My first novel - The Lonely Tree - tells the story of Tonia Shulman, a young woman whose parents are strongly commited to the religious Zionist movment and have taken her to live on Kfar Etzion, an isolated kibbutz. Tonia believes that attempts to establish a Jewish State are not only doomed to fail, but will bring catastrophe upon her family and the entire Jewish people. Neither can she accept their Socialist ideology. She is determined to seek a different life as soon as she is old enough, even though that means denying her love for Amos Amrani. The novel takes place in chaotic British Mandate Palestine, the early State of Israel, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Lonely Tree will soon be pub lished by Holland Park Press of London and will be available in bookstores this fall.
I am currently working on a new novel – Olivia’s Book - set in Michigan and Pennsylvania in the 1840s. Olivia Killian is determined to seek financial independence, with the help of her childhood friend, Mouring Free, the orphaned son of runaway slaves. The tragic events that happened back then are affecting the lives of Charlene and Reeves DiMarco in present-day Michigan.
I have also translated a number of stories and books from Hebrew into English.
I am a former American who has been living in Israel since 1973.
Carpal tunnel and ruined eyesight notwithstanding, I wish I had more time to devote to writing, but, alas, I still have a day job.
May 11, 2009 at 12:37 pm |
A friend recommended The Lonely Tree to me. I don’t normally read historical stuff, so I was a little reluctant, but I finally picked it up and had a hard time putting it down. I really loved Tonia and couldn’t wait to find out how things would work out for her. Thanks for a great read. Good luck Yael Politis, I am looking forward to reading your next book. You are a gifted writer, with or without Carpel tunnel!