Shirley Russak Wachtel

Shirley Russak Wachtel is an American author whose work bridges the worlds of fiction, poetry, and children’s literature. She is the writer behind the poignant short story collection Three For A Dollar, the lyrical poetry book In The Mellow Light, and several engaging books for young readers.

The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Shirley was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, a background that deeply influences the emotional depth and historical consciousness of her writing. Her short stories and poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, earning her recognition for her thoughtful, often intimate portrayals of family, memory, and resilience.

Wachtel earned her Doctor of Letters from Drew University and served as Professor of English at Middlesex College in New Jersey, where she is now Professor Emerita. Beyond academia and writing, she is a devoted mother to three grown sons and grandmother to three precocious granddaughters. She resides in East Brunswick, New Jersey, with her husband, Arthur.

Her life and career are a testament to the power of storytelling across generations, a quiet but enduring legacy built on words, family, and the memories we carry.