contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Here's the Foreword review. https://www.forewordreviews.com/revie...I also want to put in a good word for Eric Housman-Houston's book The Lost Artist. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... It's a wonderful and important piece of narrative non-fiction.
And the novella Avi Cantor Has Six Months to Live. A comedic and emotionally raw queer trans narrative with a touch of magic. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
All the best,
Dov
I can't recommend highly enough,THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE TIME. I read it because of all of the fantastic reviews, but it exceeded my expectations. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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