Lighting the Flames: A Hanukkah Story

Lighting the Flames  - a close up of a couple wearing sweaters and knit gloves holding hands against a mountain backdrop As I mentioned in Podcast 119, I have a rule that if I complain about something twice, I either have to do something about it, or shut up already. And as you’ve probably noticed, every year, I get irritated with the lack of holiday romances that are about a holiday other than Christmas. I wanted to read more Hanukkah romances.

So, I wrote one. And since tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, here it is!

Lighting the Flames is a contemporary Hanukkah romance.  It takes place at a Jewish summer sleepaway camp, but in winter — right now, in fact: during Hanukkah 2014.

Here’s the cover copy:

Genevieve and Jeremy have known each other since they were seven, and have been summertime best friends at Camp Meira, a Jewish overnight camp in the mountains. As campers, and then as staff, their friendship was a constant, something neither wanted to change, no matter how tempting those changes might be.

Then, last year, with little warning, Jeremy left camp early. After that summer, Gen left the country on a graduate fellowship.

Now, a little over a year since they were last at Meira, Gen and Jeremy are back together to help run  a special Winter Camp during Hanukkah. Any water under the bridge is frozen this time of year, and with so much left unspoken and unexplained, this week may be their chance to rekindle their friendship, or turn it into something new.

This story was edited by Angela James, and copyedited by Sara Brady. The cover was designed by me and by Mollie Smith. It’s a little over 51,000 words, or about 150-or-so pages, so it’s slightly long for a novella. Maybe it’s a novellllllllllla.

I’m self publishing it as a kind of holiday gift to anyone who has felt like I have, and for anyone who might like to read a Hanukkah romance.

Right now it’s available from the following vendors: Apple iBookstore, Google Play, Smashwords, Kobo, and on ScribdETA: it’s also available on AllRomance and BN, too! It’s lendable, and should be DRM-free where that’s possible.

I had a lot of fun writing this, as much as it was a challenge for me. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have.

Happy Hanukkah!

Comments are Closed

  1. cookiemonger says:

    Read it and reviewed on Goodreads! I absolutely loved it. Just about plotzed when I saw it this morning.

  2. Elizabeth says:

    Thanks so much for writing this!! Happy Hanukkah!! I just lit my candles, had latkes, and plan on reading this tonight!!

  3. Sharon says:

    Ordered through amazon.ca so that the American Jewish World Service benefits. Darkness into light – anger into compassion – hatred into love.

    Chanukah Sameach to you and your family.

  4. Dot says:

    Thank you, Sarah!

  5. LeeF says:

    Such cool chicks! I bought my copy from Amazon so donate away.

  6. Lijell says:

    My daughter-in-law, whose name is Meira, met my son when his friend from many years at Jewish summer camp introduced him to her graduate school classmate. It was love at first sight. How could I not send her this special Hanukkah gift?

  7. sarita says:

    Amazoned it cuz of laziness. I mean charity. Looks fun!

  8. Wendy says:

    Yay! I can’t wait to read this, even though I’m not Jewish and have only a nodding acquaintance with the local Jewish sleepaway camp!

    And, because I know you like Hanukkah and videos on Friday, here’s one I stumbled across today that I think might entertain. (Scroll down through the story, and enjoy!)
    http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/stargazing/article4446079.html

  9. SB Sarah says:

    @Liljell:

    My daughter-in-law, whose name is Meira, met my son when his friend from many years at Jewish summer camp introduced him to her graduate school classmate. It was love at first sight. How could I not send her this special Hanukkah gift?

    Holy. Crap. That is amazing! I really hope she likes it. I have chills just reading your comment.

    Thank you for buying and downloading and spreading the word and reviewing. It’s an incredible pleasure to know that so many people are as excited for Hanukkah romances as I am. I’m really honored. Thank you.

  10. library addict says:

    Got my copy and started it yesterday. Yay!

  11. laj says:

    Thanks Sarah….all my pals are getting this for Hanukkah.

    as chacha1 says “clickety-click and mazel tov” (just love that!)

  12. Karen says:

    I am in tears after finishing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am a Catholic who never went to summer camp, but I have lost my parents and stood with my husband, lighting candles and reciting prayers in their memory. Your story has touched me deeply.

  13. Anony Miss says:

    Mazal tov from Israel!! So exciting, and I remember you kvetching about a lack of Chanuka romances. If everyone in the world had the “if kvetch twice, then do something or shut up” rule it would be a massively better place.

    Ordered on Amazon, thanks for the tzedaka opp.

  14. Donna A says:

    I absolutely adored this story and thank you for sharing it with us.

  15. SB Sarah says:

    @Donna:

    Thank you so much!!

  16. SB Sarah says:

    @Anony Miss:

    Toda raba v’chag sameach!

  17. SB Sarah says:

    @Karen:

    Oh, gracious, your comment made me cry, too. Thank you, and many warm memories to you and yours this holiday season.

  18. Jodi says:

    And Amazon’s US site has dropped it to $0.00 if you wanted to check this out but had qualms about even $0.99 during the spendiest time of the year!

  19. Clickety-click and Mazel Tov from me, too! Here’s to a happy Hanukkah for all!

  20. Mazel Tov on the new book, and happy Hanukkah! (I have yet to light candles. Sigh.)

    I was thinking the other day that we needed a Hanukkah romance or two, myself. You can have a lot of fun with the 8-day idea. And yes, I’ve added the idea to my long list of ideas, if I ever have time to write again.

  21. Mara says:

    The BN link is broken. 🙁 pasting working link (hopefully) below.

    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lighting-the-flames-sarah-wendell/1120908232?ean=2940046464979

  22. SB Sarah says:

    Dangnabbit. Thank you – all fixed!

  23. Sarah,

    Thank you for this book. I don’t know how to write a review of this that would be meaningful to anyone who is not Jewish and has not either attended “Jew Camp” or has been involved in lay leadership in the Jewish community.

    Though I am of an age that the main characters of this book could be my grandchildren, it still resinated loudly for me. 25 years of employment in the San Francisco Jewish community, many years of lay leadership in a very unique synagogue (first recognized LGBTQ congregation had to be created in SF) and my own child’s many years at the incredible Camp Swig gives me clear memories of even the winter camp experience, In addition my closest and dearest Jewish mentor spent her lifetime as the year round administrator of Camp Swig.

    Snow, heat, bugs, torrential downpours, and even earthquakes are part of the experience. Oh yes I felt for Scott having to check in on Jer and Gen in the living room. Ah, keeping an eye on the teens in their lounge and the unique problem of explaining to Lesbian parents why Hetero parents don’t want their boys and girls sleeping together. You’ve done a fabulous job of providing an incredible vision of the experience of not only the campers and counselors but that of the Jewish Community workers and the board members who effect their lives with their own take on things.

    Your discussion of the funeral traditions and requirements was so well done. As one from a congregation who lost 10-20% of the membership to AIDS over the the past several decades it brought back many memories (good ones of a community that pulled together for each other).

    Thank you so much for providing a break from all those romances that seem to always end up with a Christian scene, be it church or Easter dinner or Christmas celebrations.

    I have found a few other books with jewish characters,specifically Allison Parr’s Rush Me and Imaginary Lines. I would love for you to do either a blog entry or podcast that would provide other Judaic connected contemporary romances.

    And just a follow up to my previous email to you. I was able to find where your blog emails had fallen thru the cracks and have been able to pick up all the knitting instructions I missed, hubby is finally out of the hospital, he’s weak but at least they saved his life.

    Please keep doing what you’re doing it it brightens my days.

  24. SB Sarah says:

    @Trudi:

    I’m so glad to hear your husband is out the hospital. I hope he makes a full recovery and you find only excellent things to read and watch while he heals! And thank you so, so much for this comment and review. It means so much to know that the things I tried to depict resonated with you. While I don’t have as much experience with Jewish communal work, the years I did work for various non-profits left quite an impression – and I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. Thank you.

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