Creative Writing in Israel (Update)

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Back in October I wrote a post about (and seeking more information concerning) creative writing programs in Israel. More recently I met an Israel-based writer and translator who teaches at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and she directed me to the Creative Writing Study Unit offered there. According to the Web site, “The study unit is designed for students holding a B.A. degree in English or Creative Writing who wish to develop their abilities in creative writing and/or literary translation.” It’s not quite what I’m looking for for my own purposes–but may interest some of you reading this. If so, visit the site to learn more. You can also contact Lisa Katz (lisakatz(at)mscc(dot)huji(dot)ac(dot)il).

ArtScroll Announcement

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

I’ve been busy the past several days attending (and reporting on) the 2008 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) annual conference in New York City. Now that I’m catching up with myself (and the mail that accumulated because although I came home each night to a Manhattan apartment I had zero time to read through anything), I’ve had a chance to read through the latest Jewish Week.

And I was intrigued to find there an announcement from ArtScroll welcoming Mrs. Miriam Zakon to the company as Acquisitions Editor. ArtScroll added this note: “We invite authors whose works are on a high literary and Torah standard to contact Mrs. Zakon with proposals and manuscripts at zakon(at)artscroll(dot)com.”

I’m always interested in learning more about publishers that focus on books of Jewish interest, and I hope to share more discoveries like this one here on the blog in the future.

Some Thoughts on Irène Némirovsky

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

If you’ve read my review of Suite Française (it’s linked elsewhere on this blog), or followed my comments on my “other” blog (the one that focuses on the practice of writing), you already know that as much as I admire this novel, my positive feelings are more qualified insofar as its author, Irène Némirovsky, is concerned. This new Jewish Week article pretty much sums up the situation and the questions I’m still asking myself. (Thanks to MD for making sure I didn’t miss it!)