Jewish Book Council Archives - Over The River PR

A RIVER COULD BE A TREE: A Memoir by Angela Himsel

Angela Himsel’s fascinating new memoir, A RIVER COULD BE A TREE (Fig Tree Books Hardcover; Nov 2018) traces her seemingly impossible road from childhood cult to a committed Jewish life with warmth, humor, and a multitude of religious and philosophical insights.

How does a girl who grew up in rural Indiana as a fundamentalist Christian end up a practicing Jew in New York? Strict adherence to the church’s tenets was Angela Himsel’s only way to escape a certain, gruesome death, receive the Holy Spirit, and live forever in the Kingdom of God. With self-preservation in mind, she decided, at nineteen, to study at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. But instead of strengthening her faith, Angela was introduced to a whole new world with different people and perspectives. This experience slowly opened her eyes to the church’s shortcomings. Ultimately, the connection to God she relentlessly pursued was found in the most unexpected place: a mikvah on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. This devout Christian girl found her own form of salvation—as a practicing Jewish woman.

The media has enjoyed reviewing the book, interviewing the author, and sharing some of her original essays:

Tulsa Book Review: Review, 12/20/18

Give and Take Podcast: Interview, 12/12/18

Jewish Woman’s Archive: Angela’s essay posted posted on 12/11

Jerusalem Post: Review, 12/6/18

PopSugar: Angela’s essay posted on 12/5

Arroe Collins: Unplugged and Uncut Podcast: Interview, 12/3/18

Lilith Magazine’s Blog: Q&A with Yona McDonough, 11/30/18

Jewish Book Council’s Visiting Scribe Series: Angela’s essay posted on 11/26:

Jewish Community Voice (Cherry Hill): Interview, 11/21/18

Forward: Excerpt published, 11/15/18

The Herald (Jasper, IN): Interview, 11/13/18 arranged by Moshe Schulman

Book Q&A with Deborah Kalb: Interview, 11/13/18

Too Jewish Radio: Interview, 11/12/18

The Virtual Memories Show Podcast: Interview, 11/12/18h

Times of Israel: Interview, 11/10/18

The Jewish Week: Interview, 11/6/18

The Jewish Standard: Interview 11/2/18

The Herald Times (Bloomington, IN): Interview, 10/21/18

The Jewish Week: Included in Fall Arts Preview 9/13/18

ForeWord Reviews: Review, September/October Issue

Lilith: Review, Summer Issue

Kirkus Reviews: Review, 6/18/18

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The Astronaut’s Son by Tom Seigel

THE ASTRONAUT’S SON (Woodhall Press Hardcover) by Tom Segiel is a fast-paced mystery that was inspired by the true story of ex-Nazi scientists and engineers at NASA. Read the well-deserved interviews and reviews for this debut thriller:

BookLoons -review

Oregon Jewish Life – included in a holiday roundup

The Times of Israel – interview

The Book Decoder Blog – review

Jennifer Tar Heel Reader Blog – review

The Book’s The Thing Blog – review

Jewish Book Council – guest post

Locus Magazine Online – included in a roundup of new releases/

The Rap Sheet Blog – included in a roundup of new releases:

Too Jewish Radio Show – interview

Tita Writes – review

Mystery Scene – review

The Weston Forum/Han Network Newspapers – interview

Mystery People – interview

The Jewish Week (NYC) – included in Fall Arts Preview 9/13:

ForeWord Reviews – review

Book Q&A With Deborah Kalb – interview

Publishers Weekly – review

Detroit Jewish News – included in summer roundup:

Reviews by Amos Lassen – review

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My Mother’s Son by David Hirshberg

FigTree Books LLC, publisher of the best literature of the American Jewish experience, has published My Mother’s Son, a debut novel by David Hirshberg.

The story is told by a radio raconteur revisiting his past in post-World War II Boston, the playground and battleground for two brothers whose lives are transformed by discoveries they never could have imagined. From the opening line of the book, “When you’re a kid, they don’t always tell you the truth,” the stage is set for this riveting coming-of-age story that plays out against the backdrop of the Korean War, the aftermath of the Holocaust, the polio epidemic, the relocation of a baseball team, and the shenanigans of politicians and businessmen. Hirshberg deftly weaves together events, characters, and clues and creates a rich tapestry of betrayal, persecution, death,loyalty, and unconditional love that resonates with today’s America.

My Mother’s Son has received impressive accolades, including:

Gold Medal, 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards, RegionalFiction
Winner, 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards, Best RegionalFiction,
Winner, two New York City Big Book Awards:Historical Fiction and Debut Fiction.

It has also received strong review coverage including a starred review in both Booklist and Library Journal and:

The Jewish Book Council

The Jewish Advocate (Boston)

The Washington Jewish Week

The Reporter Group

Too Jewish Radio Podcast

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Jerome Charyn Blogs for Jewish Book Council

Jerome Charyn’s new collection of short stories, BITTER BRONX continues to receive great reviews!

Most recently it is mentioned in this month’s O, The Oprah Magazine and described, “With echoes of Walt Whitman’s fantastical city and the hard-boiled territory of Mickey Spilane BITTER BRONX elevates the borough’s stoops and sidewalks into the realm of myth.”

This week he has been blogging for the Jewish Book Council’s Visiting Scribe series. His third and final blog is about going “Back to the Bronx.”

Read all three of his blogs on the Jewish Book Council’s website.

A RIVER COULD BE A TREE: A Memoir by Angela Himsel

The Astronaut’s Son by Tom Seigel

My Mother’s Son by David Hirshberg

Jerome Charyn Blogs for Jewish Book Council

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