A unique compilation of Jewish-themed noir stories, this collection holds a special place in my heart in that the editor chose to publish “Yahrzeit Candle,” which is the very first short story I ever wrote, over thirty years ago, immediately after my father died. It tells the tale of a young boy named Joshua who comes home from school one day to find his father sitting in front of a large candle, alone, seemingly in a trance. Over the course of seven days Joshua sees his father deteriorate in the presence of the candle until Joshua ultimately decides to destroy it. It is the story of fathers and sons and the passing of one generation to the next.
“Yahrzeit Candle” was deemed by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel as “Shining, evocative and penetrating.” To get a better look at how the story came to be published, please read my short essay “How to Publish Your Short Story in Thirty Years or Less” published in The Rumpus, linked to my website’s home page.
