Jewish Book Council – Mirta Ines Trupp~ Author

Even in the midst of all this anguish, we still wake up and thank God for returning our souls to our bodies—such is His faith in us. We fulfill our commitments, never setting aside the pain, never forgetting the fear—knowing we are not alone. Klal Israel is our meshpucha.

A new day will rise, life will go on. Everyone cries, don’t cry alone…” Written Keren Peles, interpreted by Yuval Raphael

For several months, I have been preparing for the 27th annual Jewish Book Council Network Conference. This is a whirl-wind, high-tech event where traditional and independent authors are allowed exactly two-minutes to pitch their books to organizations across North America, including JCCs, synagogues, Hillel groups, Jewish Federations, and cultural centers.

My initial draft was revised and rewritten numerous times even before I had my coaching session with a program advisor. There were Zoom meetings for technical support, ensuring visual and audio were functioning at optimum performance levels—not to mention the many questions and concerns presenters had regarding virtual backgrounds, appropriate attire, and what the program director meant by ‘Up Next’ and ‘Up Now.’

After my practice session and the group orientation, I felt energized and ready to go. My office was reorganized and spruced up. I changed my outfit three times. I adjusted the camera at least as many times. I went to sleep…well, I went to bed, but couldn’t rest. I kept repeating my lines and thinking of different ways I might change my cadence, projection, or tone.

Before tossing the bedsheets aside the next morning, I murmured, “Modah ani lefanecha…” Thank you, God. I had been waiting for a day such as this! I was excited. I was motivated. I was going to nail my presentation. It was only a few minutes later when I heard the devastating news. A young couple had been murdered in the nation’s capital. Senselessly. Without cause. Without any consequence to the situation in the Middle East.

After October 7th, after watching endless protests, after hearing antisemitic vitriol being spewed from the mouths of useful idiots, I thought my heart was beyond breaking.

I was wrong.

At some point, I went online and checked my emails. I wondered if the conference would be postponed—cancelled, even—but then remembered that putting off a simcha or joyful event was not in keeping with Jewish tradition. Was that only for weddings? No, it wasn’t; but, more to the point, we have been here before. We don’t retreat. We don’t back down.

The conference was not cancelled.

The Jewish task is not to fear the real world but to enter and transform it.” Rabbi Lord Sacks

At the appointed time, the authors joined the webinar. We supported each other in our grief and shock, and we went on. I heard the others present their stories; some poignant, some humorous. Each, at its core, a testament to our resilience as a people.

At the end, we all held up our books, those little pieces of ourselves that we are bravely sending out into the world, and took a group picture. I was so nervous! I guess the point is that I shouldn’t have been. After all, I was speaking to my meshpucha…

The following is what I managed to say within the allotted time:

Hi! I love everything about Jane Austen and Fan Fiction. By incorporating Jewish storylines into Austen’s work, I hope to showcase that Jews were an integral part of every-day, Regency society. By 1815, the year that “Emma” was first published, Jewish communities had re-established themselves all throughout England—many in the upper echelons of society. I’m thinking of the Rothschilds, Goldsmids, and Montefiores. “The Jews of Donwell Abbey: An Emma Vagary” allows readers to escape to the charm of the Regency era, but there is so much more.

Miss Harriet Smith, a secondary character in Austen’s original story, faces judgement and scorn due to her humble—and questionable—circumstances. Characters struggle with romantic angst and foolish misunderstandings, pettiness and bigotry too; however, in keeping with Austen’s morality and Jewish teachings, there also is spiritual growth. Yes, Harriet finds herself attending fine dinners, assemblies, and soirees, but it’s her inner battles that provide an element of introspection and self-determination. What is more Jewish than that?

Jane Austen wrote: “Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” These words encourage us to recall our triumphs—even over small, every-day challenges. Given the times, our community craves such assurance and inspiration.

The Jews of Donwell Abbey delivers a touch a whimsy, but it also inspires pride and cultural cohesion. It nurtures that quintessential Jewish quality called: hope. Let’s indulge in an afternoon of tea and conversation! We’ll talk about Jews in the Regency era and their often— overlooked—contributions to society.

Having had time to think back on the day’s events, I might have changed a word or two. With all due respect to Austen and her well-meaning advice, I’d update the statement to say:

Think only of the past, as it remembrance gives you strength and propels you forward.

We will overcome this darkness, we will dance again, and laugh again, and write heartwarming love stories. Baruch dayan ha’emet and may Yaron and Sarah’s memory be for a blessing.

I had the pleasure and the honor of participating in the Jewish Book Council Network Conference. This is an extraordinary experience! It gives authors the opportunity to present their latest book in a unique forum. It provides program directors, libraries, synagogues and other venues from across the country, a more personalized, in-depth look into potential speakers and their work. The conference is done via Zoom and lasts several days. Just imagine! All that creativity, knowledge, and enthusiasm for Jewish literature!

The scope of presentations cover practically every genre imaginable. The authors themselves ranged from newbies to established, professional writers. It was inspiring to be included amongst such talent. It was intimidating as well.

Authors are given two minutes to present their book. A two-minute shpiel, if you will, to entice, intrigue, and inspire. Listening to the other presenters was a rare treat. I was moved by several authors as they talked about their journey and the body of their work. With so many great titles published this year, I encourage you to take a look at the JBC website to find the ones that speak to you.

In preparing for the event, authors are given the opportunity to be coached by seasoned professionals. Presentations are reviewed and revised with a focus on timing and content. As the saying goes: Editing is never easy, but always necessary! Being the only Austenite in the line up—or, at least, that was my assumption—I came across a “hiccup” or two in trying to explain my POV (point of view). I would have liked to have shared more about the concept of Austen devotionals or my passion about historical Jewish women; but, two minutes goes by quickly! There isn’t much time to go into detail or provide background. Here is the text of my presentation:

Hello everyone. As a woman, an immigrant, and a Jew, I found that following in Jane Austen’s footsteps helped me find my voice. She wrote about her surroundings with a keen eye. She used humor to call out the injustices of her society; and in this brilliant manner, Austen touched upon some heady subjects that are still relevant today. This form of Realism coincided with my purpose for writing Judaic storylines.

When I set out to write, “From Meidelach to Matriarchs,” I took Austen’s words to heart. She said, “Everyone likes to go their own way—to choose their own time and manner of devotion.” I found this to be very relatable to Judaism. As the old saying goes, you put two Jews together and you end up with three opinions. Judaism encourages debate and contemplation. It challenges us to cultivate habits that help connect to the Divine.

My previous books are Austenesque in nature; however my latest book is different. As a non-fiction and motivational journal, it is a form of…spiritual work. It asks the reader to interact with the text. It is a reminder that we, as Jewish women, are standing on the shoulders of giants. From athletes to actors, social workers to socialites, playwrights to pioneers—these women faced adversity, found their voices, and won! We need to emulate their strength, their courage, and compassion and walk in that light.

“From Meidelach to Matriarchs” focuses on one hundred women from various eras and diverse backgrounds. I share a snippet of each individual’s history and then provide questions for consideration. It’s a Bu-Jo (that’s a bullet journal for us Boomers) and a safe space for you to jot down your thoughts. There is no pressure, no judgement. That’s the beauty of this book. No one needs to know; it’s just between you and the Woman of Valor within.

What do you think? Was I successful in representing myself and my newest book? Let me know your thoughts and don’t forget to keep your eyes on the Jewish Book Council’s website with updates on the 2024-2025 season!