Jewish Book Club discussion

For authors who would like to announce an upcoming interview or let us know they have been interviewed.

Reviews added as of August 2025. Let us know here about reviews of your work, as well as about interviews.

Thanks, Jan. There’s a recent interview with me about The Book of Jeremiah, my novel in stories, up now on Cliff Garstang’s website: https://cliffordgarstang.com/ive-got-...

Thanks as well! Please see my interview about my historical novel, Forget Russia, on the Lilith blog:
https://lilith.org/2021/02/forget-rus...

Hi Julie and L-
Thank you for sharing.

...and glad this thread is coming in handy!
Jan

Hello -I'd love to share an interview I just did about my latest book - The Hasidic Rebbe's Son -- on Deborah Kalb's book blog.

https://bit.ly/3uRLLQz

Looking forward to being interviewed via Zoom about my novel COME BACK FOR ME at Beth Sholom synagogue's inaugural Author Night on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 pm (EST): https://www.bethsholom.net/event/book...

Hello, I’ve just published my memoir, The Wagamama Bride, a Jewish Family Saga Made in Japan. Members of this group are warmly invited to the Zoom launch on May 23, 2021 at 3 pm Jerusalem time. For details and slide show see www.goshenbooks .com

Hi Liane-
Congrats on your book.
Looks like it will be quite enjoyable, as I have never have
read a family saga taking place in Japan.
Wishing you loads of good luck-

Sharon wrote: "Looking forward to being interviewed via Zoom about my novel COME BACK FOR ME at Beth Sholom synagogue's inaugural Author Night on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 pm (EST): https://www.bethsholom.net/event/..."

Wonderful! Loved this book.

Hi all!
I've never actually posted an interview regarding my work but this latest one is pretty apropos in terms of what's happening in the world... Here it is (and sorry about the giant photo):
https://medium.com/authority-magazine...

Deborah- How big is it?? :)
Haven't had a chance to watch, but I will tonight.
Thanks for posting it.

Stacey wrote: "Deborah- How big is it?? :)
Haven't had a chance to watch, but I will tonight.
Thanks for posting it."

Hahaha too big

Deborah wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Looking forward to being interviewed via Zoom about my novel COME BACK FOR ME at Beth Sholom synagogue's inaugural Author Night on Thursday May 6 at 7:30 pm (EST): https://www.bethsh..."

Thanks so much, Deborah, for your kind words about COME BACK FOR ME. I loved your book as well!

Please join me for a virtual (free) event at the National Library of Israel featuring Rebel Daughter on July 15th

https://www.nli.org.il/en/visit/event...


Inscription and Imagination: The 2,000 Year-old Story of a Woman Who Survived the Destruction of Jerusalem

Join us as we travel back in time to an event that changed Jewish and world history. Our guides are Paula Fredriksen, a noted scholar of early Christianity; Jonathan Price, an expert on the Jewish revolt against Rome; and Lori Banov Kaufmann, author of the historical fiction novel Rebel Daughter, which brings this woman and the tumultuous 1st century to life.

Proud to announce the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York is sponsoring the launch of my book, What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets , in a virtual event on Oct. 5, 2021.

Please join me for an author book chat with Jane Eisner, Director of Academic Affairs at the Columbia School of Journalism and former Editor in Chief of the Forward newspaper.

Click here to register

(click here to learn more about the book)

:)

Mel wrote: "...Please join me for an author book chat with Jane Eisner, Director of Academic Affairs at the Columbia School of Journalism and former Editor in Chief of the Forward newspaper."

Congratulations, Mel, both on the book and on having Jane Eisner to chat with. I used to enjoy her "Jane Looking Forward" feature!

Mel , this looks like a fascinating story. Congrats!!

Thanks, Lori. Hope the event lives up to expectations.
Mel

Sharing my recent interview with "The Jewish Views" podcast about my novel "2207 South Green Road."

https://audioboom.com/posts/7901548-j...

Thank you for posting this Janice.

Thx for this discussion stream. I wish to alert any interested readers that I have recently given a YOUTUBE interview discussing my book, Under My Bubbe's Wings. Just go to that site and search "Iser Flaum is the author". I hope all are emerging from this pandemic ordeal in good health, and still sane. "Zie gezint".

Iser wrote: "Thx for this discussion stream. I wish to alert any interested readers that I have recently given a YOUTUBE interview discussing my book, Under My Bubbe's Wings. Just go to that site and search "Is..."

Iser, thank you too -- for posting.
Started watching, so I could meet you. :) (My sister has been living in San Diego for most of her adult life.)
I had a Jewishly deprived childhood in my little corner of the south, meaning I had to google Zie gezint. I did better with straight googling than with Google Translate this time. So will say thanks and same to you, but, still, not just a simple phrase, right?
Thanks for the interview!

P.S. Very nice interview, Iser.

"a zissen gedank!" Jan.

You're very welcome! ☺️

Here's a fun interview I did a few months back about my book Meiselman: The Lean Years. We talk about being a Jewish novelist, the differences between being a Jew in Israel and America, and misogyny in religion.

The book is on sale now on Amazon for a little under $7.

https://hevria.com/sara-lippmann/what...

Avner wrote: "Here's a fun interview I did a few months back about my book Meiselman: The Lean Years. We talk about being a Jewish novelist, the differences between being a Jew in Israel and America, and misogyn..."

Thanks for posting your interview here, Avner, and best of luck with your book!

Avner wrote: "Here's a fun interview I did a few months back about my book Meiselman: The Lean Years. We talk about being a Jewish novelist, the differences between being a Jew in Israel and America, and misogyn..."

Hi Avner,
Just saw the interview- you are right, it was fun.
I also read the article Aaron Hamburger wrote about you. He did a great job. I have the book downloaded; just trying to find an opportunity to read it.
Many readers including myself could use some comic relief.
Wishing you much success. HNY !

My investigative memoir, What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secretswas launched at The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, with an author's chat and interview with Jane Eisner, former Editor of the Forward and Director, Academic Affairs at the Columbia School of Journalism.

In truth, I was surprised by the depth and nuance of some of the viewers questions. Thoughts? Comments?

This is the museum link
https://bit.ly/interview-mel-laytner

Mel wrote: "My investigative memoir, What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secretswas launched at The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, with an author's chat and intervie..."

Congratulations, Mel. I'm impressed. Still miss her.

Mel,
Your interview was outstanding.
Congratulations and well deserved.
I read your book before watching the interview, and found myself finishing some of your responses out-loud no less -to Jane.
Learning how the title of your book was born ,"What they Didn't Burn.." must have blown you away, as it did me.The silence around the table really spoke volumes.
Jared's question I believe came first which was extremely thought provoking. Im not sure I could have answered it as well, nor that quickly. I was also curious at the answer you were going to Steve's question.
What stands out for me in this interview as well as in the book is the humility you own. Quite rare these days.

Thank you, Stacie. In truth, a few of the audience questions nearly threw me. Feared I came off as unsure more than thoughtful.

Mel wrote: "Thank you, Stacie. In truth, a few of the audience questions nearly threw me. Feared I came off as unsure more than thoughtful."

Not a chance:)

I was recently interviewed on the “History through Fiction” podcast about my historical novel, “A Rooster for Asklepios,” which draws on my thirty years as an academic historian to immerse readers into the everyday trials of ordinary people in Roman Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the first century AD.

The interview covered such topics as my research on the social world of Roman Asia Minor, what the lives of slaves were like in the Roman world, and my decision to write fiction to teach people about Roman history and the social world of early Judaism and Christianity. Check it out at https://bit.ly/3uZkYmX.

To learn more about “A Rooster for Asklepios” and its companion volume, “A Bull for Pluto” (the first two books in a planned trilogy), visit my Website for the series at https://www.aslavesstory.com. If you prefer listening over reading, you can find an excellent audio version of “A Rooster for Asklepios” on Audible.com at https://adbl.co/2Y9Rm9M.

Christopher wrote: "I was recently interviewed on the “History through Fiction” podcast about my historical novel, “A Rooster for Asklepios,” which draws on my thirty years as an academic historian to immerse readers ..."

Christopher, congratulations on your interview!
You've found the right place for your author announcements and for members to find and talk to you after they listen or read.
If you have any questions, please send me a private message. In the "olden days" of a month ago, I would have reached out to you myself but can no longer do that due to new Goodreads settings.
Best wishes,
Jan

Hi all - Please join me for Literary Modiin's November author event on Sunday, Nov 14 at 20:00 Israel time / 1 pm Eastern. Our featured authors this month are:
- Hilma Wolitzer (Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories)
- Iddo Gefen (Jerusalem Beach: Stories)
- Aviya Kushner (Wolf Lamb Bomb)

Hope to see you there! Register here: https://bit.ly/3AtPqGI

The Authors Guild's "spotlight" interview with me was not about my book, What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets. But some thoughts about writing.

Here's the transcript...
----
(Writers Guild): Why is writing important to you and why do you think it's an important medium for the world?
(Mel Laytner) Until we implant the diodes that enable telepathy, we're stuck with words. To give words longevity beyond random tones of a tuning fork, we write them down.

Everything else flows from there (unless your name is Mendelssohn and you can compose songs without words that are that good.) Even van Gogh felt compelled to pen missives to his brother Theo about his craft. How much poorer our appreciation of da Vinci would be without the revealed secrets of his coded scrawls?

Still, it's not easy, not for most of us. We will always struggle for the right word, the right phrase, to form into sentences, and sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into stories--hopefully all of it clearly, cogently, honestly. Therein lies the fun, and the challenge.

(AG): What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer's block?
(ML): Whenever confronted with a bout of block, I turn to the Bible to calm and soothe, specifically Genesis, Chapter 1: God created the world in six days (period). On the seventh day he rested. (paragraph)

Never has a more profound lede been penned. Bearing this in mind will remind you to keep it simple--subject/verb/period. The rest will flow. Or to paraphrase Hemingway, don't confuse big words with big thoughts.

(AG): What is your favorite time to write?
(ML): First thing in the morning or after dinner in the evening.

(AG) :What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received and would like to impart to other writers?
(ML): Rule #10 of Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing: "10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Think of what you skip reading a novel: thick paragraphs of prose you can see have too many words in them."

(AG): What excites you most about being a writer in today's age?
(ML): The casual ease with which even the piss poorest of writers can inflict their words on readers around the world. That's exciting, but not in a happy way.

Mel Laytner's What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets is out now with SparkPress.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to be interviewed by Carolivia Herron on her local radio show, Epic City., about my book, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany. To listen to the interview, go to https://takomaradio.org/schedule and click "Epic City." To start yesterday's show, begin the Archive Player for yesterday's date at 4 pm. Enjoy!

Bonnie wrote: "Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to be interviewed by Carolivia Herron on her local radio show, Epic City., about my book, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany. To listen to ..."

Wonderful Bonnie!!
I have been told there is no greater feeling than to be interviewed having the ability to share a created passion.

Stacey B wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to be interviewed by Carolivia Herron on her local radio show, Epic City., about my book, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany..."

Stacey, the interview was great fun (and quite meaningful) and Carolivia was a great interviewer.

I was interviewed about my upcoming book, The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith and The Talmudby Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz of Valley Beit Mitdrash in Scottsdale AZ. As you can see, we had a great time.
Goodreads won't allow links to YouTube, but you can probably find it by searching. Oh yes, here's the book cover

Maggie,
That is awesome news.
I love the challenge theme.
Going to look for your interview- not hard to do.

Would "Kavod to you," Maggie, be equivalent to kudos to you, for being interviewd by Shmuly Yanklowitz? He's held in such high regard, so that rubs off on the interviewee!
I searched on YouTube for 'Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Maggie Anton,' and it came right up. Nice interview! 😃

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HHV...
Let's see if it will post....

Congrats Maggie on a wonderful interview and your new book!

Jan wrote: "For authors who would like to announce an upcoming interview or let us know they have been interviewed."

Hi, Deborah Kalb interviewed me about my recent non-fiction release, A Contrary Journey with Velvel Zbarzher, Bard. Here is the link for the interview:
https://bit.ly/3JUqtKA

Jill wrote: "Jan wrote: "For authors who would like to announce an upcoming interview or let us know they have been interviewed."

Hi, Deborah Kalb interviewed me about my recent non-fiction release, A Contrary..."

Jill, great interview!! Seems the research was partly at your finger tips. I loved your comment about "authentic rebels". Congrats on this recent release.

Jill wrote: "Jan wrote: "For authors who would like to announce an upcoming interview or let us know they have been interviewed."

Hi, Deborah Kalb interviewed me about my recent non-fiction release, A Contrary..."

Great interview, Jill!
I recently made it through Hillel Halkin's The Lady of Hebrew and Her Lovers of Zion, which familiarized me with some of those terms. Even a chapter on Smolenskin!
With all your travels you've led an adventurous life too and I guess that shows up in your book.

What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

It's always gratifying when an interviewer asks really thoughtful questions, as did Elizabeth Hazard for Book & Film Globe



Click here for full interview https://bookandfilmglobe.com/nonficti..."