Happy 2nd Birthday to SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT: a Reflection and a Prayer.

Today is the 2nd birthday of the my book Shira & Esther’s Double Dream Debut.

Two years ago, I went to the woods for some hiking, camping, and calm before my October 10th book launch. There wasn’t any cell service on the mountain, but that holiday weekend, I made a video about my joy (that my writing would finally be available to a larger audience) and my gratitude (for all who had helped me along the way.) On my way down the mountain, as soon as I had a few bars, I posted the video, packed up camp, and headed home where I learned of the terrorist attack on Israel, the massacre at the Nova music festival, and the pogroms at the kibbutzim on the border.

Over the next weeks and months I’d find out more about the 251 hostages held in terror tunnels under Gaza and the brutal and grizzly deaths that took place on October 7th, the largest number of Jews killed at one time since the Holocaust.

The morning of October 10, 2023, I wondered, was I even allowed to feel joy about my debut book? The story was specifically about Jewish Joy and the wonderful ways we learn, disagree, and celebrate. Would people ask me about the horrors of October 7th? Would I be heckled? Attacked? Did Jewish authors now need extra security?

Luckily, my launch was well-attended by people who loved me throughout my life and it was one of the most joyous events of my life.

The book gained critical praise with stars and lists. Currently, the New Jersey Library Association has nominated my book for the Garden State Teen Book Award Teen Votes Fiction: Grades 6-8.

At the same time the book gained accolades, my Jewish community counted days. Fifty days that hostages were in captivity. One-hundred days. Two, then three-hundred days. Rachel Goldberg-Polin the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin (in his early 20s) wore her masking tape tally of the days she’d prayed, worked, and cried for his release. I wore my “Bring them Home” dog tags.

As I did with my 20-something sons, she called herself, “Mama,” and her son was her, “Sweet Boy.” I felt deeply connected to her in the way one does with a celebrity or public figure—sure that if we went to the same synagogue, we’d be best friends.

On day 328, the family members of the hostage families gathered on the Israeli border with a microphone and massive speakers. “Hersh, it’s Mama,” she starts. My heart broke and broke again as she shouted into Gaza the priestly blessing that parents say over their children on Shabbat: “May God bless you and keep you. May God shine his face upon you and be gracious to you…” Around the same time, terrorist were executing her son.

Over the last two years, it’s felt both selfish and escapist to write. However, in that time, I’ve connected with other Jewish authors who have been my port in the storm of anti-semitism online and in real life. They encourage me to pursue my next stories. My synagogue community continually reminds me of the importance of Jewish Joy, and my family gives me unconditional love.

Today, on October 10, 2025, thanks to my mother, I’m on a writing retreat. In addition to celebrating the 2nd anniversary of my debut novel, I’m crossing my fingers for the possible release of the 40 hostages still in captivity. Twenty or so are still thought to be alive. In this bucolic place, I recommit to my work in progress, I light Shabbat candles and I pray: may we finally be able to celebrate the living, mourn those who have died, and have endless Shabbats filled with peace.

Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee! Video Visit Giveaway for NJ Teachers/Librarians

Calling all New Jersey teachers, librarians, and parents! I’m thrilled to say that my middle grade novel, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT was nominated by the NJ Library Association for the Garden State Teen Book Awards, 31st Annual (2025): Teen Votes Fiction Grades 6th-8th! Click for access to the online ballot. For other teen categories and access to a paper ballot, please click here.

What does this mean?

New Jersey students have the opportunity to vote for their favorite middle grade books until December 31, 2025. Teachers, librarians, and parents may use the amazing list of nominees to engage kids in reading, analysis, critical thinking, and the democratic process.

Of course, this gives me another chance to connect with readers, teachers, and librarians about SHIRA & ESTHER’S story, writing, teaching books, the publication process, the importance of freedom to choose and read the books you want to read, and #JewishJoy!

In honor of the nomination and the back-to-school season, I’m giving away three “After-School-Snack-with-an-Author” video events for New Jersey middle-grade (4th-8th grade) teachers and school librarians, along with their students. You provide the snacks, and I’ll use Microsoft Teams or Zoom to join you and your students. I’ll present briefly about the book’s journey and origin story and then answer questions. Ask me anything! Please click here to find out more about me.

The first three verified teachers or librarians to DM me on Instagram @annawritedraw will be the giveaway winners. Please send an image of your school’s staff page with your name or an image of your school ID. I’m looking forward to meeting your students!

End of Year Round Up

I spent decades building my blog audience and platform for the grand moment when I published my first novel. On October 10th, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT (Chronicle Books, 2023) made it’s way into the world, and I failed to report about it here.

The good news is that I was documenting the experience on my Instagram @annawritedraw. Below are some of the pictures from the various events.

I’m grateful to the independent book stores who hosted me: Politics & Prose (launch), Books of Wonder (Jewish Middle Grade panel), and People’s Book (Jewish Representation in Children’s Literature). What a pleasure to meet and speak with fellow authors and interested readers. Shout out to my students who came to the launch and asked the most sophisticated questions!

I’ve taken some time from teaching my own classes to visit other classrooms and schools. Thanks to An Open Book Foundation for connecting me with other DCPS classrooms and buying each student a book!

Finally, SHIRA & ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT is ending the year with some very exciting accolades!

Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade 2023 (starred review)
Publishers Weekly Best Middle Grade 2023 (starred review)
Tablet Magazine “The Best Jewish Children’s Books 2023”

This has been a difficult time to have a Jewish-themed book out in the world. H@mas invaded Israel on October 7th and my book launched on October 10th. I’ve been balancing intense grief and some fear with the joy of accomplishing a long-held goal and the pride that comes from years and years of hard work. I’m so grateful to the fantastic team at Chronicle Books, to my agent, my dear friends, and the wonderful readers who keep letting me know how much they love the book. Thank you so much.

Wishing everyone a new year filled with peace, love, and light.

Marketing Monday: Press Kits!

When I was a teen, I’d go to my mother’s communications and public relations office to help after school. In those dinosaur-roaming, pre-internet days, people typed up press releases, sent them out to reporters and editors, then called each media outlet to follow up. I had three main jobs: 1) put-together mailings (read: stuff and seal envelopes), 2) make follow-up calls, 3) stuff press kits for press conferences.

Times have changed. Snail mail is quaint, and while I love a conference folder, there are digital alternatives. On this website, I’ve added a downloadable zipped file on my “Books” and my “Creative Speaking/Press” pages. Creating a zipped file is easy. Just shift + click on the documents you need to zip together, right-click, and choose “compress file.”

To start, a media or press kit doesn’t need to be fancy. Ask your publisher for the “one sheet” they’ve created for the book. This has your book information (title, launch date, ISBN, etc.), a picture of the cover, any blurbs, and a picture of you with your bio. I’ve added a high res image of the cover and a few author photo options in case people need them for posting or for school and bookstore visits. Make sure to include the credits for the illustrator and photographer.

Finally, update your media kit. As the book goes out in the world, you may have nice reviews, stars, or awards to add on. Fingers crossed!

World…meet Shira and Esther

Something very exciting has been happening; the ARCs (advanced reader copies) of my book SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT are making their way into the world! After working on a book for years and years (and years) it’s been pretty fantastic to finally have people read it.

I’m grateful for the reception that Shira and Esther have found. On Instagram, Ari’s Book Addiction posted a lovely review for Jewish American Heritage Month. You can view that here!

That caught the eye of Afoma over at the blog Reading Middle Grade, and she included Shira and Esther in a list of 25 Best Jewish Middle-Grade Books. The post features “middle grade books by Jewish authors about Jewish kids,” where the character’s Jewish identity is integral to the story. Thank you, Afoma for recognizing the need for this representation! Sign up for her Friday Kidlit Newsletter with weekly roundups, kidlit resources, and more.

Are you a bookstagram influencer, podcast producer, or blog editor who focuses on children’s books and/or Jewish representation? I’d love to introduce you to Shira and Esther! Please leave me a note on the contact page and I’ll let my publicist know you need an ARC too. And if you discover Shira and Esther on the internet or IRL, please leave a message or tag me @annawritedraw!

A Knish is Love Part 2: The origin of the sticker

Did you read part 1? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In my last post, I unveiled my fun new sticker from the fictional Morty’s Deli in my upcoming middle-grade book, SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT, on sale October 10, 2023. The sticker and a signed book is available to those who preorder the book from my local independent bookstore, Politics & Prose. Do that now! I’ll wait.

The sticker’s origin is a quote from the book:

A sign on the door says best knishes in idylldale. What? It’s not bragging if it’s the truth—and if there’s one thing you want from a deli man, it’s the truth.
Morty in SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT by Anna E. Jordan

But where is Idylldale and what is a knish? For the first question, I don’t want to steal my narrator’s thunder. I’ll simply say that Idylldale is the setting in the novel. It’s part Manhattan’s Lower East Side and part Catskill Mountains Borscht Belt resort (see below for a map of vintage Jewish Resorts and Hotels).

Jewish food and culture tie these two geographical regions together. Every culture has its filled pastry: dumplings, bao, meat pies, and Jewish culture has the knish. As Morty, the deli owner, says in my book:

Kinder. You already know that when you are very, very hungry, almost anything—with the exception of liverwurst with onions—tastes good. But Morty’s knish is not just anything. Did I already say they are the best in Idylldale? What? You never had a knish? Imagine the lightest, fluffiest mashed potatoes wrapped in a piecrust and baked to perfection. You got it? Yes? No. It’s not like that at all. A knish is better than a fluffy biscuit, better than a melt-in-your-mouth donut, a knish is love.
Morty in SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT by Anna E. Jordan

A Knish is Love Part 1: Reasons to Preorder my book!

If you’ve been following along, you know that I recently received my advanced reader copies for my middle-grade debut novel, SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT. The book won’t be in your bookstore until October 10, 2023, but here are a few good reasons why you should preorder yours now.

We’ve all seen what happens when the supply chain is interrupted. When there is unexpected demand, it can take a long time for production to catch up. When you preorder, the publishing company can gauge demand for the book and order accordingly.
A successful preorder campaign creates buzz for a book and builds anticipation for the launch. Especially if you, the consumer, posts about your purchase and support!
Sales of foreign rights and other rights are more likely to be successful if the book has buzz.
Independent bookstores often purchase only one or two copies of a book (especially from a debut author) if they are unsure how it will do. If you order from your local independent bookstore now, they will have guaranteed sales and a reason to order more!
Finally, if you order from MY local independent bookstore, Politics & Prose, I will sign your book and add in a fun sticker from the fictional Morty’s Deli! Here’s the link to order SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT from Politics & Prose!

What? You don’t know what a knish is? Stay tuned!

Book Covers, ARCs, and Author Photos…Oh, my!

Remember how my last post promised updates? Here they are!

First, my ARCs (advanced reader copies) came in the mail from Chronicle Books and I was excited enough to try an Instagram reel speaking direct-to-camera. Uncomfortable? Perhaps. Authentic? Definitely. Please follow me there @annawritedraw

I had a blast sitting for my author photos with National Geographic photographer, Becky Hale. Because I knew her in another capacity, I felt very comfortable and she turned out photo after photo that were just stunning. Here’s one of my favorites. I’m so grateful!

The ARCs don’t have the final book cover, but I’m thrilled to share that with you today. Illustrator Marco Guadalupi created this fun cover that captures both the similarities and differences of Shira and Esther. I love how he subtly transmits Shira’s vigor and Esther’s studiousness. The Idylldale tenements and the story landmarks of the theater, The Heights, and the synagogue all become a theatrical background framed by the canned spotlights and the title marquee. More on the cover soon!

After so many years of working on the manuscript for SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT, it’s amazing to see the book–the thing that people will hold in their hands and actually read– becoming a reality. If you preorder the book from my local indie bookstore, Politics and Prose, you’ll get a signed book and additional swag! The book is also available for preorder anywhere you buy books.

Shana Tova: 5783

Happy New Year to any who celebrate. If you don’t, feel free to borrow this Jewish autumnal opportunity to take stock of the last year, make amends, and start with a blank slate.

Today, I received a notice from LiveJournal celebrating my blogging beginnings 16-years ago. That blog traveled from LiveJournal to Blogger to WordPress, and the whole time, I imagined that I was “building a platform” of possible readers who might buy some dream-of-a-book in the future. In January of 2021, when Chronicle Books bought my middle grade manuscript, that once-mythical-moment became a reality, and I’m excited to give you a little insight on the publishing journey for my Fall 2023 debut.

Originally, the book was going to be launched this year, but with Covid, a death in my family, a move, and a new teaching job, I knew I couldn’t keep up with the pace. Chronicle was kind enough to allow me to postpone.

I’ve been so lucky to work with two fabulous editors who have guided me through a few revisions. From macro to micro, each revision was focussed and each created a manuscript that was better than the previous draft.

In copy edits, I’ve worked with the Chronicle team to make each word sparkle.

The other day I got to look at cover ideas. *squee* Like that moment in a pregnancy when you actually start showing, it began to feel very real. At this point, the book has gone through a variety of titles, and we’ve landed on SHIRA AND ESTHER’S DOUBLE DREAM DEBUT. What a perfect way to encapsulate this Prince-and-the-Pauper-meets-Mrs. Maisel book about two identical girls who swap places to fulfill their dreams.

Even though I am a woman of many words, I can’t really explain how joyful this process has been. The respect that I’ve felt from the team is amazing.

By the time 5784 rolls around, I’ll be a published novelist. I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me.

Breakfast at the Bird Feeder

At 6 am it’s the coolest time of the day. I try to spend as much time outside before the DC area humidity gets me, and there’s no other option except siesta, so I’ve been taking my tea and oatmeal on my balcony. The space is large enough for a couple of chairs, a side stool, and a few plants. I added a birdfeeder this year and I love it.

Mostly, there are sparrows brown and delicate, but there’s also the sweetest Tufted Titmouse. His little downy blue-grey mohawk and big black eyes speak to me. The house finches, males have this beautiful scarlet cap and breast. They mob the feeder and devour the seed. There’s a mating pair of Cardinals, orange beaks cracking sunflower seeds. I also love the White-breasted Nuthatch who hops up the building clinging to the bricks, waiting for his turn. At the feeder, he dips his long thin beak into the seed.

Of course, the big guys want a piece of the action. There’s a red-bellied woodpecker, which doesn’t actually have a red belly but a red cap and white belly. Its black tail is dotted and dashed with white like Morse code come to life. There are Blue Jays who scream at the smaller birds and drive them away. A Mourning Dove who has only visited a few times, and a huge crow who perched on the hook holding the feeder this morning. (I cawed at him to leave the seed for the smaller birds and he complied.)

The whole time, Rothko (my cat) crouches inside, tip of tail flicking in anticipation of a kill that never comes.