Erika Dreifus

Three quick things:

1. Drumroll, please!

I’m delighted to announce that the random-number generator has selected Commenter #20 (Lynne Shapiro) as the winner of the Birthright giveaway that I announced last week. Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway process—we’ve collected so many excellent reading recommendations along the way.

2. On the subject of Birthright: I’m also delighted to share that Birthright‘s publisher, Kelsay Books, has nominated one of the book’s poems, “A Single Woman of Valor,” for a Pushcart Prize. This is my fourth Pushcart nomination, and it equalizes my nominations in fiction and poetry at two apiece. It means a lot to me. (P.S. “A Single Woman of Valor” is available not only within the book, but also on the website of the Jewish Book Council. And speaking of the JBC site, there’s a new review of Birthright up there now. I’d say that it’s a mixed one, though it’s certainly fair.)

3. The most significant writing that I did this week was really more of a research-and-editing job. For an incredible family reunion—of members of my German-born grandmother’s line (and since her parents were cousins, and their parents were cousins, and so on, this line runs particularly strong in my DNA)—I assembled a brief Yizkor (memorial) service that we included in our gathering for those relatives who lost their lives under Nazism (1933-45). I hope to write more about this reunion at some point. Stay tuned?