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The Book
03/30/2025
The Book
After one and a half years, the 300-page manuscript is done. Now the hard work begins. New Year's Day War is a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set against the backdrop of a Middle Eastern conflict. It explores themes of duty, regret, and unspoken emotions. Rivka, an underpaid yet overqualified Israeli middle school teacher, sees her life upended when Egypt and Syria launch a coordinated attack on Israel. She begins as a gentle, compassionate figure—earning her comparisons to Fred Rogers (a.k.a. Mr. Rogers)—but is thrust into a world of brutality and impossible choices. Embedded with a frontline combat unit alongside Rami, a Palestinian interpreter, Rivka must navigate the chaos of war, the fight against Hamas terrorists, and the pervasive sexism of the military. Facing modern-day adversaries reminiscent of Adolf Hitler and Muammar Gaddafi, Rivka finds herself at the heart of an escalating conflict that hurtles toward nuclear annihilation. Ultimately, she is forced to make sacrifices that could cost her honor, her soul, and the life of the man she loves. New Year’s Day War is a precise, gritty, and layered character-driven novel that examines love and intimate relationships amid the harsh realities of war.
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