Online Symposium for Jewish Children’s & Teen Literature Mar 2021
March 4 - 25, 2021
Online Symposium Info:
This virtual workshop, an entry in our “Essential Conversations” series, is an in-community intensive experience for Jewish storytellers of all types of content for children and teens.
Each week we will bring forward and discuss a topic that pertains to creating and sustaining a career in writing as a Jewish storyteller. The weeks include pre-recorded lectures, discussions, and writing exercises. For the first three weeks there will be one LIVE session each Sunday (5pm Eastern) related to the week’s topic and one LIVE, optional gathering on Fridays for Pre-Shabbat oneg before Shabbat candle-lighting (4pm Eastern). Week four hosts a LIVE community celebration on Thursday, March 25th at 5pm Eastern.
Join Us If:
- You are Jewish. This program is designed to be an exchange of ideas and a place to connect with storytellers and industry professionals of the Jewish community.
- You write picture books, middle grade novels, or young adult novels.
- You work in the children’s book industry and want to be a part of the conversation. Booksellers, librarians, educators, agents, editors, publishers: we invite you to contribute to this important conversation from your unique perspectives.
Preliminary Agenda:
During the month:
Pre-recorded content will be released on Thursdays, and LIVE gatherings will be held on Fridays and Sundays. (*Please note: final week the live session is adjusted for readings.)
Week 1, Beginning March 4: What is a Jewish story?
“So that’s the dissenter’s hope: that they are writing not for today, but for tomorrow.”—Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Pre-recorded content released Thursday, March 4, 2021:
- Welcome video
- Keynote: “Why I write…Why you write?”
- 15-minute craft video
- Discussion in community
LIVE session, Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4pm Eastern
- Optional Zoom Pre-Shabbat oneg at 4pm Eastern before Shabbat candle-lighting
LIVE session, Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 5pm Eastern
- Panel: What is a Jewish story?
- Small group introductions
Week 2, March 8-14: Identity & Intersections
“Write only if you cannot live without writing. Write only what you alone can write.”—Elie Wiesel
Pre-recorded content released Thursday, March 11, 2021:
- Interview: Author to Author
- Keynote
- 15-minute craft video
- Discussion in community
LIVE session, Friday, March 12, 2021 at 4pm Eastern
- Optional Zoom Pre-Shabbat oneg at 4pm Eastern before Shabbat candle-lighting
LIVE session, Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 5pm Eastern
- Panel: Jewish Writers are not a monolith; neither are our stories
- Small group to meet and talk about this week’s reflection
Week 3, March 15-21: The Business of Publishing
“If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skulls, then why do we read it?”—Franz Kafka
Pre-recorded content released Thursday, March 18, 2021:
- Interview: Agent to Agent
- Keynote: Mental Health in the Children’s Book Industry
- 15-minute craft video
- Session: How to navigate Jewish books within publishing
LIVE session, Friday, March 19, 2021 at 4pm Eastern
- Optional Zoom Pre-Shabbat oneg at 4pm Eastern before Shabbat candle-lighting
LIVE session, Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 5pm Eastern
- In Conversation: Editor to Editor
- Small group: moving from room to room with business discussions on topics from submissions to marketing, and more!
Week 4, March 22-28: “L’Chaim!” *Please note date and time changes
Pre-recorded content released Tuesday, March 23, 2021:
- How to prepare for your reading
- Final questions
LIVE session: Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7pm Eastern
- Reading celebration with ALL storytellers
- Open Q & A with facilitators
Please note:
If you’re unable for any reason to attend any of the sessions, you’ll have access to the recordings of each through April 30, 2021.
Testimonials
“Faculty were both incredibly generous with their time and inspiring and informative as experts. And the mix of participants — spanning levels of publishing experience and experiences with Judaism — blended into an egalitarian, no-cliques, supportive, respectful, thoughtful (and often hilarious!) atmosphere that opened the door to thoughtful, often-difficult, and ultimately clarifying conversations. I left with a great sense of community, which I will feel at my back as I move forward, writing *my* stories.”
“The faculty was awesome. I liked that each speaker brought a unique perspective on a facet of the industry.”
We’d like to thank the Lerner Foundation and PJ Library for their support of this program.
Faculty
Katherine Locke
Special Guest Katherine Locke lives and writes in Philadelphia where they’re ruled by their feline overlords and their addiction to… Learn more
Linda Epstein
Special Guest Linda Epstein is a senior agent at Emerald City Literary Agency, in their east coast office. She represents… Learn more
Veera Hiranandani
Veera Hiranandani is the author of The Night Diary (Kokila), which has received many awards including the 2019 Newbery Honor Award, the 2019… Learn more
Sofiya Pasternack
Special Guest Sofiya Pasternack When Sofiya was six years old, she wrote and illustrated her first story. She has since… Learn more
Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Special Guest Maggie Tokuda-Hall has an MFA in creative writing from USF, and a strong cake-decorating game. She is the… Learn more
Rena Rossner
Special Guest Rena Rossner is the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins… Learn more
Carolivia Herron
Special Guest Carolivia Herron is an African American Jewish author, educator and publisher living in Washington, DC. She received her… Learn more
Ruth Horowitz
Special Guest Ruth Horowitz’s most recent picture book Saving Eli’s Library, was released in October 2020. Her other six books… Learn more
Rebecca Kuss
Special Guest Rebecca Kuss (she/her) is an editor at Inkyard Press, a children’s imprint within HarperCollins. She was raised by… Learn more
David Levithan
Special Guest David Levithan is a young adult author and Scholastic editorial director. He is also the founding editor of… Learn more
Rebecca Podos
Rebecca Podos is the Lambda Literary Award-winning author of young adult novels, including THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES, LIKE WATER,… Learn more
Natasha Díaz
Natasha Díaz is a born and raised New Yorker, award winning author and screenwriter, and currently residing in Brooklyn, NY… Learn more
Tarlan Rabizadeh
Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh was born and raised in Los Angeles’ Jewish Persian community, affectionately known as “Irangeles.” She earned a… Learn more
Susan Kusel
Susan Kusel is the librarian at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia, the children’s book buyer and selector for… Learn more