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Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Early Fall Is Here!
Monday, June 13, 2016
Book tour: What's next?
A frequent question I and other authors are asked is, “What
are you working on now?”
I’ve been pondering why do I get this question more often
than one asking me to give an overview of my previous novels? Why are readers
more interested in yet-unwritten books when there are so many out there crying
to be read?
The answer may lie with interest in the creative process.
How does an author sit down and pours out a 400-page novel, or 110,000 words that
are meaningful, entertaining, and leave a mark—even if that mark is as
transient as an ebb created by a stone thrown into a pond.
That is why, at my event at the East Meadow Jewish Center
(Long Island, NY,) rather than focus on the [fascinating] historical, political
and cultural aspects of Russia and its people during a painful transition time--the
focus of HOTEL MOSCOW--I spoke about, “Take A Skeleton Out Of The Closet—And
Dance With It.”
That speech, covering the breadth of my four published
novels, allowed me to share with the audience the way a social issue grabs me
and doesn’t let go. The subject may ferment in the hinterland of my
consciousness for years, with bits and pieces of exposure or insights feeding
it. Finally, the subject ignites a fire in my belly and demands that I explore
it in depth. I am almost feverish, distracted from my immediate world, as I crawl
under the skin of the protagonist as she learns the tragic realities. Like in a
dream, I see the sights, hear the sounds, smell the aromas, and feel the
emotions. Inevitably, what interests me is the story of the human spirit as it rises
over the forces that shape our lives. That is also when you, the reader, encounter
a memorable protagonist that stays with you and gives you what I call “a good
reading experience.”
In the process of writing, suspense is the key. I take a
page from author Stephen King who fine-tuned this art form into every sentence
and every paragraph. But there is also the larger suspenseful arc of the entire
story. I call it “get the cat on the electric pole, then get the cat off the electric
pole.”
Until I am ready to speak about my novel-in-progress (yes,
there is one,) please turn to any of my
The book tour for
HOTEL MOSCOW continues!
My appearances for HOTEL MOSCOW have been so successful,
with captivated audiences raving about the thought-provoking talks, that invitations
are spilling into a second year. In the second half of 2016 and early 2017 I’ll
be covering mostly Florida and the Northeast,
including Newport , RI
And if your community has a fund-raiser or a meeting that can
benefit from a keynote speaker that engages
and inspires, please contact me or my events coordinator.
Q: How does an author
know that she’s “made it?”
A: When she is asked to endorse a novel in the form of a
blurb to appear on its cover.
Just as I have received endorsements over the years from top
bestselling novelists, it is my duty and
pleasure to give forward by helping
other authors on their way up. I will be forever grateful to Tess Gerritsen,
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Nelson DeMille, Tami Hoag, Andrew Gross and more than a
dozen other successful authors who put aside their precious writing time to
read my manuscripts. By lending their names to my novels they have sent messages
to readers that the new book was “a must-read.”
To such requests recently got my attention—and my full
endorsements. One is a translated novel by an Israeli author, Sarit
Yishai-Levi, “The Beauty Queen of
Jerusalem,” which I found fascinating. It was released last month with my
blurb on the back. (The other will be released in September, so I’m withholding
my announcement until it is available.)
“Discovering” a new
world through HOTEL MOSCOW:
“I loved the book. I learned so much, and I tell everyone
about it.”
Often, a reader who “discovers” a good book can’t wait to
share that experience with friends. Word-of-mouth indeed is the best way for a
book to get traction. That is why, in today’s fragmented marketplace, bloggers
with only a few hundred followers each create a tapestry of devoted readers
that collectively often surpass the effect of a review in a major newspaper
reaching hundreds of thousands. It is the personal testimonial of a reader that
carries trust with other readers.
Therefore, may I ask that you share your reading experience
of HOTEL MOSCOW with the world by posting a review on Amazon or GoodReads? (Even a line or two would
suffice--unless, of course, you want to articulate more.)
Book groups’
reactions to HOTEL MOSCOW:
* “It was fascinating to grasp the nightmare of waking up
one day to a world where all laws have
* “We’ve had the best meeting! The terrifying portrait of a
nation in transition from Communism came to life.”
* “HOTEL MOSCOW taught us all lessons about humanity, about
what we, as people, are capable of.”
Has your group select HOTEL MOSCOW for discussion? Please
contact me, and I will join your meeting via phone or Skype.
My Personal Corner:
Happy post-Mother’s Day to the mothers and grandmothers
among you. My birthday happens to coincide with Mother’s Day, giving me a
double blessing (but some years half the celebration.) Here I am, with the
mothers and grandmothers of my immediate family with our children and
grandchildren--after we excluded the men from the photo.
Thank you all for your great support!
P.S. If you haven't read HOTEL MOSCOW yet, here are links for both the trade
paperback--about $12--or the digital format for under $10.
Or, you may read for free the first chapter of
HOTEL MOSCOW on my website or download a free sample digitally.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Book Tour Reaching New Heights
(If you’ve missed my previous newsletters detailing my
journey
through the release of HOTEL MOSCOW peek behind the scene
by
scrolling down, or clicking on the right bar by month.
And you may read the first chapter of
HOTEL MOSCOW on
my website or download a free sample digitally.)
Readers’ frequent question: What has changed in Russia since
1993?
In the new Russia ,
young people enjoy new business and career opportunities, while restaurants are
now store-front (formerly hidden in basements or second floors and accessed only
by a code knock.) Businesses cater to consumers' needs--an unheard of concept
before 1991. Yet, dozens of industrial cities are as bleak and hopeless as
before. Even in the beautiful St. Petersburg, millions of Russians still live
in the iconic Soviet kommunalka, the communal apartment, where a family of
three may occupy a room as small as 7 x10 ft.—and shares a toilet, bath and
kitchen with five to ten other families. (Photo: Notice the bed hung under the
ceiling.)
 |
| Professor Terry Walker |
News!!!
2)  |
| With organizers and author David Greene, |
3) I’ve had the honor of being the very first author at the
very first literary event at the first year of the Collier County (FL) Jewish
Book Festival. I’ve been to many similar events, and I must say that this one
was so well organized it was hard to believe that they worked without a prior
blueprint.
4) Two more blogger
interviews were just published. In the changing world of publishing, the aggregate
of bloggers have replaced mainstream book reviewers with their collective impact.
Each gathers followers who share similar tastes, and the questions
they pose in
their interviews reflect the readers’ curiosity. Read Mercedes Fox and Sylvie
Books & Film (and check for more Q & A on my website.)My pleasure of meeting other authors
 |
| With Sonia Taitz |
Where do authors hobnob? While most of my appearances are
keynote speeches where I am alone on stage, I greatly enjoy events I share with
other authors. Sometimes it’s consecutive presentations, other times we share a
panel that focuses on specific topics. It’s my chance to connect with other
authors.
Three such events are coming up—two panels in Tucson Book
Festival, and a panel I will be moderating in Long Island , NY
o “What a meeting we had! The terrifying portrait of a nation
in transition from Communism came to life in the novel of a world superpower
undergoing a profound and violent change.”
o “We hadn’t imagined
the misery of life under Soviet totalitarian regime. It was even harder to
grasp the nightmare of waking up one day to a world where all laws have been
obliterated.”
o “HOTEL MOSCOW taught us
all lessons about humanity, about what we, as people, are capable of.”
Please contact me to join your meeting via phone or Skype.
My Personal corner:
Readers and interviewers often ask: What do you do besides
writing? The answer is: A lot. Here are a couple of items:
1) Toastmasters:
Being a member of Toastmasters—the organization that teaches
public speaking engages me through
I often listen to people in business or leadership deliver
well enough, yet they are unaware how much they could still benefit from
feedback. I suggest you search for your local clubs and come as a guest. You’ll
be hooked.
2) Study French:
In my youth I attended a French high school in Tel-Aviv and
was fluent in the language—I even wrote French poetry. However, I gave myself a
virtual lobotomy when I moved to the
One day, though, Esther, the protagonist of JERUSALEM MAIDEN
ran off to Paris ,
and I had to follow her. Unlike my many visits to Paris since my youth, this time I had to
research libraries and interview historians. Now I make time to recoup my lost
French through an online program, Frantastique, that is both humorous and
effective. (Try it for a free trial month at any level.)
Thank you again for
sharing this publishing journey with me. I hope to see you in any of my
upcoming dozens
of events, or via Skype at your book group
meeting.
P.S. If you’ve read HOTEL MOSCOW, please post a review on Amazon or GoodReads. (Even a line or two would suffice--unless, of course, you want to articulate more.)
P.S.S. If you haven't read the novel yet, here are links for both the trade paperback--about $11--or the digital format for under $10.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Some fun book tour highlights of 2015:
Starting 2016 with a bang!
For my first of many keynote speaking events scheduled for
the coming months, at Hadassah Cascades in Florida , I’ve had the pleasant task of
pre-autographing all the 190 copies of my novel, HOTEL
MOSCOW! It was included in the price of the
brunch, and as always, my talk was not about the book itself but rather about
issues relating to its background. (Organizers can choose from 4 suggested
topics.)
Please check the list of many events coming up in Florida,
Arizona, New York and New Jersey, and
hopefully you’ll join me. (If
you read the
testimonials you'll see why my presentations
are not to be missed.)
Some fun highlights of 2015:
In my December newsletter I promised to highlight some of the many memorable/ unusual activities surrounding my book launch of HOTEL MOSCOW. It's hard to pick just a few from the series of events starting with the celebrity-studded book launch party at the Manhattan's famous Friars Club to the exhilarating luncheons and dinners where I connected with appreciative readers. I love the TV and radio interviews, which I invite you to watch/listen. But here is a look at "behind-the-scene":
1) A tasty morsel to go with the novel: The request for a recipe to for a
book-group meeting in which the novel is discussed brought out my culinary
creativity. So here is my
recipe for a Blini Caviar. It's easy to make for your next book meeting--and
please remember to contact me to Skype your book discussion! 
2) HOTEL MOSCOW was honored with the USA Books
News award in the multi-cultural category.
3) Authors’ endorsements:
The blurbs that HOTEL MOSCOW received from NYT bestselling
authors were the ultimate
4) Reviews:
As an author I toil in solitude and silence for about 5
years on each novel. Then comes the Big Bang
when the story is thrust out to
the world and is embraced by both taste-makers and readers. Both ends of the
process—the lonesome creative and its ultimate public reception—are equally
satisfying, especially when my latest “baby” has received accolades such as:
“Stunning,” “A compelling narrative,” “Gripping,” “Unflinching
and unforgettable,” "Skilled and vivid writing," "Fascinating,"
"An ambitious, timeless story," "Intriguing," “An
eye-opening exposé ,” "Awesome," “Thought-provoking,” “A
can’t-put-it-downer,” “Action-packed,
steamy and suspenseful,” “A moving, poignant, and heartening novel.”
All describe what I had sought to achieve in writing HOTEL
MOSCOW.
5) Mah-Jongg tournament:
At a Book & Author luncheon in
6) HOTEL MOSCOW in Costco!
In its month-long run, the novel did so well that Costco continued the promotion for two more weeks.
From my very personal diary:
Some of you know that my husband, Ron, is the president
of Maccabi USA. Over
Christmas/ New Year we had the extraordinary experience of attending the Maccabi Pan-Am Games
in Santiago , Chile ,
where the USA
brought 400 Jewish athletes to compete against over 20 teams. It is a highly
effective cultural- and Jewish-identity program that brings dispersed Diaspora
communities together. It was a chance for me to reconnect with South-American
friends I've made these past 30 years.
Finally,
In thanking you all, I’d like to offer you bookmarks. Many
readers appreciate them, and I can send up to 30 at a time. Please write me at AuthorTalia@aol.com , and I will be
delighted to mail them to you.
Thanks again, and wishing you all a great 2016!
Talia Carner
www.TaliaCarner.com
P.S. If you’ve read HOTEL MOSCOW, please post a review on Amazon or GoodReads. (Even a line or two would
suffice--unless, of course, you want to articulate more.) If you haven't read
the novel yet, here are links for both
the trade paperback--about $12--or the digital format.
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