Photography by Michael McDonald
Book Cover by Yaz Designs
Press Release
For release August 26, 2021 – Women’s Equality Day
Playwright and main character available for interview about her script, The Venus Fly Trap Agency
Salt Lake City, UT - Esther Israel has self-published a play about her treatment while working at a domestic violence shelter. The Venus Fly Trap Agency is set in a ski resort town and takes place from February to April of 2018. It is a tale about unchecked power, slander and greed. The Venus Fly Trap Agency chronicles a self-identified charitable organization. Upon closer inspection, their identity is a means of raising funds, soliciting donations and applying for grants. Something insidious is afoot. The Venus Fly Trap Agency is run by predatory business administrators who utilize their social and political clout to block a mental health therapist from providing the services they hired her to perform. This morality play relies on documentary evidence from emails, text messages, other written and spoken communications and legal records. It is the intellectual property of Esther Israel who registered her work for copyright in June 2021. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is 9781637907856. Soft covered hard copies are available for purchase from me for $15. The book is 87 pages and contains 5 acts of 73 pages, a bibliographical note and quotes.
Contact:
Esther Israel
(801)923-8569
Play
Reviews
Esther has been my good friend for decades. We grew up together, and while we have changed in many ways, some things remain the same. Esther's playful sense of humor, which is uproarious at times, is a mainstay of her personality. Her devotion to helping others and to making the world better is similarly undiminished by time. I know that Esther's commitment to helping her clients extends well beyond her therapeutic work with individuals. She works just as much to resolve the systemic inequities that contribute to and exacerbate the mental health issues of her clients. Esther's efforts to remedy systemic problems sometimes get her in trouble with those in authority who wish to maintain the status quo. Despite setbacks, she remains courageously undeterred in her efforts.
Esther's play is a testament to the struggles of those who speak up for what's right despite repeated pressures to remain silent. At the same time, her play illustrates the power of humor to carry one forward through dark times and to heal the spirit. Life is a journey for most, and an adventure for some, like Esther, who wish to effect positive change that benefits many beyond their personal spheres. I can't wait to find out where her adventure next takes her.
- Dr. M. Nissenbaum, Esq.
The Venus Fly Trap Agency terrifically captures the unnecessary frenzy, extremely stressful days, joy and hurt a mental healthcare worker can experience. Throughout the play Esther is able to navigate chaotic situations imposed upon her by coworkers with grace and wit. Her play is equally laced with humor and substantial evidence based knowledge. Each sentence has been placed with meaning, down to the character's last names. The Venus Fly Trap Agency is an enlightening and engaging read. It will resonate with anyone who has encountered a toxic work environment, specifically where there is a betrayal of principles. I enjoyed the character development that took place and the necessary background information.
- Hanna S., BA, Teacher
I read the play in one sitting and my only complaint is that it was not long enough. I wanted an Act Six! That said, the book is lovely to look at.
- Michael Popkin, former Chair of Humanities at Touro College, where the derech eretz is Broadway
Interrogatories
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CAN I REPRINT PARTS OF “THE HOKEY POKEY: I WAS A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST IN SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL” BOOK?No. It is illegal to share, forward, email or print any parts or the entire book. This includes any information about the book found on this website, e.g., the video recorded book reading. Likewise, renaming the book or changing the work or authorship would do the author a great disservice. This will likely result in legal issues as Esther Israel owns the intellectual property of “The Hokey Pokey: I Was A Mental Health Therapist In Salt Lake County Jail” in its entirety. If you purchased the book, the author is sharing her intellectual property in an effort to give you her actual work experience information that most people would not readily have.
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IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOKEY POKEY BOOK, TO WHOM SHOULD I REACH OUT?"To Esther Israel, the author of and central protagonist in The Hokey Pokey book. Her email contact for the book is thehokeypokeybook@gmail.com
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WHO IS MAKING MONEY OFF OF THE HOKEY POKEY BOOK?The author. Financial gains are anticipated to be minimal due to self-publishing, word of mouth marketing and niche topic.
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WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN READING “THE HOKEY POKEY: I WAS A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST IN SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL” BOOK?The groups or people that might be interested in reading this book are: forensic mental health professionals, social scientists, prisoners, correctional staff, human resources staff, legislators, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, policy makers, my family, my friends, my current and former supervisors, classmates, students and clients, Utahans, New Yorkers, Jews, Mormons, people of color, foodies, journalists, punsters, conspiracy theorists, feminists and traumatologists.
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IS THE HOKEY POKEY BOOK AVAILABLE IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH?No. Contact me if you would like to translate it. (If you understand Hebrew, plan on laughing at some of the last names of the characters.)
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IS THE HOKEY POKEY BOOK AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY?At this time, The Hokey Pokey book is only available for purchase in hard copy from the author.
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HAS THE HOKEY POKEY BOOK BEEN REVIEWED OR ENDORSED?Yes. See review page.
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I READ YOUR BOOK AND WOULD LIKE TO OFFER EDITS. HOW CAN I DO THAT?Contact the author and indicate your interest in suggesting improvements.
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I KNOW OTHERS WHO’VE BEEN TO SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF WHAT IT’S LIKE THERE. WHICH VERSION IS CORRECT?My stories are specific to my experiences as a mental health therapist working the crisis shift during a discrete time period. I hope readers find me to be a transparent and trustworthy narrator.
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WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK IN AN INTERVIEW, PROVIDE A PRESENTATION, LECTURE OR SPEECH?"Yes. Please invite me to do so and we can discuss ways to engage your audience. If you would like to obtain related information that is not in the story, you are welcome to ask for it.