We chat with author Kitty Zeldis about One of Them, which is a story of secrets, friendship, and betrayal about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.
Hi, Kitty! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I was raised in Brooklyn, NY, graduated with degrees in art history from Vassar College and Columbia University and after many years in Manhattan, moved back to Brooklyn again; I’ve been in Park Slope since 1992.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Not until I was in graduate school, pursuing a doctoral degree. I wasn’t at all happy and when I took a fiction writing class I had my aha! moment. I left grad school, started writing and never looked back.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Giant Golden Book of Fairy Tales—such haunting stories and and such gorgeous illustrations.
- The one that made you want to become an author: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Your latest novel, One of Them, is out September 9th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Anti-semitism meets internalized antisemitism.
What can readers expect?
Lots of about Vassar College in the 1940’s, and also Paris, the South of France, and even Palestine at the moment it becomes Israel.
Where did the inspiration for One of Them come from?
I was watching the first season of THE GILDED AGE and was struck by how Bertha (Carrie Coon) was desperate to be part of that elite New York City circle and it started me thinking about inside/outside and what a person might do to be accepted. Also, though it was not specified, I wondered whether the exclusion Bertha experienced had to do with being Jewish, so that informed my thinking.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
All of them really—even the unpleasant ones!
With One of Them set post-WWII, can you tell us a bit about your research process?
I was already familiar with a lot of the material but I did a deep dive to make sure I got the dates and sequence of events right.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I had some personal challenges with family members and that really slowed me down. I missed three deadlines, something unprecedented in my professional life. But eventually I was able to finish the novel.
What’s next for you?
I have an idea for a novel set in two timelines and one of them is the 18th century!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year?
I loved WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow.
Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I’ve got Nancy MacDonnell’s EMPRESSES OF SEVENTH AVENUE: World War II, New York City and the Birth of American Fashion on my nightstand and I’m curious about the new memoir by Gene Pressman whose grandfather started Barneys. Fashion is a big love of mine and I’m curious about the history.
