After releasing my first book The Road Ahead, a political satire, many were surprised that my next book was a science fiction story. Loved Mars Hated The Food is a story about Dix Jenner, a self-proclaimed slacker, who is the first chef to live-and maybe die-on Mars. After an explosion kills his colony companions and … Continue reading The Story Behind Loved Mars Hated The Food

Memorial constructed at the site of the former Bedzin synagogue Hitler almost succeeded in making Poland judenfrei. The Germans murdered ninety percent of Polish Jews. Most of the survivors chose not to return. They really had nothing to return to. My father harshly criticized Poles for their anti-Semitism. His anger reflected Poland in the 1930s. … Continue reading My Impressions of Modern Poland

I've previously written about bagels and Toronto blueberry buns so I had to mention the babka. Part bread, part cake, and totally delicious: babka is among the most iconic Jewish sweets  and a common fixture at the dessert table of religious celebrations. For millions of people, the Jewish babka was introduced into the American consciousness by … Continue reading Jerry Seinfeld: “You Can’t Beat a Babka”

In 2016, I published my first novel, THE ROAD AHEAD. I never had ambitions to be an author like many of my writing friends. I didn't have a fine arts or literary background, but I did enjoy reading. So, the book release came as a surprise to all of my friends. When it all started … Continue reading The Story Behind My First Book

Most query rejections look something like this: “I didn’t connect”“just not for me” orno response at all (which means no) This is not helpful and I've seen many writers on Twitter complain, can’t they just tell me what’s wrong? Just a sentence or two. How long could that possibly take? One minute? Well, it will … Continue reading Why You Don’t Get Feedback From Agents

When I was a child in Toronto, a favourite treat was blueberry buns (shtitzlach in Yiddish). Until I was an adult, I never realized that these treats were unique to Jewish bakeries in Toronto. The blueberry bun is to Toronto Jews what smoked meat is to Montreal Jews. A blueberry bun looks like a Pillsbury … Continue reading Toronto Blueberry Buns: A Hidden Treasure

You know what? Just fuck it. Fuck everything. - me as a Life Coach I was stopped at a red light when this nice lady leaned into an open window to tell me she’ll do anything for $50. So guess who’s getting his deck sanded and stained? Someone answered the phone when I called instead … Continue reading The Best of Twitter (May edition)

I’m sorry but there are few things that people can say that will put in a rage then this stupid phrase: I’m just saying. I think I first heard it in some Seinfeld episodes, and it just took off from there.   What does it even mean? Some people use it quite liberally without even … Continue reading Stop Saying It! Just Sayin’

I am well known for being a bagel maven, meaning “expert” or “connoisseur.” Some call me a bagel snob. There are only two types of bagels: New York bagels and Montreal bagels. Everything else, including any commercial product, is inferior. Bagels were brought to America by immigrant Polish Jews, and their popularity grew in New … Continue reading Bagels, Bagels, Bagels

In a small village in Poland, a terrifying rumor was spreading: A Christian girl had been found murdered. Fearing retaliation, the Jewish community gathered in the synagoguel to plan whatever defensive actions were possible under the circumstances. Just as the emergency meeting was being called to order, in ran the president of the synagogue, out … Continue reading The Origin of Jewish Humour