Wendy J. Levenfeld
Author • Storyteller • Researcher of Faith & History
Exploring humanity, courage, and destiny through historical fiction.
Wendy J. Levenfeld
Welcome to the official author site of Wendy J. Levenfeld, whose work spans historical fiction, urban drama, and over a decade of thoughtful journalism. From the sacred landscapes of ancient Judea to the complex realities of Chicago’s Southside, Wendy’s writing blends research, lived experience, travel, and emotional truth.
With a background in English and Literature, decades in strategic planning and nonprofit leadership, and travel to all seven continents including over 30 trips to Israel. Wendy’s storytelling is shaped by both knowledge and compassion.
.
Her body of work includes the historical novel Mary – A Girl Who Changed the World, the 2-volume collection One Woman’s World, and the Chicago-based novel A Secret To Remember. These four books are available on Amazon.
Notes from the Near Future
Sign up for Wendy’s monthly newsletter to receive book updates, devotionals, inspirational reflections, and the latest highlights in speculative fiction crafted to nurture your spirit and spark your imagination.
Mary: A girl who changed the world
Imagine being thrown back in time to a place so far from the reality you know, it is almost unimaginable,
into circumstances so out of this world as utterly unbelievable. Then, conjure a girl, certainly not
ordinary but destined to tome extraordinary. A young Jews, Mary, in a in when having
that was anything but a distinction.
Looking at the meager, bare facts that we know (are there any truly verifiable, historic facts?) Mary, an unmarried young woman of Nazareth becomes pregnant in, to put it mildly, mysterious circumstances. She is not abandoned by her betrothed, who is not the father of the baby but rather he stands by her as she gives birth to, by all accounts, an extraordinary child who impacts generations and civilizations for millennia to come.
Imagine all of this to be the reality of your young life, in that in history, in those
circumstances.
“A gripping tale that reimagines Mary as a courageous young woman whose story transcends time”
—Sarah Mitchell
“Wendy brings history to life, making Mary’s journey both relatable and inspiring”
— Daniel Roberts
“A moving and imaginative exploration of one girl’s impact on generations to come. ★★★★”
— Emily Carter
"Mary’s story, as told by Wendy, resonates with hope, courage, and unwavering purpose”
— Michael Johnson
“Historical imagination meets heartfelt storytelling in this unforgettable portrait of Mary”
—Olivia Bennett
“An inspirational journey of bravery, faith, and the remarkable power of choice”
— Jason Miller
“Mary’s extraordinary journey leaps off the page, thanks to Wendy’s compelling narrative”
— Hannah Lewis
“Engaging, thought-provoking, and uplifting a must-read for history and faith enthusiastss ★★★★”
— Christopher Adams
One Women's World : Volume I & II
Find out more about Wendy including her books, where she works and how to contact her
A Secret to Remember
The year is 1974. Chicago is rife with gang wars, corruption, and racial tensions. Dawson Skill Center is an adult education/vocational training facility located in the Robert Taylor Homes, a low-income housing development on Chicago’s Southside.
This is the environment into which recent college graduate Lauren Gates is thrust. She is one of two non-black faces in the entire facility. Naïve and optimistic, she takes a job teaching the GED program firmly convinced that she can make a difference. What she couldn’t know is that one of her students would change her life forever.
From the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy North Shore suburbs of Chicago to the pot smoking college campus scene and on into the desolation, dishonesty and despair of the vertical ghettos of the Southside of Chicago; we follow Lauren on her journey of self-awareness. She is gently aided on that journey by the most unlikely guide; Willie Taylor, one of her students and a man that seems to know exactly what she needs to not only make it through her experience at Dawson Skill Center but to navigate her future as well.