Jewish Author Spotlight! Dara Levan: ‘Shaken to the Core’
Award-winning author Dara Levan is back with her second novel, Shaken to the Core, and the buzz in the literary community is palpable. Featured in People, Southern Living, and selected for Zibby Owens’ Summer 2026 Most Anticipated list, Shaken to the Core asks: When life is cut short, what do we do with the time we have left?
Dara Levan is the podcast host of Every Soul Has a Story, and a former pediatric speech-language pathologist who made her mark in publishing with her 2024 award-winning debut novel, It Could Be Worse. Based in South Florida, Dara is a community leader, a founding member of Artists Against Antisemitism, and a contributor to the USA Today bestselling anthology On Being Jewish Now.
Dara’s sophomore novel, Shaken to the Core, is already receiving abundant praise. Corie Adjmi (bestselling author of The Marriage Box) calls it “…a tender story of love, loss, and perseverance, a tale reminding readers at each surprising turn that regardless of what the universe dishes out, we all have choices.” Gila Pfeffer (award-winning author of Nearly Departed) says, “With warmth, humor, and emotional honesty, this uplifting novel reminds us that when life breaks our hearts, it can rebuild them even stronger and better than they were before.”
I couldn’t wait to learn more about the book, in this second installment of my new series highlighting Jewish authors as they publish new work. (Because if you haven’t noticed, there’s never been a better time to support the Jewish community.)
Leah: Mazel tov, Dara! Tell us about Shaken to the Core and what you’re most excited for readers to take away from this story.
Dara: Shaken to the Core was inspired by the sudden, tragic loss of my husband’s mother. I had to grow up quickly, hearing the news while at a shiva, and just in my early twenties. Our lives changed in an instant. The story explores the question, “What do we do with the time we have left?” Joy and her husband, Andre, leave Miami to bring the tropics to the mountains of Vermont. A family photographer, Joy agreed kids weren’t part of their plan. After Joy’s mom Allegra dies (readers spent a lot of time with Allegra in It Could Be Worse), being behind the lens doesn’t feel like enough anymore. She discovers an entry in her mother’s summer camp diary, which sparks an idea that changes the trajectory of her life. Just when she’s about to pivot, Andre receives devastating news.
I’m excited for readers to travel with Joy through her journey of healing after grief, and there is an uplifting ending. And I hope people turn the last page feeling infused with confidence, knowing that whatever life throws at us, we all have the reserves necessary to not only survive but also thrive.
Leah: Your first novel, It Could Be Worse, is set in your hometown of South Florida, while much of Shaken to the Core takes place in Vermont. Do you have a personal connection to this setting too?
Dara: Our family spends a few weeks in the winter and summer in Vermont. I call it my Stowe Sanctuary, a place where my soul releases all it’s been holding. The time I spend with my husband and children there is a blessing. I wrote most of Shaken to the Core in Vermont; whooshes of inspiration flowed from my fingers to the page. And I hope readers feel the magic of the green mountains—the ambiance, food, authenticity—when they read about Joy’s journey.
Leah: Did you feel pressure to write another book after the success of your first novel? How did you navigate that expectation, and when did you know you had another story to tell?
Dara: I didn’t feel pressure to write another novel. I felt inspired. When an idea nestles itself into my heart, sometimes waking me at night, I know it needs to be written. After writing It Could Be Worse, I couldn’t let Joy go. In that book, Joy was a child. I wanted to create her as a passionate, relatable woman in her late thirties who exudes quiet strength. Shaken to the Core explores mother/daughter relationships, legacy, chosen family, and how motherhood/mothering transcend biology. Interestingly, as publication day approaches, I am feeling both excited and anxious about how this book will be received!
Leah: It Could Be Worse is packed full of delightful Jewish references—Yiddish words, Jewish holidays, matzah ball soup, and even a dog named Itzhak because it means “laughter” in Hebrew. Are these delicious details sprinkled throughout Shaken to the Core as well?
Dara: I love this question! Yes, absolutely! There’s a heartwarming Hanukkah chapter filled with cousins, siblings, and light; shiva at the beach in Miami, and other Jewish rituals. Andre and his parents/siblings are Colombian Jews; I love weaving elements from my hometown—South Florida—into my novels. Joy’s father, Benito, is a Cuban Jew. (It Could Be Worse tells this story.) Or as we say in Miami—Juban. And there are more Jewish references, but I don’t want to spoil the ending.
Leah: Given the current climate of pervasive antisemitism in the publishing industry (and beyond), did you receive any pushback about including those details? How has your experience been as a Jewish author in a post-October 7th world?
Dara: I am thankful that I haven’t experienced any pushback. My publisher, Gretchen Young, at Regalo Press has been supportive. Many friends in my author community have been targeted on lists, review bombed, and much more.
My 22-year-old cousin died serving his country, just four weeks into the war. I wrote about the kindness of our global Jewish community in my essay, “We Show Up,” for the USA Today Bestseller On Being Jewish Now. I’m grateful for Zibby Owens, who edited and published this collection of powerful essays. I am honored to be part of engaging panels on which I’ve spoken with the other contributors. Every moment, each question, the discussions that ensue are empowering, and we elevate each other. Since October 7th, I’ve initiated conversations with people of all faiths, both in my hometown and worldwide. I believe impact and change is fostered by love and light—not hiding in the dark. We are resilient. We will rise together. These are also core themes in my novels.
Leah: There are some incredible bookstagrammers in our community who love shining a light on Jewish authors—it felt only fitting to include questions from a couple of them! Traci (@the_real_bookkeeper) is curious about your process. She asks, “Do you start from chapter one, or map out the story and write bits and pieces at a time? Do you already know the ending, or see where the writing takes you?”
Dara: Our author and reading community’s support means the world to me. Book titles crystalize sometimes before the story! I generally know the gist of the protagonist’s plight, and I feel the best stories write themselves. For It Could Be Worse and Shaken to the Core, pivotal scenes popped into my head. I wrote those first; they anchor the story (and me!) as I listen to my characters, wander with them, and I’m sometimes surprised by where they lead me. Then, I draft from beginning to end, which can be excruciating because I love to edit!
Leah: Aimee (@theonewhereaimeereads) would like to know: “What made you decide to write Shaken to the Core as a story connected to It Could Be Worse?”
Dara: Some stories don’t feel finished even after typing “the end.” Allegra, the main character in It Could Be Worse, broke a cycle of narcissistic abuse. She awakened after becoming a mother to Joy and Julian. In Shaken to the Core, I wanted to tell Joy’s story because she is an emotionally healthy, empathetic woman. A family photographer, she exudes quiet strength and leads with love just as her mother did. I also wanted to explore grief in all its forms and how those who leave us can live on through our actions and how we choose to live.
Leah: In addition to buying and reading Shaken to the Core, how can we support you?
Dara: Thank you for this kind question, Leah. I love connecting with readers! You can gift the book to family and friends. Share about it on social media and write reviews. Meet up with me on my book tour, or reach out and visit my online home at daralevan.com. My email and socials are there; I respond personally to all messages. I’m grateful I get to do this work. It is truly my life’s passion and purpose. And it’s a joy to speak at synagogues, organizations, book clubs, and more—in person and by Zoom.
Shaken to the Core is available now and can be purchased here or anywhere books are sold.
Keep up with Dara on her website and Instagram.
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