Thursday’s Pre-Publication Post: Next Year in Jerusalem

by Erika Dreifus on
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First, a brief explanation for those who may not be familiar with the full meaning of this post title. “Next year in Jerusalem” is a phrase uttered at the conclusion of the traditional Passover Seder. Many interpretations have been attached to this idea: MyJewishLearning.com offers a good overview.

But for me, this week, the phrase assumed a very particular, concrete meaning. And that’s because this week, I solidified plans for Jerusalem travels in 2011. Not for myself, unfortunately. Instead, I made travel arrangements for my soon-to-be published short story collection, Quiet Americans.

As of this week, Quiet Americans was registered to be featured at the 25th Jerusalem International Book Fair, which will take place from February 20th to 25th, 2011. It will be one of the titles brought to Jerusalem and shared with Book Fair attendees by the Jewish Book Exhibitors Association, a program of the Jewish Book Council (JBC). As the JBC notes, this is a terrific opportunity to introduce books of Jewish interest–a category to which Quiet Americans most definitely and proudly belongs–“to publishers who are searching for the best books to introduce in translation in their own countries, as well as to the substantial English-speaking communities in Israel and around the world.”

Only time will tell what sort of impact my book’s voyage to Jerusalem will have on sales and readership. In the meantime, however, it is deeply, personally meaningful for me to know that Quiet Americans will be part of the literary scene in Jerusalem in 2011–even if its author will be back home in New York.

To learn more about the JBC’s Jewish Book Exhibitors Association display opportunity in Jerusalem, please click here. NB: Early-bird discounted registration ends tomorrow, December 17, 2010, with a final submission deadline of February 1, 2011.

The Wednesday Web Browser

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • Author and teacher Kyle Minor shares the very extensive suggested reading list for his spring 2011 fiction workshop.
  • From another author and teacher: Danielle Evans spotlights some of this year’s notable “outsider fiction.”
  • The Urban Muse (Susan Johnston) offers “6 Ways to Reconnect with Your Freelance Network.”
  • Susan Bernofsky has launched a new blog, Translationista, providing “dispatches from the world of literary translation.”
  • The Jewish Book Carnival takes place on the 15th of every month (this month, that’s today). And this month, my other blog, which focuses on Jewish literary and cultural matters, is the Carnival’s host. Step right up and see what we’ve got for you from the world of Jewish books.

    • December Jewish Book Carnival

    by Erika Dreifus on
    12

    As the blogger behind My Machberet, I am delighted to welcome you to the December home for the Jewish Book Carnival. Launched by Heidi Estrin and Marie Cloutier, the Carnival is a monthly event where bloggers who blog about Jewish books can meet, read, and comment on each others’ posts. The co-creators established it to build community among bloggers and blogs who feature Jewish books. The Carnival is headquartered on the Association of Jewish Libraries blog, and it runs every month on the 15th.

    Without further ado, I am proud to present the December Carnival:

    • Children’s author Sylvia Rouss shares the “Hanukkah Origins of Sammy Spider.”
    • From Jewesses with Attitude, a blog from the Jewish Women’s Archive: Renee Ghert-Zand writes about The Bookseller’s Sonnets, Andi L. Rosenthal’s debut novel.
    • JewishBoston.com sends along two posts: one, “Becoming Thankful for Jewish Book Month,” which focuses on Linda R. Silver’s Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens, and another, by David Levy, advocating that we “Give Comics for Chanukah” and featuring short reviews of recently published Jewish-themed comics.
    • On her Jewish Muse blog, Linda K. Wertheimer describes the books that created her first Jewish community–and tells us about a more recent read: Naomi Ragen’s latest novel, The Tenth Song.
    • On his 12:12 blog, Jewish Journal Books Editor Jonathan Kirsch reviews Ruth Franklin’s A Thousand Darknesses: Lies and Truth in Holocaust Fiction.
    • Margo Tanenbaum shares eight favorite Chanukah reads on The Fourth Musketeer.
    • The Association of Jewish Libraries recently celebrated its first-ever Library Snapshot Day, and captured the occasion on the People of the Book blog (with video!).
    • Heidi Estrin’s Book of Life blog/podcast series introduces “Shalom Sesame.”
    • On The Whole Megillah, Barbara Krasner reviews The Hanukkah Trike, written by Michelle Edwards and illustrated by Kathryn Mitter.
    • In a guest post for the Jewish Book Council blog, author Avi Steinberg (Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian) describes some Kafkaesque experiences. Also on the JBC blog: an invitation for readers to meet up on Twitter on January 12 to discuss Elizabeth Rosner’s novel, Blue Nude.
    • Ilana-Davita writes about a recent read: Mitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, by Ayala Fader.
    • Jew Wishes reviews Stronger Than Iron: The Destruction of Vilna Jewry 1941-1945: An Eyewitness Account, by Mendel Balberyszski.
    • And last, but perhaps not least: please enjoy my enthusiastic take on Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English, a novel by U.K. author Natasha Solomons.

    Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • “Matador Abroad is looking for narrative pieces, photo essays and single photo submissions for a new series.” This series focuses on “celebrating holidays outside of your home country….Submissions are not limited to American holidays; tell us what it was like first celebrating Ramadan away from home, or how Diwali is different in London than it is in Delhi.” Pays: $25 per narrative or photo essay (single photos do not receive payment).
  • Also from Matador: an interesting piece spotlighting paying online markets for freelancers.
  • Let’s keep the travel focus going, shall we? The NYT’s Nicholas Kristof has announced the 2011 “Win a Trip with Nick Kristof” contest. This year, the competition is open to graduating students and to those over 60 (US residents only). Application deadline (essay or video submission) is January 18 (my thanks to Mr. Kristof for so kindly responding to my query about this on Twitter). No application fee.
  • “Voices of Youth (VOY) is UNICEF’s site for young people interested in learning about and taking action on issues affecting their lives. VOY is currently undergoing a redesign to update the site’s look and functionality. The new site will emphasize interactivity and dialogue, and will feature posts from youth contributors, UNICEF staff, activists, bloggers, etc….We’re looking for 2 part-time bloggers to create original content (primarily print, but video, audio, and visual pieces are welcome) for Voices of Youth.”
  • “The Arc Poetry Society [Canada] seeks applications for the part-time contract position of Editor of Arc Poetry Magazine commencing April 1, 2010. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Arc’s editor will ensure that the content of Arc Poetry Magazine is selected and presented to maintain a consistently high standard for the publication.”
  • From Johns Hopkins University (requisition #46416 if you’re redirected to the human resources home page): “This part-time faculty position at Johns Hopkins University involves academic administrative duties and the teaching of four courses per year in a thriving, two-campus graduate writing program. This year-round position offers a 12-month contract requiring part-time responsibilities in fall, spring, and summer terms. The position expects a regular presence at the program’s Washington, D.C. and Baltimore locations, although the faculty member will be based at the main Hopkins Homewood Campus. Expertise in teaching, writing, or editing is required in at least one of the program’s concentrations of Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Science-Medical Writing, or in Journalism, Professional Writing, Publishing, Editing or related fields. This faculty member will work with and report to the program’s full-time director and assistant director. The M.A. in Writing Program caters mostly to part-time adult students who take evening or Saturday courses at the Hopkins Washington, D.C. Center near Dupont Circle or the main Homewood Campus in Baltimore. The program is based in Washington but has offices, students, and faculty at both campuses. This position is effective on Jan. 3, 2011.”
  • Nicholls State University (La.) is looking for an Instructor whose “preferred experience” includes “Creative Writing, Poetry and/or Screen Writing.”
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art (N.Y.) seeks an Editor, Boston magazine is looking for an Associate Editor (you’ll need to register/log in, free of charge, to read the announcement), and the University of Oregon School of Law invites applications for a Director of Communications position.