Category: Publishing News

50 Give or Take published another piece of my microfiction, titled “Exhuming Laughter.” The idea came to me during a discussion with my fellow end-of-life doulas about what happens to our “essence” after we die. Sign up to receive and submit your own ultra-short stories, free, at 50 Give or Take.

You never know what a writer’s creative mind will dig up

Why writers write: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein

I’m delighted to announce that The Sister Knot won a Bookfest Fall 2024 Award for First Place in Literary Historical Fiction. Two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, follow different paths, yet defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A poignant, compelling, and unforgettable novel about the power of sisterhood. Read more about the book in NOVELS.

First place award in literary historical fiction

Orphaned in WW2, two girls survive and sustain a lifelong friendship

Elephant Angel is the title of my novel-in-progress. Hence, I couldn’t resist buying the elephant salt & pepper shakers that I found at an antique mall this weekend. I named them Sheila and Denise. You’ll have to wait until the book comes out to understand why. Read about my books already in print and follow updates about forthcoming ones at NOVELS.

A pachyderm pair to please your palate

My novel The Sister Knot, about the lifelong friendship between World War Two orphans, received a great write-up in Historical Novel Review. “A memorable, evocative novel that explores survival, the impact of the Holocaust’s horrors on future generations, and the fragile yet unbreakable oath of sisterhood.” The full review is available online now at Historical Novel Review and will also appear in the magazine’s August 2024 print issue. Read more about the book at NOVELS.

Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship

Another piece of my microfiction, “Mom?” (every mother’s nightmare) was published in 50 Give or Take. Sign up to receive and submit your own ultra-short stories, free, at 50 Give or Take.

Fear of answering

Why writers write: “A word after a word after a word is power.” – Margaret Atwood

Thanks to Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan for hosting my talk, “The Holocaust: How Fact Shapes Fiction.” I read from my two most recent novels, One Person’s Loss and The Sister Knot and led a lively discussion of how creative treatments of the Holocaust in literature, film, art, music, and dance help us explore, understand, and heal from this dark period in human history.

Talking at Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor

Reading from One Person’s Loss and The Sister Knot

Berlin, 1937. Jewish newlyweds flee Germany for Brooklyn on the eve of the Nazi slaughter

Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship

The Sister Knot is garnering five-star reviews from readers. Here are some excerpts from their posted reviews:

• “A historical fiction novel that’s all heart; intensely real.”
• “An intriguing addition to World War II historical fiction.”
• “Kudos to Epstein for pulling off a splendid oxymoron: an uplifting novel about hardship.”
• “A master tale of sisterhood.”
• “Passionate, illuminating, and reflective.”
• “An extraordinary saga!”
• “From page one to the end, one is captivated by the story.”

See more review excerpts at REVIEWS. See the full reviews of The Sister Knot on Goodreads and Amazon. Please read, rate, and post your own review of The Sister Knot. I’d be most appreciative. Thanks!

Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship