The following is an interview with author Talya Jankovits regarding the release of her debut historical novel, The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom, with Running Wild Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Jankovits about her creative process in bringing the story to life on the page, the themes that she hopes may resonate with readers and the conversations that they might inspire, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of your historical novel, The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom! What can you share with us about the genesis behind this story, and how would you describe its premise?
Talya Jankovits: Thank you, it’s been a long journey, and I am very excited to launch this debut.
This is a character-driven novel, and the protagonist, Etty Bloom, materialized like a vision — emerging comprehensive and fully formed. She presented herself as deeply flawed and utterly unremarkable. Both these concepts intrigued me; the challenge to build empathy for an unlikeable character, and innate ordinariness.
I knew this character was going to live a prosaic life, but there was a richness to her that begged exploration. I was ready to follow her to her origin and discover the story she was inhabiting. This fed the premise; what lies inside the ordinary, what makes a life remarkable when nothing extraordinary happens? That Etty Bloom is Hasidic offers a diverse narrative tapestry for readers, breaking down barriers with “the other” by portraying relatability in even the most insulated of lives.
BD: How would you describe your creative and research processes in bringing this story and its characters to life on the page?
TJ: While I am an observant Jew, I do not live a Hasidic lifestyle like my character Etty Bloom does. The nuances in observant Judaism’s traditions and observations are quite vast, and despite coming from a Hasidic lineage similar to Etty’s, I needed to familiarize myself with Hasidic customs and rituals. I am lucky enough to have several Hasidic family members that generously answered many of my questions.
It was also important to me to incorporate a lot of Yiddish in my book, a prevalent language spoken amongst Hasidic Jews. It is also a language that I grew up with in my home. My father speaks Yiddish, and though it was never taught to me, it is a language that is both nostalgic and still quite vibrant today. Luckily, I have many Yiddish speakers on speed dial, so I was able to easily consult with them.
While I value research, it is the creative process that always takes precedence in my fiction, and I took many creative liberties with this novel. I chose to make up my own Rabbinic leaderships and played with both Hasidic and Yeshivish lifestyles in order to infuse the novel with a broad range of opportunities for representation, evaluation and satirical critique. It felt integral to utilize this story as a catalyst for exploration of some of my own struggles with my observant lifestyle as well as to highlight much of its beauty.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Etty’s story may connect with and impact readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it may inspire?
TJ: This is very much a story about “the other.” Etty and her community are outsiders to many, and many are outsiders to Etty. Within Etty’s own community, there are hierarchies and discrimination. The revelation is that when we strip away the surface differences, we are all alike. Ordinariness is the link here, the prosaic and mundane, the small and large moments that make up our lives to tell a story — this is universal
We have been seeing unprecedented levels of discrimination across various demographics, and we need stories like Etty’s more than ever before. I am hoping that readers will discover that our differences are only nuances and we are all deeply connected through the shared human condition.
BD: What makes Running Wild Press the perfect publishing partner for this story?
TJ: This novel endured a long road filled with a tremendous amount of rejection. A common theme I kept seeing was that many agents and presses were at a loss on how to market this novel. They were unsure of the targeted readership. It appeared I had written a novel that didn’t fit neatly into a marketing box. Running Wild Press’ entire mission is publishing works that don’t fit neatly into a box. This felt undoubtedly like the right press for this story.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
TJ: There are many recurring themes in both my collection of poetry, girl woman wife mother (Kelsay Books), and my novel, particularly in the exploration of the chaotic and oft messy roles inhabited by women.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Very Unremarkable Life of Mrs. Etty Bloom and your other work?
TJ: A great way to connect with me is through Instagram and Facebook, two platforms I regularly inhabit. You can also subscribe to my Substack to stay up to date on what I’m reading and writing and my explorations of doing both while also raising four children! All of this and more is also available on my website, www.talyajankovits.com.
