Jacqueline Friedland never intended to become a lawyer. And when she finally became one, she quickly realized it wasn’t where she belonged.
Years later, the Syosset native has traded legal briefs for novels, a journey she reflected on Oct. 15 during an author discussion at Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, where she shared how motherhood, unexpected inspiration and a willingness to start over shaped her writing career.
The discussion, hosted by the synagogue’s Sisterhood and Rosh Chodesh Circle in partnership with Blue Door Books, an independent bookstore in Cedarhurst, brought Friedland together with her longtime friend, Rabbi Sara Birnbaum, to discuss her sixth novel, “Breathing Under Water.”
Friedland recalled entering law school at her mother’s suggestion, despite insisting she would never practice law. After graduating, she accepted a position at a large New York City law firm but quickly found herself unfulfilled by the work.
She began reading commercial fiction in her spare time and eventually started writing her own stories. When she became pregnant with her fourth child in six years, her older sister encouraged her to reconsider her priorities. Friedland ultimately left law, earned a master’s degree in creative writing and published her first novel.
“I have not looked back for a single day,” she said.
Friedland said “Breathing Under Water” took shape after she encountered three statistics that caught her attention: the number of Americans who cannot swim, the prevalence of homelessness among college students and the heightened risk of drowning among children with autism.
Those findings inspired McKenna, a Division I college swimmer whose financial circumstances threaten her education, and Leo, a teenager with autism who becomes an unexpected central figure in her life.
Friedland, whose mother spent decades working in autism education, initially envisioned Leo as a supporting character. But as she developed his personality and relationship with McKenna, he became increasingly important to the story.
“I inadvertently made him the hero of the book,” Friedland said.
The conversation also turned to motherhood and the challenges of knowing when to step back as children grow older.
Friedland recalled advice she received from another mother when her oldest child was starting preschool: “Your most important job as a parent is to make your child not need you.”
Though the words initially broke her heart, Friedland said they became a guiding principle as she raised her four children. She explained that balancing protection with independence becomes particularly complicated for parents whose children have disabilities or require additional support.
That struggle is reflected in the novel, as Leo's parents disagree over how best to meet their son's needs.
For Wantagh resident Julie Liff, also a mother of four, Friedland's willingness to leave an established career to pursue writing was particularly inspiring.
Liff, who regularly attends events at Congregation Beth Ohr, said she appreciated the opportunity to support a Jewish author while connecting with other women in the community. She also enjoyed learning about Friedland's creative and editorial processes, but said the author's career change resonated most.
“She still took the chance to do what she loved, even being more established in her life,” Liff said.
Friedland also spoke about the importance of Jewish representation in literature, saying she deliberately incorporates Jewish characters into her novels to portray experiences beyond stories centered on the Holocaust or religious identity.
“I absolutely write with an agenda in every book that I have written,” she said. “I'm always trying to spread empathy and knowledge about things that I think are important.”
As the discussion concluded, Friedland encouraged attendees to support Jewish authors by leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, noting that reader encouragement helps demonstrate continued interest in their work.
The evening ended with a book signing.
