Zack Rogow’s latest work, 'Hugging My Father's Ghost,' takes readers on a journey through grief and discovery.
Lee Rogow, 1948
Through an unconventional exchange with his father’s surviving works, Rogow gains a richer perspective on both his dad and himself
Critics hail Zack Rogow’s 'Hugging My Father's Ghost' as “a moving story of grief, genius, and laughter, beautifully told. And a good read!”— Robert Pinsky, U.S. Poet Laureate 1997–2000, and author of 'Jersey Breaks'BERKELEY, CA, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A fresh revised edition of 'Hugging My Father’s Ghost: A Memoir of a Shortened Life' by Zack Rogow hits shelves on October 6, 2026, courtesy of Cirque Press. In this genre-blending memoir, Rogow attempts to unravel the enigma of a father he barely had the chance to know.
The book has drawn enthusiastic praise from notable poets and authors.
Robert Pinsky, U.S. Poet Laureate 1997–2000, and author of 'Jersey Breaks,' describes it as “a moving story of grief, genius, and laughter, beautifully told. And a good read!”
Phillip Lopate, author and editor of 'The Art of the Personal Essay,' remarks, “a sweetly forlorn recounting of a special time in New York, a zestful collaboration between the living and the dead, an aching tale of loss, and a revelation of secrets and lies that undergirded the author's family dynamics,” adding that “Zack Rogow has gone the distance in this compelling probe.”
Judith Barrington, author of 'Writing the Memoir,' noted, “I could hardly put down this engrossing memoir.”
Lee Rogow, Zack’s father, was a prolific writer whose work appeared widely, served as drama critic for the Hollywood Reporter, was a charismatic fixture in 1950s Manhattan society, commanded a U.S. Navy landing craft during World War II—and perished in a plane crash when Zack was just three years old.
Years after his father’s sudden death, Zack Rogow embarked on an extensive investigation, poring over his father’s texts and the writings of others about him, seeking to comprehend the man he lost. His quest carries him from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to the Fire Island resort scene and beyond, ultimately uncovering long-buried family secrets involving his parents and godparents.
Rogow chose the hybrid memoir format for 'Hugging My Father's Ghost' to craft imagined dialogues between himself and the father he never knew. He also aimed to highlight the finest of Lee Rogow’s output—both pieces published during his lifetime and private stories and journals that stayed hidden for seven decades following his death.
Zack Rogow has authored, edited, or translated over twenty books and theatrical works. His play 'Colette Uncensored' has graced stages at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, as well as in London, Indonesia, Catalonia, San Francisco, and Portland. Among his accolades are the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize and the Lili Fabilli-Eric Hoffer Essay Prize from University of California, Berkeley. His blog, 'Advice for Writers,' boasts 300 posts, and his translations encompass works by Colette, George Sand, André Breton, and Marcel Pagnol.
Earlier in 2026, Rogow released a poetry collection titled 'The Kama Sutra for Senior Citizens and Other Poems on Aging' through UK-based Valley Press. That book drew full-length features in The Guardian and The Times of London, plus interviews on the BBC, Talk Radio Europe, and elsewhere. AARP will showcase the book in its fall print edition, featuring an essay Rogow wrote called 'I Had 75 First Dates Before Finding Love Late in Life.'
'Hugging My Father’s Ghost: A Memoir of a Shortened Life' by Zack Rogow is set for release through all major online booksellers, including Amazon, and can be ordered through local independent bookstores and libraries.
'Hugging My Father’s Ghost: A Memoir of a Shortened Life' by Zack Rogow
New Revised Edition
Print ISBN: 979-8-90333-744-6
Publisher: Cirque Press, Anchorage, AK
Publication Date: October 6, 2026
Susannah Greenberg
Book Buzz by Susannah Greenberg Public Relations
+1 646-801-7477
publicity@bookbuzz.com
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