This week, I had some interesting realizations that made me contemplate the many ways life has changed for me. The first one is about shoes.
Growing up, I was allowed one pair of shoes, for many years either a red or navy leather shoe with double strap buckles. This rule caused ongoing conflicts with my father. He believed investing in multiple pairs of shoes for rapidly growing kids was a waste of money. It wasn’t until middle school, when we were required to have sneakers for gym class that he finally broke down. Fast forward fifty-five years to last week when I took my granddaughters school shoe shopping and was surprised to find out they each had a closet full of shoes, including multiple pairs of sneakers. Then, they informed me with straight faces that a few were getting worn and needed replacement. At that point, I channeled my inner ‘Pop’ and announced they could all get one pair (of Uggs) and then we'd move on. I am still in a daze.
The second realization concerned my third book. Something felt off as I've been hammering away on the final section of Over There, a WW1 novel, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. One afternoon while walking through town it hit me. I passed a couple of bars where smokers had gathered on the sidewalk and was immediately engulfed in a cloud of their cigarette smoke. Smacking my forehead, I realized that I'd forgotten about the prevalence of smoking in 1917, the period in which the novel is set. Smoking was a deeply ingrained part of the culture back then (about 50% of adult men) and not one of my characters smoked. Our attitudes toward cigarette smoking have changed so dramatically I'd completely overlooked the behavior. Now, I can’t help but wonder what else I may have forgotten...
COMING UP!
SPARTA BOOKS - On August 29th at 7pm, an in-store book discussion of In the Hands of Women. This event requires an advance reservation. Contact the book store directly at - 973.729.6200. Hope to see some of you there!
The following are a couple of fun events on the horizon! PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. But don't delay - last season they sold out in days.
Many of you have asked about more Lower East Side tours. My team is working behind the scenes to schedule two or three for fall. I will post that information as soon as it's finalized.
There will be another fabulous salon-type presentation and discussion at Gallery Loupe in Montclair on Monday, October 21, at 1:00:
Early 1900’s NYC - Jewelry Historian and Author Talk –
What jewelry were the Suffragettes wearing? Come find out in a salon-like discussion exploring late 19th-century jewelry and buttons as self-expression for both the wealthy and poor during the rise in women’s rights—different styles for different strata of life. Hear the connections to the second, award-winning book in the Gilded City Series, THREADBARE, the perilous story recounting Tillie’s rise from a poor Jewish immigrant in Harlem to a successful businesswoman in the Lower East Side.
The event will be hosted by Patti Bleicher, owner of Gallery Loupe for Contemporary Jewelry in Montclair, featuring Barbara Seidenath, professional jewelry artist, and Jane Loeb Rubin, author of Threadbare and In the Hands of Women
Location – Gallery Loupe for Contemporary Art Jewelry, 50 Church St, Montclair
Time – 1 pm
$45: Reserved seat, light refreshments, and a signed copy of Threadbare.
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Check out my EVENT tab for upcoming fall and winter schedule. I am actively scheduling book clubs and event venues and look forward to meeting another crowd of facinating readers.
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