What is the best thing that I love about my work?
What I love most about my work as a writer of historical novels, is doing intensive research before starting to write the book. Because most of my characters are based on real people, I investigate thoroughly the lives they were living. I read every piece of information about them, travel to the places where they lived, and interview people who can add more information. And then I enjoy the following two steps: the writing process and the interaction with readers
What is my idea of happiness?
Happiness at the universal level is peace and harmony among the countries of the world. Happiness on a personal level is the love of the family. There is nothing more precious to me than my children and grandchildren.
What is my greatest fear?
I worry about the grandchildren’s safety.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
My hypersensitivity, I take things to heart.
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?
I love reading Paulina Simmons’ books. She knows how to tell a story. Most of all, I liked reading the Bronze Horseman.
What is my greatest extravagance?
I don’t know the concept of extravagance. Growing up in a family with modest living conditions, I learned to appreciate what I have, and if I have a little more, I will donate and will contribute to those in need.
On what occasion would I lie?
Lying is something I hate. But in life there are excusable situations to use “white falsehoods” so as not to offend others.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
I am not satisfied when the other pursuits of my life take away a considerable chunk of my writing time. I would be happy if I had the privilege of sitting and writing for hours every day, or if the duration of the day was more than 24 hours, and then I would be able to do all the assignments and also be free to do my work.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
I was delighted when I was chosen to represent Israel at the Mexico International Book Fair with my book “The first Mrs. Rothschild” (“El amor de la señora Rothschild”, in Spanish). Visiting in November 2019 at the second largest book fair in the world was an extraordinary experience for me. The intense interviews in the media, the meeting with the audience of fan readers, and the dedications to the copies of my books, took me from the small flowerbed of the State of Israel to the vast park of the world. During the four-year period I spent on an educational mission in Lima, Peru, I learned the Spanish language and was able to communicate in Mexico in the local language, Spanish.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
If I could turn the time back, I would do what I know today to be very important: I would ask more questions of people older than me their age, their life experience, and their wisdom.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
My greatest achievement is that I found self-fulfillment in writing, especially with my first novel, Saltanat’s love, based on the life of my mother in Iran. The book’s success opened the gate to the continuation of literary writing.
.Where would I most like to live?
I love the Land of Israel and my hometown of Kfar Saba and would love to continue living there. Israel is a warm country, quite literally: in terms of the climate (the sun shines almost every month of the year), and in terms of the warm connection between the people. The city of Kfar Saba is an example of mutual engagement and volunteer activity. My husband heads the Volunteer Council in Kfar Saba, which has 120 volunteer organizations, and I help him every day in volunteering.
What is my most treasured possession?
The valuable asset I own is the craving for writing. With all my many pursuits, I am not ready to give up a day without writing, and many times I find the night an opportune time to put this craving into practice.
What is my most marked characteristic?
Want to help people as much as I can. I believe every person has something to contribute to society. If he is aware of the needs of others on the one hand, and, on the other, he is aware of his ability to contribute to something to fulfill one or the other need, the outcome will be a better society based on equality values and mutual assistance.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
I like to walk in the outdoors, in the groves of trees and flowers, in playgrounds where happy children run around. But there is one inspiration for my writing, and this is my study. In my room I cut myself off from all the distracting things and concentrate on the work, the characters, the storyline, and these make me a second family.
What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?
I love sitting with my friends in a cafe. There are cafes in Kfar Saba that provide excellent service, and we try to diversify the meeting places. What matters is friendship. The meetings in cafes in their company is fuel for the body and especially the soul.
What books influenced my life and how?
Charles Dickens’s books influenced me. His novels are characterized by overflowing, twisting and upside-down stories, combined with drama and satire, with irony and humor. But most of all it touched my sensitivity for the poor and the children. He extended his gaze to the weaker populations and the need to help them. Looking back, I see my voluntary activity and that of my husband in our city connected with Dickens’s books.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
“Ahavat neurai” (Love of my youth), by Israeli singer Shalom Hanoch.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
My heroine in fiction is Ruth the Moabite from the Book of Ruth. She is the epitome of love and grace. After her husband’s death, she gives up her wishes and subordinates them to Naomi’s mother-in-law. She leaves her natural place in Moab Field and goes with her to Bethlehem. She later marries one of her dead husband’s associates. She does grace with the living and the dead. Naomi is said to have loved Ruth more than seven sons.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
Her heroine is my mother Saltanat. She who, as a child in Iran, longed to study and did not get permission, and after immigrating to Israel, mother of children, fulfilled their desires and studied literacy. Who came to Israel during a time of austerity and scarcity, worked hard physically to supplement her husband’s meager income and meet the needs of her five children. As someone who did not win a mother’s love as a child gave her full love to her children and supported them at every stage of their lives. Those who could not fulfill their dreams as a child encourage their children to fulfill their dreams.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?
I would recommend “Great Expectations” (1998)
What role plays art in my life and work?
Literary writing is, in my opinion, a balm for the soul. I get to know historical figures and take them on an inner and outer journey. On the factual historical infrastructure, I build the literary strata that complement the picture based on the imagination. It is an experience that gives me the opportunity to live in two worlds at the same time – the reality of the family and the immediate environment, and that of the story.
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?
Every literary work must contain bits of the writer’s life, sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously. When I wrote about a supposedly distant figure, Guttel Rothschild, who lived in the Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt in the 18th century, her life’s artefacts came together in her image. In the process of identifying with the character or the situations in the story, the author supplies qualities, situations, feelings and insights from his or her personal life. So in the collection of a writer’s works you can glean bits of life that can form his characters.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My partner is my husband. We have been in mutual cooperation for many years. When we left for the educational mission in Lima, Peru, we worked as a team in preparing learning materials. Then, together, we wrote the series of information books on Israel. And since I switched to writing novels, he gets to read every novel I finish writing. The book then goes on to be proofread by my children, my brother and sister-in-law.
I am excited to receive many comments from readers. One even went so far as to say that he was willing to sacrifice his life for Sultanath, my mother’s character in the book “Saltanat’s Love”.
Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020?
I would love to have my novel “The first Mrs. Rothschild” that became a bestseller in Israel and has been translated into Spanish (distributed by Random House Lumann) and translated into English and successfully distributed by Amazon, translated into additional languages. I would love to contact publishers in Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, and other countries.
The historical novel takes place in the 18th century and describes the founder of the Rothschild family through the eyes of the founder’s wife.
Which people in my profession who can make a real difference in my creative career would i love to meet in 2020?
Many readers, in reference to the novel “the first Mrs. Rothschild”, repeatedly ask me, when will we see the film? I sincerely hope that by 2020, we will be contacted by a director who wants to take on the script. My dreams is that Natalie Portman, Helen Hunt, Nancy Jane Myers or another filmmaker may find interest in the unbelievable breakthrough of the Rothschilds from a state of poverty in a Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt to a world-wide economic kingdom.
What project, in 2020, am I looking forward to work on?
I am currently working on the next historical novel. I have completed the debriefing phase and am in the midst of writing. I run my double life, the real life and the life with the book, I won a fascinating double life!
Where can you see me or my work in 2020?
I hope the Corona crisis will pass quickly and I can tour the world and give lectures
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
Passion is the driving force of the work. I believe that as soon as passion touches you she will be a permanent companion and will accompany you all the way. Even if she sometimes takes time off to rest, she still has you and doesn’t go anywhere else.
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
I recommend the wonderful painter Ofira Barak. She paints landscape and protracted images, appears in solo and group exhibitions in Israel and around the world. In recent years, acrylic painting has developed in the same way of very thin layers as she used to paint with tempera and oil mixed techniques. Facebook: ofira barak
How can you contact me?
facebook: sara aharoni
The Heroine's Journey 