A writer friend and I began brainstorming a book series back in 2021. We’d been friends for about ten years at that point, having met while dropping our kids off at Hebrew school. Amanda is a “lucky stars” kind of friend – I cannot believe she dropped into my life when she did, and how she has continually changed it for the good.
I thank my lucky stars for her. Every. Damn. Day. And not just because she is also a writer, and understands exactly the revolving cast of characters taking up residence in my head. And not because she is a chef and has nourished me through the ups and downs of this past decade. (Although I will never turn down the chance to be a taste-tester for her carrot muffins!)
Maybe it’s a little bit because we’ve become the type of friends who can float anything past the other and they’ll say “Sounds like a terrible idea – what time?” Like, let’s go take a heavy metal yoga class in the middle of downtown Atlanta during a writer conference. Or, let’s do the Dirty Girl Mud Run and plot books as we belly-crawl through the obstacle course in the rain.
But sometimes it’s a great idea – like, let’s write a Hanukkah romance series together. We joked about it enough until we convinced ourselves that someday – we would.
Anyway, back to lucky stars – somehow the stars aligned, we found free windows of time earlier this fall and began building out a world of eight friends who became “found family.” They make sure to gather every Hanukkah to celebrate their ups and downs, loves and losses, their culture and their heritage.
Meanwhile, an unimaginable scenario was unfolding in our real world.
Sometimes it’s easy to put your head down and stay in your writing cave. But other times…it’s impossible.
We struggled with the decision to even release these stories this year – but ultimately decided, yes – the world could use more light and love right now.
Coincidently – it is currently Jewish Book Month, upholding the vital importance of highlighting and sharing stories of Jewish life, joy, and everything in between.
These books are fun and light…even if our heads and our hearts are anything but at this time. And if they can offer anyone a tiny bit of escapism in any form, our work as writers is done.
And circling back to the stars…Amanda designed our covers and I smile at all those stars she placed in the sky. Thank you, friend.
You can pre-order both titles now and they will appear on your e-reader like magic on December 5th.
THE HANUKKAH HOOK-UP: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, KOBO, Apple Books, and Google Books
THE DREIDEL DO-OVER: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Books.
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