All Student Success Letters

Paul Kaplan

Dear Gotham,
 
I have taken several classes with Gotham Writers Workshop over the years— Nonfiction 101, How to Blog, Hit Send: Publishing Short Nonfiction, and the Poetry one-day.
 
I am happy to report that a nonfiction idea that I developed partially at Gotham has been published by Pelican Publishing, the largest independent publisher in the south. The book is entitled Jewish New York: A History and Guide to Neighborhoods, Synagogues and Eateries. It’s cross-genre: part history book, part travel guide, and part journalistic narrative with primary quotes from curators, historians, shop owners and more. The book has 8 new maps and 30 vintage and contemporary photos.
 
There has been much interest among venues for me to speak on the book. The Museum at Eldridge Street is co-sponsoring a launch party with the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy.  The New York Public Library at Bryant Park is having me deliver an hour presentation, which may be filmed on C-SPAN Books. I am also speaking at the Upper West Side’s Jewish Community Center. Future engagements may include the Tenement Museum and signings at Barnes & Noble, Strand and local bookstores. Many periodicals are expressing interest in reviewing the book, and I have been asked to speak on upcoming panels on writing and getting published, as well as in college classrooms on the book’s content of cultural history.
 
I have fit writing and the promotion of the books in with a full-time job as a Director of Digital Marketing and Thought Leadership. I have also bridged the two worlds—doing a book signing at work and presenting at a panel on a work-related topic at a conference. The conference organizer purchased 25 copies and gave them away at the conference to interesting attendees. He even let me speak about the book at the end of the panel.
 
In the meantime, I am studying Children’s Book Writing at Gotham. Perhaps, I can mold some of the content I researched into a children’s book or through a children’s story.
 
Best,
 
Paul Kaplan
paulkaplanauthor.com