Jewish author Beth Kander spoke to community members as part of the Acclaimed Author Series hosted by Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, on Dec. 19.
The event was also co-sponsored by the Jewish Book Council, PJ Library Kansas City, the Sam Shultz Jewish Book Fair Fund and Monarch Books & Gifts, where the event was held.
Moderated by community member Lindsay Fineman, the conversation ranged from Kander’s experience growing up in a small Jewish community outside of Flint, Michigan, to her inspirations behind her novel.
Kander’s book, “I Made it Out of Clay,” was released on Dec. 10, and by the 18th, made the USA Today Best-selling Booklist, debuting at number 85. Kander has published two other books geared towards children, but “I Made it Out of Clay” is her debut full-length novel. The book is a romantic comedy set in modern-day Chicago, with elements of friendship, magic and coming to terms with loss.
After reading two excerpts from the book, Kander answered questions from Fineman and the audience.
She talked about her experience being the only Jewish family in her town, driving over half an hour to any organized Jewish community. Kander said that living in a smaller community means that everyone has to be involved in creating the spaces they want to keep alive. In addition, she said having a small Jewish community means participating in the broader community and creating change all around.
“In literally any place that Jewish people live, we are chairing the PTO, we are involved in our larger community in really important and meaningful ways, and I think that’s incredible,” she said. “I think there is such power in getting to be in the community that you’re in and to be in community with everyone around you, [both] your Jewish community and your larger community.”
One question Kander answered was about the intended audience, and how her book can help non-Jews understand Jewish traditions and culture.
“I really wanted it to be a book that everyone could read, and Jewish people would feel seen reading,” she said. “It was a hard balance with some of the explanation versus assumption of knowledge. So you’ll see light explanation... I don’t want it to become a slog.”
Kander went on to talk about the effects of friendship throughout big life moments, both positive and negative. She discussed the importance of opening up to loved ones and helping them understand how they can help you in times of stress.
“Just naming it and telling the people in your life when you’re feeling down and inviting them in and not having it be something we tuck away [is important],” Kander said.
“Normalizing that everyone has hard times, everyone has struggles is really helpful. I’ve started telling friends and family what tends to pick me up when I am down, when I’m not down.”
Kander and her team are beginning to look at pitching the story to production companies, in hopes of it becoming a film.
More information about the Acclaimed Author Series and other programs developed by Jewish Experiences is available at TheJKC.org/jewishexperiences.
