20 Aug Ann Koffsky, PING PONG SHABBAT and a GIVEAWAY!

EL: Today we have a repeat customer, and I couldn’t be happier.  Please help me welcome Ann Koffsky back to Writing Outside the Lines. Her latest story resonates with me on several levels. We read many stories about “Girl Power” and many stories about people having to make hard decisions. But this fabulous true story combines both of these things. Estee Ackerman loved playing ping pong. She loved to win, and she won a lot! But she also loved the Jewish Sabbath–Shabbat, a day of rest.  Eleven-year-old Estee was so good at ping pong that she had a chance to win a Gold Medal. That doesn’t happen every day! But the game was scheduled for Shabbat, a holy day. Estee had to make a decision. Ann Koffsky’s words and Abigail Rajanov’s beautiful illustrations, bring the reader into the excitement of both the game and Estee’s mind when she faces this dilemma. 

Welcome back, Ann! Please tell us your inspiration for Ping Pong Shabbat.

AK: The inspiration for this book is Estee Ackerman herself! Estee lives in my neighborhood, and her story was just so remarkable. An 11-year old who chose Shabbat over a gold medal match?? I mean c’mon! That story writes itself. I knew it had to be a book!

EL: You are known for both writing and illustrating. How do you decide which books you will illustrate and which books you will only write?

AK: Sometimes, I just KNOW that the story that I’ve written is not the perfect match for my illustration style. Like, my art is often cute; but sometimes I’ll write a serious book that requires a more serious look. Other times, I’ll want to illustrate the book…but the publisher has a different vision for it, and they choose to go with someone else. That’s what happened in this case. I would have loved to illustrate Estee, but the editor wanted to go with Abigail. And I have to say, I couldn’t be happier with what she did with it. Her work is so energetic and really captures the athleticism and power.

EL: Do you have a writing group? How do they help you?

AK: I am a part of two amazing writing groups, and they are both essential to helping this manuscript get into shape. I would share it with them, they’d give me feedback, I’d revise then again and again… almost like a game of ping pong! Back and forth, back and forth until it was as strong as it could be.

EL: Ha! That’s a perfect analogy! What do you do when the words won’t come?

AK: The words I can make come when I need to. It’s what do I do when new IDEAS don’t come? Then my routine seems to be: Complain to my friends. Whine to my husband. Go for a walk. Eat too much ice cream. Wonder if I’ll never think of a new idea ever again. Rinse and repeat. Then sometimes, just when I least expect it…the idea will show up.

EL: That’s pretty great! Do you have anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

AK: The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Ping-Pong-Shabbat-Story-Champion-Ackerman-ebook/dp/B0CV21L72Z

Sign up for Ann’s Jewish coloring page substack here: https://coloringjewish.substack.com/

Follow Ann on instagram : https://www.instagram.com/stories/annkoffsky/

EL: Thanks so much for coming today, Ann! Now comes the fun part.

Ann is happy to give away a 15-minute Ask Me Anything call. I can tell you from personal experience, you’ll learn a lot from this lady! 

 As always, to get into the running, just comment on this post and let me know if you are a subscriber or if you shared the post to get an extra chance to win.

Until next time,

Ellen

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

On a personal note, I’d love you to check out some of my books here. They are also available wherever books are sold. THANK YOU! 

DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY

https://bookshop.org/p/books/debbie-s-song-ellen-leventhal/18680277?ean=9781728443027

A FLOOD OF KINDNESS

https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-flood-of-kindness-ellen-leventhal/15150623?ean=9781546034582