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Leora Freedman is a writer of literary fiction. Her characters attempt to find meaning in Judaism, relate to the State of Israel, and live as Jews while fully engaged in the wider world. Her first novel, The Ivory Pomegranate (Gefen Publications, Israel), is about a group of graduate students who confront their own heritage amidst the campus anti-Semitism released during the first Palestinian uprising.
Her second novel, Parachuting (Sumach Press, Canada), explores the world of suburban Jews in the 1970’s through the lives of several high school girls who are caught up in both the counterculture and a deep, dramatic involvement with the Israelis living in their own community.
Leora’s third novel, The Daughter Who Got Away (Yotzeret Publishing, USA) expresses the points of view of an adventurous mother and daughter who have chosen to live at opposite extremes of the Jewish world, one in Manhattan and one in a small community in the interior of British Columbia.
Leora’s short fiction has appeared in a variety of significant literary journals, including The Virginia Quarterly Review, Kansas Quarterly, Frontiers: a Journal of Women Studies, Passages North, The Southern Humanities Review, and others. She is the recipient of the “Best Short Story” award from The Southern Humanities Review; first place in the Robert Downs fiction contest at the University of Arizona, and grants from the Henfield Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council. Her first novel, The Ivory Pomegranate, received publication grants from the fund of the President of the State of Israel; the Ministry of Absorption, and the Committee for the Absorption of Outstanding Immigrant Artists in Israel.
Leora is a citizen of the US, Canada, and Israel, and has spent much time in each of these countries. Her work experience includes running a photographic studio in Jerusalem with her husband, Eric Freedman; editing research in Jewish folk literature; teaching English as a foreign language at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; running a program for disadvantaged youth in downtown Norwalk, Connecticut; and teaching English Composition online to students at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. At present, she coordinates an English language program at the University of Toronto, where she is a faculty member.
March 4, 2014 – St. Paul, MN – Yotzeret Publishing, which publishes books written from a Jewish perspective with a specialty in those written by women authors, announced that it has signed Jessica Fishman’s manuscript – Chutzpah & High Heels: The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land.
With a bit of self-deprecating wit, Jessica Fishman’s memoir takes the reader through her move and acclimation to Israel. From being an American living in Israel to becoming an Israeli with an American accent, she overcomes many obstacles: notorious Israeli bureaucracy that is worse than FEMA’s, making embarrassing mistakes in kindergarten-level Hebrew, serving in an army in which she could babysit her officers, working under bosses who make Ahmadinejad seem like a peacemaker, and dating cocky Israelis who make Hamas terrorists seem like good husband material.
However, she meets one obstacle that tests the core of her identity and nearly destroys the very ideology that brought her to Israel. Her manuscript personalizes and shows the devastation caused by the ultra-Orthodox monopoly in Israel. Not just a Jewish story, Jessica Fishman’s memoir is a universal story about a young, contemporary woman losing and searching for identity, overcoming heartbreak, and finding her place in the world.
“We are delighted to add Chutzpah & High Heels to our catalog, making it our first nonfiction title. The book’s message of Jewish pluralism and equality fit perfectly with Yotzeret’s mission to reflect Jewish diversity and the under-represented,” says Sheyna Galyan, Owner of Yotzeret Publishing. “Chutzpah & High Heels is simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, and holds no punches with its seldom-before-seen snapshot into Israeli culture.”
“Following a life-changing event, I was inspired to write Chutzpah and High Heels: The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land in order to share my experiences and inspire social change,” says Fishman. “I am pleased to be working with Yotzeret Publishing and am thankful that Sheyna Galyan has given me the opportunity to share my memoir with the public, which is the beginning step in the bumpy path towards that goal.”
Jessica Fishman has written a number of articles on Israel and Zionism and been interviewed in leading Israeli media about her experience as an immigrant in Israel. After developing the popular Aliyah Survival Blog, an irreverent portrayal of an American immigrant’s first years in Israel, she has written a deeply-personal, witty memoir about the difficulties, absurdities, and excitement of making a home in a new country.
Yotzeret Publishing is a family-owned traditional publisher based in St. Paul, Minnesota, with distribution throughout the United States, Israel, and around the world. Founded on the value of K’lal Yisrael, Yotzeret encourages books that reflect the diversity of Jews and Jewish practice.
Everyone has a story, and no two stories are exactly alike. I’ll just put that out there as a given. Should every story be told? That’s a matter of opinion. There are some subsets of life stories that are often given greater weight, most notably stories about those who have survived something big and lived to tell about it.
Yesterday (as I write this), February 23, 2014, the oldest known Shoah (Holocaust) survivor died. She was 110 years old. Her life story inspired twobooks. A friend commented, “I have thought for years that very soon we will live in a world where people no longer know survivors of the Shoah first-hand and it makes me scared.” Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation wants to keep those memories alive so that no one will forget, even when those who lived the experience are no longer with us. As a fellow human being, and as a Jew, I agree. As a publisher, it gets more complicated.
It’s generally agreed that memoirs hit a publishing boom in the 1990s and early 2000s. Memoirs made bestseller lists and won prestigous awards. Publishers and agents kept telling writers that they needed to write something different, unique, something to make it stand out above all of the other memoirs being published. Writers were encouraged to tell the stories of their parents or grandparents or other family, stories that previously might have been lost, or passed down only as stories around the Shabbat table or on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day). The major publishing houses were looking for the next Frank McCourt or Elie Wiesel.
In the past couple of years, I’ve seen a growing number of memoir submissions, ranging from Holocaust memoir to immigration memoir. What I call immigration memoir is similar to what the Jewish Week referred to as “ones that explore a lost community in some far-flung place — Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Chile and Shanghai . . . ” I’ve read queries pitching memoirs about an escape from pre-WWI pogroms in Russia, fleeing from Nazi-occupied Poland to England and then to America, and a Jewish family that has its roots in Argentina. They’re all unique stories, and they all deserve to be told.
But then there’s the math.
Publishing a book can easily cost upwards of $10,000 once you take into consideration editing, cover design, paying for required licenses and permissions, marketing, printing, warehousing, and postage. Small press publishers like Yotzeret are in the publishing business more because we love books than because we want to make a lot of money. There is no money in small press publishing. After the bills and royalties are paid, small press publishers might—might—see a few dozen cents per book sold. I kid you not. So if we’re going to sink ten grand into a book, we want a pretty good idea that we’re going to make that money back, and maybe a little more. You can’t look at a book’s retail price to get a sense of what a publisher or author will make on a book, since the majority of books—and all of the books sold through bookstores and Amazon.com—are sold at a discount of anywhere from 45%-70% off the retail price. (More about discounts and profits in a future post.)
Memoirs are not universally marketable; they appeal to a subset of readers. Jewish memoirs appeal to an even smaller subset. While some memoirs have made big splashes, the majority do not. The majority sell, at most, a few hundred copies. Even if the story is unique, even if it is different from other memoirs, unless the author is nationally (or internationally) known or has a large following or has some other hook that will attract readers—okay, let’s be honest, attract buyers—the chances of recouping the thousands of dollars that are invested in bringing that book to print are slim. For a small press, which can’t afford to subsidize the publishing flops, every manuscript has to be analyzed for its commercial viability. That may sound like it’s a hundred and eighty degrees from art and deserving, unique stories. It can be. It’s also a harsh reality.
That’s not to say that we won’t publish memoirs. In fact, we’ve just signed a new author for her memoir about making aliyah to Israel, only to learn the hard way that it was the best and worst time in her life. Why hers? Because it’s timely, it’s controversial, it’s funny, it’s different, and she already has a following. There’s no guarantee of success, but it has a lot of things going for it.
So what’s a memoir writer to do? First, work with an editor. Before you ever get to the point of pitching it to a publisher or agent, make the investment of hiring a professional book editor. Second, research similar memoirs. Visit bookstores and libraries, and look at recent releases similar to your memoir. Are there a lot? Note that if a lot were published in the past 3-4 years, that could mean that the field is already saturated and your memoir is now going to have to compete with thousands of others. Third, talk to booksellers and librarians. Tell them about your memoir and ask if it’s something they’d buy if it was published. Fourth, think really carefully about who your audience is. Will it appeal mostly to history buffs? Mostly Ashkenazic Jews who want to read about others’ experiences in eastern Europe? Maybe your memoir is partly romance, appealing to people who like to read about relationships. Lots of people might read your book, but who is actually going to buy it? At full price?
Family memoirs, including Holocaust memoirs, are quite often best suited to self-publishing, perhaps in print and perhaps initially only as an ebook, with a print copy available if there’s enough demand. Your book is unlikely to be in bookstores, but it will still be a deserving story told, and that’s more important for a memoir than commanding shelf space.
Since you’re here, you’ve obviously seen the new site. We hope you like it! We’re very pleased with it, both aesthetically and functionally, but after weeks of work, we’re kind of committed to being happy about it.
Please feel free to check it out. Our store is brand new, with a new, more powerful shopping cart. It will automatically figure out postage via USPS or FedEx based on your destination to anywhere in the world. We have a joke in the book industry: “The only people getting rich in publishing are UPS and FedEx.” Shipping is expensive, and we’ve tried our best to offer you lots of options to meet your needs. The shipping prices are directly from USPS and FedEx; we don’t calculate them on our end.
Resellers should still place orders based on our Resellers page.
One of the things we think you’ll like best about our new site is that it’s cleaner and easier to navigate. One of our favorite things is that it’s completely responsive, so it will respond to whatever size device on which you view it. Want to navigate it on your mobile? Easy. It’s fully functional and there’s no need to scroll side to side to read everything. This is not a mobile site as opposed to a desktop site; this is a single site that you can navigate and view easily, whether you’re reading the blog or shopping for new books, no matter what device you’re using. Try it!
Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be adding information about our new authors and their titles. Their work is exciting and unique and if you like the kinds of books we’ve published so far, you’ll love these!
We’ve tried to attend to everything, but if you happen across any broken links or something not working right, drop us a line by email. We’ll do our best to fix it quickly.
Summary: When a college freshman’s philosophy paper on the Holocaust jeopardizes her relationship with her grandfather, she finds herself alone and afraid on the streets of Minneapolis. Help comes in the form of Rabbi David Cohen, who is struggling with his own personal demons. Trained in both psychology and Talmudic argument, David must help this family face the real issue that divides them. Set against the backdrop of a Jewish holiday of mourning, they bring together their experiences as they confront evil itself and answer a cry for help that no one expected. (Previously published by Yaldah Publishing in 2003.)
ISBN: 9781592870196; On Sale: 2013; Format: Paperback; Trim size: 6 x 9; Pages: 282; $12.95; BISAC1: FIC046000; BISAC2: FIC022000; BISAC3: FIC025000
Sheyna Galyan holds a degree in psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and both a master’s in counseling psychology and graduate work in business and public administration from San Jose State University. She also holds an M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. Sheyna has worked as a counselor, consultant, lecturer, journalist, and Jewish educator. She lives with her husband and children in the Twin Cities, where she is at work on the next Rabbi David Cohen novel.
“Accessible to people from different backgrounds, relevant for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers, this book is indeed insightful and deceptively easy to read. It is also fun.”
Amy Ariel
author of Friends Forever
“…brilliantly written. Author Sheyna Galyan has done an amazing job of integrating everyday Jewish life with a great meaty story. The depth of this novel is exceptional; the education in Jewish life and customs, mixed with fabulous, multi-layered character developement, make this an important novel for readers of all faiths.”
Ellen Stanclift, MA Theology
“Ms. Galyan gives her readers plenty of food for thought in the course of the book. The story and and the thoughtful way in which the author and her characters wrestle with some serious issues make Destined to Choose a worthwhile and enjoyable read.”
The Wayward Moon, a historical novel set in ninth-century Babylonia and written by Israeli author Janice Weizman, took first place in the historical fiction category for both the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) and the Midwest Book Awards. The Wayward Moon was published in August 2012 by Yotzeret Publishing, a Jewish-themed book publisher in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The IPPY Awards are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. The awards began in 1996 to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Over 5000 books were submitted for this year’s awards. The awards ceremony to honor the medalists took place on May 29th in New York, on the eve of the BookExpo America convention.
The 23rd Annual Midwest Book Awards winners were announced at a gala event on Wednesday evening, May 8, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Bloomington, Minnesota. The competition attracted 187 books, entered in 44 categories, from 75 publishers in the twelve-state Midwestern region.
The Wayward Moon received critical acclaim by book review journals such as Publishers Weekly and ForeWord Reviews, which wrote, “The Wayward Moon is a magnificent piece of historical fiction and a startlingly beautiful portrayal of a strong woman.”
Yotzeret Publishing has been publishing both adult and children’s books written from a Jewish perspective since 2003. Over 83% of their books are award-winners.
The Wayward Moon, a historical novel set in ninth-century Babylonia and written by Israeli author Janice Weizman, took first place in the historical fiction category for both the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) and the Midwest Book Awards. The Wayward Moon was published in August 2012 by Yotzeret Publishing, a Jewish-themed book publisher in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The IPPY Awards are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. The awards began in 1996 to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Over 5000 books were submitted for this year’s awards. The awards ceremony to honor the medalists took place on May 29th in New York, on the eve of the BookExpo America convention.
The 23rd Annual Midwest Book Awards winners were announced at a gala event on Wednesday evening, May 8, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Bloomington, Minnesota. The competition attracted 187 books, entered in 44 categories, from 75 publishers in the twelve-state Midwestern region.
The Wayward Moon received critical acclaim by book review journals such as Publishers Weekly and ForeWord Reviews, which wrote, “The Wayward Moon is a magnificent piece of historical fiction and a startlingly beautiful portrayal of a strong woman.”
Yotzeret Publishing has been publishing both adult and children’s books written from a Jewish perspective since 2003. Over 83% of their books are award-winners.
The Wayward Moon, a historical novel set in ninth-century Babylonia and written by Israeli author Janice Weizman, took first place in the historical fiction category for both the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) and the Midwest Book Awards. The Wayward Moon was published in August 2012 by Yotzeret Publishing, a Jewish-themed book publisher in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The IPPY Awards are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. The awards began in 1996 to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Over 5000 books were submitted for this year’s awards. The awards ceremony to honor the medalists took place on May 29th in New York, on the eve of the BookExpo America convention.
The 23rd Annual Midwest Book Awards winners were announced at a gala event on Wednesday evening, May 8, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Bloomington, Minnesota. The competition attracted 187 books, entered in 44 categories, from 75 publishers in the twelve-state Midwestern region.
The Wayward Moon received critical acclaim by book review journals such as Publishers Weekly and ForeWord Reviews, which wrote, “The Wayward Moon is a magnificent piece of historical fiction and a startlingly beautiful portrayal of a strong woman.”
Yotzeret Publishing has been publishing both adult and children’s books written from a Jewish perspective since 2003. Over 83% of their books are award-winners.
✡ 2012 PJ Library pick ✡ 2006 Midwest Book Award Merit Winner
“I didn’t remember everything about the Hanukkah story,
but I was pretty sure Judah Maccabee didn’t play soccer.”
Download now for:
Coming soon for other e-readers.
Summary: Days before Hanukkah, ten-year-old Ben’s soccer team makes the league championships. Only one thing stands between Ben and victory: the rival team’s best defender, a school bully whose favorite sport, other than soccer, is tormenting Ben. No one at home seems to understand. And now he has to share his bedroom—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them.
Facing humiliation at school and misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather, learning ancient wisdom and steadfast strength, enough for the big game . . . and beyond.
Barbara Bietzhas chaired and served on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and maintains a blog dedicated to Jewish books for children at BarbaraBBookBlog.Blogspot.com. A freelance writer, book reviewer, and member of SCBWI, she also conducts writer’s workshops for children and adults. She lives in Oak Park, California. You can learn more about her at www.BarbaraBietz.com.
Reviews
“Using the backdrop of the Hanukkah holiday, the author realistically captures the challenges of peer pressure and positive ways to overcome adversity against a bully. An important addition to the meager amount of Jewish-themed early chapter books, this heartwarming novel marks a promising debut for this first-time author. Kids will enjoy this book at Hanukkah time or throughout the year.”
**Starred** Review, Jewish Book World
“The melding of plot and theme, Jewish history and contemporary life, Jewish values and character development is done very skillfully, with a light touch and a sure feel for childhood emotions and relationships. Ben’s family’s celebration of Hanukkah is portrayed with joy. Consider this a first purchase.”
Linda R. Silver
Newsletter of the Association of Jewish Libraries
“Highly recommended.”
Midwest Book Review
“…a winner.”
Hadassah Magazine
“Like a Maccabee is a refreshingly proud Jewish story. Barbara Bietz has given the miracles of Hanukkah new meaning for today’s ‘goal’-oriented children. She has bridged the generation gap in a warm true-sounding story of a boy, his grandfather and the special way they share a holiday. Highly recommended.”
Mindy Aber Barad
author of Jewish Humor Stories for Kids
Judaica Librarians’ Choice Award Nominee
“Recommended! Like A Maccabee brings the spirit of Hanukkah into a contemporary story that every elementary student will relate to. Barbara Bietz creates memorable, likable characters that will be easy for parents and teachers–as well as their children–to recognize.”
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
author of The Magic Tanach and Other Short Plays
“Barbara Bietz has crafted a story that will resonate with all ages and make their hearts smile! Her multi-generational characters are refreshing and recognizable. Their voices make you laugh, pique your curiosity and feel compassion for others. Ben and Grandpa hit home runs when they develop the strength and courage to meet the challenges of change, a bully, and disappointment in their lives. This book is a ‘love’ gift for Hanukkah and for sharing a ‘championship’ life with those you love.”
Sheila N. Glazov
author of Princess Shayna’s Invisible Visible Gift
Available shipping discount based on quantity. Use dropdown box in shopping cart to reflect the quantity you’re ordering. This offer is available only in the continental United States. All items in a single order must be shipped to the same address. No additional discounts may be applied. All sales final; no returns. Offer limited to stock on hand at time of purchase. Payment must be received before books are shipped. All shipments will be sent via USPS Priority Mail.
“I didn’t remember everything about the Hanukkah story,
but I was pretty sure Judah Maccabee didn’t play soccer.”
Summary: Days before Hanukkah, ten-year-old Ben’s soccer team makes the league championships. Only one thing stands between Ben and victory: the rival team’s best defender, a school bully whose favorite sport, other than soccer, is tormenting Ben. No one at home seems to understand. And now he has to share his bedroom—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them.
Facing humiliation at school and misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather, learning ancient wisdom and steadfast strength, enough for the big game . . . and beyond.
ISBN: 9781592871360; On Sale: 10/2006; Format: Hardcover; Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5; Pages: 136; $16.95; Ages: 8-12; BISAC1: JUV017110; BISAC2: JUV032150
Barbara Bietz was born and raised in Southern California. She received both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in education from the University of Arizona. Her work for adults and children has appeared in numerous magazines, including a monthly column for FamiliesOnlineMagazine.com and children’s book reviews for Jewish Book World. She lives in Oak Park, California with her husband, two children, and three dogs. Read her Jewish Books for Children blog at BarbaraBBookBlog or visit her website at www.barbarabietz.com.
Reviews
“Using the backdrop of the Hanukkah holiday, the author realistically captures the challenges of peer pressure and positive ways to overcome adversity against a bully. An important addition to the meager amount of Jewish-themed early chapter books, this heartwarming novel marks a promising debut for this first-time author. Kids will enjoy this book at Hanukkah time or throughout the year.”
**Starred** Review, Jewish Book World
“The melding of plot and theme, Jewish history and contemporary life, Jewish values and character development is done very skillfully, with a light touch and a sure feel for childhood emotions and relationships. Ben’s family’s celebration of Hanukkah is portrayed with joy. Consider this a first purchase among the remarkably good crop of sports stories published in 2006.”
Linda R. Silver
Newsletter of the Association of Jewish Libraries
“Highly recommended.”
Midwest Book Review
“…a winner.”
Hadassah Magazine
“Like a Maccabee is a refreshingly proud Jewish story. Barbara Bietz has given the miracles of Hanukkah new meaning for today’s ‘goal’-oriented children. She has bridged the generation gap in a warm true-sounding story of a boy, his grandfather and the special way they share a holiday. Highly recommended.”
Mindy Aber Barad
author of Jewish Humor Stories for Kids
Judaica Librarians’ Choice Award Nominee
“Recommended! Like A Maccabee brings the spirit of Hanukkah into a contemporary story that every elementary student will relate to. Barbara Bietz creates memorable, likable characters that will be easy for parents and teachers–as well as their children–to recognize.”
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
author of The Magic Tanach and Other Short Plays
“Barbara Bietz has crafted a story that will resonate with all ages and make their hearts smile! Her multi-generational characters are refreshing and recognizable. Their voices make you laugh, pique your curiosity and feel compassion for others. Ben and Grandpa hit home runs when they develop the strength and courage to meet the challenges of change, a bully, and disappointment in their lives. This book is a ‘love’ gift for Hanukkah and for sharing a ‘championship’ life with those you love.”
Sheila N. Glazov
author of Princess Shayna’s Invisible Visible Gift
And if you’re looking for a great gift idea for Rosh Hashanah, look no further than Sliding Into the New Year. You can purchase copies directly from Dori if you know her, or here on the Yotzeret website, or on Amazon.com or through your favorite bookstore.
We have it on good authority that yes, it is permissible to read Sliding Into the New Year at a waterpark, as long as it’s not on Rosh Hashanah.
And if you’re looking for a great gift idea for Rosh Hashanah, look no further than Sliding Into the New Year. You can purchase copies directly from Dori if you know her, or here on the Yotzeret website, or on Amazon.com or through your favorite bookstore.
We have it on good authority that yes, it is permissible to read Sliding Into the New Year at a waterpark, as long as it’s not on Rosh Hashanah.
Summary: The year is 854. Rahel, a 17-year-old Jewish girl, is preparing to meet her fiancé for the first time. She cannot know that even as she stands observing herself in the mirror, an enemy of her father is making his way to her house. In mere minutes, she will have to flee, leaving behind her fiancé, her home, her possessions, and her identity.
Set in the Golden Age of Islam, Rahel’s journey takes her into the lives of wealthy merchants, Islamic theologians, Christian monks, illicit lovers, and shrewd innkeepers. But when she finds herself drawn, against all convention, to a traveler from the Far West, Rahel must confront the difference between what she once was and who she has become.
Janice Weizman was born in Toronto and moved to Israel at the age of nineteen. She holds a degree in Social Work from Hebrew University as well as a Masters in Creative Writing from Bar-Ilan University, where she founded and continues to act as managing editor of The Ilanot Review, a literary journal affiliated with the program. An interest in the history of the Islamic Empire combined with a desire to explore the untold dramas of women’s lives inspired her to writeThe Wayward Moon. Janice’s short fiction has appeared in various literary journals, including Scribblers on the Roof, Jewish Fiction, and Lilith. She lives in Rehovot, where she is currently at work on a new historical novel. Visit her website at www.janiceweizman.com.
Reviews
“Weizman brings 9th-Century Babylonia to life so vividly that you can almost smell the jasmine and taste the date cakes.”
Maggie Anton
Author of the Rashi’s Daughters trilogy and Rav Hisda’s Daughter
“In her debut novel, Toronto-born Weizman, who now lives in Israel and is founder and editor of the Ilanot Review, explores Islamic history through crises confronted by women. The action in the story—and there’s lots of it— takes place in the ninth century, mostly in what is now Iraq. The first-person narrator, 17-year-old Rahel Bat Yair, is the daughter of a Jewish physician in Sura, south of Baghdad. Her mother died giving birth to Rahel, and her father raised and educated her. He arranges her marriage and accepts a position as advisor to the governor; the latter action enrages an anti-Semitic member of the governor’s entourage, leading to a bloody confrontation in which the doctor is killed and Rahel slays the murderer. She flees and her subsequent exciting adventures, from a stint in a monastery to an ill-fated love affair, occupy the rest of the book. She eventually finds her way back to the Jewish community in the Galilee area and writes her story. This melodrama holds the reader’s interest as the strong-willed Rahel weathers this series of disasters.”
Publishers Weekly Reviewed on 06/04/2012
“Janice Weizman’s The Wayward Moon introduces readers to a strong, memorable female character who manages to outwit the cruel turns of fate in her life in the 9th century in Iraq. This is a welcome departure from the many novels about European Jewish life. Rahel, the main character, takes the reader on a journey into the lives of Moslems, Christians, and Jews who lived in the area around Baghdad and the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The novel is filled with details about the people who made up the population of this part of the world and the place of Jews and women in general in it.”
“By blending skillful historical research with excellent storytelling, and psychological insight with adventure, Janice Weizman has fashioned a compelling tale of hope lost and regained. The Wayward Moon is a remarkable debut.”
Joseph Kertes
Dean, School of Creative and Performing Arts
Humber College, Toronto, Ontario
Author of Gratitude, winner of the Canadian National Jewish Book Award and the U.S. National Jewish Book Award for Fiction
“Janice Weizman takes us on a captivating journey of a young woman’s self-discovery. Rahel becomes the reluctant master of her own fate with the opportunity to determine her life’s path. And yet we are left to wonder whether anyone really has the freedom to choose one’s destiny. With Weizman’s meticulous attention to mood and language, we are transported to an ancient time and place that is both fascinating and vivid. This is a beautiful adventure that unravels with delicate precision.”
Summary: A collection of interlinked short stories, dealing with young Jewish people living in Jerusalem, London, and New York, who struggle to find love, God, and identity. Unsure if they are starring in a tragedy or a comedy, they yearn for that elusive relationship or epiphany that will lead to a better life.
ISBN: 9781592871025; On Sale: 2013; Format: Paperback; Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5; Pages: TBD; $14.95; BISAC1: FIC046000; BISAC2: FIC029000; BISAC3: FIC044000
Yael Unterman grew up in the UK and now resides in the Katamon suburb of Jerusalem. After attending an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish high school and pursuing advanced Torah studies, she earned degrees in Psychology and Talmud, Jewish History and Creative Writing. She lectures worldwide and has published in a variety of forums. Her first book, Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar, was a finalist in the 2009 National Jewish Book Awards. She also works as a Bibliodrama facilitator, actress, and life coach. Visit her on her website at www.yaelunterman.com.
We are pleased to present this guest blog post from author Amy Ariel, winner of the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award (religion category) for her book, Friends Forever. Mazal tov, Amy!
“Is that the cover of your book? Can I peek at it?” Connie* asked as she checked my IV bag to see about how much longer it would run.
“Absolutely!” I smiled, turning my laptop toward one of my many favorite nurses. I had just received the draft of the cover of Friends Forever from Sheyna Galyan, the owner of Yotzeret Publishing, and it was perfect. I loved the old look of it, and I loved the picture of the two girls holding hands just as I had imagined Abigail and Hannah as I wrote their story. As I scrolled to the image of the back of the book, Connie caught her breath.
“Wow. Amy,” she said, looking from my author picture to me and back. “Your picture . . . you’re beautiful.”
I looked over my computer at my reflection in the hospital window. I was still fairly newly bald, but seeing my shiny head rarely shocked me anymore. I knew I looked tired all the time, and even though she took it all in stride, I knew from my partner’s face after she held me close that my grayish skin smelled like the chemo that was helping my body by killing the cancer cells. I was so glad to have something to talk about besides the leukemia (AML) that had recently become part of my life, but didn’t define my life.
“Thank you.” I smiled at her again. “I promise, I’ll come back and visit when I have some color back in my face . . . and maybe some hair. In the meantime, though, you have a couple of daughters, right?”
“Yep. Eight and ten.”
“Well, they are exactly the right age for my book! The main characters, Abigail and Hannah, are nine. It’s about two Jewish girls who live in Saint Paul and become friends across time when Hannah appears in Abigail’s yard in 1912. It’s a time travel story. It’s set to come out in March. We are planning a book party with friends, congregants from my synagogue, and especially my students. My mom will be there, too, in charge of the hand sanitizer!”
“I’d love a copy for my girls.” Connie looked thoughtful. “You know, I bet other nurses would be interested, too. Is it okay with you if I tell them we have an author visiting our floor?”
And suddenly, I was transformed. In her comment, I realized that in her eyes I was no longer just another leukemia patient. Now she knew what I looked like before I got sick, she knew something about my life and what I cared about, and most importantly to me, she knew that the story of my life was bigger than cancer.
Over the many months I was in and out of the hospital, while I had (over thirty-five) blood and platelet transfusions, as the chemo brought down my cell counts, and as my body worked hard to make new, healthy cells, each of my nurses asked me how the final details leading up to the publication of my book were going, what else I had written or was writing, how plans for my book party were coming, and how it was, staying in touch with my students (to whom they knew I had dedicated my book) primarily by text message and on Facebook.
I was home between rounds of chemo the first time I held my book in my hands, and I read it—again—cover to cover, a little in awe that it had actually come to be. A few hundred people celebrated with me at the book party. I donated a copy to Mount Zion’s Purim Carnival Silent Auction with the promise to
We are pleased to present this guest blog post from author Amy Ariel, winner of the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award (religion category) for her book, Friends Forever. Mazal tov, Amy!
“Is that the cover of your book? Can I peek at it?” Connie* asked as she checked my IV bag to see about how much longer it would run.
“Absolutely!” I smiled, turning my laptop toward one of my many favorite nurses. I had just received the draft of the cover of Friends Forever from Sheyna Galyan, the owner of Yotzeret Publishing, and it was perfect. I loved the old look of it, and I loved the picture of the two girls holding hands just as I had imagined Abigail and Hannah as I wrote their story. As I scrolled to the image of the back of the book, Connie caught her breath.
“Wow. Amy,” she said, looking from my author picture to me and back. “Your picture . . . you’re beautiful.”
I looked over my computer at my reflection in the hospital window. I was still fairly newly bald, but seeing my shiny head rarely shocked me anymore. I knew I looked tired all the time, and even though she took it all in stride, I knew from my partner’s face after she held me close that my grayish skin smelled like the chemo that was helping my body by killing the cancer cells. I was so glad to have something to talk about besides the leukemia (AML) that had recently become part of my life, but didn’t define my life.
“Thank you.” I smiled at her again. “I promise, I’ll come back and visit when I have some color back in my face . . . and maybe some hair. In the meantime, though, you have a couple of daughters, right?”
“Yep. Eight and ten.”
“Well, they are exactly the right age for my book! The main characters, Abigail and Hannah, are nine. It’s about two Jewish girls who live in Saint Paul and become friends across time when Hannah appears in Abigail’s yard in 1912. It’s a time travel story. It’s set to come out in March. We are planning a book party with friends, congregants from my synagogue, and especially my students. My mom will be there, too, in charge of the hand sanitizer!”
“I’d love a copy for my girls.” Connie looked thoughtful. “You know, I bet other nurses would be interested, too. Is it okay with you if I tell them we have an author visiting our floor?”
And suddenly, I was transformed. In her comment, I realized that in her eyes I was no longer just another leukemia patient. Now she knew what I looked like before I got sick, she knew something about my life and what I cared about, and most importantly to me, she knew that the story of my life was bigger than cancer.
Over the many months I was in and out of the hospital, while I had (over thirty-five) blood and platelet transfusions, as the chemo brought down my cell counts, and as my body worked hard to make new, healthy cells, each of my nurses asked me how the final details leading up to the publication of my book were going, what else I had written or was writing, how plans for my book party were coming, and how it was, staying in touch with my students (to whom they knew I had dedicated my book) primarily by text message and on Facebook.
I was home between rounds of chemo the first time I held my book in my hands, and I read it—again—cover to cover, a little in awe that it had actually come to be. A few hundred people celebrated with me at the book party. I donated a copy to Mount Zion’s Purim Carnival Silent Auction with the promise to read it over the phone, chapter-by-chapter, to whoever ‘won’ it. I had expected to be reading to an elementary school student, but I smiled when one of my high schoolers texted that, having won my book, she was looking forward to bedtime stories. Leslie Martin, my unfailingly supportive editor, several good friends, and of course my mom also helped promote Friends Forever. Many of my nurses bought my book, some for their children or grandchildren and some for themselves. Never had I imagined my audience would include the oncology floor of Southdale Hospital.
It was around that time that I learned I was in the highest risk group for having the leukemia come back, and that I would therefore have to have a bone marrow transplant (BMT) at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. All of my hopes and plans for promoting my book myself had to be pushed aside as I refocused my energy on transplant. Only about 50% of the people who need a bone marrow transplant are able to find a matching donor; I was one of the lucky ones. Recipients and donors are only allowed to write anonymous letters to each other for a period of years after transplant, but without giving away who I am, when I wrote to thank my donor, one of the first things I shared with him was that I am a published children’s book author.
My BMT was May 12, 2011. BMT is an unbelievably intense experience. If there is a way to effectively write about it with brevity, I don’t know it. In the months that followed, I have struggled with acute graft vs. host disease, and then chronic graft vs. host disease. I have had some bad reactions to medications. I was on supplemental IV nutrition. I had my appendix out. I could go on. However, I am also still leukemia-free, and along with many other bright spots, every once in a while, I hear from someone who read and enjoyed my book, I get a great review, or I have a conversation with a friend or one of my students about what I might write next, and I am reminded that while leukemia, and now also BMT, are part of my life and always will be, they are far from the whole story of my life.
Maybe, after having a glimpse into my past eighteen months, it’s possible to have a feel for what it means to me for Friends Forever to have just won a national award recognizing it as a book that “helps children grow socially, emotionally, ethically, intellectually, and physically.” As a winner of the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award, Friends Forever will be promoted throughout the year with additional activity and lesson plan resources. And this year, I have every reason to believe I’ll be able to promote it myself as well.
These days I have plenty of color back in my face, and although it’s still short I do finally have a full head of hair. One of these days soon, I look forward to bringing a copy of my book all decked out with a shiny Gelett Burgess award sticker to the nurses at Southdale for them to leave in the family and visitor’s room as a small thank you for their outstanding care of me when I was their patient, and with gratitude that this time as a visiting author I have no need to stay overnight.
*I’ve changed the nurse’s name as I was unable to reach her for permission to use her name in sharing this story.
Yotzeret Publishing’s children’s book, Like a Maccabee by California author Barbara Bietz, has been chosen by PJ Library as a November 2012 book for older readers. ($8.95; October 2006; 978-1-59287-137-7) A new edition of the book with a new cover will be released later this autumn.
PJ Library is a Jewish family engagement program implemented on a local level throughout North America. A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, families in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through books and music. More information about PJ Library can be found at http://www.pjlibrary.org/.
About Like a Maccabee:
Days before Hanukkah, ten-year-old Ben’s soccer team makes the league championships. Only one thing stands between Ben and victory: the rival team’s best defender, a school bully whose favorite sport, other than soccer, is tormenting Ben. No one at home seems to understand. And now he has to share his room—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them. Facing humiliation at school and misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather, learning ancient wisdom and steadfast strength, enough for the big game…and beyond.
Yotzeret Publishing’s children’s book, Like a Maccabee by California author Barbara Bietz, has been chosen by PJ Library as a November 2012 book for older readers. ($8.95; October 2006; 978-1-59287-137-7) A new edition of the book with a new cover will be released later this autumn.
PJ Library is a Jewish family engagement program implemented on a local level throughout North America. A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, families in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through books and music. More information about PJ Library can be found at http://www.pjlibrary.org/.
About Like a Maccabee:
Days before Hanukkah, ten-year-old Ben’s soccer team makes the league championships. Only one thing stands between Ben and victory: the rival team’s best defender, a school bully whose favorite sport, other than soccer, is tormenting Ben. No one at home seems to understand. And now he has to share his room—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them. Facing humiliation at school and misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather, learning ancient wisdom and steadfast strength, enough for the big game…and beyond.
Yotzeret Publishing’s children’s book, Like a Maccabee by California author Barbara Bietz, has been chosen by PJ Library as a November 2012 book for older readers. ($8.95; October 2006; 978-1-59287-137-7) A new edition of the book with a new cover will be released later this autumn.
PJ Library is a Jewish family engagement program implemented on a local level throughout North America. A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, families in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through books and music. More information about PJ Library can be found at http://www.pjlibrary.org/.
About Like a Maccabee:
Days before Hanukkah, ten-year-old Ben’s soccer team makes the league championships. Only one thing stands between Ben and victory: the rival team’s best defender, a school bully whose favorite sport, other than soccer, is tormenting Ben. No one at home seems to understand. And now he has to share his room—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them. Facing humiliation at school and misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather, learning ancient wisdom and steadfast strength, enough for the big game…and beyond.
Yotzeret Publishing’s children’s book, Friends Forever by St. Paul resident Amy Ariel, has been awarded the 2012 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for outstanding contributions to children’s literature. ($8.95; March 2011; 978-1-59287-112-4) The book was awarded in the religion category.
The Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award highlights excellence in family-friendly books covering the broad expanse of a child’s existence, helping them grow socially, emotionally, ethically, intellectually, and physically. Each year Gelett Burgess Children’s Book awards are given to 40 books in 4 distinct classifications: Lifestyle, Arts and Letters, Society and Culture, and Education. The list of winners is promoted throughout the year with additional activity and lesson plan resources made available.
Parents, educators, librarians and retailers trust the high mark of distinction the Gelett Burgess Foundation honors provide a product. Informed decisions about purchasing products designed for children and families can be made knowing they have passed the foundation’s stringent evaluation process. More information can be found at www.GelettBurgessCenter.org.
About Friends Forever:
Two Jewish girls become friends across time when modern-day Hannah suddenly appears in her own Saint Paul yard . . . in 1912. Thirteen-year-old Abigail tells the story of that amazing day and the encounter that changed both their lives forever. Against the backdrop of the Progressive Era, as youth joined with adults and hotly debated women’s right to vote, worker’s rights, and racial equality, Abigail and Hannah must solve their own problem: how will Hannah get back to her own time?
Yotzeret Publishing’s children’s book, Friends Forever by St. Paul resident Amy Ariel, has been awarded the 2012 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for outstanding contributions to children’s literature. ($8.95; March 2011; 978-1-59287-112-4) The book was awarded in the religion category.
The Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award highlights excellence in family-friendly books covering the broad expanse of a child’s existence, helping them grow socially, emotionally, ethically, intellectually, and physically. Each year Gelett Burgess Children’s Book awards are given to 40 books in 4 distinct classifications: Lifestyle, Arts and Letters, Society and Culture, and Education. The list of winners is promoted throughout the year with additional activity and lesson plan resources made available.
Parents, educators, librarians and retailers trust the high mark of distinction the Gelett Burgess Foundation honors provide a product. Informed decisions about purchasing products designed for children and families can be made knowing they have passed the foundation’s stringent evaluation process. More information can be found at www.GelettBurgessCenter.org.
About Friends Forever:
Two Jewish girls become friends across time when modern-day Hannah suddenly appears in her own Saint Paul yard . . . in 1912. Thirteen-year-old Abigail tells the story of that amazing day and the encounter that changed both their lives forever. Against the backdrop of the Progressive Era, as youth joined with adults and hotly debated women’s right to vote, worker’s rights, and racial equality, Abigail and Hannah must solve their own problem: how will Hannah get back to her own time?
This 328-page historical novel will be on sale August 28, 2012, and if you pre-order, we’ll send you your copies so that you receive them on or about the on-sale date. Wonderful reviews are already coming in, and Janice Weizman just presented The Wayward Moon to the Jewish Book Author Network in New York.
Today I am working my way through submission queries to Yotzeret. The bad news is that there are a lot. The good news is that there are a lot.
Intended from the start, Yotzeret has had surprising success in the niche market of books that are “too religious” (or “too Jewish”) for larger, secular publishers, and “not religious enough” for most Jewish publishers, many of whom focus on scholarly nonfiction works or works that represent a more orthodox practice.are a lot. The good news is that there are a lot. Yotzeret Publishing has somehow found its way into the hearts and address books of many writers, for which I’m very grateful. It’s awesome that you’re so interested!
Which brings us to today. I have sitting next to me over two dozen queries, proposals, and manuscript portions. Since Yotzeret can only publish 2-3 titles per year (at this time), and slots are already filled for the rest of 2012 and most of 2013, the math shows that only one-eighth of these have a shot at making the cut. This is actually pretty good; many publishers only consider a tenth of the queries they receive, and the big publishers consider far less than that.
Here are some ways to better your chances of your manuscript being accepted, or at least considered:
Do not query by email. It’s too easy for email to get lost, overlooked, or marked as spam before I ever see it. Send a paper query via snail mail.
Do not query by messaging or commenting on our blog, Facebook page, or Twitter feed. Send a paper query via snail mail.
Remember that publishers have minuscule marketing budgets, so please do not write about how much you’re looking forward to going on a publisher-paid international author tour.
Understand that you will need to do the majority of the marketing work. Include in your query exactly how you are willing and able (including financially) you are to market in order to contribute to your book’s success.
Do not expect to get rich, be on the New York Times bestseller list, or be asked to cast all the characters in the TV show based on your book.
A publisher can easily spent $12,000 or more getting your book to print, and that’s with a $2,000 marketing budget. We want to be as close to certain as possible that we will make back that $12,000—and then some—in sales. For a book that retails at $10 or $15, sells at an industry standard 40%-65% discount, less royalties, shipping, and returns, among other things, that means we have to sell thousands of books (not hundreds) to recoup our expenses. While we at Yotzeret consider the merit of the book itself and not just the bottom line, we do still have to pay the bills, so that bottom line has to figure in somewhere. Bear this in mind as you’re writing your query. What can you do to help sell thousands?
Above all, remember: it’s not personal. Really, it isn’t. A rejection (which I hate to write, by the way) isn’t necessarily a judgment on your manuscript, and it certainly isn’t a judgment about you. We know that your manuscripts are your paper children, sent out into the world to make their own way, and that a piece of your heart goes with them. We get that. So please understand that a rejection letter isn’t sent to your child, or to that piece of yo
