During the question and answer at my appearance at the Lawrence JCC in La Jolla on January 15, a very astute audience member asked, “how do you market your book when you publish independently?” The answer is “by any means possible.” But, one way is to approach independent bookstores and ask them to stock our book. We’ve had some success in the Twin Cities, but our first success came from a more unexpected locale—Sedona, Arizona.
At Well Red Coyote Books one would expect to find the usual Sedona material—crystals and vortex, trails and nature. But owners Bill and Kris Neri are the best kind of bookstore owners who search for books beyond the obvious. Sadly, their Sedona bookstore will close on Feb. 15. Leslie and I won’t return to Sedona until May so we won’t be able to thank them in person for taking a chance on Jewish Luck.
We will mark the... 
“A ménage a trois of Georgian, Russian and Californian Cuisine.”
Next time you are in San Diego craving Russian or Georgian food, try Kafe Sobaka, Restoran Pomegranate. Now why would the husband and wife owners, Marco and Gwynne, choose the name Sobaka which means dog? The answer: Jewish Georgian, Marco,was obsessed with the dog that was launched into outer space on Sputnik. He identifies himself as “an old wandering dog.” You can ask Marco about that yourself.
Unlike many of the Russian restaurants that seem snobbish and overpriced, this one has a quirky humor that satirizes Soviet culture. The food, however, is serious and very reasonable! With such authentic food and portions fit for an entire communal apartment, I was afraid a babushka would fly out of the kitchen and yell at me because I couldn’t empty my plate.
Our family should be in the business of reviewing restaurants since... 
Today I witnessed an amazing event – true solidarity in a real Republic. The Unity Rally in Paris was a demonstration in response to the shootings at the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, the shooting of the policewoman and the shootings in the kosher grocery store. The visual of 3.7 million citizens marching across France, 1 million in Paris, silently behind 44 international leaders spoke volumes. The signs and interviews with people trying to explain themselves – how they feel a sense of pain that their dearest values – liberty, equality and fraternity - have been challenged. It was not a rally in support of Jews per se but in support of free speech and upholding the values France holds dear.
It was also remarkable that the last time the streets had been so populated was following the liberation from the Nazis in 1944. What followed were decades of pain for this... 
