Trolling between the lines: Collecting titles at Publishers’ BookExpo

By Tom Teicholz
Published on June 12, 2008

The last time BookExpo was in Los Angeles, the convention floor was constantly, overwhelmingly crowded, with so many booths that the author autographing section had to be relegated to a basement hall

Publishing Perils

By Yehuda Lev
Published on June 29, 2006

Say what you will about journalism as a profession, you are never unemployed. Instead, you are "between assignments," a condition I found myself in during the early 1980s at the same time that The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles was preparing to launch its new Jewish Journal. The two situations dovetailed nicely, and for the first 11 years of The Journal's existence, I was its associate editor, until I retired in 1993.

A Peek Behind the Curtain of Oz

By Helen Epstein
Published on November 25, 2004

Since 1968, when his novel "My Michael" -- exquisitely narrated by a despairing young wife in Jerusalem -- mesmerized thousands of readers, Amos Oz has been recognized as one of Israel's most gifted and prolific authors. He has produced 22 books -- 11 novels, three collections of stories and novellas, one children's book, and seven books of articles and essays -- that have been translated into 35 languages. His work is his autobiography, and until now Oz had been reticent about his own life.

Little Miss Shmutzy

By Gaby Wenig
Published on July 8, 2004

Anne-Marie Baila Asner decided that she was going to reinvigorate Yiddish by writing and illustrating cute, brightly colored children's books that would help people develop an affinity for the language.

A Writer’s Road

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on April 1, 2004

"I don't ever read reviews," playwright Jessica Goldberg said. "I'm too sensitive ... I'd rather not know."

News That’s Fit to Paw Print

By Melissa Maroff
Published on August 21, 2003

"The Pet Press is distributed to pet-related venues and many other places, including libraries, car washes and my favorite locations -- Jewish delicatessens from Calabasas to Long Beach ... and all points in between," Lori Golden said.

Zionism, by George

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on March 27, 2003

In a key scene in "Masterpiece Theatre's" "Daniel Deronda," adapted from George Eliot's 1876 novel, the hero attends a Zionist meeting.

‘Image’ Is Everything

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on February 13, 2003

Dara Horn wrote an exuberant scene in her stunning debut novel, "In the Image," upon returning to her dreary garret flat during a year abroad in 1999. "I'd been to this dismal British market in which an entire aisle was devoted to butter and fats," the ebullient Horn, 25, said animatedly. "I recall a product called 'beef drippings.' The produce was wilting. All the milk was expired yesterday. I was very homesick."

One American Muslim

By Rob Eshman
Published on December 5, 2002

Tashbih Sayyed told me he has cried three times in his adult life: once when his father died, once when his mother died and once when he had to sell his house.

Dear Rabbi Wolpe

By Rabbi N. Daniel Korobkin
Published on November 21, 2002

Dear Rabbi Wolpe,

I admit it.

As an Orthodox rabbi, I'm genuinely embarrassed at the moment.

Judging by the recent goings-on in the Jewish book publishing world, where certain Orthodox authors have been taken to task for their controversial writings and books have either been banned, forcibly censored or book tours were canceled, it would seem that we don't have our act completely together.

Boys Wonder

By Michael Aushenker
Published on October 26, 2000

Joe [incredulous]: Jewish superheroes?
Sammy: What, they're all Jewish, superheroes. Superman, you don't think he's Jewish? Coming from the old country, changing his name like that. Clark Kent, only a Jew would pick up a name like that for himself.