People of the Book

Meryl chats with Marilyn Simon Rothstein about her new novel, Who Loves You Best. It's the story of three very different grandmothers competing for the attention of their mutual granddaughter. In addition, Marilyn discusses her approach to combining humor with serious issues in her books, and shares insights into her character-naming process.Marilyn is the author of four novels: Crazy to Leave You, Husbands and Other Sharp Objects and Lift and Separate. Her latest book is Who Loves You Best. She grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from New York University, and began her writing career at Seventeen magazine. She married a man she met in an elevator, and owned an advertising agency for twenty-five years. She has two daughters and three grandchildren.Website: www.marilynsimonrothstein.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552642036Instagram: www.instagram.com/marilynsimonrothstein/Amazon: a.co/d/ejDlSXgWebsite: merylain.com/Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MarilynSimonRothstein #WhoLovesYouBest #GrandmothersPerspective #CompetingGrandmothers #ThreeDifferentGrandmothers #Babysitting #LongDistanceGrandparenting #DilemmaforBusyModernGrandparents #Podiatrist #NamingCharacters #Jealousy #BocaRaton #TheBerkshires #Humor #CombiningTheHumorousAndSerious #Amazon #WomensFiction #CrazyToLeaveYou #HusbandsAndOtherSharpObjects #LiftAndSeparate #MerylAin #PeopleoftheBook #JewsLoveToRead #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #RememberToEat

Meryl chats with Julie Metz about her memoir, Eva and Eve, which chronicles her research journey to discover her mother's hidden past in Nazi-occupied Austria. They also discuss how researching and writing about her mother's experience has impacted her own life and the life of her family.Julie Metz is the author of PERFECTION, a New York Times bestseller. Her latest release is EVA AND EVE: A SEARCH FOR MY MOTHER'S LOST CHILDHOOD AND WHAT A WAR LEFT BEHIND. Julie has written for publications including The New York Times, Dame, and Salon and her essays have appeared in THE MOMENT and THE HOUSE THAT MADE ME. She lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.Author Website: www.juliemetz.com/Julie's Substack: considerthespider.substack.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/juliemetzwriter/Bookshop.org bookshop.org/p/books/eva-and-ev…K3u0gaAgHqEALw_wcBPeople of the Book is a copyrighted work of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network.Website: merylain.com/#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin #PeopleOfTheBook #JulieMetz #Memoir #EvaAndEve #KeepsakeBook #Holocaust #LeoBaeckInstitute #Vienna #Austria #ResearchJourney #USHolocaustMuseum #YadVaShem #Archive #ImmigrantStory #ThreeGenerationsOfWomen #GenerationalNarrative #Antisemitism #RiseOfHitler #Nazis #VienneseJews #Resilience #SurvivalOfFamily #Mother'sLegacy #LostChildhood #MothersHiddenPast #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast

Meryl chats with Jacqueline Friedland about her new novel, Counting Backwards (March 2025), a dual-timeline novel which explores fertility, inequality, reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy. It's told from the perspectives of Jessa Gidney, a modern-day lawyer fighting for her immigrant client, and also Carrie Buck who is the plaintiff in the actual 1927 Supreme Court Case, Buck v. Bell. In the 1927 case, the Court upheld the right of the state to sterilize women deemed feeblemindedJacqueline, the author of five novels, is a USA Today and Amazon best-selling author. Her brand new novel is Counting Backwards. She holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, a JD from NYU Law School, and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in Westchester, New York with her husband and four children.Website: www.jacquelinefriedland.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/JacquelineFriedlandAuthorInstagram: www.instagram.com/jackiefriedland/Host Website: merylain.com/People of the Book: www.facebook.com/PeopleOfTheBookWithMerylAinJews Love To Read! www.facebook.com/groups/455865462463744facebook.com/MerylAinAuthor/Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Jacqueline Friedland #CountingBackwards #HeGetsThatFromMe #BodilyAutonomy #Eugenics #BuckvBell #ReproductiveRights #CarrieBuck #JessaGidney #Vance #JewishCharacter #Feeblemindedness #RightToHaveAChild #PeopleoftheBook #Sterilization #IncarceratedInmates #OriginsofTheHolocaust #WomensRights #Immigration #GenreHopper #WomensFiction #MerylAin #JewsLoveToRead #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #RememberToEat

Meryl chats with Kim Salzman about her historical fiction novel, Straddling Black and White, the story of fourteen-year-old Azmera, who takes part in the mass immigration of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel in the 1980s. Theyalso talk about the current war in Israel and its impact on Kim, her family,and friends.Kim was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving a degree in psychology from Columbia University, she lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel, which inspired her to make Aliyah. After receiving her law degree from the University of Michigan, she immigrated to Israel where she became fascinated by the stories of Jewish immigrants to Israel from all over the world. She served in the international law department of the Israel Defense Forces, and also advocated for the legal rights of Ethiopian-Israelis. Kim lives in Northern Israel with her husband, three children and a dog. Currently, she works as the Israel and Overseas Director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.Website: www.kimsalzman.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091317043993/People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air GlobalRadio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #KimSalzman #StraddlingBlackAndWhite #HistoricalFiction #EthiopianIsraelis #EthiopianJews #Aliyah #MakingAliyah #Israel #EthiopianAliyah #Sudan #OperationSolomon #OperationMoses #Racism #Identity #FamilySecrets #Assimilation #Acculturation #ClashOfCultures #October7 #IsraelAtWar #Hostages #WarAgainstHamas #IsraeliArmy #IsraeliArmyService #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Alex Kor about his 2024 memoir, A Blessing, Not a Burden, which chronicles his incredible journey as the child of two Holocaust survivors to his present day mission of keeping alive his parents' legacy. They also discuss his mother's controversial decision, as a Mengele twin, to forgive the Nazis.Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Alex Kor is the son of two Holocaust survivors, Eva Mozes Kor and her husband, Michael. Alex holds a BS in Chemistry, an MS in Exercise Physiology, and a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. A full-time podiatrist, he is a member of the CANDLES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS. His memoir, A Blessing, Not a Burden, was published in May 2024. Guest's Website and Social Media links:Amazon: a.co/d/fuNHN7TAuthor Website: www.myholocaustlegacy.com/Pediment Publishing: www.pediment.com/ People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio NetworkWebsite: merylain.com/ #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin #PeopleOfTheBook #AlexKor #Memoir #ABlessingNotABurden #EvaKor #Auschwitz #JosefMengele #AngelOfDeath #Mengele #MengeleTwin #Miriam #Twins #MichaelKor #MickeyKor #TerreHaute #Israel #TheHolocaust #Holocaust #CANDLES #Indiana #Forgiveness #Nazis #Nazi #Atrocities #MedicalExperiments #TwinsReunionAtAuschwitz #ParentsLegacy #KeepingHolocaustLegacyAlive #ButlerUniversity #CocaCola #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast

Meryl chats with her bibliophile cousin, 99-year-old Arthur Fischman, about his love of reading. During the past three years, he's read 235 books on audio due to diminished eyesight. They also talk about family, and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude as we age. Arthur Fischman was born in Newark, New Jersey, and graduated from N.Y.U. with a degree in business and finance. He was president and CEO of Newark Auto Products. At the same time, he was Director and member of the executive committee of a Commercial Bank. He is a veteran of World War II. He has three daughters and lives in Pennsylvania. He recently turned 99 and is an avid reader. Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #ArthurFischman #99thBirthday #235Books #PhilipRoth #ThePlotAgainstAmerica #JewishCommunityInNewark #Newark #MetropolitanLife #Weequahic #WorldWarII #WAC #FortBelvoir #DigitalCartridgeAudioBooks #AudioBooks #LAMP #LibraryServices #LibraryOfAccessibilityForMedia #Optimist #Optimism ##DorisKearnsGoodwin #RichardGoodwin #AnUnfinishedLove #RichardLederer #Grammar #Commas #Prononuns #MurderMystery #HistoricalFiction #Biography #Autobiography #BeConcise #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon's Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemitism then and now. Michelle Cameron is the author of Jewish historical fiction, with her most recent being Napoleon's Mirage, the sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates. Previous work includes Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity, a finalist in religious fiction in the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the award-winning Beyond the Ghetto Gates and The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz.Michelle is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based creative writing program serving children, teens, and adults. She lives in Chatham, NJ, with her husband and has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud. Author's website: michelle-cameron.com/Instagram: @michellecameronwriterFacebook: www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor Host Website: merylain.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MichelleCameron #NapoleonsMirage #Sequel #BeyondTheGhettoGates #HistoricalFiction #AntiWarNovel #RoleOfWomenInHistory #KetubahWorkshop #NapoleonicEra #ProclamationToJews #Research #Jews #JewishHistory #Christians #Muslims #ThreeMajorReligions #Egypt #RealityofWar #RuinedWoman #LongDistanceRelationship #MilitaryMistakes #Babylon #ShiraOfAshkinaze #HistoricalFiction #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Judy Gruen about her 2024 memoir, Bylines and Blessings, which chronicles her journey to pursue a career in journalism with an Orthodox lifestyle. They talk about balancing motherhood with both a career and a commitment to Jewish values. They also discuss the current wave of antisemitism and its impact on writers. Judy is an award-winning columnist for the Jewish Journal and the author of five books, including the memoirs, Bylines and Blessings, and The Skeptic and the Rabbi. In 2024 she won First Place in Commentary in the American Jewish Press Association's Rockower Awards, and Second Place for book reviews in the Los Angeles Press Club's Southern California Journalism Awards. Her work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Christian Science Monitor, Aish.com, Jewish Action, and other media outlets. Known for her insightful and personal writing about life as a proudly observant Jewish woman in a secular society, Judy is also a book editor and writing coach. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from UC Berkeley and her master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeff. Author's website: judygruen.com/ Substack: judygruen.substack.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #JudyGruen #Memoir #BylinesAndBlessings #OvercomingObstacles #StrivingForSuccess #TheSkepticAndTheRabbi #PeopleoftheBook #OrthodoxJudaism #Journalism #JewishJournalism #JewishJournal #BalancingMotherhoodAndCareer #OrthodoxLifestyle #Boundaries #RedefiningSuccess #Substack #Carpool #WorkingMoms #JewishValues #JewsLoveToRead #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks

Meryl chats with Meryl Frank about her new memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust. They discuss the author's multi-year, multi-country research journey to unravel the story of what happened to her cousin, Franya Winter, a celebrated actress in the Yiddish Theater who perished during The Holocaust. They talk about the resurgence of antisemitism today and the importance of keeping alive the memory and lessons of The Holocaust.Ambassador Meryl Frank (ret) is an international champion of women's leadership, human rights and political participation. She is the former mayor of Highland Park, NJ and was named one of “The Fifty Most Influential Jews in the World” by The Jerusalem Post. Frank serves as President of Makeda Global Network and sits on the US Holocaust Memorial Council and the Board of YIVO, the Institute for Jewish Research. Her memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust is available from Hachette Books.Author's website: ⁠www.merylfrank.com/⁠Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAir⁠ ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork⁠ ⁠#AOTA⁠ ⁠#MerylFrank⁠ ⁠#Unearthed⁠ ⁠#PaperBrigade⁠ ⁠#VilnaGhetto⁠ ⁠#TheHolocaust⁠ ⁠#VilnaTheater⁠ ⁠#YiddishTheater⁠ ⁠#FranyaWinter⁠ ⁠#Memoir⁠ ⁠#FamilyHistory⁠ ⁠#Antisemitism⁠ ⁠#Research⁠ ⁠#MemorialCandle⁠ ⁠#KeeperOfFamilyHistory⁠ ⁠#StandUpToHate⁠ ⁠#WritingProcess⁠ ⁠#Yiddish⁠ ⁠#AntisemiticHateCrimes⁠ ⁠#LessonsOfTheHolocaust⁠ ⁠#Storytelling⁠ ⁠#TheDiaryOfAnneFrank⁠ ⁠#YIVO⁠ ⁠#PeopleoftheBook⁠ ⁠#MerylAin⁠ ⁠#TheTakeawayMen⁠ ⁠#Sequel⁠ ⁠#ShadowsWeCarry⁠ ⁠#LetsTalkJewishBooks⁠ ⁠#JewsLoveToRead⁠!

Meryl chats with Esther Goldenberg about her new novel, The Scrolls of Deborah, Book One in the Desert Songs Trilogy. They discuss how Esther came to write about this Biblical narrative, and how she melded Bible stories with a feminist perspective. They also talk about historical fiction, Esther's writing and research process, and the scope of her three-book series. Esther Goldenberg is an author, educator, and the mother of two. She is the author of two non-fiction books: A Story Every Week: Torah Wisdom for Today's World, and The Out of the Box Bat Mitzvah. The Scrolls of Deborah, her debut Biblical fiction novel, Book One in the Desert Songs Trilogy, was published in February 2024. After living in Israel for a few years, she now resides in the United States. Author's website: www.esthergoldenberg.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Esther Goldenberg #BibleStories #TheScrollsOfDeborah #Deborah #JacobAndEsau #Abraham #Sarah #Rebecca #Midrash #Trilogy #SiblingRivalry #HistoricalFiction #TheBible #Feminist #TheRedTent #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Dr. Ora Horn Prouser about their new collection of High Holiday supplemental readings that were written in response to last October 7's Massacre in Israel when 1,200 were killed and 251 were kidnapped and held hostage. Contributors to the book include rabbis, academics, poets, Americans, Israelis, and scholars and students of the Academy for Jewish Religion. Rabbi Menachem Creditor serves as the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York and was the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence. An acclaimed author, scholar, and speaker with over 3 million views of his online videos and essays, he was named by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America. Dr. Ora Horn Prouser is the CEO and Academic Dean at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Her book, Esau's Blessing: How The Bible Embraces Those With Special Needs, was recognized as a National Jewish Book Council Finalist. These Holy Days: A High Holidays Supplement After October 7: a.co/d/jajfFT3Menachem Creditor: menachemcreditor.net/Ora Horn Prouser: ajr.edu/admin_and_staff/ora-horn-prouser/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Israel #Pluralism #TheLandOfIsrael #AttackOnIsrael #IsraelAtWar #AfterOctober7 #October7Attack #Grief #antisemitism #TheseHolyDays #AHighHolidaysSupplementAfterOctober7 #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #SimchatTorah #RabbiMenachemCreditor #DrOraHornProuser #AJR #AcademyForJewishReligion #APrayerForTheStateOfIsrael #BethDwoskin #MeGodAndTheTerrorist #RabbiDavidEhrenkranz #EssaysPoemsPrayers #Hostages #Machzor #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Gila Green about her new novel, With A Good Eye. The book tells the story of 19-year-old Luna Levi and her struggles with her dysfunctional family, including a father who has PTSD from Israeli military service and a mother who suffers from narcissistic personality disorder. They also discuss the writing process, the importance of location, and the impact of the war in Israel. Gila Green is an Israel-based Canadian author from Ottawa. Her father is a Yemenite-Israeli immigrant to Canada and her mother is a third generation Canadian. She has lived in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Johannesburg, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tel Aviv. She works as a freelance writer, editor and online creative writing instructor, as well as a college lecturer teaching English As a Foreign Language. Gila's latest novel is With A Good Eye. She is also the author of Passport Control, White Zion, No Entry, and King of the Class. Her stories have been nominated for seven international awards and have been published in two dozen magazines and anthologies. Gila writes often about racism, alienation, dislocation, war, family relationships, pre-State Israel, and modern Israel. She is the proud mother of five children. Website: gilagreenwrites.com/ People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Gila Green #WithAGoodEye #Israel #Israeli #NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder #NarcissisticBehavior #DysfunctionalFamily #LunaLevi #ColorfulCharacters #CanYouEscapeYourFamilyHistory? #RecordingAnAudiobook #UnparentedChild #PTSD #Canada #Ottawa #PassportControl #WhiteZion #TheInheritance #October7 #Audiobook #ImpactOfWar #WritingProcess #ShortStories #LivingInIsrael #UnitedStates #WarAgainstHamas #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Talia Carner about her new novel, The Boy With the Star Tattoo, including the top secret Israeli operation that took place in Cherbourg, France in 1968-69. They also discuss the issue of hidden children during and after the Holocaust. In their conversation, Talia candidly speaks about the antisemitism that was leveled against her new novel. Talia Carner is a proud seventh-generation Sabra, who has written six novels, including Puppet Child, China Doll, Jerusalem Maiden, Hotel Moscow, The Third Daughter and her latest novel, The Boy With the Star Tattoo. Formerly the publisher of Savvy Woman magazine and a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, Talia is a committed supporter of global human rights and feminism. She is a board member of HBI–the Jewish women research center at Brandeis University. In November 2023, Algemeiner magazine named Talia Carner as one of the Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life 2023. Talia is married to Ron Carner, former president of Maccabi USA. They live in New York and Florida and have four grown children. Author's website: taliacarner.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTaliaInstagram: www.instagram.com/talia.carner/ People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Talia Carner #TheBoyWithTheStarTattoo #Hadassah #YouthAliyah #HiddenChildren #Cherbourg #Holocaust #AfterTheHolocaust #PostHolocaust #Israel #IDF #Family #FamilyTree #RighteousGentiles #FamilyTrauma #Goodreads #antisemitism #AntiZionism #FamilySecrets #Resilience #HolocaustSurvivors #TheThird Daughter #JerusalemMaiden #HotelMoscow #ChinaDoll #PuppetChild #PeopleoftheBook #FeedspotTop10JewishPodcasts #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Robert Yaffe about his 2024 memoir, Relinquished, which chronicles his 30-year search to discover his closed adoption roots. He shares his emotional and circuitous journey, its impact on his Jewish adoptive parents, and the new family he ultimately discovered.Robert is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a BA from the University of Nebraska and graduated from Creighton Law School. After working as an attorney for several years, he served as an executive director of both Jewish Community Centers and synagogues. Relinquished: A mother's choice and my 30-year journey to find my birth family is his first book. Robert lives in Omaha with his wife. Rita. They have a blended family of four children and 10 grandchildren. Book available at Amazon in print and eBook:a.co/d/ghluTjf People of the Book is a copyrighted work of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin #PeopleOfTheBook #RobertYaffe #Relinquished #Adoption #30YearSearch #30YearJourney #ClosedAdoption #DNA #Judaism #JewishRoots #BirthMother #BirthFather #BirthFamily #AdoptiveParents #Siblings #AdoptionSearch #WhatIsAFamily #FamilySecrets #Family #Memoir #1950s #BabyBoomers #Omaha #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast

To celebrate the one year anniversary of SHADOWS WE CARRY, please enjoy this encore presentation of Meryl Ain in conversation with avid readers and activists in the Jewish community, Randi Brenowitz and Bayla Lovens. Shadows We Carry is the sequel to Meryl's award-winning debut novel, The Takeaway Men. Randi Brenowitz has just been elected to her second term as the International President of the Board of the Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning. Bayla Lovens has been involved in working in the Jewish Community, both professionally and as a volunteer, for most of her life. Meryl Ain is a writer, author, career educator and host of the podcast, People of the Book. The Takeaway Men, her award-winning post-Holocaust debut novel, was published in 2020. Meryl is the founder of the Facebook group, Jews Love To Read! Both Bayla and Randi are active members. You can find out more about Meryl on her website: ⁠merylain.com/⁠, or connect with her on social media: Jews Love To Read! ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/455865462463744⁠ People of the Book: www.facebook.com/PeopleOfTheBookWithMerylAin⁠ Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/MerylAinAuthor/⁠ Amazon: ⁠a.co/d/ec5DbXn⁠X: @⁠DrMerylAin⁠Instagram: meryl_ain Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAir⁠ ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork⁠ ⁠#AOTA⁠ ⁠#PeopleOfTheBook⁠ ⁠#PeopleOfTheBookPodcast⁠ ⁠#Podcast⁠ ⁠#MerylAin⁠ ⁠#ShadowsWeCarry⁠ ⁠#TheTakeawayMen⁠ ⁠#BabyBoomers⁠ ⁠#WomensRights⁠ ⁠#ChangingRoleOfWomen⁠ ⁠#TheSixties⁠ ⁠#TheSeventies⁠ ⁠#Antisemitism⁠ ⁠#Nazis⁠ ⁠#TheCatholicChurch⁠ ⁠#TheHolocaust⁠ ⁠#SecondGenerationOfHolocaustSurvivors⁠ ⁠#Genealogy⁠ ⁠#DNA⁠ ⁠#Ancestry⁠ ⁠#OSI⁠ ⁠#fHolocaustSurvivors⁠ ⁠#ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors⁠ ⁠#HiddenChildren⁠ ⁠#ChildrenOfNazis⁠ ⁠#Abortion⁠ ⁠#VietnamWar⁠ ⁠#RandiBrenowitz⁠ ⁠#MeltonSchoolForAdultJewishLearning⁠ ⁠#BaylaLovens⁠ ⁠#MerylAin⁠ ⁠#LetsTalkJewishBooks⁠ ⁠#JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity (September 12, 2023). They discuss how Michelle came to write about the Biblical saga of the Babylonian exile, and its meaning for today. They also talk about historical fiction and Michelle's writing and research process.Michelle is the award-winning author of several works of historical fiction and poetry including Beyond the Ghetto Gates, The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz, and In the Shadow of the Globe. Her new novel, Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity is the multi-generational Biblical saga of Sarah, her children and grandchildren, exiled to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar's army conquers Judea and destroys the Temple. Michelle lived in Israel for fifteen years and served as an officer in the Israeli army teaching air force cadets technical English. She is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based organization that offers creative writing programs to children, teens, and adults. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and has two grown sons.Author's website: ⁠michelle-cameron.com/⁠ Instagram: @⁠michellecameronwriter⁠ Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor⁠Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAir⁠ ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork⁠ ⁠#AOTA⁠ ⁠#MichelleCameron⁠ ⁠#Babylon⁠ ⁠#ANovelOfCaptivity⁠ ⁠#BabylonianExile⁠ ⁠#Intermarriage⁠ ⁠#DestructionOfTheTemple⁠ ⁠#Sarah⁠ ⁠#DanielTheProphet⁠ ⁠#Nebuchadnezzer⁠ ⁠#Judea⁠ ⁠#HistoricalFiction⁠ ⁠#TheBible⁠ ⁠#BeyondTheGhettoGates⁠ ⁠#PeopleoftheBook⁠ ⁠#MerylAin⁠ ⁠#TheTakeawayMen⁠ ⁠#Sequel⁠ ⁠#ShadowsWeCarry⁠ ⁠#LetsTalkJewishBooks⁠ ⁠#JewsLoveToRead⁠!

Enjoy this encore presentation: Meryl chats with Rabbi Menachem Creditor about his insights as part of the recent UJA-Federation mission to Israel, the impact of October 7 on Jews throughout the world, and the global increase in antisemitism. They also discuss his new book, Am Yisrael Chai: Essays, Poems, and Prayers for Israel, which was published on October 17.Rabbi Menachem Creditor serves as the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York and was the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence. An acclaimed author, scholar, and speaker with over 3 million views of his online videos and essays, he was named by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America. His numerous books and 6 albums of original music include the global anthem "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" and the COVID-era 2-volume anthology "When We Turned Within." His latest volume is Am Yisrael Chai: Essays, Poems, and Prayers for Israel which was published on October 17.Rabbi Creditor and his wife Neshama Carlebach live in New York, where they are raising their five children.Am Yisrael Chai Book: ⁠www.amazon.com/Am-Yisrael-Chai-E…s/dp/B0CLS6W5FP/⁠Website: menachemcreditor.net/UJA-Federation of NY: ujafedny.org/Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network⁠#AuthorsOnTheAir⁠ ⁠#AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork⁠ ⁠#AOTA⁠ ⁠#Israel⁠ ⁠#TheLandOfIsrael⁠ ⁠#AttackOn

Meryl talks with Deborah Kalb about her new novel, Off to Join the Circus, which is about an overly enmeshed, neurotic Jewish family in the Washington, D.C. area, and what happens when a relative returns after 64 years. They also chat about Deborah's other writing, and her daily blog, Q & A with Deborah Kalb. In addition, Deborah shares what it was like growing up in a family of legendary journalists. She is the daughter of Marvin Kalb and niece of the late Bernard Kalb. Deborah is a freelance writer and editor. She spent about two decades working as a journalist in Washington, D.C., for various news organizations. Her book blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, which she started in 2012, features hundreds of interviews she has conducted with a wide variety of authors. She is also the co-host of the podcast Rereading Our Childhood, Deborah is the author of the new novel Off to Join the Circus as well as three novels for kids. She's the co-author with her father, Marvin Kalb, of Haunting Legacy: Vietnam and the American Presidency from Ford to Obama and has also co-authored several books on politics and government.Author's website: deborahkalb.com/ People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #DeborahKalb #Fiction #Novel #OffToJoinTheCircus #Estrangement #DysfunctionalFamily #FamilyDynamics #Humor #MultigenerationalFamily #EstrangedFamilyMember #EnmeshedFamily #BarMitzvah #NewBaby #WritingFiction #Journalism #TVJournalism #KalbFamily #MarvinKalb #BernardKalb #ClaudiaKalb #RereadingOurChildhoodPodcast #NonFiction #HauntingLegacy #TheWritingProcess #MerylAin #ShadowsWeCarry #TheTakeawayMen #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin

Meryl chats with Kim Salzman about her historical fiction novel, Straddling Black and White, the story of fourteen-year-old Azmera, who takes part in the mass immigration of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel in the 1980s. They also talk about the current war in Israel and its impact on Kim, her family, and friends. Kim was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving a degree in psychology from Columbia University, she lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel, which inspired her to make Aliyah. After receiving her law degree from the University of Michigan, she immigrated to Israel where she became fascinated by the stories of Jewish immigrants to Israel from all over the world. She served in the international law department of the Israel Defense Forces, and also advocated for the legal rights of Ethiopian-Israelis. Kim lives in Northern Israel with her husband, three children and a dog. Currently, she works as the Israel and Overseas Director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Website: www.kimsalzman.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091317043993/ People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #KimSalzman #StraddlingBlackAndWhite #HistoricalFiction #EthiopianIsraelis #EthiopianJews #Aliyah #MakingAliyah #Israel #EthiopianAliyah #Sudan #OperationSolomon #OperationMoses #Racism #Identity #FamilySecrets #Assimilation #Acculturation #ClashOfCultures #October7 #IsraelAtWar #Hostages #WarAgainstHamas #IsraeliArmy #IsraeliArmyService #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Jennifer Lang about her unique memoir, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature, which is an examination of her marriage, family, faith, and life in Israel. They discuss how Jennifer came to invent the form of her new memoir and how the October 7 Hamas Massacre and the war in Israel have impacted her and her book. The interview is briefly interrupted by the sound of sirens. Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer Lang lives in Tel Aviv, where she runs israelwriterstudio. Her prize-winning essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Assistant Editor at Brevity Journal, and a longtime yoga practitioner and instructor. Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature (9/5/23) and Landed: A yogi's memoir in pieces & poses (10/15/24) are both with Vine Leaves Press. Website: israelwriterstudio.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenlangwritesInstagram: @jenlangwrites People of the Book is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #JenniferLang #PlacesWeLeftBehind #MemoirInMiniature #IsraelWriterStudio #Aliyah #MakingAliyah #Marriage #ReligiousObservance #JewishObservance #ModernOrthodox #ReformJudaism #TelAviv #October7 #Paris #UnitedStates #Hostages #WarAgainstHamas #ExperimentalMemoir #IsraeliArmy #IsraeliArmyService #VineLeavesPress #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Rabbi Menachem Creditor about his insights as part of the recent UJA-Federation mission to Israel, the impact of October 7 on Jews throughout the world, and the global increase in antisemitism. They also discuss his new book, Am Yisrael Chai: Essays, Poems, and Prayers for Israel, which was published on October 17. Rabbi Menachem Creditor serves as the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York and was the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence. An acclaimed author, scholar, and speaker with over 3 million views of his online videos and essays, he was named by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America. His numerous books and 6 albums of original music include the global anthem "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" and the COVID-era 2-volume anthology "When We Turned Within." His latest volume is Am Yisrael Chai: Essays, Poems, and Prayers for Israel which was published on October 17.Rabbi Creditor and his wife Neshama Carlebach live in New York, where they are raising their five children. Am Yisrael Chai Book: www.amazon.com/Am-Yisrael-Chai-E…rs/dp/B0CLS6W5FP/Website: menachemcreditor.net/UJA-Federation of NY: ujafedny.org/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #Israel #TheLandOfIsrael #AttackOnIsrael #IsraelAtWar #October7 #October7Attack #antisemitism #HamasAttack #UJAFederationOfNY #UJAFederationIsraelEmergencyFund #NeshamaCarlebach #AmYisraelChai #EssaysPoemsPrayersForIsrael #JoanneFink #SholomoCarlebach #NewSurvivors #Hostages #Torah #NeverAgain #NeverAgainIsNow #Kristallnacht #TheHolocaust #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Evonne Marzouk about her novel, The Prophetess. They discuss how Evonne came to write and publish the book over the course of 20 years and what inspired her. They also talk about the current situation in Israel, the increase in antisemitism around the world, and what it means “to grow into your gifts.” Evonne grew up in Philadelphia and received her B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University. As founder and Executive Director of the Jewish environmental organization Canfei Nesharim, she worked with rabbis, scientists, educators, and community leaders to create and distribute Torah teachings on the environment, including a comprehensive set of core teachings later gathered into a book, Uplifting People and Planet: Eighteen Essential Jewish Lessons on the Environment. Evonne has spoken to schools, Bat Mitzvah programs, synagogues and women's book clubs about themes and Jewish lessons from The Prophetess. On her website www.growintoyourgifts.com, Evonne offers programs, guides for Jewish educators, and the free printable Heroine's Journal: A Jewish Mystical Journey of Growing into Your Gifts to empower all women to live their greatest dreams. Instagram: @heroinewhispererFacebook: @ProphetessBookWebsite: www.GrowIntoYourGifts.com Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #EvonneMarzouk #TheProphetess #GrowIntoYourGifts # Prophesy #Prophets #Israel #TheLandOfIsrael #IsraelAtWar #antisemitism #TheBible #Mysticism #JewishSpirituality #ComingOfAge #Novel #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity (September 12, 2023). They discuss how Michelle came to write about the Biblical saga of the Babylonian exile, and its meaning for today. They also talk about historical fiction and Michelle's writing and research process. Michelle is the award-winning author of several works of historical fiction and poetry including Beyond the Ghetto Gates, The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz, and In the Shadow of the Globe. Her new novel, Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity is the multi-generational Biblical saga of Sarah, her children and grandchildren, exiled to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar's army conquers Judea and destroys the Temple. Michelle lived in Israel for fifteen years and served as an officer in the Israeli army teaching air force cadets technical English. She is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based organization that offers creative writing programs to children, teens, and adults. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and has two grown sons. Author's website: michelle-cameron.com/Instagram: @michellecameronwriterFacebook: www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MichelleCameron #Babylon #ANovelOfCaptivity #BabylonianExile #Intermarriage #DestructionOfTheTemple #Sarah #DanielTheProphet #Nebuchadnezzer #Judea #HistoricalFiction #TheBible #BeyondTheGhettoGates #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Meryl Frank about her new memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust. They discuss the author's multi-year, multi-country research journey to unravel the story of what happened to her cousin, Franya Winter, a celebrated actress in the Yiddish Theater who perished during The Holocaust. They talk about the resurgence of antisemitism today and the importance of keeping alive the memory and lessons of The Holocaust. Ambassador Meryl Frank (ret) is an international champion of women's leadership, human rights and political participation. She is the former mayor of Highland Park, NJ and was named one of “The Fifty Most Influential Jews in the World” by The Jerusalem Post. Frank serves as President of Makeda Global Network and sits on the US Holocaust Memorial Council and the Board of YIVO, the Institute for Jewish Research. Her memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust is available from Hachette Books. Author's website: www.merylfrank.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MerylFrank #Unearthed #PaperBrigade #VilnaGhetto #TheHolocaust #VilnaTheater #YiddishTheater #FranyaWinter #Memoir #FamilyHistory #Antisemitism #Research #MemorialCandle #KeeperOfFamilyHistory #StandUpToHate #WritingProcess #Yiddish #AntisemiticHateCrimes #LessonsOfTheHolocaust #Storytelling #TheDiaryOfAnneFrank #YIVO #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Linda Kass about her new novel, Bessie (September 12, 2023). They discuss Bess Myerson's early life and her crowning as the first and only Jewish Miss America in 1945. They also talk about antisemitism in the wake of the Holocaust and World War II, the publishing industry, and Gramercy Books, Linda's independent bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. Linda Kass is the author of the new novel, Bessie, which was named A Hasty Book List Most-Anticipated Historical Fiction Title for 2023. She has also written two other historical novels, Tasa's Song and A Ritchie Boy. A Ritchie Boy was the 2021 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Historical Fiction. Linda began her career as a magazine journalist and correspondent for regional and national publications. She is the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independent bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. Author's website: lindakass.com Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #LindaKass #BessMyerson #Bessie #ARitchieBoy #Tasa'sSong #GramercyBooks #Publishing #MissAmerica #JewishMissAmerica #1945 #PostWorldWarII #AfterTheHolocaust #MissAmericaCompetition #HighSchoolofMusicandArt #ConcertPIanist #MissAmericaTalentCompetition #HunterCollege #ADL #AntiDefamationLeague #antisemitism #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl talks with Corie Adjmi about her new novel, The Marriage Box, the story of Casey Cohen, a sixteen-year-old in New Orleans in the 1970s. When Casey gets into trouble, her parents decide to return to their roots, the Orthodox Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Meryl chats with Corie about how and why it took her 20 years to write this book and how that community has changed over the past 50 years. Corie is an award-winning, best-selling author. Her first book was a collection of short stories titled, LIFE AND OTHER SHORTCOMINGS, and her most recent publication is a novel titled, THE MARRIAGE BOX. Corie writes both fiction and non-fiction about marriage, family, community, Jewish life, patriarchy, and culture. Her work has appeared in HuffPost, Newsweek, North American Review, Indiana Review, Motherwell, Kveller, and others. When she is not writing, Corie does volunteer work, cooks, bikes and hikes. She and her husband have five children and a number of grandchildren, with more on the way. She lives and works in New York City. Author's website: corieadjmi.comInstagram: @CorieAdjmi Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #CorieAdjmi #Fiction #Novel #TheMarriageBox #SyrianJewishCommunity #OrthodoxSyrianJewishCommunity #BrooklynOrthodoxSyrianJewishCommunity #ComingofAge #ClashofCultures #NewOrleans #SyrianJews #SyrianAmericanJews #LifeAndOtherShortcomings #ShortStories #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #ShadowsWeCarry #TheTakeawayMen #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin

Meryl chats with A.J. Sidransky and Miriam Abrahams about A.J's new book, Incident at San Miguel, a novel about two brothers on opposite sides of Castro's Cuban revolution. Sidransky based his story on the experiences of Abrahams' father and uncle. A.J. Sidransky writes about ordinary people faced with extraordinary situations and events. Genres include mystery, thriller, and historical fiction. His work has been described as a mystery wrapped in history and tied in a bow with a little romance. His books include, Forgiving Maximo Rothman, Forgiving Stephen Redmond, Forgiving Mariela Camacho and The Interpreter. Incident at San Miguel, a thriller set during the Cuban Revolution is his newest work and was released May 19, 2023. AJ's short stories have appeared in anthologies, magazines, and e-zines. A.J. Sidransky lives in upper Manhattan with his wife. Miriam Abrahams was born in Havana in 1961, raised in Brooklyn, and currently lives in Long Beach after 27 years in the Five Towns on Long Island. She's a graduate of Brooklyn College, a wife and mother of 3 and grandmother of 2. Miriam is fluent in Spanish and Hebrew. She is a longtime volunteer book reviewer for Jewish Book Council and former Hadassah Nassau One Region One Book coordinator. A certified yoga instructor for 13 years, she is a lifelong avid reader and a slice of life essayist. Website: ajsidransky.com/Email: aj@ajsidransky.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/ajsidranskybooks/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #AJSidransky #IncidentAtSanMiguel #MiriamAbrahams #Cuba #CubanRevolution #FidelCastro #Batista #HistoricalFiction #Communism #CommunistCuba #SiblingFiction #CubanJews #JewsInCuba #CubanJewishRefugees #JewishImmigrantsFromCuba #FamilyResponsibility #FamilyTies

Meryl chats with Becca Kantor about the history and mission of Jewish Book Council and its annual literary journal, Paper Brigade. They also discuss current trends in Jewish writing, the definition of a Jewish book, and the many ways JBC empowers authors and readers.   Becca Kantor is the editorial director of Jewish Book Council and its annual print literary journal, Paper Brigade. She received a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. Becca was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Estonia to write and study the country's Jewish history. She now lives in Brooklyn.   Website: www.jewishbookcouncil.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/JewishBookCouncil/ Instagram: @jewishbookcouncil People of the Book is a copyrighted work © of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network.   #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #BeccaKantor #JewishBookCouncil #PaperBrigade #JBC #JewishBooks #JewishAuthors #JBCAuthorShowcase #JBCBookEvents #JaiChakrabarti #ABengaliPlayintheWarsawGhetto #TheWritingLife #BookClubs #ShortStories #Essays #TrendsinJewishWriting #WritingTrends #Anthology #Estonia #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Howard Kaplan about his new novel, The Syrian Sunset, a sweeping novel of international intrigue about the Syrian Civil War.Howard Kaplan, a native of Los Angeles, has lived in Israel and traveled extensively through Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. At the age of 21, he was sent on a mission into the Soviet Union to smuggle a dissident's manuscript on microfilm to London. His first trip was a success. On his second trip, he transferred a manuscript to the Dutch Ambassador inside his Moscow embassy. A week later, he was arrested in Khartiv in the Ukraine and interrogated for two days there and then two days in Moscow, before being expelled from the USSR. The KGB had picked him up for meeting dissidents and did not know about the manuscript transfers. He holds a BA in Middle East History from UC Berkeley and an MA in Philosophy of Education from UCLA. He is the author of six novels. DAMASCUS COVER is now a major motion picture starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Sir John Hurt and Olivia Thirlby available now on Tubi.Website: howardkaplanbooks.com/Facebook Author Page:Facebook: www.facebook.com/howard.kaplan.359 Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #HowardKaplan #TheSyrianSunset #TheDamascusCover #HistoricalThriller #SyrianCivilWar #BasharAlAssad #DamascusCoverMovie #HolocaustSurvivors #IsraeliSpyMission #TomHanks #TheWritingLife #RussianOligarchs #SyrianJews #SovietUnion #SovietDissidents #InvasionOfUkraine #Tubi #JohnHirt #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Renee Weingarten, founder of the Facebook group, Renee's Reading Club, chats with Meryl Ain about her new Historical Fiction novel, Shadows We Carry, the sequel to her award-winning debut novel, The Takeaway Men. The program was a special presentation of the Peninsula Public Library in Lawrence, LI, where Renee is a librarian.. Renee Weingarten is a librarian at Peninsula Public Library in Lawrence, LI and the founder of the Facebook group, Renee's Reading Club, which has more than 43,600 members. Meryl Ain is a writer, author, career educator and host of the podcast, People of the Book. The Takeaway Men, her award-winning post-Holocaust debut novel, was published in 2020. The sequel, Shadows We Carry, was published in April. Meryl is the founder of the Facebook group, Jews Love To Read! Meryl's website: merylain.com/ Jews Love To Read! www.facebook.com/groups/455865462463744People of the Book: www.facebook.com/PeopleOfTheBookWithMerylAinFacebook: facebook.com/MerylAinAuthor/Amazon: a.co/d/ec5DbXnTwitter: @DrMerylAinInstagram: meryl_ain Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBook #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast #Podcast #MerylAin #ShadowsWeCarry #TheTakeawayMen #BabyBoomers #WomensRights #ChangingRoleOfWomen #TheSixties #TheSeventies #Antisemitism #Nazis #TheCatholicChurch #TheHolocaust #SecondGenerationOfHolocaustSurvivors #Genealogy #DNA #Ancestry #OSI #fHolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #HiddenChildren #ChildrenOfNazis #Abortion #VietnamWar #ReneeWeingarten #ReneesReadingClub #RRC #MerylAin #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeninsulaPublicLibrary

Avid readers and activists in the Jewish community, Randi Brenowitz and Bayla Lovens chat with Meryl Ain about her new book, Shadows We Carry, the sequel to her award-winning debut novel, The Takeaway Men. Fraternal twins Bronka and JoJo find themselves on the cusp of momentous change for women in the late 1960s. With the United States in the grip of political and social upheaval, the twins and their peers, including a Catholic priest and the son of a Nazi, struggle with their family's ancestry and how much influence it has on their lives. Randi Brenowitz has just been elected to her second term as the International President of the Board of the Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning. Bayla Lovens has been involved in working in the Jewish Community, both professionally and as a volunteer, for most of her life. Meryl Ain is a writer, author, career educator and host of the podcast, People of the Book. The Takeaway Men, her award-winning post-Holocaust debut novel, was published in 2020. Meryl is the founder of the Facebook group, Jews Love To Read! Both Bayla and Randi are active members. Meryl's website: merylain.com/Jews Love To Read! www.facebook.com/groups/455865462463744People of the Book: www.facebook.com/PeopleOfTheBookWithMerylAinFacebook: facebook.com/MerylAinAuthor/Amazon: a.co/d/ec5DbXnTwitter: @DrMerylAinInstagram: meryl_ain Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBook #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast #Podcast #MerylAin #ShadowsWeCarry #TheTakeawayMen #BabyBoomers #WomensRights #ChangingRoleOfWomen #TheSixties #TheSeventies #Antisemitism #Nazis #TheCatholicChurch #TheHolocaust #SecondGenerationOfHolocaustSurvivors #Genealogy #DNA #Ancestry #OSI #fHolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #HiddenChildren #ChildrenOfNazis #Abortion #VietnamWar #RandiBrenowitz #MeltonSchoolForAdultJewishLearning #BaylaLovens #MerylAin #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Jennifer Rosner about her new novel, Once We Were Home (March 14, 2023). Note: Here is the link to the event Meryl talks about at the beginning of the episode, One Book, One Hadassah: Live with Pam Jenoff, author of Code Name Sapphire. Free on Zoom, open to everyone. Register at: https://events.hadassah.org/codenamesapphire In this episode, Jennifer Rosner and Meryl Ain discuss the response of the Jewish community to child survivors hidden during the Holocaust and how these young people were impacted by those adult decisions after WW II. They also talk about the author's first novel, When the Yellowbird Sings, and the poignant question of what is a family?   Jennifer is the author of the novels, Once We Were Home, and The Yellow Bird Sings, a National Jewish Book Award finalist in Debut Fiction and Book Club and a Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book. Her other books include the memoir, If a Tree Falls: A Family's Quest to Hear and be Heard, and the picture book, The Mitten String, A Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable. Jennifer's short writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Times of Israel, The Forward, and elsewhere.  In addition to writing, Jennifer has taught philosophy. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Columbia. She lives in western MA with her family.     Author's website: jennifer-rosner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062410157920 Instagram: @jennifer.amy.rosner  Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network  #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #JenniferRosner #OnceWeWereHome #TheYellowbirdSings #HiddenChildren #StolenChildren #Holocaust #AfterTheHolocaust #PostHolocaust #Israel #Deafness #Family #FamilyTree #WhatIsAFamily? #Siblings #RighteousGentiles #CatholicChurch #Convent #FamilyTrauma #FamilySecrets #Resilience #Holocaust #HolocaustSurvivors #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead! #Hadassah #OneHadassahOneBook #LisaHostein #PamJenoff #CodeSapphire

Meryl chats with Susan Weidman Schneider, editor-in-chief of Lilith Magazine, about the anthology she co-edited, Frankly Feminist, which features 44 short stories that have been published in Lilith over the past 45 years. They also discuss the history and mission of Lilith Magazine and Susan's role as editor-in-chief, since its launch in 1976. One of Lilith's founding mothers, Susan has been editor-in-chief of the magazine since it launched in 1976. Lilith's mission is to be the feminist change-agent in and for the Jewish community. Susan's writing about Jewish women's philanthropy, the Jewish stake in abortion rights, the persistence of gender stereotyping and more have been credited with moving the needle on feminist change in the Jewish world. She's the author of Jewish and Female and Intermarriage, and co-author of Head and Heart, a book about money in the lives of women.  She is the co-editor, along with Yona Zeldis McDonough, of a brand new short story collection titled Frankly Feminist. The book includes stories by 44 authors, whose works have been published in Lilith over the last 45 years.  Born in Winnipeg, Canada, she is a graduate of Brandeis University.  Website: lilith.org  Facebook: www.facebook.com/LilithMagazine  Publisher: https://brandeisuniversitypress.com/title/9781684581269/  Instagram: @lilithmagazine  Twitter: @LilithMagazine  Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network  #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #SusanWeidmanSchneider #YonaZeldisMcDonough #FranklyFeminist #Lilith #LilithMagazine #HistoryOfLilithMagazine #FranklyFeminist #Feminism #DiverseJewishVoices #Feminist #WomensRights #WomensIssues #GenderIssues #Abortion #Ageing #Holocaust #SameSexRelationships #JewsByChoice #Patriarchy #ShortStories #BrandeisUniversityPress #ShortStoryAnthology #FertilityProblems #StoriesByJewishWomen #EstherSingerKreitman #KatieSinger #Agency #WomensVoices #PeopleoftheBook #AntiSemitism #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Rabbi Sandy Sasso about her mission of engaging the religious imagination of children through her books, and her career as one of the first women to become a rabbi in America. Rabbi Sasso was the first woman ordained from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1974 and the first to serve a Conservative congregation together with her husband, Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso. They were the first practicing rabbinical couple in world Jewish history. Following 36 years of service to Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, Indiana, she is now its Senior Rabbi Emerita. She is an internationally known award-winning children's author who has published twenty-five children's books and two adult books. Active in the arts, civic and interfaith communities, she has written on midrash, women, and spirituality. Learn more on Rabbi Sasso's website: www.allaboutand.com Copyrighted by Meryl Aine and Authors on the Air Global Radio Network

Meryl Ain chats with Claudia Long about her 2023 novel, Our Lying Kin, the sequel to Nine Tenths of the Law. Both books are about two sisters who seek to solve mysteries and uncover family secrets. They talk about the relationship of sisters, the weight of family secrets, and the writing process. Claudia Hagadus Long is an author, a lawyer-mediator, a wife, mother, grandmother, and cook. She's written books about Jewish women living as Catholics in colonial Mexico, and professional female writers struggling to effect change in early 20th Century California. And now, with Nine Tenths of the Law and Our Lying Kin, she's writing about women in contemporary California and New York, whose lives are powerfully affected by their parents' history. Nine Tenths explored the emotional trials that two daughters of a Holocaust survivor suffered, including the guilt, not just over their mother's trauma, but the sensation that their own griefs could never compare with hers. In Our Lying Kin, it's their father who struggled with the baggage he inherited from his own parents, who fled Hungary in the terror of the early twentieth century Author's website: claudiahlong.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/claudia.long1 Instagram: @claudiahlong Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #ClaudiaLong #ClaudiaHLong #ClaudiaHagadusLong #OurLyingKin #NineTenthsOfTheLaw #Sisters #Mystery #FamilyTrauma #FamilySecrets #Resilience #Holocaust #HolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors

Meryl chats with Becca Kantor about the history and mission of Jewish Book Council and its annual literary journal, Paper Brigade. They also discuss current trends in Jewish writing, the definition of a Jewish book, and the many ways JBC empowers authors and readers. Becca Kantor is the editorial director of Jewish Book Council and its annual print literary journal, Paper Brigade. She received a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. Becca was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Estonia to write and study the country's Jewish history. She now lives in Brooklyn. Website: www.jewishbookcouncil.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/JewishBookCouncil/ Instagram: @jewishbookcouncil People of the Book is a copyrighted work © of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #BeccaKantor #JewishBookCouncil #PaperBrigade #JBC #JewishBooks #JewishAuthors #JBCAuthorShowcase #JBCBookEvents #JaiChakrabarti #ABengaliPlayintheWarsawGhetto #TheWritingLife #BookClubs #ShortStories #Essays #TrendsinJewishWriting #WritingTrends #Anthology #Estonia #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Linda Pressman about her memoir, Jewish Girls Gone Wild, a coming-of-age story about her life in Arizona after her parents transplant their family of seven daughters from Skokie, Illinois. Linda shares her journey from outsider and rebel to rediscovering her Jewish roots. Linda Pressman is the author of the recently published memoir, Jewish Girls Gone Wild. Her previous memoir, Looking Up: A Memoir of Sisters, Survivors and Skokie won the Grand Prize in the Writer's Digest 20th Annual Contest and is part of the permanent collections of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and the National Library of Israel. Her freelance writing has appeared on Kveller, in Motherwell Magazine, Six Hens, and others. She is a book coach and teaches memoir on an individual basis and through Scottsdale Arts. Website: http://lindajpressman.com Linda Pressman, Author: https://www.facebook.com/LookingUp.LindaPressman People of the Book is a copyrighted work © of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #LindaPressman #LindaJPressman #JewishGirlsGoneWild #Skokie #Scottsdale #LookingUp #Holocaust #2G #SecondGenerationOfHolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #Sisters #TeenageRebellion #DeathOfFather #Widow #Memoir #Judaism #RediscoveringJudaism #Immigration #PeopleoftheBook #Prejudice #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Robin Kall about her career as a book broadcaster, book influencer and organizer of book events. In a freewheeling conversation, they talk about Long Island, Rhode Island, the trajectory of Robin's success, and Jewish books and authors. Robin grew up on Long Island, graduated from Binghamton University, and has lived in Rhode Island since she was 22. She is famously known as a “book pusher,” “fairy book mother,” and “all around nice person.” In 2002, after hosting author events and merchandising several local bookstores, Robin founded the highly regarded talk radio show "Reading With Robin," which is now available on podcast. After the passing of her mother Carol in 1997, it became Robin's mission to educate women on the importance of early detection and advocate for them. In 2009, Robin and her sisters, Laura and Jennifer, established the Love Carol Foundation to honor their mother's memory and invest in types of projects that were important to her. In 2016, with the assistance of her cohort and daughter Emily, launched the now 2x award-winning The Cardigan Connection(formerly Point Street Reading Series), which brings together people looking for a good story and fun night. Since COVID-19, Robin has shifted her focus to bringing engaging digital content to readers across the nation on social media and Crowdcast. Crowdcast, F The Cardigan Connection For the most up-to-date information, you can follow Robin on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Reading With Robin a @robinkall, n @robinkallink, Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #RobinKall #ReadingWithRobin #TheCardiganCollection #FairyBookMother #BookPusher #RhodeIsland #LongIsland #JodiPicoult #BookClub #JewishBooks #JewishAuthors #JewishRhodeIsland #BookInfluencer #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Kitty Zeldis about her 2022 novel, The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights, which takes readers into the lives of three very different women living in Brooklyn during The Roaring Twenties. In this lively conversation, they discuss the themes of the book, including female vulnerability, pregnancy, religious intolerance, and the relationship of mothers and daughters. Born in Israel, Kitty Zeldis is the pen name of a Brooklyn-based author of nine novels and almost 40 books for children. Her new historical novel, The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights, was published in December. Her fiction, essays and articles have appeared in numerous national and literary publications including the New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Family Circle and O, the Oprah Magazine and she has been the Fiction Editor of Lilith Magazine for the last twenty years. Author's Social Media Facebook: www.facebook.com/kittyzeldis Instagram: www.instagram.com/kittyzeldis Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #KittyZeldis #TheDressmakersOfProspectHeights #RoaringTwenties #Brooklyn #NewOrleans #Dressmaking #NewOrleans #Russia #MotherDaughterRelationship #Prostitution #FemaleVulnerability #Pregnancy #HistoricalFiction #Immigration #PeopleoftheBook #ReligiousPersecution #Prejudice #MerylAin

Meryl chats with Deborah Levison about her 2022 novel, A Nest of Snakes, a harrowing story of abuse, complicity, and trauma. They also discuss The Crate, her award-winning non-fiction account of Holocaust survival and present-day murder. Deborah is an author and publicist. Her life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she attended University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the second in Connecticut, where she lives with three children, two doodles, and one husband. Her first book, an acclaimed nonfiction called THE CRATE, is a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust. Reviewers called it “gorgeous and poetic,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a brilliant story.” The Jerusalem Post wrote: “exquisite.” The book won seven literary awards. Levison's debut novel, A NEST OF SNAKES, is part thriller, part courtroom drama based on real-life abuse at elite New England private schools. Reviewers call it “a roller-coaster ride of surprising twists” leading to a “staggering climax and an absolutely perfect ending.” Monster Librarian hails A NEST OF SNAKES as one of the fall's most talked-about novels. Author's website: www.DebbieLevison.com, Facebook and Instagram: @DeborahLevisonAuthor Twitter: @DLevisonAuthor. People of the Book is a copyrighted work © of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #DeborahLevison #ANestOfSnakes #TheCrate #Abuse #Thriller #CourtroomDrama #ChildProtection #Trauma #Guilt #Evil #PrivateBoardingSchools #BoardingSchools #Resilience #Holocaust #HolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Nora Gold about JewishFiction.net, the prestigious online literary journal, which she founded and is the editor-in-chief. In addition, they discuss her three books, The Dead Man, Fields of Exile, and Marrow and Other Stories. They also talk about wide-ranging topics related to literature, including the definition of “a Jewish book”. Nora is a prize-winning writer and the author of three books: Marrow and Other Stories (winner of a Canadian Jewish Book Award), Fields of Exile (winner of the 2015 Canadian Jewish Literary Award), and The Dead Man (published in 2016, which was awarded a Canada Council Translation Grant and was published in Hebrew). She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Jewish Fiction.net, a prestigious online literary journal, that publishes Jewish-themed fiction from around the world, either written in English or translated into English from 18 languages. To date, Jewish Fiction.net has published 500 works of fiction that were never before published in English, including fiction by eminent authors like Elie Wiesel. Jewish Fiction .net has readers in 140 countries. Nora holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, and from 1990-2000 she was a tenured professor of social work with several scholarly publications to her credit. She left full-time academia in 2000 and for the next eighteen years was affiliated with the OISE/University of Toronto's Centre for Women's Studies in Education. Nora also coordinated the Wonderful Women Writers Series, housed at the Toronto Public Library. In addition, Nora is a co-founder of three Zionist organizations in Canada and has been involved over the past thirty-five years in community work and social activism that reflects her commitment to social justice and her love of Israel. Websites: JewishFiction.net www.noragold.com Linked-In: linkedin.com/in/dr-nora-gold-2376541a Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #NoraGold #JewishFiction #JewishFiction.Net #ShortStories #JewishBooks #JewishNovels #TheDeadMan #FieldsOfExile #MarrowandOtherStories #Fiction #Reading #Literature #LiteraryFiction #DiverseJewishVoices #StoriesByJewishWomen #Zionism #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #Canada #UniversityOfToronto

Meryl chats with Rick and Annette Schwarz Kaye about their 2022 memoir, Revelation, which chronicles Rick's shocking discovery of his biological origins that were revealed through DNA testing. Rick and Annette share the emotional roller coaster they experienced as Rick wrestled with deception, secrets, and lifelong memories now seen through a new lens. Rick and Annette live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where they raised their two sons. Rick has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Cooper Union and a Master's in Business Administration specializing in Operations Research. Annette holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in communicative disorders from Queens College of the City University of New York. In addition to co-authoring their new book, Revelation: A Memoir of Deep Family Secrets, Discovery, and Identity, they co-founded and manage a software design company that services the jewelry industry. Annette and Rick have four grandchildren and make time to be actively involved in their lives. They also enjoy traveling, hiking, long-distance cycling, and racquet sports. Publisher website and info: www.GershonPress.com Contact the authors: Info@GersonPress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annette.s.kaye https://www.facebook.com/rgkaye1 Book available at Amazon in print and eBook: https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Family-Secrets-Discovery-Identity/dp/B0B8R854TT/ref=tsm_1_tp-tc Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBookPodcastWithMerylAin #PeopleOfTheBook #RickKayeAndAnnetteKaye #RickKaye #RichardKaye #RichardGaryKaye #RichardGaryKayeandAnnetteSchwarzKaye #AnnetteSchwarzKaye #Revelation #DNA #DNATesting #ArtificialInsemination #FamilySecrets #Memoir #1950s #BabyBoomers #Queens #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast

Meryl chats with Zibby Owens about her new memoir, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, in which she shares her personal journey of loss, anxiety, food issues, finding love, reverence for literature -- and ultimately reinvention and fulfillment. They also discuss Zibby's many other ventures, including Zibby Mag, Zibby Books, and her podcast, Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books! Zibby is a podcaster, author, CEO, and mother of four. Zibby founded Zibby Media which includes Zibby Books, a publishing home for fiction and memoir, Zibby Mag, a literary lifestyle destination, and Zibby Audio, a podcast network, which includes her own award-winning daily show Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books. Named “NYC's Most Powerful Book-fluencer” by Vulture, Zibby is a regular contributor to "Good Morning America," a media personality, and an avid essayist. She has edited two anthologies, written a children's book, Princess Charming, and released a memoir, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature. A graduate of Yale and Harvard Business School, she currently lives in New York (and sometimes L.A.) with her four children and her husband Kyle Owens, founder and CEO of Morning Moon Productions. Instagram: Instagram: @zibbyowens Zibby Mag Website: zibbymag.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #ZibbyOwens #MomsDon'tHaveTimeToReadBooks #ZibbyMag #ZibbyBooks #ZibbyMedia #Bookends #BookendsMemoirbyZibbyOwens #911 #Reinvention #Reading #Literature #Authors #HelpingAuthors #Books #PeopleoftheBook #WomensFiction #Memoir #MerylAin #JewsLoveToRead #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry

On today's episode of People of the Book, Meryl chats with Isabel Vincent about her new book, Overture of Hope: Two Sisters' Daring Plan That Saved Opera's Jewish Stars from the Third Reich. The book chronicles the amazing story of two English sisters – both opera buffs and spinsters -- who mastermind a daring plan to rescue Jewish opera stars in Germany and Austria from the Nazis and get them to safety in England. Isabel, an award-winning investigative journalist for the New York Post, is the author of Overture of Hope: Two Sisters' Daring Plan That Saved Opera's Jewish Stars from the Third Reich. The book, which has been described as “Schindler's List Meets the Sound of Music” was published in September. In addition, Isabel's account of the Swiss bank accounts left dormant after the Nazi era, Hitler's Silent Partners, won the Yad Vashem Award for Holocaust History. She is also the author of the bestselling memoir, Dinner with Edward as well as three other books. A native of Canada, Isabel covered South American drug cartels for the Globe and Mail and later reported on conflicts in Kosovo and the civil war in Angola. For many years, she has covered New York City for the Post and a host of other publications. Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #IsabelVincent #OvertureOfHope #CookSisters #Opera #TheThirdReich #TheHolocaust #JewishOperaStars #RescueofJewishOperaStarsFromNazism #NurembergLaws #AntiSemitismInGermanyandAustria #EnglishRescuers #FemaleHeroes #NewYorkPost #DinnerWithEdward #HitlersSilentPartners #HitlerAndOpera #YadVashemAward #HolocaustHistory #EnglandInTheThirties #HiddenHeroes

Meryl and her husband Stewart Ain, a veteran journalist and recent kidney recipient, chat with Martha Gershun about her book, Kidney to Share (2021), which she co-authored with John Lantos, MD. The book chronicles Martha's experience as an altruistic kidney donor and provides a medical perspective about kidney transplants. In 2018 Martha Gershun donated a kidney at the Mayo Clinic to a woman she read about in a Jewish newspaper. She then co-authored a book, Kidney to Share, published by Cornell University Press in 2021. She was later named Special Advisor to the Kidney Transplant Collaborative and serves on the regional board of the National Kidney Foundation. Martha is a retired Executive Director of Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and now provides executive coaching, board development, and strategy consulting services to non-profit clients. Martha lives in Fairway, Kansas with her husband Don Goldman, who is executive director and CEO of Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City. Martha's website: marthagershun.com Twitter: @mgershun People of the Book is a copyrighted work © of Meryl Ain and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network. #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #PeopleOfTheBook #PeopleOfTheBookPodcast #Podcast #MarthaGershun #OrganDonor #LivingDonor #JohnLantosMD #KidneyToShare #AltruisticKidneyDonor #AltruisticOrganDonor #KidneyTransplant #OrganTransplant #MayoClinic #Renewal #Bioethics #KidneyDonor #KidneyRecipient #KidneyDonation #LivingOrganDonor #CornellWeillTransplantTeam #StewartAin #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Elan Barnehama about his new novel, Escape Route, which takes place in the late 1960s during the War in Vietnam. It is a coming-of-age story seen through the eyes of the teenage son of Holocaust survivors. Escape Route (published in May 2022) is Elan Barnehama's second novel. It's set in New York City during the tumultuous late 1960s and told by Zach, the first-generation son of Holocaust survivors. An avid NY Mets fan, Zach becomes obsessed with the Vietnam War and with finding an escape route for his family for when he believes the US will round up and incarcerate its Jews. Elan's writing has appeared on numerous sites, including the Jewish Writing Project, Rough Cut Press, Boston Accent, Jewish Fiction, HuffPost, the New York Journal of Books, and Public Radio. He earned an MFA from UMass, Amherst and a BA from Binghamton. Elan has taught college writing, worked with at-risk youth, had a gig as a radio news guy, and also worked as a short-order cook. He's from New York and says he is a Mets fan by default. Website: elanbarnehama.com Twitter @elanbarnehama Facebook: elan-barnehama Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #ElanBarnehama #TheWarInVietnam #TheVietnamWar #NewYorkMets #TheSixties #TheLateSixties #HolocaustSurvivors #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #VietnamVeterans #Disabilities #Polio #IntergenerationalTrauma #PeopleoftheBook #HistoryofJewsontheGoldCoast #Guggenheim #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Susan Weidman Schneider, editor-in-chief of Lilith Magazine, about the anthology she co-edited, Frankly Feminist, which features 44 short stories that have been published in Lilith over the past 45 years. They also discuss the history and mission of Lilith Magazine and Susan's role as editor-in-chief, since its launch in 1976. One of Lilith's founding mothers, Susan has been editor-in-chief of the magazine since it launched in 1976. Lilith's mission is to be the feminist change-agent in and for the Jewish community. Susan's writing about Jewish women's philanthropy, the Jewish stake in abortion rights, the persistence of gender stereotyping and more have been credited with moving the needle on feminist change in the Jewish world. She's the author of Jewish and Female and Intermarriage, and co-author of Head and Heart, a book about money in the lives of women. She is the co-editor, along with Yona Zeldis McDonough, of a brand new short story collection titled Frankly Feminist. The book includes stories by 44 authors, whose works have been published in Lilith over the last 45 years. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, she is a graduate of Brandeis University. Website: lilith.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/LilithMagazine Publisher: https://brandeisuniversitypress.com/title/9781684581269/ Instagram: @lilithmagazine Twitter: @LilithMagazine Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #SusanWeidmanSchneider #YonaZeldisMcDonough #FranklyFeminist #Lilith #LilithMagazine #HistoryOfLilithMagazine #FranklyFeminist #Feminism #DiverseJewishVoices #Feminist #WomensRights #WomensIssues #GenderIssues #Abortion #Ageing #Holocaust #SameSexRelationships #JewsByChoice #Patriarchy #ShortStories #BrandeisUniversityPress #ShortStoryAnthology #FertilityProblems #StoriesByJewishWomen #EstherSingerKreitman #KatieSinger #Agency #WomensVoices #PeopleoftheBook #AntiSemitism #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Jacquie Herz about her 2021 novel, Circumference of Silence, which draws on her family's memories as Jews in Europe under Hitler and their refugee experiences, first in London during the second world war and, later, in New York. Jacquie was born in London, shortly after the end of World War II, to a family of Jewish refugees who fled Hitler's Europe. When she was eight, her parents divorced and her mother left London to go and live with her own parents, who had already immigrated to New York. So, coming to America to be with her mother was her childhood's life-long dream. And because letter-writing was the only way to communicate with her mother at the time, writing became an integral and necessary part of her life from that very early age. Her debut novel, Circumference of Silence—published in July 2021 by Black Rose Writing—draws on her family's memories as Jews in Europe under Hitler and their refugee experiences, first in London during the second world war and, later on, in New York. She has also been published in the Metropolitan Diary and the Connecticut Section of the New York Times. She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and the Women's National Book Association. Author's website: https://www.jacquieherz.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #JacquieHerz #CircumferenceOfSilence #Holocaust #PostHolocaust #ChildrenOfDivorce #LongDistanceParenting #Mother/DaughterRelationship #Letters #IntergenerationalTrauma #HistoricalFiction #Immigration #PeopleoftheBook #AntiSemitism #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry

Meryl chats with Rose Ross and Ruth Rotkowitz about their post-Holocaust novels, which were influenced by their first-hand experiences as children of survivors. They talk about the influences on their lives and the responsibility they share to keep alive the story of the Holocaust and its impact. Ruth Rotkowitz is the author of two novels, Escaping the Whale and the prequel, The Whale Surfaces. She has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in literary journals, and was a staff writer and member of the editorial board of the Woman's Newspaper of Princeton for several years, where her feature articles garnered awards in journalism. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in English and has taught English on both the college and high school levels. She currently conducts book programs for the Phoenix Holocaust Association. Rose Ross was the first child born in Neushadt, Germany in a Displaced Persons Camp (1946). “Growing up in the Bronx, the only child of Holocaust Survivors affected me deeply, filling up my mind and the very air I breathed.” says Ross. Their story and the stories of other survivors and the second generation children with whom she grew up were the motivation for LILA, her first novel, which she wrote at 73. Rose, a former actress, is also the author of TAR BEACH MEMORIES, a screenplay about growing up in the Bronx. Ross is currently working on a stage play exploring the relationship with her mother set in the safety of movie theaters over thirty years. Ruth Rotkowitz: https://www.ruthswhale.com. Rose Ross: https://roserossauthor.com/ @Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #RuthRotkowitz #RoseRoss #Immigration #PeopleoftheBook #PostHolocaustNovels #2G #ChildrenOfHolocaustSurvivors #SecondGeneration #PTSD #IntergenerationalTrauma #DescendantsOfHolocaustSurvivors #EscaptingTheWhale #TheWhale Surfaces #Lila #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Roni Robbins about her 2022 novel, Hands of Gold, which is loosely based on her paternal grandfather's cassette tapes. Using literary license, she writes about how he survived TB, a workplace shooting and an accidental killing, and walked thousands of miles across several countries to flee anti-Semitism in pre-Nazi Europe. Roni has worked for 35 years as a published writer. Currently an editor/writer for Medscape/WebMD and previously associate editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times/The Times of Israel, she has also been a staff reporter for Florida Today/USA Today and The Birmingham News, among others. Her articles have appeared in The Huffington Post, Forbes, the New York Daily News, Hadassah Magazine and The Forward, to name a few. Her first novel Hands of Gold was published in February 2022. It is a work of fiction loosely based on an inspiring true story. Using literary license, she pulls from the original cassette tapes left by her maternal grandfather, who survived TB, a workplace shooting and an accidental killing, and walked thousands of miles across several countries to flee anti-Semitism in pre-Nazi Europe. Roni grew up in Hauppauge, Long Island and moved to Asheville, North Carolina after she graduated from high school. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, where she majored in journalism. She and her husband, Ian, currently live in a suburb of Atlanta. They have two grown children. Author's website: https://ronirobbins.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roni.robbins.3 Instagram: @handsofgoldnovel Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronirobbins @Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #RoniRobbins #HandsOfGold #HistoricalFiction #Immigration #PeopleoftheBook #AntiSemitism #Yiddish #AmsterdamPublishers #LiesbethHenk #PreservingFamilyMemories #Resilience #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #Sequel #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead

Meryl chats with Brad Kolodny about his new book, The Jews of Long Island 1705-1918, which chronicles the roots of the Jewish experience on Long Island, why Jews decided to move to Nassau and Suffolk counties, and how they established their communities there. He also discusses plans to establish a Jewish museum on the island under the auspices of the Jewish Historical Society of L.I. Brad Kolodny is the author of the award-winning book, Seeking Sanctuary: 125 Years of Synagogues on Long Island, which was published in 2019. It features more than 350 original photographs and archival images. Brad has photographed more than 600 synagogues in 13 countries over the last 30 plus years including every synagogue building from Great Neck to Montauk. His new book, The Jews of Long Island 1705-1918 published by SUNY Press, was released in March. Brad has worked for The New York Times since 1996, is president of the Jewish Historical Society of Long Island and an active member at Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, New York. Brad's website: synagogueslongisland.wixsite.com/synagoguesofli Brad's book information: sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Jews-of-Long-Island Long Island Jewish History group on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/214277543566687 Jewish Historical Society of Long Island: www.jhsli.org/ @Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #BradKolodny #TheJewsofLongIsland #JewishHistory #JewishHistoricalSocietyofLI #LIJewishHistoryMuseum #CedarhurstJewishHistory #GlenCoveJewishHistory #HistoryofSynagoguesonLongIsland #125YearsofSynagoguesOnLongIsland #PeopleoftheBook #HistoryofJewsontheGoldCoast #Guggenheim #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead