Well-Read: Local Authors Hood, Nathan, & Belkin Team Up for Fundraiser

What do Ann Hood, Joan Nathan and Lynn Ducoff Belkin have in common? All are from Rhode Island, are writers…and will be the guests of honor at the RI Hadassah Books on the Beach event, which provides me the ideal opportunity to talk about how much I love local authors!

I have had the pleasure of interviewing all three authors on Reading With Robin and checked in with each to see what they are up to, working on and their connection to Hadassah, if any.

Ann Hood

With no connection to Hadassah, Ann Hood is an author who continually gives to so many organizations both in and out of Rhode Island. Hood’s latest novel, The Red Thread, tells the moving story of six couples adopting babies from China, all from mothers who are forced to give up their baby girls. The Chinese legend of the red thread is that our children are connected to us by an invisible red thread. The woman who runs the agency, Maya, has a red thread of her own and imagines who might be waiting on the other end. I am always excited to hear about Ann’s latest project. In addition to the columns she writes and the classes she teaches she has an exciting series for middle readers that will debut in January called The Treasure Chest. She is also finishing her new novel, The Obituary Writer, due out in fall 2012.

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Joan Nathan

Nothing says Jewish cooking like a Joan Nathan cookbook and Joan’s latest, Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous –My Search for Jewish Cooking in France is Joan’s tenth in a long line of favorites! What is Jewish cooking in France? Nathan has family members living in France so that’s where she began her journey which was a labor of love. In her search for French-Jewish cooking Joan was invited into kitchens all around the country and all that she tasted and absorbed can be found in this delicious and gorgeous cookbook. The personal stories that accompany the recipes enrich the readers’ experience that much more. I am looking forward to trying

many of the recipes in this fabulous cookbook. Joan tells me that she is a life member of Hadassah, a tradition she shares with both of her daughters. Nathan is currently working on some articles and thinking about what will come next.

Lynn Ducoff Belkin

Lynn’s self-published children’s book is entitled Home In Time For My Birthday and tells the story of how as a six year old, Lynn was diagnosed with a brain tumor and didn’t know what to expect at the hospital. In sharing her story, Lynn hopes that children who are going through similar experiences will be able to identify with the characters in the book and be able to ask questions that will help them to cope with a diagnosis. Lynn remains committed to organizations that share a common mission of supporting children and families dealing with similar situations. She just arrived home from her 8th summer as a volunteer at Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. Lynn is part of her family’s 4th generation of life members of Hadassah. Lynn’s entire life has influenced Lynn’s commitment to the organization and to Israel.

The cause: Hadassah and RI

Hadassah supports programs in Israel and in the United States through its funding of areas such as condemnation of hate crimes, encouraging organ and tissue donation, domestic abuse assistance, BRCA genetic

testing, stem cell research, promoting healthy hearts and many other worthwhile programs. Karen Asher, founder of Books On The Beach, tells me that The Rhode Island Chapter has several long-term projects such as : Hasbro Children’s Hospital Community Service Project which began 17 years ago by providing Hadassah members with the opportunity to work as volunteers at Hasbro in various ways. Some read to the children, play with the children in the playrooms or provide a break for parents so that they can be with their other children or simply grab a cup of coffee. Hadassah members have also knit and crocheted afghans for the children. In the first three years, 641 afghans had been donated.

In 1991 The RI Chapter began a community service project to help children who were admitted to Hasbro Children’s Hospital with their Sewing of Medical Teaching Dolls for Children.. Each child who is admitted is presented with a plain rag doll dressed in a colorful hospital Johnnie. These dolls are specifically designed to allow doctors and nurses to visually explain to the child the nature of surgery and/or illness. Many dolls have been spotted wearing casts and slings! Each doll bears a sewn-in tag which reads, “Made and Donated by Rhode Island Hadassah.” So far over 13,000 dolls have been donated!

For information about Books on the Beach please visit www.rhodeislandhadassah.org or call 463-3636.The event is Tuesday, August 16th from 11:30-2:30. I have the pleasure of being the emcee for this fun-filled summertime book event! Books will be available for purchase with proceeds to benefit RI Hadassah. The cost of the event is $50 which includes lunch.

Reading enthusiast and all around "book-pusher" Robin Kall can be heard live Saturday mornings from 7-8am on Reading With Robin WHJJ 920AM. This week, author Tom Torgerson (Love on the Big Screen) will be her guest. Also streaming live at www.920whjj.com. Follow on Twitter @robinkall, and Facebook - Reading With Robin.

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