Book Festival of the MJCCA: Sara Goodman Confino & Jessica Handler

The 35th Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA Presents Sara Goodman Confino & Jessica Handler

Author Talk, Q & A & Book Signing

SARA GOODMAN CONFINO, Off the Record: A Novel

In this funny, thrilling, and strictly undercover romantic comedy by Sara Goodman Confino, the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write, an aspiring newspaper reporter comes across a mystery that threatens to turn the Cold War hot

In 1962, opportunities are typically few for nice Jewish girls clacking away at ninety words per minute in a newspaper typing pool. Except Judy Greenberg isn’t typical. An aspiring reporter in DC, she’s aiming for journalistic greatness―not finding a husband. Just don’t tell her mother.

Then one day she answers her boss’s private line. The message is curiously cryptic. It’s also delivered in a Russian accent. Judy is certain she has stumbled upon a scoop. Charming reporter Jack Fields isn’t one to dismiss Judy’s instincts. Perfect. A seasoned ally she can trust, not to mention pass off as a pretend boyfriend around her relieved parents. Together, they’re following the leads―from a clandestine hotel bar to the dressing room of a slinky Cuban nightclub singer to an exhilarating underground of secrets and spies stretching from Moscow to Havana to Texas.

Now Judy must choose between the safe life expected of her or one hell of a dangerous story that could make her career. She might even fall in love for real. If her ambitions don’t get her killed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Goodman Confino is the bestselling author of six novels: Don’t Forget to Write, Good Grief, Behind Every Good Man, She’s Up to No Good, For the Love of Friends, and Off the Record. After spending more years than she’s willing to publicly admit teaching high school English and journalism, she is currently writing full-time and trying to make a living off the crazy stories in her head. She lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, with her husband, two sons, two miniature schnauzers, and a goldfish that seems to be vying for the world record of longest-living fish.

JESSICA HANDLER, The Word to See: A Novel

High-stakes friendships test four women’s loyalties in this powerfully written, lyrical novel by Atlanta’s own, Jessica Handler. When teenager Nadine Harvey helps her best friend hide a disturbing secret, she’ s also concealing her own deepest truth: she’ll do almost anything to be wanted. Five years and three thousand miles later, Nadine is thrilled when her idol, Celeste— a rock singer known as “the oracle” — befriends her. As Celeste’ s career begins to falter, she launches a bold program encouraging women to speak their truths. Nadine eagerly becomes her business partner, but as their ambitions clash, their alliance starts to unravel. Determined to hide their growing rift, Celeste and Nadine invite their mothers to a high-profile awards gala. When painful histories resurface, each woman must confront how she sees herself— and how the world sees her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Handler’s novel The Magnetic Girl was awarded the 2020 Southern Book Prize. She is the author of the memoir, Invisible Sisters, and the craft guide, Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss. Her writing has appeared on NPR, in Tin House, The Bitter Southerner, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, the Washington Post, Oldster, and elsewhere. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, author Mickey Dubrow.

Books will be available for purchase on the day of the event from our partner bookseller, A Cappella Books!

All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.