Poems from My Pandemic Pen

When the world shuts down, what do you do?\nWhen New York City went into lockdown, Carol Ostrow stayed glued to her TV, afraid of the present and not knowing what the future would bring. But then one day, instead of calling a friend for a "normal" conversation, she picked up her pen and wrote a poem, finding a bit of humor during a dark time. She sent it to friends who appreciated the humor and wit and cheered her on.\nShe wrote one poem a day for at least eighteen weeks. Her wonderful, loyal friends would receive those she emailed, review the contents, and encourage her to write more. Writing became an obsession, almost therapy. Better than taking medication.\nHunkered down, hooked on a terrible Netflix series, feeling rather depressed without being able to escape her surroundings to enjoy the theatre, opera, ballet, restaurants and too afraid to venture out in the hall to empty her garbage, she put into rhyme her feelings. The results are humorous, witty, reflective, and sometimes poignant poems that cover the gamut from her expanding derriere, the art of folding toilet paper, reflections on ex-lovers, growing older, and the importance of friends.\nA morning ritual\nI have this talent with rare toilet paper, 
Like a gift, a talent, a great dress maker. 
I fold, I use, I fold again, 
Over the bowl, you know. 
No more space, 'tis time to throw, 
I do let go, 
Sometimes, it's true, I feel like fainting. 
This paper, so rare as a Picasso painting.\nDid you ever think we would come to this? 
Forgive me now, I have to diss, 
Goddamn, no paper, I have to piss.\nCarol's poems are a reminder to all of us that "This too shall pass." Life does change, we can all adapt and get used to what the future has in store. We will be fine. Just keep loved ones, friends, and the things we hold most dear in perspective, and we will come out of this stronger and healthier than ever.\nCarol Ostrow is an accomplished theatrical producer in New York City. For many years, she and her partner Arthur Cantor, produced several award-winning shows, including Beau Jest in New York and all over the country. After his death she continued to produce shows on her own, including I Am Anne Frank, The Musical at Town Hall staring Andrea Marcovicci, and After Play, by Anne Meara starring Anne, her husband Jerry Stiller, and Rita Moreno. For the past five years she has served as president of the Actors' Temple, the "Jewel of a Shul," and has raised money for the renovation of the building through her producing efforts and highly acclaimed fundraiser shows. She also has a film company and creates videos for her favorite charities. Carol has produced over thirty Off-Broadway shows and over twenty theatrical fundraisers, and still counting, for her beloved Actors' Temple.

Humor & Entertainment

Ostrow, Carol

Humor

Three Tomatoes Publishing

Searching for September

Reality and fantasy are entwined in this gripping story of one woman's journey to find inner strength in a psychologically destructive relationship.September (Seppie) Webb, a divorced, middle-aged New Yorker, had always viewed marriage and romance idealistically. Her pursuit to meet a virtuous and charismatic man who can ignite the flame inside of her is a challenge, at best. Hungry for passion after leaving a lifeless marriage, Seppie takes a plunge into the sea of single men, and the culture of midlife dating has her frustrated and disillusioned. Unexpectedly, she meets the prominent widowed attorney, Teddy Zezza and is swept off her feet by his charming persona. A whirlwind romance unleashes her sexual prowess and encourages her to take a leap of faith. Lured by his charisma, she neglects countless red flags. After a few months of dating, Seppie has fallen hopelessly in love and accepts Teddy's invitation to move into his home with his young daughter, Lily whom she adores. In an effort to remain in a romantic relationship, she stays tethered to an unstable man and finds ways to justify his actions. Searching for September is a must read for any woman who has ever loved deeply and passionately, abandoned her soul to another, given of herself unselfishly, denied herself unyieldingly, and questioned every decision during her voyage.

Romance

Lieberman, Robin A.

Contemporary

Led by the Tiny Professors, Kayla, age four, and Sebastian, age five and a quarter, Every Day is Funday with Grandma Stella helps children understand what dementia and Alzheimer's is about, and how to still enjoy being with a loved one. The book is beautifully illustrated with a storyline and activities that will engage young readers. It provides an invaluable guide for creating a memory keepsake with a loved one that can be shared with younger generations for years to come. It will also help adults who are dealing with the often-complicated feelings about caring for someone with memory deficits. The book was created by Dr. Linda Ganzenmuller, a psychologist who focuses on senior citizens, their families, and caregivers, in consultation with Joan Motley, another expert in dealing with dementia. It is the author's hope that it will provide greater understanding, acceptance, and a heightened ability to cope with this challenging diagnosis and help people with dementia leave behind a legacy of cherished memories.

Every Day is Funday with Grandma Stella: A guide and memories keepsake for children and parents when a loved one suffers memory loss.

Ganzenmuller, Linda

Parenting & Relationships

"This gutsy entrepreneur has much to share, not only about the exhilaration of travel, but on jetting out of our comfort zones and into new friendships and enhanced self-discovery." Iris Krasnow, New York Times Best-selling Author of Secret Lives of Wives.\nA story of resiliency, saying yes, following your passions, and never giving up.\nIn this inspirational business memoir, It's Your Life...Live IT!, April Merenda, cofounder of Gutsy Women Travel and assistant professor at St. John's University shares her journey on how her passion for travel led her to becoming a pioneer in women's travel, a successful entrepreneur, a highly regarded expert in the hospitality industry, and an innovator in academia.\nHer story starts in 1975, shortly after graduating from St. John's University in Queens, New York with plans to attend law school. But life had other ideas for her. She found herself saying yes to selling tours and show tickets on charter flights to passengers who were booked at various Las Vegas, Nevada hotels. It was an exciting beginning to her career in travel, and she never looked back.\nResiliency and saying yes to opportunities are recurring themes as she eventually cocreated a travel company with Gail Golden-Icahn called Gutsy Women Travel, which focused on guided vacations designed specifically for women travelers and their interests. Gutsy Women launched shortly after 9/11 despite the naysayers who questioned the timing. Twenty years later, Gutsy Women Travel is still going strong despite the ups and downs thrown its way, not the least of which is surviving the global pandemic.\nApril takes the reader along on this incredible journey that follows her life, career, and travels, introduces you to incredible gutsy women she has met on her tours, unforgettable students in her hospitality classes as an assistant professor at St. John's University, and the angels who have guided her along the way.\nShe has lived through many unusual experiences and witnessed historical events, including being caught up in the middle of the Arab Spring revolution that eventually overthrew the regime of President Mubarak, and being part of the largest evacuation (at that time) of U.S. citizens.\nThroughout her story, she shares invaluable business and life lessons she has learned along the way, the most important of which are to live your life with joy, be kind to yourself, follow your passions, and never give up.\nIt's Your Life...Live IT!

It's Your Life...Live IT!

Merenda, April M.

Travel

It Can Happen to You

White, Nancy Ripp

Death of a Broker: How a Brand Advocate was Born

Business & Money

Romanoff, Zak

Business Culture

From Budapest to Hollywood: Searching for the Promised Land

Biographies & Memoirs

Mitchell, Katherine MK

Community & Culture

Dream On...Now Deliver: The no nonsense guide to achieving success in the entertainment industry

Kara, Patricia

Television

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