Family stories fascinate me.

Every person -- living or dead, famous or unknown -- whose stories make their way to us is triumphant in one way or another. Their experiences might carry inspiration and lessons that extend far beyond what they imagined as they were living. ​Discovering the timeless treasures in these temporal experiences is what gives me joy as a writer, reader, and editor.

Writing 
My first book, “Farewell, Aleppo: My Father, My People, and Their Long Journey Home,” grew from a small family project to an award-winning book and talks all over the country. We never know where the process will take us when (to paraphrase Virginia Woolf) the pen picks up the scent. The real prize of writing comes in passing down new understandings to readers whose experiences may be vastly different from those of the people we write about, but who share common feelings, hopes and concerns. 

My next book will be the story of my maternal grandparents, who met in Paris in 1923 when my Egyptian-born grandmother was a 15-year-old student in boarding school, and my Syrian-born grandfather was a 30-year-old American businessman traveling through Europe. I tell their story to my late mother, through a series of letters written in the year following her death. Weaving family interviews, memories, research, imagination, and dreams, this book-in-progress explores the ways our lives are shaped by the journeys of our ancestors.

For lighter fare, I have been writing articles on Jewish foods for a wonderful new online publication, The New Mexico Jewish Journal. Find links to my articles, with photos and recipes, here.

Editing
​​In my writing classes I like to say, “It takes more than interesting subject matter to make an interesting book, but it helps.” Completing the process takes wise, heartfelt writing, and skillful, respectful editing. 

I love helping new or experienced writers take their project from a rough idea to a polished manuscript, whether for publication, a family keepsake, or their own personal journey. I take on projects that I love, because I find editing can be a joy that complements the joys of writing. I work on a per-page or per-project basis, in the consultation, developmental editing, line editing, or proofreading stage as needed. In addition to family stories, my specialties are science, nature, and history.  Contact me to see how I might help you bring your project to fruition.