The Stores and Stories of a Southern Jewish Childhood

About a week ago, at an event for the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans, I shared some stories from my childhood and from my family's history, and talked about how they inspired my new children's book, Summer of Stolen Secrets, which Viking is publishing in May. Many of my family members were on hand, ready to let me know if I got any of the details wrong. (I received at least fifteen texts alerting me to this particular mistake: My family's store in Baton Rouge was the longest building in the world built as a department store. At the event I said "largest" instead of "longest." I misspoke. It won't happen again. I hope.)

If you'd like to hear stories about my family's department stores, and my tough grandmother, and my childhood in Baton Rouge, and how they relate to Summer of Stolen Secrets, please feel free to watch this video of the event. And let me know what you think! You can contact me anytime. I'd love to hear from you.