A novel a decade, and a lifetime, in the making

Chatting with one of her three children at their kitchen table back in 2016, Gerilyn Bass Greenberg gave her college-bound daughter a bit of advice.  

“Wow, you should write a book,” responded her middle daughter, impressed by her mom’s wisdom. 

Turns out, Bass Greenberg was writing a book. In secret. A stay-at-home mom to three girls, she had spent quiet moments writing at that very kitchen table, or in neighborhood coffee shops, for nearly a year. 

At the time of Bass Greenberg’s confession to her recent high school graduate, her eldest 

daughter was away at college, and her youngest was still in high school. So as one can imagine, “there was a lot of girl drama,” she said. She claimed a front row seat to the frequent sagas that follow girls and women as they age and wondered, “Why hasn’t anyone written a book on that topic?” She’d always been interested in writing, and so she set out to fill the void. 

This month, a decade after admitting her private project to her family, Bass Greenberg launches her debut novel. Through the multi-generational lens of mother, daughter, and grandmother, Drama, Drama, Drama (She Writes Press, 2026) explores themes of identity, family, and the search for belonging—no matter one’s age. 

Bass Greenberg’s lived experience as a Jewish (former) teenager and (current) mother helped to shape Grace and Mona, the book’s two younger characters. Its older central figure, Esther (a.k.a. Bubby), is based on Bass Greenberg’s own grandmother, a charismatic matriarch who hosted Jewish holidays in her kosher home, instilled family traditions, and was no stranger to Yiddish phrases. 

“It’s my heritage and I’m proud of it,” she says of infusing Jewish life into her narrative. Jewish readers may be particularly tickled by Bubby’s “vez mears,” “gutte nashumas,” and weekly mahjong commitment. But the characters’ search for belonging, quest to be a good person, and navigation of life transitions are universal challenges. Bass Greenberg views the book’s Jewish family to be relatable to people of any background and generation, and she predicts the story can spark heartfelt discussions at Jewish, secular, and women’s book clubs alike. “I hope that people of other religions can see themselves in the characters, that they can see we are all just people,” she said. 

While the publication process took longer than expected, she learned “so much along the way.” She was particularly surprised to discover that even after years of writing, editing, and completing a manuscript, the work to find a publisher and to promote and publicize the book had only just begun. She appreciated the support of fellow She Writes Press authors as she navigated new territory. 

“It’s been very helpful and enlightening,” she said, “to be in the same boat with other women who have shared and learned from each other about blurbs, websites, Goodreads, promotions, reviews, AI, scammers, social media, publicity, audiobooks, book clubs, launch parties—the list goes on and on!” 

She also said she’s grateful to her family and friends, who have been nothing but supportive—once she told them about the book, of course. She can’t believe that the novel she started in 2015 and finished during COVID is finally being published. And she knows the messages she crafted a decade ago remain relevant today: “Women everywhere are insecure about something.” 

Case in point: The first-time author admits her own insecurities about sending her words out into the world. Yet, she says, “I decided to take a chance on myself.” 

Bass Greenberg’s debut novel, Drama, Drama, Drama is available now in paperback, audiobook, and Kindle. 

Caren Friedman is a Chicago-based freelance writer, nonprofit communications professional, and founder of Caren Friedman Communications, LLC.