Novelist, TV Writer, and Writing Teacher
And the generations live on. Daughter Jenna. Grandson Micah. Greta’s granddaughter and great-grandson. Does my heart good to see such beauty in this world. And so much beauty in the words so many of you have sent my way. Thank you. Thank you. I am so very grateful to you.
Big news this week.
I finally found a home for my mother’s Burning Wooden Synagogue paintings. (Burned in Eastern Europe on Kristallnacht.) Some of you may recall that at the end of her life my mother, artist Greta Schreyer painted a series of 6 of these burning synagogues. She said she had to live long enough to find the courage to paint them. They were exhibited in a museum in NY before they came tome when my mother died 10 years ago last October. And here they’ve been, in the studio, all these years.
This week the first shipment of these paintings went to the Skirball Museum – Cincinnati.
I’m incredibly grateful and a bit overwhelmed.
It’s been my decade-long goal to get these to the right museum. I’ve tried again and again. Now that they’re packed and ready, my tears are falling. Not exactly for my mother. I’m so grateful to have found a good home for these. But just before we closed the shipping boxes I began to sob. For the suffering of Jews in these small towns in Poland where these synagogues were set on fire. I said a prayer over them.
And now, off they go.
I adore this photo of my daughter, Jenna and her husband, Gustavo. Picture taken by — their 3 year old Micah! Such gorgeous love in their eyes as they’re looking at him. I think I’ll ask him to take my pic next!
My beautiful daughter and grandson
Dear Writers,
I’m excited to announce a new Slipper Camp!!!
THE DETAILS:
– Slipper Camp is a 20 day online writing experience. (10 days of receiving writing prompts; 2 days to write each one.) I call it Slipper Camp because you can stay home and write in your PJ’S and slippers!
I also call it Slipper Camp because, unlike other online Boot Camps, you have two days to write each prompt instead of one.
– When you sign up, every OTHER morning, starting September 11th and ending on October 1st, you will receive writing prompts from me in your email.
– You will get explicit instructions about how to do this.
– You will be asked to write 1,000 words (approx 2 pages) on a prompt and to send it to me by midnight of the following day.
When the 20 days are up, you will have written 20,000 words. No small feat.
After it ends, we will talk (over the phone) about your writing
And the theme is…. FAMILY.
We all have one. We all have things to say about this subject. This Slipper Camp will guide you to write about one of the subjects you know best.
This can be a great opportunity to say what you’ve been thinking about or longing to say; to tell family stories you’ve never written down; a chance to write about a special family photo or a childhood memory or something that happened last week.
(OR.. you can ignore the prompts and use Slipper Camp as a 20 day kick in the pants to work on that project you’ve been putting down.
Many have used it that way.)
That’s it. (By the way, this is the one and only Slipper Camp of its kind. There are other online Writing Boot Camps – but they all ask for writing to be done every day. I decided that pace was too hectic for us – ergo, Slipper Camp. Geared to our busy lives. A gentler way to get some writing done over 20 days.)
– Tuition is the same as always – $200 ($10/day for 20 days.)
Please pass this on if you like.
Also, sign up using this link: https://lindaschreyer.wordpress.com/writing-classes/slipper-camps/
The peach orchard where I used to live in Fishkill, New York. Back in the day. B/W painted by dearest Tibor Gergely, legendary children’s book illustrator and honorary member of our family. Watercolor by artist Greta Schreyer, my mother. #peace #peaches #livingmydream #honoringthesetwoartists #family#missingthem
Seven years ago on April 6 at 1:14 PM, our exquisite Jazz (Jasmine Rue Seelig Sugerman) was born in a bathtub in Bali, delivered into the hands of magnificent Robin Lim, midwife to the babies of the world, one year later the CNN Hero of the Year. (Please see Yayasan Bumi Sehat.) I was honored to be in that bathroom when Jazz was born as Ibu Robin told my son, Evan, to speak to her so his voice would be the first she ever heard. Marcelle, her mama, was luminous with love for her baby. Marcelle’s mother, Miriam Seelig, was chanting Hebrew prayers. Candles were burning. The bathtub was filled with frangipani flowers. Through my tears, I saw the ghosts of my ancestors, lost in the Holocaust, gathered in the corner of the room, welcoming this new life with such great joy. I was lucky to be the third person to hold Jazz, as she still reminds me. Being a part of such a miracle is still, today, the most memorable moment of my life. In the coming days, Jazz was blessed with ceremonies and graced us with her beatific smile. Today, seven years later, she continues to grace us with her beauty, great love, kindness and hilarious laughter. I love you, Jazz, more than I can ever say. I’ve loved you every moment of your life. And today I wish you the happiest of birthdays — all the way across the 8,000 miles that divide us (physically) while I am always with you, as you are always with me.
Sitting in the studio, surrounded by their art, missing those who’ve left us after losing their families in the Holocaust. My mother, Greta Schreyer, Tibor Gergely, her best friend. Love you both. Grateful for the legacy you left; as always, hoping to keep your memories alive. (A never-before-seen drawing of me, age 10, by Tibor Gergely.)
Linda Schreyer 