I have always been composing sentences in my head: descriptions of scenes, relationships, and experiences. I just never had the courage to put them anywhere but in a personal journal. I was afraid of revealing myself as a fraud (I’m not a real writer!) or hurting someone’s feelings (sorry, family, in advance). I spent most of my professional life writing memos, policy position papers, and reports. Not the type of writing I had in mind. Sometime after I turned 50, I realized that I wasn’t so afraid. I began to write as my authentic self, with the intention of sharing it. My kids signed me up for my first writing workshop, as a retirement gift, and I have been plugging away at it since (10 years ago– time flies!)
This has led me to my first published book, More Than Matzoh Balls: My Search for Jewish-American Identity. You can order it on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or from your local bookseller. I am also a proud member of the Jewish Book Council Network of authors.
I have substack, where I reflect on my journey as an author, and will continue using this blog to explore growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘60s and ‘70s as part of an extended Jewish family. I think there are more stories to tell. Please subscribe to one or both to get notified when I share new pieces. In fact, I am working on another book that focuses more on memories of Canarsie. It will also explore race relations and public education. Stay tuned for that!
As the years have gone on, I realize that my interest in public policy is as much a part of me as childhood memories. I write the occasional op-ed pieces (or maybe more than occasional), too.
I look forward your comments! Welcome to the conversation.
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