Author Interview – Henry Herz & Jonathan Rosen

Today I am fortunate enough to interview authors that are ALSO editors! Jonathan Rosen and Henry Herz c0-edited the forthcoming anthology, Coming of Age – 13 B’nai Mitzvah Stories which is scheduled to release April 19, 2022. My review of the anthology will drop next week, right on this blog, but for now let’s have a chat with the editors.

BookishlyJewish: It is so wonderful to see an anthology on this beloved Jewish topic. Can you talk a little about the inspiration for the anthology and how it became a reality?

Jonathan Rosen: The inspiration was just basically a desire to see more Jewish stories. There seemed to be a lack of inclusion for Jewish-centric stories, and it would be nice for Jewish kids to see themselves or others like them in print. Thankfully, when the subject was broached to other Jewish authors, the vast majority of them agreed to sign on, pretty much for the same reason. They also felt the need for increased Jewish representation in kidlit. 

BookishlyJewish: Rumor has it some of the proceeds are going to charity. Is this true?

Jonathan Rosen: Yes, it’s definitely true. That was one of the main goals going in, to donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations that actively fight antisemitism. There is an organization already picked out, and hopefully, it will be official soon enough.

BookishlyJewish: How did you celebrate your own 13th birthday? Did that experience play into your contribution to the anthology?

Henry Herz: I had a run-of-the-mill 13th birthday party and a traditional Conservative bar mitzvah. I know, I was such a maverick. Although I was mortified at the thought of singing in public, it all worked out fine. This vanilla experience made absolutely NO impact on my story in the anthology, which portrays an alien on Planet Latke choosing a mitzvah project to impress his crush, and learning an important lesson in the process. The story also has fun Yiddish terms and a few winks at the Seinfeld TV series. So, yeah. Nothing like my real life.

Jonathan Rosen: I had my Bar-Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Israel. We were living there at the time, and I remember thinking about all the multitudes of similar experiences that had taken place there before mine. It really impacted me. While my story doesn’t take from that experience, the feeling of respecting what came before definitely did.

BookishlyJewish: Who are the ideal readers for the anthology and what are you hoping they take away from the reading experience?

Jonathan Rosen: The ideal reader is anyone. There are so many different types of stories in the anthology, in different genres, that there will be something for everyone. Will also be nice for Jewish kids to read about Jewish themes. And, while I know it probably won’t be automatically picked up by non-Jewish kids, there is a hope that if even some do, they can see that Jewish kids aren’t that different, and perhaps, create a better understanding and closeness.

BookishlyJewish: Does one have to be Jewish to enjoy the stories?

Henry Herz: Definitely not. These are stories anyone can appreciate. While Jewish readers may smile at terms and traditions with fond memory, it is important for non-Jews to see that struggling through adolescence and family dynamics are the same for all people. We also hope that these stories will build bridges, and perhaps when Jews aren’t “othered,” they’ll suffer less antisemitism.

BookishlyJewish: What was it like editing stories from so many different Jewish backgrounds?

Henry Herz: It was a ton of fun. And I was surprised that three of the thirteen stories were science fiction. I did not see that coming. The topics, themes, and writing styles vary considerably, but are all lovely. And isn’t that the point of an anthology. I felt a little bit of the imposter syndrome co-editing an anthology featuring Jane Yolen and two New York Times bestselling authors.

BookishlyJewish: Any advice for the aspiring Jewish teen writers that are reading this interview?

Henry Herz: To improve your writing craft, read a lot and write a lot. Find others who will give you candid and helpful critiques of your writing. Whether or not your work ever gets published, writing is fun. It’s a wonderful form of self-expression and promotes creativity and communications skills, which will be helpful throughout your life.

Jonathan Rosen: I’ll echo Henry’s advice. You really need to read and write a lot. Especially in the genres that you like to write. And write whenever you can. Doesn’t matter if the first times you try, it’s not good. That’s what revision is for. But first, you want to get those words on paper, and let your creativity flow. Most importantly, don’t let anyone discourage you or tell you that you’re not good. Everything is subjective. You keep going. That’s the only way to get better, and don’t let anyone deprive you of something that you enjoy doing.  

BookishlyJewish: Do you have a favorite Jewish book?

Henry Herz: Exodus. On a more serious note, being asked to pick a favorite book is a Sophie’s Choice. Honestly, I don’t know how to have a favorite book. Each book has its own strengths and appeal. Read them all!

Jonathan Rosen: There are a few Jewish-themed books that I have read and reread many times, but the one that instantly comes to mind is The Chosen by Chaim Potok. I loved that book, as well as the movie adaptation. It was a book that I read when I was still a kid, and it stayed with me.

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