Sara Goodman Confino

bestselling author

Sara Goodman Confino is the bestselling author of seven novels: Off the Record, Don’t Forget to Write, Good Grief, Behind Every Good Man, She’s Up to No Good, For the Love of Friends, and the upcoming It's a Shore Thing. 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 of the crazy stories in her head. 

Heidi Shertok

head of community engagement, jewish joy llc

Heidi Shertok is the internationally published author of Orthodox Jewish rom coms. She hikes in heels, prefers beer over wine, and owns a psychopathic Bernedoodle who transformed her once-beautiful garden into a serial killer’s paradise. Her debut novel, Unorthodox Love, is a critically acclaimed and publisher-recognized bestseller praised by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. 

Isaac Rudansky

Founder, adventure media group

Isaac Rudansky is the founder of AdVenture Media Group, an award-winning digital advertising agency. As an author, Isaac’s debut middle-grade fantasy, Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot, was published in February 2025. It then earned a major three‑book, 6-figure deal with Penguin Random House. The novel achieved bestseller status, garnered praise from JK Rowling’s agent Neil Blair, and has sparked anticipation for its sequels.

Jacky Klein

publisher and author

Jacky Klein is a publisher and writer. After working as a curator at the Tate, Courtauld and Hayward galleries in London, in 2008 she moved sideways into art book publishing. Her most recent piece of writing – on her experiences on and after 7 October in Israel – was published in Jewish Realities after 7 October (werkraum Berlin, 2025). Currently based in London, she is in the midst of setting up a new publishing imprint focused on Jewish and Israeli voices, due to launch in 2026.

Micah Siva

Award winning cookbook author

Micah Siva is an award-winning cookbook author, trained chef, and registered dietitian specializing in plant-based cooking and modern Jewish cuisine. She is also a vegetarian, recipe writer and food photographer. Through her book, Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine, and her Nosh with Micah blog, Micah shares Jewish-inspired, plant-forward recipes. She also wrote a children’s book with her husband about counting Jewish foods.

Aviva Gat

israeli-american author

Aviva is an American-Israeli author with four children who are six years apart. When she isn’t stepping on toys or cooking food that her oversized German shepherd will eat once the kids throw it on the floor, she writes. So far, she has written 11 Amazon best sellers, including We Will Dance Again and Girl Meets Goy.

Howard Lovy

editor-in-Chief, canary publishing

Howard Lovy is Editor-in-Chief of Canary Publishing, which gives a home to Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist authors who have been dropped or sidelined by the mainstream book industry. He is also a developmental editor who specializes in Jewish manuscripts. A longtime journalist, his work has appeared in JTA, The Jewish Daily Forward, The Algemeiner, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other Jewish and mainstream publications.

Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen

Host, Five Books Podcast

Tali Rosenblatt-Cohen is the host of The Five Books Podcast. She has toggled between the publishing world and Jewish communal life. After graduating from Barnard College, she was co-director of the Jewish student group, Lights-in-Action, and then worked as a literary agent for nearly ten years. She has taught writing classes for Gotham Writer’s Workshop and written reviews for Kirkus. Her writing has been published by New York Family Magazine, The New York Jewish Week, The Forward and others.

Shira Nayman

Award-winning author and writing teacher

Shira Nayman is an award-winning author, creative writing teacher and psychologist living in New York. She is the author of multiple novels and short story collections, and a memoir titled "Shoreline." She has published fiction and memoir in a variety of literary journals and newspapers. The winner of several grants from the likes of the the Hadassah Brandeis Institute and the Australia Council for the Arts Literary Board, Nayman explores themes of intergenerational Jewish trauma in her many works.

Suzy Ultman

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Suzy Ultman is a creative visionary whose work encompasses books, toys, games, stationery, and home goods — each infused with her signature blend of whimsy, color, and heartfelt storytelling. She’s an award-winning author/illustrator of 18 children’s books that create space for nurturing connection, identity, community, and imagination for young and old alike. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: Make Time for Play. When Suzy isn’t in her studio doodling on Post-Its, writing stories, or tinkering with toys, she can be found bending in yoga class, finding treasures at flea markets, and communing with nature.

Meg Keene

Head of fiction, wicked son

Meg Keene is head of fiction at Wicked Son, where she recently launched Meg Keene Books, its newest imprint. Keene spent fifteen years as founder and editor-in-chief of A Practical Wedding, growing it from a kitchen-table blog into a self-funded seven-figure media company and the largest independently owned wedding publication in the English language. She is the bestselling author of A Practical Wedding (Hachette, 2011) and A Practical Wedding Planner (Hachette, 2015), and her writing and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic.

Emily Barth Isler

Award-winning middle grade & picture book author

Emily Barth Isler is the award-winning author of middle grade novels AfterMath and The Color of Sound, and picture books Three Pieces of Broken Glass and Always Enough Love Another picture book, The Hand-Me-Down-Queen, is scheduled for 2028. Emily is a co-founder of the Burbank Book Festival, created to bring authors and readers together and to make diverse and inclusive stories accessible to all. A passionate advocate for gun control in America, Emily has also written extensively on the topic for publications like Publisher's Weekly and Kveller.com.

Rachel Caplin

BESTselling historical fiction author

Rachel Caplin is a bestselling historical fiction author. Her debut novel, The Spoon and the Sea, was a finalist for the Vogel Literary Award. Born and raised in Australia, Rachel moved to Israel eleven years ago and works as a marketing executive in the technology sector. She and her husband live in Raanana with their four young daughters. Her second novel is underway.



Amy Albertson

jewish advocate & educator

Amy Albertson is a Jewish advocate, educator, and content creator from California who is proudly and loudly uplifting Jewish diversity, reclaiming Zionism and fighting antisemitism through social media content, public speaking, consulting, and more. Her goal is to actively support Jews—wherever they are on their path—to feel a stronger sense of belonging and pride in their Jewish identity. Amy is the recipient of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) Warrior for Israel Award and was named as one of Hadassah Magazine's "18 American Zionist Women You Should Know" in 2023. 

Molly Tolsky

editorial director, culture & lifestyle, 70 faces media

Molly Tolsky is the Editorial Director of Culture & Lifestyle at 70 Faces Media, where she leads Kveller, Hey Alma and The Nosher, and serves as the go-to resource for all things culture and lifestyle across the organization. In this role, Molly shapes editorial vision, foster cross-brand collaboration and uncover opportunities for new growth. She’s passionate about building vibrant, inclusive online communities that help Jewish people connect with one another and discover sources of joy and meaning — no matter where they live or how they define their identity.

12pm ET

The Growth of Jewish Publishing Avenues

New Jewish publishing houses are launching across the globe. Hear from the publishers and other experts in the newest ways to get your work out into the world.

1pm ET

Beyond the Novel - How Tos, Cookbooks, Kid Lit and More

The publishing industry isn't just novels, understand the market potential of children's literature, practical how-to guides, cookbooks, and specialized non-fiction genres.

2pm ET

How To Write a Query Letter

Gain insider insight into what Jewish publishers and literary agents are searching for today, and learn how to craft tailored, standout queries that get your manuscript noticed.

2pm ET

Introduction to Writing Jewish Memoir

Whether you are beginning to write for the first time or returning to a project in progress, learn craft and historical context to help you find your story — and tell it with honesty, precision and depth.

3pm ET

Writing About Israel and Israeli Characters Today

Learn how to craft authentic, nuanced Israeli characters by exploring modern cultural contexts, distinct voices, and the evolving realities of contemporary Israeli society.

4pm ET

Growing as a Writer with Substacks and Podcasts

Navigate the ultimate chicken-and-egg question of publishing as you learn how to strategically build a loyal audience that catches the attention of agents and secures book deals.

5pm ET

Building an Online Community Around Your Audience

Transform your words into a thriving, engaged movement, gain dedicated readers and foster genuine connections around your work through social media and other online tools.