NANCY SHIFFRIN'S Biography and Introduction

Welcome Readers to Nancy Shiffrin's Eclectic Reader

I'm a poet, critic, journalist and teacher. I was born in New York and has lived most of my life in Los Angeles. My most recent collection of poems is THE VAST UNKNOWING published by The World Wide Association of Writers, wwaow.com. My work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Earth's Daughters, Quill and Parchment, The New York Quarterly, and numerous other periodicals. I earned my M.A. studying with Anais Nin, my Ph.D. studying Jewish American Literature at The Union Institute. Since childhood, I have been an eclectic reader; fairy tales, classic novels, mystery stories, poetry, essays, comic books. I write about books I love and tell why I love them. I invite my readers to do the same. If you want me to review a book, CD or DVD, and conduct a discussion, send the material to POB 1506 Santa Monica, CA 90406.

Reviews of THE VAST UNKNOWING

“Buckle up. Hold tight! THE VAST UNKNOWING is like riding the rollercoaster. It will plunge you into despair, exhilarate you, shake you to the depths of your being, terrify you, elate, disturb. And leave you weak-kneed, dizzy and delighted that you saw it through to a safe landing. A ride not to be missed. ... words as weapons, words as balm, sometimes words that puzzle, words that arouse...In her poem, “At the Writer's Retreat”, Shiffrin quotes Anais Nin, “'There are no writer's blocks, only secrets we are afraid of telling.' Nancy Shiffrin isn't afraid. And no one will remain indifferent to the virtuoso power with which she reveals her secrets.”
Ricky Rapoport Friesem, Poetica Magazine: Reflections on Jewish Thought

“Nancy Shiffrin's new book of poetry, THE VAST UNKNOWING, rekindled my fascination with Anais Nin.... Both writers explore personal relationships, the chaos of inner struggle, the beauty of nature, and sense awareness. The section on Fairy Tales calls to mind Nin's fascination with dreams and her continuous probing of the creative spirit...There is a frankness in Shiffrin's work that matches Nin's journals, and a similar autobiographical tone... Karen Kane, Paris by Design.

“September, 2001” (published here as “Lamentation”) touches us by conveying vividly not only the horror of the victims' ordeal but also the humanity of the perpetrators.” Liz Zelvin, AOL Social Work Forum Newsletter

“...the beauty, ugliness, drama, and force of the poems swept me to heights of 'Yes!' and depths of 'Oh no!' as I read each poem, identifying with the images expressed...Each poem (in THE VAST UNKNOWING) reflects the powerful force of words in the hands of the right person. Nancy Shiffrin has that power in her pen.” Susan Andrus www.storycirclebookreviews.org

Nancy Shiffrin's Books

Nancy Shiffrin is the author of
THE VAST UNKNOWING
THE WORLD WIDE ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS wwaow.com
BUY DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER! POST A REVIEW! (best deal)
http://www.wwaow.com/wwaow/site/bookdetail/?bookid=2887

Read a selection from THE VAST UNKNOWING
www.othervoicespoetry.org
http://www.othervoicespoetry.org/vol36/shiffrin/index.html

still available
MY JEWISH NAME
WHAT SHE COULD NOT NAME
For a signed inscribed book
send a check for $20.00 to
Nancy Shiffrin
POB 1506 Santa Monica CA 90406