Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

Just a few quick notes today.

Event Video Available

First things first: Following up on last week’s post about the event at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, I’m happy to share a video of the event, including each author’s presentation and the group discussion/Q&A that followed.

In Other Event-Related News

Speaking of events, a quick thank-you to everyone who came out to Columbia University’s Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies last night for “Still the People of the Book? A Discussion of Jewish Book Publishing Today featuring a conversation with Erika Dreifus, Fig Tree Books, Naomi Firestone-Teeter, Jewish Book Council, and Stuart Matlins, Jewish Lights, and moderated by Adam Kirsch, Jewish Studies MA Program Director.” It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces in the room!

Last-Chance Pre-Publication Giveaway

And while we’re on the subject of Jewish books—today brings the launch of one final pre-publication giveaway for Abigail Pogrebin’s My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew. I’m coordinating this giveaway on behalf of Fig Tree Books LLC, is publishing the book on March 14.

Please go on over to Goodreads to enter.

Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

Back from #AWP17

Like thousands of other writers, I journeyed to our nation’s capital this past week for the latest gathering of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP). And, I suspect also like many others, I’m still “processing” those days.

One definite highlight for me, however, was Thursday evening’s “off-site” event at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (Fun fact: This panel event originated as an AWP session proposal. Which AWP rejected. Just another reminder that rejection doesn’t necessarily signal “the end.”)

I’m waiting for the video of “Memory Transferred: Voices from the Descendants of Destruction and Displacement” to be posted to the Museum’s YouTube channel. In the meantime, though, I can share one of the event’s photos. (more…)