Ann S. Epstein writes novels, short stories, memoir, essays, and poems. Please use the links or site menu to go to the HOME PAGE; learn about her NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, MEMOIR, ESSAYS, and POEMS; find interesting facts in BEHIND THE STORY; read REFLECTIONS on writing; check NEWS for updates on publications and related events; see REVIEWS; learn about her END-OF-LIFE DOULA credentials and services; and CONTACT US to send webmail.
In the Curious George children’s books by H. A. and Margret Rey, a mischievous monkey is rescued from his misadventures by his friend and keeper The Man in the Yellow Hat. Though George’s capture would be controversial today, the affection between these characters is timeless. Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Curious George & the Man in the Yellow Hat: A classic animal-human friendship
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
Keckley, a former slave who bought her freedom and started a sewing business, was hired as the First Lady’s dressmaker. They became close friends and traveled together to raise money for the war. The friendship fell apart when Keckley wrote a memoir in 1868, revealing their private communications. Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Lincoln and Keckley, the First Lady and her dressmaker, were friends until they had a falling out
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
My Goodreads and Amazon review of Playground by Richard Powers (Rated 5) – Tug-of-War. In Playground by Richard Powers, the characters choose their fields of play and master their respective games. The fields inhabit three domains. At the lowest level, oceanographer Evelyn Beaulieu cavorts with teeming sea creatures. In the middle tier, land-dwelling philosopher Rafi Young writes while artist Ina Aroita makes monumental sculptures with trash washed up on the shore. Hovering above, in the cloud, Todd Keane develops the ultimate game — the book’s title — with the planet’s most sophisticated AI. Yet the novel is far from playful. No environment escapes the wreckage of human meddling. As a writer myself (see my Amazon author page and Goodreads author page, my primary focus is the arc of human nature. However, character development is not why one reads Powers. Rather, his interpersonal conflicts embody bigger social tensions: environmental and human degradation; discontent and death. This tug-of-war is epitomized in a decision that the Pacific island residents of Makatea must make about whether to approve a plan to develop offshore floating cities, bringing promised wealth to their impoverished home while possibly destroying its already fragile ecosystem. The plan was masterminded by Todd, creator of the ultimate AI application, Profunda. The answers Profunda offers the divided islanders raise more questions, much like advances in today’s technology generate both awe and an endless of web of further questions about its potential benefits and dangers. “Death is the mother of beauty,” Rafi quotes a long-dead philosopher. Mortality goads us to appreciate the time we have. Powers asks: If AI defeats death. does it kill beauty? Or, does the infinite game of creation play on?
A cautionary tale
Why writers read: “People without hope don’t read novels. The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience.” – Flannery O’Connor
Prince and Jackson were famous for their feud, not their friendship, a rivalry the media encouraged. During the 1980s, both were major pop stars who crossed the boundaries of race and genre. They hated to be compared and refused to collaborate. Prince mocked Jackson for losing to him in a ping pong game and refused to be on Jackson’s charity album We Are the World. Jackson said “Prince was a meanie and one of the rudest people I ever met.” Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Prince and Jackson were rivals, not friends, who had nothing good to say about each other
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
In J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the friendship of “the golden trio” evolves as they mature. During their years together at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the students form an inseparable unit whose strengths complement one another as they battle the evil Lord Voldemort. Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Harry, Ronald, & Hermione: Hogwarts friends battle the evil Lord Voldemort
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
The Kentucky Fried Chicken tycoon pursued a “bromance” with the head of the FBI. A file that Hoover kept on Sanders includes this letter: “Dear Mr. Hoover, It’s not very often that people of our age can get together and celebrate, but I’ve found a good excuse. On September 16th, I’m going to be 80 years old. To help me enjoy the day, I’d like to have you and a group of old folk come down to Louisville as my guests so we can show can show those young people what celebratin’s all about.” Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Sanders and Hoover: One fried chicken, the other fought crime
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
In Bunnicula , the children’s novel by James and Deborah Howe, innocent Harold and scheming Chester are the perfect dog-and-cat detective team to battle the vampire rabbit, Bunnicula, who sucks the juice out of vegetables! Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Harold the dog and Chester the cat battle the vampire bunny Bunnicula
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
The 28-year-old Tesla work for the 37-year-old Edison’s Illuminating Company. After a year, they became rivals when Tesla left to start his own lighting company. Tesla promoted alternating current (AC) whereas Edison championed direct current (DC). Tesla won that battle. AC was more efficient and cheaper over longer distances than DC. Read The Sister Knot about two resilient women, orphaned in WW2, who defy fate to sustain a lifelong friendship. A compelling novel about the power of sisterhood. Learn more about the book in NOVELS.
Edison and Tesla: Powerful friends turned electric rivals
Two resilient women, two separate journeys, one lasting friendship
Readers continue to praise The Sister Knot, an award-winning novel about the lifelong power of sisterhood in the aftermath of wartime trauma.
“This book would just not let me put it down.”
“An engrossing, moving and well-crafted novel about resilience.”
“Ann Epstein depicts these complex women with empathy, warmth, and insight.”
A deep, complex emotional understanding of the binding power of wartime trauma.”
“Reading the final chapters had me in tears.”
“A brilliantly gifted writer.”
“Lines that ache in their beauty.”
“The persistence and struggles the women have in maintaining their sisterly connection fuel the narrative from beginning to end.”
“I’ve read books by this author before, and one of the things she does best is handle often deeply unsettling history, circumstances and consequences with gentleness and nuance, all in the service of displaying her characters’ growth and resilience.”
Everyone is invited to a reading of The Sister Knot at the Ann Arbor Jewish Book Festival: Local Author Event at the Ann Arbor Jewish Community Center (2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108) on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 11:00-1:00 Eastern Time. The event, including brunch, is FREE and OPEN TO ALL. Register for the in-person event so they know how much food to order. This annual event features a variety of authors and genres and attracts a lively audience. Hope to see you all there! Thanks for the support!
The Sister Knot: First Place Award in Literary Historical Fiction
Author Ann S. Epstein writes novel, stories, memoir, poems, and essays
