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The close friendship of three Newport women – Carla Perry, Sara Lou Heimlich and Jess Bondy – led to the publication of their first novel, full of adventure and romance, accompanied by real-life delights. Residential challenges.
The three authors of “Jew Girl Adventures: You Can Call Me Andy” have been friends for 20 years. They decided to write a book about the many long, serious and humorous debates they had at the dinner table, but the underlying goal was always to help each other stay sane and have fun during COVID.
“When COVID started, we were able to come together in our isolated bubble,” said Carla Perry, one of the authors of the book. “I wrote a proposal asking if anyone wanted to write a book. I saw it as a way to have more joy in my life.”
“My thought was, ‘Let’s see where it goes,'” said Jess Bondy, another author. “Kara was our inspiration. I never knew I would be involved in the creative process, but it gave me the confidence to do something new.”
“We write primarily to stay awake during COVID,” adds author Sara Heimlich. “We’ll tell each other growth stories.”
“It’s really been a collaborative process,” Bundy said. “This process is new to me. We’ll get together and have fun. We’ll take it slow.”
“It was written by the committee,” Heimlich said.
“We spent months developing the characters before we started writing,” Perry said. They spend months getting to know the characters, and each friend chooses a character and develops its demeanor and personality.
“Once we have a character, they can be put into any structure and we know how they’re going to react,” Perry said, noting that they recorded the dialogue and then transcribed them for the dialogue.
But despite the hard work, the women had fun and that was the focus of their efforts. “The best time is when all of a sudden, something clicks and we all start laughing,” Bundy said.
The book tells the story of three Jewish friends of a “certain age” who visit Maui to save a solar project. Also traveling with them is Andy, a talking German shepherd/sheepdog “secret service” dog inspired by a dog Perry once owned. A pet iguana awaits their return home.
The author weaves a story that begins with a quest for revenge and quickly turns into a fast-paced adventure. On Maui, they meet villainous characters and end up participating in a Jewish commune’s Purim celebrations and spotting the seat of a solar investment group. It’s full of shenanigans, romance, and lasting friendships, even as the trio plans to tackle Newport’s real-life livability issues. As inescapable in today’s world is the backdrop of “some former dignitary now settling on a golf course in Florida.”
The three main characters are often seen in places local readers might know, with mentions of places like Oceana Natural Foods Coop and the Lincoln County Humane Society Thrift Store.
The book also touches on local issues, including affordable housing, sexism, and solar power. There are places in the book that still make them laugh, the authors say.
Then there is the Jewish holiday – which the author celebrates with the main characters of the book. The writers and their creations affectionately call themselves Jewish Girls.
The book is published by Bubbelah Press, a new edition of Dancing Moon Press. Bubbelah is a Yiddish nickname that fits the author’s description of the book, fun and joyful.
It’s not over yet — Perry has already started the archives for the group’s next book. “It’s our hobby,” she said. The author says the book is reminiscent of Nancy Drew’s Adventures series.
While Heimlich and Bundy were new to fiction writing—Heimlich was a whale biologist and graphic artist, and Bundy was a Lincoln County senior planner for over 30 years—Perry was an award-winning author and The publisher has decades of experience and founded the Writers On Edge and Nye Beach writers series. She has written several collections of poetry and the novel “Riva by My Side”, which was adapted for the stage.
Former local resident Sarah Gayle created the cover illustrations for Maui and Newport.
Although all three writers were Jewish, each of them embraced their culture in later life.
“I always knew the book would be Jewish-based because we’re our own Jewish girls — that’s what we’ve affectionately called ourselves over the years,” Perry said. “That’s why the title of the book is “Jewish Girls Adventures Series.”
Some might consider this a derogatory name, but that’s far from the intent. “When we wrote the book, we felt it was natural to use the word,” Perry said. “We know some people might get mad, but it comes naturally to us. It’s an affectionate word.”
Heimlich said they discussed the title and the possibility that people might be offended, but stressed, “It’s a lovely term we use ourselves.”
“We stand by it,” Bundy added.
While writing the book increased the trio’s sense of intimacy, it also enhanced their sense of being Jewish.
“I didn’t grow up religious, but I always felt culturally connected,” Bundy said. “Having this group of friends is very rewarding and helps me connect with Judaism. Jewish Girls are our diet group!”
Perry added: “We tell the story of how we got to Newport and how our ancestors got here.”
Heimlich said the group’s Passover seder began more than 20 years ago—Perry was invited to host because she had a table that seats 14.
“We all know how to make food,” Bundy said. “When I think about our hilarious conversation, I can taste chopped chicken liver!”
“Each year it fills me with a sense of identity, connects me, gives me hope,” Perry said.
Heimlich added that attending the Passover dinner taught her what it means to be Jewish in a way that was meaningful to her.
“I’m proud to have my name on this book,” Bundy said.
“It was fun,” Perry concluded. “That’s why we did it, and it worked.”
Copies of this book will be sold (cash or check only) and can be signed at the Book Release Celebration at the South Beach Community Center, 3024 SE Ferry, Saturday, November 12 from 2-4 p.m. Slip Road, Opposite Fish Tail Restaurant and Aquarium Village. Admission is free; refreshments will be provided and brief readings will be given every half hour.
In addition, a book club is set up for the Nye Beach Book House at 727 NW Third St. on Dec. 10 from noon to 2 p.m.
The book can also be borrowed from your local library.
The Jewish Girl Adventures Collection can be purchased directly from any author for $15. If the book needs to be mailed, add a $5 shipping and handling fee and send a check for $20 to Carla Perry, Bubbelah Press, PO Box 832, Newport, OR.For more information: please visit bubbelahpress@gmail.comor call 541-574-7708.
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