After closing my laboratory in 2009 after fifty years of research on gene expression and evolution of the eye, I turned my attention to writing and finishing my novel, Jellyfish Have Eyes (IPBooks, 2014). I had taken workshops in fiction at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, written short stories and started the novel more than [...]
Join Joram at the newly renovated Kensington, MD, library on June 16, 7-8 p.m., as he reads from his first novel, Jellyfish Have Eyes. About Jellyfish Have Eyes: It’s the year 2047. Deep in the mangrove swamps of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Sztein, an acclaimed government scientist, makes a breakthrough discovery: Jellyfish possess an astounding visual memory, even [...]
Ricardo, the protagonist in my novel Jellyfish Have Eyes speculated that jellyfish are smarter than we think, that they have a brain of sorts, and that they interact in jellyfish lingo that we don’t understand - gibberish talk. Jellyfish may be a bit extreme, but I think Ricardo makes his point: don’t be too sure that [...]
Here I blend evolution with Inuit art and shamans, unlikely cousins. Inuit sculptures hooked me the first time I saw them. Inuit artists live in the Arctic of central and east Canada. Although Inuit art is a known form of ethnic art, few appreciate its beauty, originality and significance. I happened upon it 25 years [...]
Wednesday evening I went to hear Jeffrey Goldberg speak about his much-publicized article, “The Obama Doctrine,” published in the April issue of The Atlantic. The historic Sixth and I synagogue in Washington was filled to capacity. James Bennet, editor of the magazine, questioned Goldberg about his extensive interviews of President Obama. Goldberg explained that his objective was [...]
Last night I attended the final of three excellent workshops at The Writer’s Center led by Zahara Heckscher on obtaining agents for publishing fiction and memoir. Jeff Kleinman, an agent at Folio Literary Management, was kind enough to call in and give us an informal snapshot of what agents are looking for. There are a [...]
