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“A Cage Without Bars” will receive the Canadian Jewish Literary Award!

I’m delighted to announce that  A Cage Without Bars (Second Story Press) will receive the Canadian Jewish Literary Award (Youth) 2019. http://cjlawards.ca/ I hope my family, friends, and colleagues will be able to attend this event. Here’s the press release:

The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards is honouring eight outstanding books for 2019.  Now in its fifth year, the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards recognizes and rewards the finest Canadian Jewish writing.

Winners have been declared in the following categories: fiction, memoir, biography, history, scholarship, Holocaust, Yiddish, and books for children and youth.  

 “Choosing just eight Award winners was a challenge this year,” says Jury chair, Edward Trapunski. “The depth and breadth and quality of the submissions show the vibrancy of the culture and the appeal of Jewish themes for fiction and non-fiction writers.”

The awards ceremony will be held on October 27, 2019, at 2:00 pm in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto. Everybody is invited and welcome. Admission and parking are free. The York University subway station is conveniently right outside the door of the theatre. 

Meet the winning authors and hear them speak about their books. A dessert reception will follow where the award-winning books will be available for purchase and author signing.

Written on the Wind is now an e-book!

I recently made a foray into the Land of Self-Publishing, and came out relatively unscathed. My historical novel,  Written on the Wind (HodgePog Books, 2001), which was out of print, is now available as a Kindle e-book on Amazon. Written on the Wind tells the story of eight-year-old twins, Sarah and Michael, who are caught up in the devastating events in Toronto 1954 when Hurricane Hazel hit an unprepared city.

Podcast of “A Cage Without Bars”

The newest episode of The Book of Life Podcast features me, talking about my middle grade historical novel A Cage Without Bars. This book brings to light the little-known history of Jewish children kidnapped into slavery after the expulsion from Spain in 1492. With family separation on our minds, this history is disturbingly timely.

You can hear the episode at https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-cage-without-bars.html, where you can also find a link to the written transcript. Please share with your friends and colleagues!

Podcast of Anne Renaud’s “Fania’s Heart”

My interview with Anne Renaud about her Holocaust book, Fania’s Heart, was posted on March 11, 2019 on the Book of Life website. https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/fanias-heart-birthday-card-in-auschwitz.html. It’s the true story of a heart-shaped birthday card created in Auschwitz at great personal risk by women prisoners for the 20th birthday of fellow prisoner, Fania Landau Fainter. The card was made from scraps of fabric, stolen materials, and glue made out of bread and water, The real heart is now in the Montreal Holocaust Museum, and it’s one of the few surviving objects created by prisoners of Auschwitz. Fania’s Heart won the 2018 Canadian Jewish Literary Award (Youth literature). It’s aimed at readers ages 8 to 12.

 

Vancouver Jewish Book Festival

If you’re in the Vancouver area on Sun. Feb. 10, I hope you’ll attend my talk about “A Cage Without Bars”: 11 a.m. at the JCC of Greater Vancouver (950 West 41st Ave.) and 5 p.m. at the Burquest JCC (2860 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Coquitlam). I’m delighted to be part of the Jewish Book Festival! Here’s the website for more information: https://www.jccgv.com/art-and-culture/jewish-book-festival/

The Bricha: The Jewish Underground Railroad

I’ll be giving a talk about “The Bricha: The Jewish Underground Railroad” on Mon. Nov. 5, 7.30 p.m. at the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, Lipa Green Building, 4600 Bathurst Street, Toronto.

The Hebrew word “bricha” means “flight” or “escape”. The Bricha was the illegal underground organization in post-World War II Europe that helped Jewish Holocaust survivors escape to DP camps in Germany, Austria, or Italy, and ultimately to Palestine. I’ll speak about the history of the Bricha, the often harrowing journeys of the refugees, and the final dismantling of the organization in 1948 when the State of Israel was established. This program is part of Holocaust Education Week 2018.

I hope you’ll attend this presentation about a little-known aspect of the Holocaust.

 

A Cage Without Bars: Publication and Launch

I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my latest historical novel for young people–A Cage Without Bars (Second Story Press)!
Here are some details about the launch:
 
Date: Mon. Oct. 29/18
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Place: Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto
 
The launch will include dramatic readings, Judaeo-Spanish music presented by Judith Cohen, and refreshments. Free and open to the public. Accessible building.
 
A brief synopsis: A Cage Without Bars follows the adventures of Joseph, a twelve-year-old Jewish boy, who becomes a slave in 1493 after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. How he deals with his horrendous circumstances and manages to survive is the subject of this novel.
 
Praise for A Cage Without Bars:
 
“The well-developed characters feel very real. Although the book is explicit about the suffering these children and others endured, the excellent writing makes the book accessible to children…” – Jewish Book Council
 
“An important educational…take on this little-known historical tragedy.” – Kirkus

Grande Finale: Book of Life podcast

They say that all good things must come to an end. And so, too, does Heidi Rabinowitz’s wonderful Book of Life podcast. This podcast was informative and entertaining–presenting a treasure trove of Jewish books and authors to a wide audience. I wish Heidi all the best in her new job at PJ Library.

Here’s a link to the podcast, including a segment where I speak to Aubrey Davis about his inspiring picture book, Bagels from Benny. Enjoy!

https://jewishbooks.blogspot.ca/2017/12/grand-finale-at-least-for-now.html

Interview on CBC’s “Fresh Air”

On Sun. Nov. 5, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Nana aba Duncan on CBC’s “Fresh Air”. We spoke about my talk on Nov. 8/17 for Holocaust Education Week: “Why Should Young People Read Holocaust Literature, Anyway?”, about my parents’ experiences during the Holocaust, and my new book, “A Cage Without Bars” (Second Story Press, Autumn 2018). Here’s the link to the interview: https://soundcloud.com/…/anne-dublin-on-why-young-people-sh…. Enjoy! (Used with permission)

Michelle Edwards and I

At the AJL Conference in New York City in June 2017, I was delighted to meet Michelle Edwards. She’s an author and knitter extraordinaire, who won the Sydney Taylor (silver) award for her picture book, A Hat for Mrs. Goldman (Schwartz & Wade/Random, 2016) . We had time for a chat about writing and knitting. What fun! Here’s a photo of us both.