Emma, a Jewish immigrant to New Jersey in 1900, dreams of the wealth that will usher her family into high society. She defies the odds for a poor immigrant woman to succeed in her own business ventures, finagling her way to success and prosperity, but at a terrible price. Emma’s husband Meyer distains wealth and has a passion for workers’ rights that stems from his days as a weaver in the Jewish ghetto of Lodz, Poland, where he was an activist in the socialist Labor Bund. When he unionizes his comrades for the historic Paterson Silk Strike of 1913, their lives change forever. Their daughter, Sophie, is forced to choose between her parents, and the choice leads her to the tenements of New York’s Lower East Side, unlikely friendships, pregnancy, and newfound love. Beyond the Silk Mills, is a compelling saga of family discord, ambition, romance, and regret. The Epstein family’s struggle during the early twentieth century in New York City and Paterson, New Jersey, illuminates the roots of modern feminism and contemporary labor issues. This beautifully written first novel combines meticulous historical research with characters so well developed that you yearn along with them for their dreams. Encompassing World War I, the Silk Strike, the 1918 flu epidemic, and the 1920s, she has created an accurate and charmingly detailed depiction of life as it was then. After reading this novel, any perusal of a history book of that time becomes infused with the trauma and joy evoked by Beyond the Silk Mills .#The Falls Runs Through It-Helen Weiss Pincus, The Jewish Link, Bergen County 11/14/14 "...a beautifully written novel that puts a human face on history... Ms. Rupley does a wonderful job crafting the historical setting and creates a saga that is rich in detail. -Evelyn M. Hershey, Education Director American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark "...Rupley has carefully researched and imaginatively captured the dynamic of the Paterson strike. This is what historical fiction should look like." -Steve Golin, author of The Fragile Bridge: Paterson Silk Strike 1913, Professor of History, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, New Jersey "Rupley's debut novel is rich in warmth, characterization and historical detail... The tension of the silk workers' strike is masterfully demonstrated in Emma's conflicts with her husband and daughter who desire and demand better working conditions. Rupley depicts each period with well-selected detail and creates characters about whom you promptly care." -Joanna H. Kraus, Correspondent, Bay Area News Group; Author, "Remember My Name (Samuel French,) "The Ice Wolf" (Dramatic Publishing) and "A Night of Tamales and Roses" (Shenanigan Books). In Beyond the Silk Mills Rupley spins a compelling saga of family discord, obsessive ambition, and regret. She depicts the Epstein family struggle during the early twentieth century in New York and in Paterson, New Jersey, and through their story, illuminates the roots of modern feminism and contemporary labor issues. As a Jewish immigrant to New Jersey in 1900, Emma dreams of the wealth that will usher her family into high society. She defies the odds for a poor immigrant woman to own a business, and leverages her profits, but at a terrible price. Her husband, Meyer, a longtime socialist, does not share her ambition. Instead, he organizes his comrades for the historic Paterson Silk Strike of 1913, changing their family life forever. "...a beautifully written novel that puts a human face on history... Ms. Rupley does a wonderful job crafting the historical setting and creates a saga that is rich in detail. -Evelyn M. Hershey, Education Director American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark "...Rupley has carefully researched and imaginatively captured the dynamic of the Paterson strike. This is what historical fiction should look like." -Steve Golin, author of The Fragile Bridge: Paterson Silk Strike 1913, Professor of History, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, New Jersey "Rupley's debut novel is rich in warmth, characterization and historical detail... The tension of the silk workers' strike is masterfully demonstrated in Emma's conflicts with her husband and daughter who desire and demand better working conditions. Rupley depicts each period with well-selected detail and creates characters about whom you promptly care." -Joanna H. Kraus, Correspondent, Bay Area News Group; Author, "Remember My Name (Samuel French,) "The Ice Wolf" (Dramatic Publishing) and "A Night of Tamales and Roses" (Shenanigan Books).