Description:
In 1917 on New York City’s Lower East Side, Baruch Rosenfeld, following Jewish tradition, invites a beggar to join his family for the Passover Seder. Baruch’s good deed backfires. He and his wife Rebekah and their children Nathan, Jacob, and Sadie are trapped in time. They don’t age, they can’t leave their three-room apartment, clouds obscure the views from their windows, and the outside world believes they disappeared without a trace.
The family finds individual ways to deal with their imprisonment. Sadie Rosenfeld, the youngest, creates a rich fantasy life in which a handsome suitor escorts her to Coney Island, a wonderful place she’s never been to but always dreamed about.
A hundred years later, the apartment building is now the Tenement Museum. Esther Luna, an educator for the museum, sees Sadie at the window. Thinking Sadie is a trespasser, Esther goes to the apartment but finds it has been empty for decades. She hires Jewish magician Meir Poppers, a kishef macher, to solve the mystery of the girl at the window.
But Meir’s efforts to free the Rosenfelds are blocked by rivals, ancient spells, and his own self-doubt. When Meir finally reaches the trapped family, he and Sadie must make decisions that will change their lives forever. Will Meir’s magic be enough to rescue the Rosenfelds from their eternal prison, and clear the clouds for good?
Interview:
Tell us about your book? How did it get started?
I was inspired two things. First was Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is a wizard for hire in modern day Chicago. Second, I’ve always thought it was cool that there is a mystical side of Judaism. Those two inspirations led to creating a rabbi with mystical powers who uses his powers to do what’s known in Judaism as tikkun olam which means “repair the world.”
How do you create your characters?
Usually, I come up with the story first and then create the characters to fit the story. The Magic Maker was the opposite. I started with the idea of a rabbi with mystical powers and then came up with an adventure for him. While doing research for the novel, I discovered that there was a kabbalah scholar who lived in the 1600s named Meir Poppers. My hero, Rabbi Meir Poppers, is named after him.
What inspires and what got your started in writing?
I’ve always loved good storytelling but for a long time I didn’t feel confident enough to write my own. Finally, I decided to write a novel that only I would see. It wasn’t a very good, but I finished it, and the process taught me the basics of writing a novel. With each novel I written, I’ve learned more about storytelling.
How do you get your ideas for writing?
Most of the cats I’ve owned over the years showed up on my porch and demanded to be let inside the house. I feel like my story ideas have come to me the same way. They just show up when I least expect them and demand I write them.
What do you like to read?
I read fiction and non-fiction though I’m partial to old school detective novels and well-plotted literary fiction.
What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?
Join a writing community. The support of fellow writers is invaluable. If you are writing something and haven’t already joined a writing group, I strongly suggest you find one. Most cities have a writers’ organization that can help you locate a writing group. Some writing groups are virtual. A writing group helps give you accountability, a regular writing schedule, and feedback. If you can’t join a writing group, find someone you trust to give you honest feedback.
Having someone tell me that they read one of my books and loved it is the best.
Author bio: Mickey Dubrow is the author of the novel American Judas, Always Agnes, and the forthcoming novel The Magic Maker. For more than thirty years, he wrote award-winning television promos, marketing presentations, and scripts. His personal essays and short stories have appeared in The Good Men Project, The Signal Mountain Review, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. He lives with his wife, author Jessica Handler, in Atlanta, GA.
Links:
Website: https://mickeydubrow.com
Publisher: https://www.
Twitter: @MickeyDubrow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/
Advance Praise:
“If you want magic of an especially warm-hearted, hilarious, poignant, and insightful variety, this is the book for you. Mickey Dubrow’s The Magic Maker is a thorough delight.”
— Steve Stern, author of The Village Idiot