Interview: Meet Author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Published March 18, 2017 by rochellewisoff

I had great fun this past week interviewing with fellow author Sarah Potter. The magic of the internet and Skype certainly shorten the distance between us. What interesting times we live in. Thank you, Sarah!

Sarah Potter Writes

I’m thrilled to welcome author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields to my blog for a second time, on this happy occasion to interview her about her writing. For those of you who missed her guest storyteller post back in November of last year, here’s a recap of her biography.

Kansas City native Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is a woman of Jewish descent and the granddaughter of Eastern European immigrants. She has a close personal connection to Jewish history, which has been a recurring theme throughout much of her writing. Growing up, she was heavily influenced by the Sholom Aleichem stories, the basis for Fiddler on the Roof. Her novels Please Say Kaddish for Me, From Silt and Ashes and As One Must, One Can were born of her desire to share the darker side of these beloved tales—the history that can be difficult to view, much less embrace.

She is also the author…

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It Must be the Shoes

Published October 11, 2016 by rochellewisoff

At the Ozarks Writers League conference in August, I left my purple high-top Converse sneakers at home, opting for sandals instead. How was I supposed to know my agent, who was a speaker that weekend, had told an editor about my colorful shoes?

“You have to wear those shoes,” said Jeanie , with her sweet Southern drawl. “They’re your trademark.”

With Jeanie Loiacono

There’s no denying it. Those tennies are a conversation starter and comfortable to boot. In that vein I solemnly promised to wear them to all conferences and book signings.

September 17 I wore them to my class reunion where I was encouraged to set up a book table. Not only did I enjoy connecting with old friends, ten of them bought books.

Can you spot me? My shoes?

Back in the day.

The following week I had a book table at the Heritage Festival in Independence, Missouri. I enjoyed meeting people of different ethnicities. However, it turned out to be a very hot day with not-so-hot attendance.

Last Friday night we went to an art fair to watch a good friend of ours perform. While listening to Br. John Anderson and his accompanist, Rick Cole, I perused handmade jewelry in a nearby booth.

With Br. John Anderson

The gentleman minding the shop for his wife asked about my attire which, of course, included my purple footwear. “I’m interested in how people dress for art fares,” he said. “Is this how you dress for them?”

I explained that I was also an artist and an author. “This is pretty much how I dress most of the time.”

“Really? What do you write?”

“Historical fiction.”

“Can I find them on Amazon?”

“I have two in my bag.” I grinned and whipped out a copy of Please Say Kaddish for Me and one of From Silt and Ashes. “They’re first and second in a trilogy.”

He handed me a twenty-dollar bill and had me sign Please Say Kaddish for Me to him and his wife.

I’ve learned three important lessons this past year: Keep books on hand, keep the Square in my purse to take credit cards and always wear the shoes!

Once Upon A Time

Published August 4, 2016 by rochellewisoff

Twelve years ago I began a journey. I really had no idea where it would lead, I simply put one foot in front of the other and wrote. PLEASE SAY KADDISH FOR ME began as an exploration of my own Eastern European background and Polish roots. I quickly detoured and ended up in Kishinev, Moldova, the scene of the first internationally recognized pogrom. This is where I met Havah who took my hand and told me her story.

When our journey began, I had a dream and rudimentary knowledge of how to put my thoughts into words. Along the pathway I had the good fortune of meeting those who guided me to workshops, conferences and critique groups to learn the craft.

When I think of those who wrote their manuscripts in longhand or on a typewriter, I’m grateful for the such wonderful tools as backspace and copy and paste. Without which my novels might never have happened.

My paternal grandmother, Miriam Reuben Wisoff who was a published poet.

Wonder of wonders, the dream that I considered a lofty one has been realized and I have two novels in print and one on the way. Many thanks go out to my agent, Jeanie Loiaconao who believed in Havah and worked hard to find a home for her at Argus Books.

So begins the next leg of the journey. Marketing. Book Signings, interviews and social media are all part of the modern world of marketing. The author must become the promoter.

Having said all that, I come to conclusion of this blog post. One thing that sells a book is a great review. Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and Amazon are good places. Currently PLEASE SAY KADDISH has 48 reviews on Amazon and FROM SILT AND ASHES, 9.

If you’ve read and enjoyed (naturally I hope for positive reviews) please consider taking a few minutes to leave a review. This author humbly thanks you in advance.

Note: For overseas friends, please copy your comments into Amazon.com in addition to leaving them on the UK or other sites. I’m not sure why this doesn’t carry over. I think it should.