Back in January 2021, when people were still isolating during the COVID epidemic, Shelley Nadel put together and produced a chicken pot pie cooking program on Zoom.

“I had a blast doing this cooking class,” said Nadel.

In her professional life, Nadel is a certified financial planner. “One acquaintance suggested, why not do a food and finance show? Everyone who heard the idea thought it was fantastic, although nobody knew what it entailed,” she said.

“Just as a successful meal requires knowing what you want to cook and the ingredients you will need, financial success relies on understanding all your assets and how they function in tandem,” explained Nadel.

Out of that chicken pot pie video Nadel founded Food & Finance With Shelley. She also authored “The Wealth Recipe: A Culinary Guide to Financial Power.” She will share the story behind her book at this year’s Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival’s Local Literati program on Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m., in the Kaplan Theatre at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC.

Local Literati features presentations by Houston-based authors and followed by book signings. Program headliner this year is Adam Chandler, author of “99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life.”

Most financial industry presentations are boring, says Nadel. Financial planning is serious business, but performance charts are few people’s idea of fun. “In my book, ‘The Wealth Recipe,’ we put financial advice in plain language that people can use. You get a cooking lesson along with financial information.

“For example, one of my first videos was making Mac and Cheese. When you’re making a cheese sauce, you’ve got to pay attention to the sauce, constantly stirring it. It’s the same concept with your 401(k).”

Local Literati is hosted by Gerald Blumenthal. He will present his seventh book, “Inside the Minds of Serial Killers.”

Blumenthal believes the reason so many people are drawn to books, movies and television shows about serial killers is morbid curiosity. “People love to see death in the security of their homes. Cable television keeps showing these shows about crime and criminals and people keep watching.”

In researching his book, Blumenthal found there are common warning signs that most potential serial killers display early in life. These include the killing or persecution of small animals, fire-starting, petty theft, bed-wetting and peeping tom-ism. “It doesn’t mean if you wet your bed, you’ll become a serial killer,” cautions Blumenthal. 

True accounts from Holocaust survivors serve as background for two Local Literati novels. Darlene P. Campos’ “The Center of the Earth,” aimed at middle-graders, tells the story of a daughter of an Ecuadorian diplomat who rescues her Jewish friend in Nazi Germany. Jeff Lefkowitz’s “For Three Lines,” aimed at high schoolers and adults, tells the story of Zionist youth groups that resisted the Nazis in Poland.

Dr. David Sandberg takes readers inside the uncertainty that comes with being a pediatric neurosurgeon in his book, “Brain and Heart.”

Former President and CEO of Sakowitz Robert T. Sakowitz portrays 30 years of transformations in culture, fashion, business and Houston society in “More Than a Store.”

Laurie Bricker remembers the rich life of her grandmother, who was the last known survivor of the 1900 Galveston Storm, in “My Grandmother’s Ring.”

This year’s Local Literati offers our youngest readers a choice of illustrated picture books. Dottie Lee, author of “The Adventures of Frances Flamingo” series, presents her latest, “Rainbows and Roller Skates.” Joy Preble explores the feelings of dislocation kids experience when their family moves to a new city in “Lost and Found Hanukkah.” The bonds between humans and dogs is the subject of Manizeh Mirza-Gruber’s “Mama, I Will Send You a Purple Flower.”

The Family Promecene (Melanie, Chris and their son, Noah) create stories together as a family. In “Claire & the Astronaut,” a first-grader’s life takes a new direction after meeting an astronaut at her school.

The full lineup and tickets to the Jewish Book & Arts Festival (including for the free Literati program) are available at erjcchouston.org/jewish-book-arts-festival.