It’s been ten years since the publication of The Red Tent, and the publisher has produced a new edition in its honor. Inside, there is an essay I wrote musing about why I wrote it and what it means to me. Outside, there’s a sort of shiny “medal” and the title is in gold foil…

When I was a little girl, growing up in Newark, NJ, the public library had an annual summer reading contest. Who could read the most books! I don’t think there was a prize apart from bragging rights. I tried, but I never won. This summer, I read a good deal and learned a lot —…

I am on vacation, which is to say, I am not living at home for a few weeks. And yet, I am trying to work on my new book and I am answering emails of all sorts, and I’m doing a few bookstore readings in the area… So what allows me to say, “I am…

My 21-year-old daughter, Emilia, is spending the coming year in Costa Rica. She will be working as a dorm advisor in a private school. It’s her version of a “gap year,” a break between college (NYU ’07) and whatever comes next.I am in awe of her spirit of adventure, her willingness to experiment with her…

Walking the dog (a miniature Schnauzer named Buddy) down my tree-lined street, I thought Everyone here has water inside the house. And electricity. And the children all go to school, immunized, dressed, shod. This is the first world. It is safe on this tree-lined street. No one really worries about safety, at least not in…

I’m back in the US, in my home office, a little logy with jet-lag.I’m sorry I didn’t post while in Cape Town, where I spent most of my 10-day sojourn in Africa. But by the time evening fell, I was too tired, overwhelmed by the intensity, beauty, contrasts, experiences of the day.The truth is,I am…

Next week, I’m going to South Africa. I can’t quite believe it, but it’s true. My husband and I will be in Cape Town as the guests of the Jewish community. I will be speaking at various events, seeing the sights, stopping in at an international bookfair, and spending a few days on a game…

Hello out there.I am entering the blogosphere with my daughter, Emilia (21), at my side to guide me.I wrote this book called THE RED TENT, which is probably why you stumbled upon this webdiary. I will be posting about TRT as that vermilion shelter will be ten years old in September — so expect a…