On the road.... |
One of the pleasures of book touring at this time of the
year is savoring the beauty of the changing of the season. This week alone, on
visits to Boston , New Jersey , and Long Island (NY), I found
myself looking forward to gulping more mileage on the road just so I could
watch the sun ignite the leaves in the brightest yellow, orange, and red.
Russian living conditions are still so Soviet.... |
Photo credit: Yevgeny Kondakov |
Take a look at this extraordinary photo of a family in a Russian communal
apartment. Even today, almost a quarter century since the fall of communism,
millions of Russians still live in such conditions, with no physical or
emotional privacy. What has deprivation of one’s self done to the Russian
psyche? That is one of the topics I speak about at my many presentations.
Please join me in any of my coming up talks in NY, PA, NJ, FL, MI, and CT, a
schedule that now stretches deep into May 2016.
A peek behind the scene of book publicity: |
Friends who get a closer peek behind the scenes at what my
life is like these days often express amazement at what’s involved. Gone are
the years when an author mailed a manuscript to her agent, then sat down to pen
her next book. The concept of “promotion” doesn’t sound as elegant as
“touring,” but the nitty-gritty is just that. Yes, I am invited for TV
interviews, but how does each such an interview come about--and how does the
video get onto YouTube? Yes, HOTEL MOSCOW garners reviews, but how do reviewers
know about the book and the active links pop up on my website? And what about
the “guest blogging”? These days, rather than review a book, some websites ask
authors to post an interesting essay. That’s a great opportunity for me to
expand on issues related to my novel, but it takes away from penning my next book.
Are you in a book group? Skype with me! |
There is no greater pleasure for
me than to interact with reading groups, which I often do over Skype. In fact,Reading Groups
Choices has selected
HOTEL MOSCOW as one of its featured book groups’ selection for 2016! If your
book group selects HOTEL MOSCOW, please contact me at AuthorTalia@aol.com to
set up the time for me to join online. (If you can't access Skype, the phone
works superbly well.)
What does being Jewish mean to me? |
Some of you have
noticed that I skipped a September issue. It was due to the Jewish holidays. My
non-Jewish friends find it interesting that like me, many Jews are secular,
their Jewish identity well rooted in the traditions but not the faith. Here is
one of my essays on the subject, titled "Jewish
Through and Through." (More essays on topics ranging from the political,
global and social issues to my family life can be read under My Writing.)
"Which of your books shall I read next?" |
“Which of your books shall I read next?” I get this question often from readers who’ve come into my writing via HOTEL MOSCOW, my fourth novel. Since each of my books is entirely different in setting, topic and even voice, I suggest that you read the first chapter of each on my website to help you decide. (Audible versions are available too--including samples.) I promise that no matter which novel you choose, you’re up for an emotional adventure of the “can’t-put-it-down” nature.
The pleasure of sharing your reading with others |
Short of writing your own book,
sharing with others a novel you’ve enjoyed is part of the pleasure of
reading.…Therefore, I have a favor to ask: Please post a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.com, (where you can now pose me a question.) Even a couple of
lines will do for a review, but it gets those mysterious algorithms working.
Onward with this adventure |
And finally, if you’ve missed my previous newsletters, they
are available right here on Talia Tells Tales blog. Just scroll down now!
Judging by the number of clicks they
get, it seems that indeed, readers like you enjoy taking the journey behind the
scene of publishing.
Thank you again,
Talia
Talia Carner
P.S. A librarian reader has sent me this quote by author
William Styron: “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and
slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” That what
she felt about HOTEL MOSCOW—but added that she felt elated and “a better person”
for learning so much.…