Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The community is invited to attend a Book Launch Party Sunday, Sept. 27 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Roth JCC in Maitland, to celebrate the publication of three new books by best-selling local author/artist Joanne Fink. Two of the books, Zenspirations® Birds & Butterflies and Expressions of Faith, are part of the popular Zenspirations® Create, Color, Pattern, Play series of adult coloring books, which debuted in 2013. Fink shares, "I've been astonished-and delighted-at the worldwide interest in coloring, and feel blessed that I was in on the beginning of the trend! My books are actually different from all the other coloring books on the market, because I've designed the pages with extra room so they can not only be colored, but patterns and additional illustrations added. I see each page as a springboard to help people tap into their own innate creativity. There's a credit line for people to sign their design, and I started a Zenspirations Create, Color, Pattern, Play group on Facebook a couple months ago, where people post their interpretations of a design. The creativity being shared by people all over the world is inspiring... and it's a great, supportive environment for people to experiment with new techniques. "

In addition to the new coloring books, Fink is celebrating the publication of her Kickstarter book, "When You Lose Someone You Love." Filled with expressive, hand-lettered sentiments and charming original illustrations, the book features excerpts of observations and feelings originally contained in the Longwood artist/author's personal grief journals. Started as a way of dealing with her own deep loss when her husband of 29 years, Andy Trattner, died unexpectedly in 2011, the book offers the gift of comfort to those grieving without sugar-coating the challenges of losing a loved one. 

"At some point in our lives, most of us will experience the loss of someone we love, and will need to deal with that loss in order to move on with our life's journey," notes the author. "I hope 'When You Lose Someone You Love' will help people do that."

The author also hopes that the book will make a difference for the Modern Widows Club (www.modernwidowsclub.com), an organization that mentors widows around the world. "The Modern Widows Club (MWC) is an amazing organization which has made a difference in many lives. By self-publishing 'When You Lose Someone You Love,' I am able to donate a portion of the book sales to MWC. It's my way of saying 'thank you,' and of making a difference to other widows." Members of the Modern Widows Club will be at the Book Launch Party to talk with widows, and those who are interested in supporting them.

Fink will be on-hand to sign books, letter names, and answer questions about Zenspirations®. The Book Launch Party will be a fun, interactive afternoon, featuring free coloring pages, door prizes, and a series of patterning, coloring and calligraphy demonstrations. Best of all there will be a Coloring Station for Kids, and a separate Coloring Station for Adults, where participants can try different tools and techniques, and find out what the coloring 'buzz' is all about. If you can't make the Book Launch Party, visit http://www.zenspirations.com to buy the books.

An active member of the Congregation of Reform Judaism, Fink has a long history of community service. She was the founding president of the International Association of the Calligraphic Arts, one of the six founding board members of the American Guild of Judaic Art, and chaired Jewish Arts Week in Orlando for several years. A graduate of the Bornstein Young Leadership Program, Fink was the 2006 recipient of the Federation's Byron B. Selber Young Leadership Award. She has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Center, the Holocaust Center of Central Florida, the Greeting Card Association, and chaired the Craft & Hobby Association's License & Design section. Her company, Lakeside Design, regularly contributes design services to many local Jewish agencies and synagogues. Fink lives in Longwood with her children, Samantha and Jonathan Trattner.