3 July 2015

Published July 1, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What story does it have to tell?

PHOTO PROMPT – © Jean L. Hays

Genre: Hysterical Fiction

Word Count: 100

GENERATIONS

“Summer of 1954. What a heatwave,” said Great-Gran. “We didn’t have air conditioning. My boyfriend and I went to the drive-in theater on Saturday nights. If we were lucky there’d be a decent breeze and a good flick like Roman Holiday or From Here to Eternity.”

“I saw them on Netflix.” Fourteen-year-old Megan loved old movies, the older the better. “Burt Lancaster was really hot in that sex scene on the beach.”

“I missed that part of the movie but I think the one in Bobby’s Bel-Air topped it.” Great-Gran’s eyes sparkled.

“Does Gramps know he’s a passion pit baby?”

.

Character Study – Tova Gitterman Resnick

Published June 30, 2015 by rochellewisoff

“Finally Havah raised her head to glare at the other woman. Under different circumstances she would have pitied her. At thirty-one Tova looked closer to fifty. Years of abuse had worn lines into her face. Childbearing had left its mark on her slight frame, curving her spine and bowing her shoulders.”

~~taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Published by Argus Publishing

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

TOVA GITTERMAN RESNIC - Original artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

TOVA GITTERMAN RESNICK – Original artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

At the age of fourteen, Arel’s sister Tova Gitterman, Yussel’s second eldest child, was a dark haired, grey eyed beauty. Feivel Resnick, then seventeen, fancied himself in love with her and begged the rabbi for her hand. However Yussel informed him that she was already promised. Not to be refused, Feivel stalked her until the day he cornered her doing laundry at the river.

When Tova was found to be pregnant with Feivel’s child it rendered her betrothal agreement null and void. Rabbi Yussel felt he had no choice but to sanction the marriage for honor’s sake.

Instead of the fulfillment of his dreams, Feivel feels trapped. He is an abusive drunkard who squanders his meager earnings on drink and takes out his frustrations on Tova. As Please Say Kaddish for Me opens, Tova is pregnant with their fifth child.

After the baby’s birth, Tova signs an agreement for her eldest to marry the shoemaker who is twice the girl’s age. Havah is indignant and accuses Tova of selling her daughter into slavery for a pair of shoes.

As time passes, Havah learns that life isn’t always a simple matter of right and wrong. While she may never agree with Tova’s decision she does come to respect the woman’s inner strength.

Check out my author page on the Loiacono Website. For all of the character studies thus far, click on the link Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Art and Blogs.

Trailer by Kent Bonham

ANGUS & ROBERTSON AMAZON B&N BAM BOOKWORLD FISHPOND SHELFARI BOOK DEPOSITORY WATERSTONES GOODREADS IDREAMBOOKS

26 June 2015

Published June 24, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Tell me where it takes you in a hundred words or less.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Kent Bonham

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

BACK OUT ON THE STREET

“I wandered aimlessly down the deserted street as I had hundreds of times before. Everything was the same but it would never be the same again.”

After reading the two sentences aloud twice, Rose back-spaced them into oblivion and said, “This isn’t a story, it’s a cliché fest.”

She shut off the computer. The manuscript would have to wait.

Although she tried to sleep, Rose’s cluttered mind spun with deadlines, debts, disillusion and broken promises. She threw off the covers and put on her clothes.

“Damn you, Jeff. Why now?”

She wandered aimlessly down the deserted street…everything was the same…

Character Study – Itzak Abromovich

Published June 21, 2015 by rochellewisoff

“Itzak reminded her [Havah] of a bear cub, short and stout with black, curly hair. His beard seemed to be as unruly as the young man himself. His dark eyes shimmered like midnight stars.”

~~taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

ITZAK ABROMOVICH -Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Itzak Abromovich is a cabinetmaker by trade who is also a gifted woodcarver. Because his uniquely crafted furniture is sought after by certain Kishinev aristocrats Itzak has been issued official papers granting him permission to travel beyond the boundaries of Svechka.

He’s not only a skilled craftsman but a talented fiddler as well which endears him to Ulrich Dietrich, the pianist. Often furniture deliveries will end with an evening of music in the wealthy German professor’s mansion.

At first meeting, Havah points out that Itzak is the embodiment of his name, pronounced in Hebrew ‘yitz-khak’ which literally translates, ‘he will laugh.’ In nearly any given situation, no matter how bleak, he can find a kernel of humor.

Published by Argus Publishing

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

You can find it here or here.

Feel free leave a review at either site or both sites. 😉

Thank you and Shalom,

Rochelle

Character Study – Shayndel Gitterman Abromovich

Published June 20, 2015 by rochellewisoff

“Shayndel’s knee length hair shone like honey in the sun and her round cheeks glowed. Havah felt shriveled and pale next to her.”

~~Taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Published by Argus Publishing

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

SHAYNDEL GITTERMAN ABROMOVICH – Original artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Shayndel Gitterman Abromovich’s marriage to Itzak the cabinetmaker was arranged when they were still children and, as Itzak tells Arel, “it was meant to be.” Like her brother, Shayndel has never questioned the traditional roles of Jewish men and women within the shtetl. In Itzak, Shayndel has found her beshert, her soulmate.

Although Havah sees Shayndel as being too accepting and Shayndel sees Havah as rebellious, an unbreakable bond forms between them.

You can read more about Havah, Arel and Shayndel here:

PSK Cover with border Which you can find here.

If you’ve already read Please Say Kaddish for Me, please leave a review on Amazon.

Thank you.

Shalom,

Rochelle

19 June 2015

Published June 17, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Where does it take you? Tell me in a hundred words or less.

It seems a small thing to ask, but when posting your story, even if you’re using more than one prompt, please post the prompt as well for that sense of connection.

PHOTO PROMPT – © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 99

CROSSFADE

Ornate chandeliers bathed Vienna’s Burgtheater stage with light. A young actor took a final bow and his father cheered, “Bravo!”

Afterwards in his dressing room Johann pleaded, “Bitte, Papa, come with me to America.”

“Soon, Johann.” Papa tied a scarf around Johann’s neck. “Soon.”

***

Had Papa perished in Mauthausen-Gusen, Buchenwald or Auschwitz?

Johann fingered the remains of the threadbare scarf in his pocket. What would Papa make of him now; an orphaned Jew in a Wehrmacht uniform standing in front of television cameras repeating the catchphrase he had heard for twenty years of searching, “I see nothing! Nothing!”

.

12 June 2015

Published June 10, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. Some of you may remember it from long ago.

PHOTO PROMPT -© Raina Ng

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Summer reruns are upon us. As I will be somewhat out of commission this week to have a physical inconvenience taken care of I’m falling back on one of those prompts from my first year in Friday Fictioneers. I’ve updated it a bit to make it one hundred words exactly. You can find the original post here. I will try to make the rounds but, at this time, make no promises.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

THE GIRL MOST LIKELY

Coffee and baking cookie aromas filled Gail’s kitchen. She wiped dust from a dog-eared yearbook, set it on the table, smiled at her high school chum and said, “I’m so glad we found each other.”

“We were darling, weren’t we?” Brenda flipped through the faded pages. “You’ve done well for yourself, Miss Homecoming Queen. Nice home. Handsome husband. I’m so jealous.”

“Thirty-seven glorious years next month.”

“Amazing.” Brenda pointed to a picture of a moon-faced boy with horn-rimmed glasses and buck teeth. “Hey remember him? What a geek! I wonder what ever happened to the little twerp.”

“I married him.”

5 June 2015

Published June 3, 2015 by rochellewisoff

OH, ELMO, YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN!

DOMINIC RILIAN PENDERGAST

Born Sunday, 31 May 2015 at 6:04 a.m.

Congratulations to parents Jennifer (elmowrites) and Jon and big brother Sebastian!

The following photo is the prompt. Does it tell you a story? Tell me in a hundred words or less.

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

SEA CHANGE

“You’ve changed,” said Dwight.

“You haven’t,” said Elise.

“Where’s the sweet girl I married?”

“Don’t you mean chained, bullied and nearly drowned?” She hefted the last of her suitcases into the car.

“What about the children?”

“They’re adults.”

“What will you do?”

***

Thousands of miles from Iowa, Elise reeled under the impact of the relentless waves that crashed into the rocks along the shore. She peeled off her wet garments and dove into the swell. Water rushed over her naked body, flooding her with a new sense of freedom. She surfaced and inhaled the salt-laden air.

“I will swim!”

29 May 2015

Published May 27, 2015 by rochellewisoff

The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What does it say to you? I dare you to look beyond the subject. I double dare you!

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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 100

HAFIZ WAS RIGHT

“Mommy,” cried Elise, “there’s a monster under my bed and a dragon in my closet.”

“You’re letting your imagination run away with you,” she heard her mother’s voice say. “Relax and close your eyes.”

“I’m afraid.” Like a child Elise pulled the covers over her head, but demons fomented rumors in her head. Her mind was awash in confusion and pain until finally she drifted off into a fitful, sweat-soaked, nightmare-riddled sleep.

When morning came, she rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She stared at her tired reflection and muttered, “I’ve got to find a better job.”

***

FIND A BETTER JOB

Now

That

All your worry

Has proved such an

Unlucrative

Business,

Why

Not

Find a better

Job.

~~HAFIZ

Character Study – Nikolai Derevenko

Published May 25, 2015 by rochellewisoff

“I hope Ulrich and that doctor person like chicken sandwiches.” She [Havah] limped to the icebox and pulled out a plate of leftover chicken.

After she set the plate on the table she searched the many drawers for a knife. Before she could cut into the crusty bread on the counter, a masculine hand reached around her and took the knife. “Allow me. You’re liable to slice off your fingers.”

“Must you always be so rude?” She whirled around and glared at Dr. Nikolai.

With surgical precision he cut the bread into even slices and stacked them on a platter. He peered at her over his spectacles with one raised eyebrow. “Or so gentile?”

~~Taken from Please Say Kaddish for Me by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

W & B Publishers

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency

Havah dislikes the dispassionate Russian, Dr. Nikolai Derevenko, Ulrich’s housemate. Nikolai returns her feelings and makes it clear to her that he has little patience for most people, women in particular.

As the story unfolds she learns that he’s an accomplished flautist who chose medicine over music and his aloof demeanor masks the grieving heart of a father who’s lost his only child.

In Dr. Nikolai Havah will find a true friend and champion.

Available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk in Kindle or Paperback