My debut historical novel, THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS, published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books, goes on sale today, September 8th!

The novel tells the story of my ancestor, the renowned 13th Century Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenberg, who witnessed the burning of the Talmud in Paris in 1242 and defied King Rudolph I at the end of his long life. As my publisher writes: “Imagined through the eyes of Rabbi Meir's wife, Shira, this opulent drama reveals a devout but independent woman who struggles to preserve her religious traditions while remaining true to herself as she and her family witness the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe.”

Praised for its “powerful immediacy” by Publisher’s Weekly, the novel has been called “immensely readable” by Jewish Woman Magazine. RT Book Reviews rated it a Top Pick and said how its ” clean, clear prose clings to the reader's memory long after it's been read, as does her heroine.” And Library Journal called it “a story about the love of learning, the love of family, and the love of religious tradition,” which readers of Maggie Anton’s Rashi’s Daughters trilogy would appreciate.
Read more about THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS on my Web site, http://www.michelle-cameron.com, or on Simon & Schuster’s Web site at http://www.simonandschuster.com.

Michelle Cameron
Follow Michelle on Twitter: @fruit_hands

My August Update is out - the theme of this month's newsletter is "Spread the Word!"