Lee Kofman is a rare bird in the literary landscape, a Russian born Israeli-Australian writer of six books, as editor of two anthologies, who also teaches writing. She is remarkable for writing her last five books in English, her third language. Her first three books were novels and a collection of short stories written in Hebrew, her second language. And she says her writing and reading life began in a remote Siberian village where she recited her first poem in her first language, Russian, “to an admiring crowd of illiterate babushkas.”

She is an immensely well-read writer, a rarity at a time when so many writers avoid reading others in case their style is corrupted

Her most recent book, the Writer Laid Bare: Mastering emotional honesty in a writer’s art, craft and life has been hailed by many as inspiring and raw in its wisdom and vulnerability.

The Lamm Jewish Library and The Jewish Independent are presenting a conversation between Lee Kofman and me on not only her art, craft and life, but on how October 7th has shaped the way Jewish writers and artists understand their place in the Australia of today.

View here or below