Even with the end in sight?----(Winter 2021 newsletter)

 

--resuming our lives will be different....

Having received my second shot (Pfizer, in Florida), I should be looking toward the end of the road. Yet, I can't envision a life in which I will sit in a theater, enjoying the talent while ignoring the person coughing behind me, attending a crowded gala, or not wearing a mask in the street. And when will I resume international travel?

What I do envision is how we will come out of this experience open-eyed, regrouped--and somewhat different. We've already shed marginal involvements and have sought new meanings. Time to plan for brighter days that focus on what's important....

Life in Florida....

It has taken me a long time to shed my guilt over enjoying beach weather in this "forever-Sundays" land, while my family and friends up north are freezing--until I realized that my guilt did not change the weather there....

While I spend long days on the computer, I do take a break in the late afternoons for nature walks. And there is so much to see here--tropical birds and trees against the blue sea reveal themselves in endlessly surprising and breathtaking sights.

Get ready: March is Women's History Month!

                                                       And what history do we, women, have!

Some of my novels tell unique stories of women's history: JERUSALEM MAIDEN (lives of Jewish women in traditional Jerusalem, entrusted with the impossible mission of saving world Jewry), HOTEL MOSCOW (the trials and challenges for Russian women during transition from communism), and THE THIRD DAUGHTER (exposing our most painful chapter of legal sex trafficking).

Autographing is back! 

Some communities are bringing back the old-fashioned autographing to complement their Zoom programming.

Here, I've had the pleasure of signing dozens of copies of THE THIRD DAUGHTER in my own dining room. (Ordered by the venue from HarperCollins, which shipped the books to me. Then, after signing them--and sticking my signature bookmark in each--I shipped the boxes to the destination.)

Zooming along! 

Since March 2020, I've presented at over 150 communities across the USA (and have met with over 120 book clubs)!

Civic, educational, cultural and religious organizations are engaging their members with thought-provoking lectures. My presentations about the background of THE THIRD DAUGHTER are accompanied with slides of rare photos that deepen the understanding of the time and place.

Word-of-mouth about my talks is buzzing. Testimonials call them "brilliant," "intelligent," "most engaging," "best speaker," "extraordinary," "vivid," and "off the charts!"

If you're considering an outreach program for your membership, please contact my event coordinator, Helaine Denenberg, at MecoxHudson@gmail.com (617)329-5651 for our flyer of speaking topics.

The Jewish Book Council choice: THE THIRD DAUGHTER is among its 16 recommendations for book clubs in 2021!

(Click to download JBC 2021 guide.)

Over 120 clubs have enjoyed my book club group meetings in which we discuss "spoilers"--plot, characters, moral dilemmas, dynamics of relationships, religious practices--and the novel's ending. (Click the Reader's Guide for great questions.)

If your club wishes to participate, please write to me at AuthorTalia@aol.com (and include the number of expected attendees, your location, etc.)

What are you working on? 

That's a frequent question from readers. Unfortunately, I discovered that answering it locked me psychologically--as if to a promise--before a novel has found its groove.

All I can reveal now (while editing pages on the beach), is that the story is set in France and it opens two interesting chapters in our history, yet unexplored in fiction. Research for this book has been extensive: Four pre-pandemic trips to France, over 20 fascinating interviews, and the studying of two dozen books in English and French.

Yet I can't even report when this book will be done since I do not set a deadline for myself (nor do I pre-sign a contract with my publisher). I let the words flow, for the plot to unspool, and for the prose to become both textured and nuanced...

Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! 

Each week I receive heart-warming emails from readers. There is no greater pleasure for an author than to share her work with an appreciative audience.

I am looking forward to a promising 2021--and to connecting with you through the spoken and written word, a gift that no pandemic and its aftermath can snatch away from us!

Stay safe!

Talia

www.TaliaCarner.com

AuthorTalia@aol.com 

P.S.  reminder to post reviews as your gift to any author who's given you hours of engagement--a romantic beach fun, a nail-biting murder mystery, or a heart-wrenching psychological suspense. (Here are the links to post reviews for THE THIRD DAUGHTER on Amazon and GoodReads.)

P.P.S. If you have not yet read THE THIRD DAUGHTER, please check the first chapter on my website. I encourage you to support your local indie store, but it is also available on B&N,  Amazon, and iTunes--as well as in  LARGE PRINT!

We have a winner! Both the novel and the book group of the month!

(Note: This blog was sent to the mailing list in early December 2019) WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! "THE THIRD DAUGHTER" book clubs' monthly promotion:

We have the first drawing of a winner!  South Beach Book Club (Florida) has had a wonderful event into which I also Skyped. This group photo was drawn from several others submitted, and the group won the beautiful shawl, a replica of the one worn by the protagonist on the cover of THE THIRD DAUGHTER. Please continue to mail me your book club photos--and please contact me ahead of time to schedule a Skype visit, at AuthorTalia@aol.com . I often join at the second part of the meeting, after the members have had a chance to discuss the book on their own, exchange opinions and bring up some questions. There is no greater pleasure for an author than to share her work with appreciative audience, and I encourage you to contact not only me, but try other authors (via their websites.) I am certain that, time permits, many of my fellow novelists would be delighted to hear from you. No less important, of course, are your reviews. Amazon and GoodReads--as well as your favorite social media venues--are great places to post even a couple of lines of your impressions and let other readers know.

The mind-boggling historical secret revealed--and the surprising inspiration for the novel!

Set in the late 1800s in Buenos Aires, THE THIRD DAUGHTER is a story of a young Jewish woman lured under false promise of marriage from Russia to South America, where she's forced into prostitution. With faith and fortitude, she struggles to free herself, while trying to bring down the powerful traffickers' ring. Historically true, THE THIRD DAUGHTER was inspired by Sholem Aleichem's short story, The Man from Buenos Aires, that appeared in the same collection as Tevye the Dairyman. I invented the story of one of Tevye's daughters after the family flees a pogrom (--a sequel to Fiddler on the Roof.) They meet this mysterious, shady man, who lures the daughter from Russia to Argentina with a false promise of marriage--only to force her into a brothel.   Zwi Migdal was a legal union of traffickers headquartered in Buenos Aires, that operated with impunity for 70 years. THE THIRD DAUGHTER is a tribute to the estimated over 150,000 Jewish girls and women whose haunting voices impelled me to tell their truth.... But as the iconic Phyllis Chesler writes in her endorsement, the novel has "a satisfying, redemptive ending!"

A 1925 film dramatizing a cargo of "brides" heading from Russia to South America. (Source: "Jewish Luck," by director Alexis Granowsky.)

HOTEL MOSCOW (my previous novel) is Amazon Kindle's choice--at only $1.99 !

What a great compliment to the sustainability of this novel of Russia emerging from communism--and the effects of corruption on its people, particularly women--that Amazon has singled out this award-winning novel for Kindle's discounted monthly promotion! Here is what NYT bestselling authors said about HOTEL MOSCOW when it was released in 2015: "...Hotel Moscow is a finely-drawn tale of a country emerging from its dark Soviet past into a present overshadowed by a new kind of terror and lawless corruption that will keep the reader mesmerized.... A wonderful evocation of time and place and an insightful post-Cold War thriller which reminds us that in Russia the more that changes, the more that stays the same.” -- Nelson DeMille author of Radiant Angel “With the urgency of a thriller and the sharp, atmospheric lens of a great documentary, HOTEL MOSCOW hurls you into the vortex of  the corrupt, outlaw world of the Soviet Union morphing into modern Russia. A fascinating and ultimately, gripping read!" -- Andrew Gross, author of One Mile Under "Talia Carner sweeps us away along with her brave and determined heroine to an exotic and complex time and place, and keeps us riveted with the tension and dangers of international intrigue. A real page-turner!" -- Tami Hoag, author of Cold Cold Heart  TO DOWNLOAD $1.99  HOTEL MOSCOW, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Please join me for an engaging literary event:

I do not do "readings," but rather deliver thought-provoking talks about the social issues behind each of my novels. Audiences and event organizers find them "enriching," "extraordinary," "engaging," "superbly performed," "eye-opening," and "unforgettable."  (You may check testimonials here.)

BNC Hartford (CT) Chapter, October 2019 My book tour for THE THIRD DAUGHTER continues. In the coming months you'll find me in New York Metro and Florida. For registration information (some events are limited to members,) please check my Book Tour page.  Tuesday, January 7, 2029, 7:00 PM Women’s League Book Club B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th Street Boca Raton, FL Tuesday, January 21st, 2020, 10 AM Trustees luncheon Jewish Women Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches Temple Beth El West Palm Beach Monday, February 10, 2020, 11:30 AM Brandeis National Committee (BNC) Treasure Coast Chapter 21st Annual Literary Luncheon Island Dunes Country Club Jensen Beach, FL Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 1:30 PM Hadassah-Brandeis Institute (HBI) Conversations Sarasota, FL Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 12:00 noon Ponte Vecchio 7050 Catania Dr. Boynton Beach, FL Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 9:30 AM & 1:30 PM “Conversations with Jewish Women Writers” Jewish Federation of the Palm Beaches Friedman Center for Jewish Education Palm Beach Country Club Palm Beach, FL Thursday, February 27, 2020, 1:30 PM “Conversations with Jewish Women Writers” Jewish Federation of the Palm Beaches Friedman Center for Jewish Education Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club Palm Beach, FL Friday, March 6, 2020, 10:00 AM Annual Book & Author Luncheon Brandeis National Committee Wellworth, Wellington, Wycliffe, Delray and Trails Chapters Wycliffe Golf Club & Country Club Wycliffe, FL Sunday, March 8, 2020, 5:30 PM Galbut Family Miami Beach JCC 4221 Pine Tree Drive Miami Beach, FL Thursday, March 19, 2020, 9:30 AM Hadassah Valencia Reserve Boynton Beach, FL Friday, March 20, 2020, 12:30 PM (TBC) United Nations Commission on the Status of Women UN Building, New York, NY Sunday, March 22, 2020, 10:00 AM Book & Author Event Neve Shalom 250 Grove Ave, Metuchen, NJ Monday, March 23, 2020, 3:00 PM Peninsula Public Library 280 Central Ave Lawrence, NY Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 5:30 PM Jewish Women’s Foundation of Boca Raton Boca Raton, FL Sunday, April 19, 2020, 11:30 AM Temple Israel of New Rochelle 100 Pinebrook Blvd New Rochelle 10804 Wednesday, April, 22, 2020, 8:15 PM Sisterhood East Meadow Jewish Center East Meadow, (Long Island) NY Thursday, April 23, 2020, 10:30 AM Sid Jacobson JCC East Hills, (Roslyn, Long Island,) NY For registration, please click. Sunday, May 3, 2020, 9:00 AM Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood 1901 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Thursday, May 7, 2020, 11:00 AM Hadassah Nassau Region Rockville Centre, LI Saturday, May 9, 2020, 1:00 PM Port Washington Library 1 Library Drive, Port Washington, NY Wednesday, May 13, 2020,  11:30 AM (TBD) Commack Hills Hadassah Dix Hills Jewish Center 555 Vanderbilt Parkway Dix Hills, NY Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 3:00 PM (novel: JERUSALEM MAIDEN) Après Midi Café Le Marais Paris Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 2:00 PM Glen Cove Library 4 Glen Cove Ave, Glen Cove, NY Thursday, June 18, 2020, 11:30 AM BOOK & AUTHOR Migdal Hadassah North Shore Towers Little Neck, NY Sunday, July 12, 2020, 3:00 PM John Jermain Memorial Library 201 Main Street Sag Harbor, NY  (To schedule an event with me, please contact my event coordinator, Lisa Bernard at MecoxHudson@gmail.com or (203)919-8406 )

Thank you for your interest and support--and wishing you a great holiday season! Talia www.TaliaCarner.com P.S. You may read the first chapter of THE THIRD DAUGHTER on my website--and of course, order at your local indie store, on B&N, Amazon, and iTunes. P.P.S. The novel is available also in LARGE PRINT!

THE THIRD DAUGHTER broke out of the gate!!!

It's my new baby!!! On September 3rd, HarperCollins released the novel and joined me in hosting an exciting party at the NYC Friars Club. In attendance were my publishing team, journalists, celebrities, authors--and representatives of anti-sex-trafficking organizations.

A fascinating story never before told!

THE THIRD DAUGHTER was inspired by Sholem Aleichem's short story, The Man from Buenos Aires, that appeared in the same collection as Tevye the Dairyman. I invented the story of one of Tevye's daughters as the family flees a pogrom (--a sequel to Fiddler on the Roof.) They meet this mysterious, shady man, who lures the daughter from Russia to Argentina with a false promise of marriage-- only to force her into a brothel.   Zwi Migdal was a legal union of traffickers headquartered in Buenos Aires, that operated with impunity for 70 years. THE THIRD DAUGHTER is a tribute to the estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Jewish girls and women whose haunting voices impelled me to tell their truth.... But as one reviewer writes, the novel has "a satisfying, redemptive ending!"

Bloggers are raving about the novel:

Bloggers who received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of THE THIRD DAUGHTER have posted enthusiastic reviews and recommended the novel to their followers.  They also take creative photos of the book! Here are some quotes: "...this novel had me hooked until the very last page...! Carner’s storytelling ability was fantastic and you will feel like you are right in the middle of Buenos Aires...." --Girly Book Club "This novel is as gripping as her previous books…. I found myself wanting to know what would happen next. The book was well written and the main character was easy to admire…" --Doing Dewey Decimal "Carner has done wonderful research to bring us this important and unforgettable story of exploitation and empowerment….She is an excellent story-teller who brings history and imagination together to fictionalize the true history of young Jewish girls who were forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires." --Amos Lassen "...it was moving without being too sentimental or emotional…. Carner captured the atmosphere of Buenos Aires and Batya’s despair and fortitude...." --Julz Reads "Talia Carner has written a raw, heartbreaking, disturbing, and important story….it is engaging and entertaining …. Batya was such a sympathetic character..." --Audio Killed The Bookmark Please click for more reviews.

Book clubs' promotion

A good book club selection is one that is more than well-written. It must provoke thinking and be a superb conversation starter. The social issue of sex-trafficking and the historical secret revealed in THE THIRD DAUGHTER are guaranteed to generate a lively discussion. In the coming months, any group that sends a photo of members holding their copies of the novel (or showing the digital covers) will participate in a monthly drawing of a replica of the Spanish embroidered shawl worn by the model on the cover of the book, an outfit that followed the description of Batya's clothes.  (The group that wins the magnificent shawl may pre-decide who will be its final owner--the hostess? A birthday girl? One who reached a fund-raising goal?) Of course, I will be delighted to Skype or phone into the meeting. Please write to me at AuthorTalia@aol.com to schedule--and/or to send your photo.

My anti sex-trafficking campaign.

While THE THIRD DAUGHTER takes place in the late 1800s, the methods used by traffickers today are, sadly, the same. Human misery increases the supply of desperate girls and women (and some boys) eager to believe the promise of "America." But 1/3 of traffic victims are USA-born, with recruitment age being 12-14 years old! I've teamed up with about 20 anti-sex-trafficking organizations that deal with the many aspects of sex-trafficking. A page on my website explains the problem in detail and offers links to activism. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING to fight it in your own backyard! Event organizers who invite me to keynote may ask me to use the stage to educate their audience about the roles of airlines, schools, businesses, hotels, sports arenas, prisons and banks in sex trafficking—and in the efforts to abolish it. (Or, they may choose other aspects of the novel as described below.)

What if the subject is just too much for our audience?

Another fascinating backstory of THE THIRD DAUGHTER is the little-known history of Argentine Jewry. How did Argentina become the third largest Jewish community in the world?  It is due to the vision and unprecedented benevolence of one man, Baron Maurice de Hirsch, who, in the 1880s, bought the freedom of hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Czar. He bought huge tracts of land in Argentina, established agricultural colonies, and shipped the beleaguered Jews to their new home.  And then there is the larger topic of the creative process: Readers often ask me how do stories find me? And what do I do once they implant their seeds in my brain? The answer: I take a skeleton out of the closet and dance with it. The skeleton being the many social issues around the globe that vie for attention. Please discuss the topics with my Events Coordinator, Lisa Bernard, at MecoxHudson@gmail.com or (203)919-8406

Don't miss my upcoming appearances:

Here are the events in Fall 2019 in NY, NJ,and PA. Please check my Book Tour page for winter 2020 in Florida, and spring 2020 in Metro New York and Maryland/ Washington DC (--and keep checking periodically for additional events.) Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 11:30 AM Book & Author Luncheon Women’s Club of Glen Cove Sea Cliff Yacht Club 42 The Blvd, Sea Cliff, NY 11579 BY INVITATION ONLY Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 7:00 PM Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Brandeis University Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building 515 South Street, Waltham, MA OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (RSVP: NLeonard@brandeis.edu (781)736-8110) Thursday, October 3, 2019, 10:00 AM 20th Anniversary Celebration The Miriam Fund Combined Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Boston Hebrew College 160 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA BY INVITATION ONLY Wednesday, October 16, 2019, 11:30 AM Annual Fundraising Literary Luncheon Brandeis National Committee Greater Hartford Golf Club of Avon 160 Country Club Rd, Avon, CT 06001 OPEN TO PUBLIC (Pre-registration required) Wednesday, October 16, 2019, 7:00 PM “Meet The Author” Mark Twain Library Redding, CT PUBLIC INVITED! Thursday, October 24, 2019, 7:00 PM Book Club discussion BookMark Shoppe 8415 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 Thursday, November 7, 2019 1:00 PMLiterary Tea in honor of Jewish Book Month Main Line Reform Temple/ Beth Elohim 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 7:00 PM Stamford Hadassah & Beth-El Sisterhood Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Road, N. Stamford, CT Sunday, November 17, 2019, 11:30 AMBook & Author Luncheon Nathan Cember Memorial Lecture Series Congregation Sons of Israel (CSI) Nyack, NY Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 10:00AM Book Discussion, THE THIRD DAUGHTER Blue Door Books 501 Central Ave, Cedarhurst, NY Sunday, December 15, 2019, 10:00 AM Literary event  Merrick Jewish Center 225 Fox Blvd Merrick, NY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 9:30 AM Bagel & Book Hadassah The Cascades (and others) Clubhouse at the Cascades 6601 Cascades Isle Blvd, Boynton Beach, FL Don't see an event in your area? Organize one, or ask your JCC, synagogue, civic and educational organization to invite me. (JCCs and some synagogues are members of the Jewish Book Council, and can be booked through it.) And/or contact my events coordinator, Lisa Bernard at MecoxHudson@gmail.com , (203)919-8406

Ready for a literary adventure?

If you haven't yet read THE THIRD DAUGHTER, please order your copy in any format—print, digital, audio or LARGE PRINT. (All my novels are published as trade paperback to keep the price down.) Please ask your library, too, to add it to their list. Either way, I have lots of bookmarks for you and your friends. Please write to me at AuthorTalia@aol.com.

Thank you for your interest and support, Talia www.TaliaCarner.com  P.S. You may read the first chapter of THE THIRD DAUGHTER on my website--and of course, order at your  local indie store, on B&N,  Amazon, and iTunes.

Spring is here!

I once heard Chuck Adams, a Simon & Schuster veteran editor, say about a good book: “It’s like in sex. If you are a good lover, you have a good time, but your partner has a better time.” As you can see in my photo, I am having a great time….

Spring has sprung, and with it a sense of renewal as my most recent novel, HOTEL MOSCOW, continues to make waves. The novel has received two great awards, the first, from USA Book News in the multicultural category. The second, The Book Excellence Award in the THRILLER category now has this digital seal!

No wonder!  The “thriller” part is what’s happening in Russia; it’s in the news often, and readers’ minds are stimulated when learning from HOTEL MOSCOW how the culture is still seeped in the Soviet mentality that makes the 25-year transition from communism so painful….


In the meantime, as I continue my public speaking, I’ve been greatly helped by my Toastmasters’ clubs, where I keep receiving these precious ribbons. Most importantly, Toastmasters has given me a community wherever I go. (Anyone who is in the public eye or needs to speak on the job should visit the local Toastmasters club to get the feel.)






Just as my book tour was supposed to end, new invitations have been coming my way. I’m finding myself re-energized by the great audiences. We are adding events, so please check my website for new ones that are in the process of being finalized in NY, NJ, AZ and FL!

Here, having fun with NYT bestselling author, Barbara Shapiro ("The Muralist," "The Art Forger") with whom I shared the stage in the Polo Club, Boca Raton (FL). In this photo we are comparing our opposing footwear....




Just as HOTEL MOSCOW is often being selected by book clubs, my previous novels are going strong too, leading by JERUSALEM MAIDEN. I Skype with groups often, so if you know of a book club among your friends, please suggest that they contact me at AuthorTalia@aol.com to schedule my participation. Needless to say, it adds a whole new dimension to have the author available to add to the discussion.


After hours of pleasure authors give you, you can do something for them—and I take the liberty of speaking on behalf of all of us who toil at the craft: Post reviews. Sometimes just a couple of lines would do.
Not surprisingly, authors whose readers are younger tend to get more digital reviews than authors whose readers are less engaged with internet sites and activities. I urge you to “act young” and post reviews for books you’ve enjoyed. (Here are my links for HOTEL MOSCOW on Amazon and GoodReads.)




There is no greater pleasure for an author than to share her work with appreciative audience. Thank you for taking this journey with me!

Thank you for your great support—and have a great Spring!

Talia
www.TaliaCarner.com

Early Fall Is Here!

Book tour takes me to magical places....

I accepted the invitation to present at Hadassah in Newport, RI for the chance to travel across the Long Island Sound by three ferries--always a delightful treat on a bright August day. My husband and I arrived the evening before to enjoy a seafood dinner in the heart of the tourist area in the marina. What a wonderful sunset! It felt just as magical when, the following day, over a sold-out luncheon of 200 attendees, I presented the background of HOTEL MOSCOW (to a great applause!)

My appearances continue into 2017!!!!

I love public speaking almost as much as I love writing--and apparently it shows, because invitations to keynote events are spilling into a second year of book touring for HOTEL MOSCOW. Long Island, Florida and New Jersey, here is my list of upcoming events confirmed. (If registration contact is not posted, please contact me directly.) Saturday, October 15, 2016, 12:00 PM American Association of University Women Smithtown Branch Voila, The Bistro, 244 Lake Avenue St. James, NY OPEN TO PUBLIC ($55.00/ Pre-registration required at caftiwalsh@yahoo.com) Thursday, October 20, 2016, 11:30 AM  Seaport Hadassah Chapter Annual Book & Author luncheon 1 Jefferson Ferry Drive, S. Setauket, NY 2017 Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 7:30 PM  36th Annual Miami Jewish Book Festival Alper JCC Berrin Family Futernick Art Gallergy 11155 S.W. 112th Ave., Miami, FL 33176 PUBLIC EXPRESSLY INVITED Wednesday, January 18, 2017, time TBD Fountains Country Club 4476 Fountains Drive Lake Worth, FL Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 10:30 AM  Yaffa Hadassah Valencia Shore 7751 Valencia Shore Drive Lake Worth, FL 33467 Thursday, March 9, 2017, 10:15 AM  Lunch & Learn Polo Club of Boca Raton 5400 Chamption Blvd Boca Raton, FL PUBLIC INVITED (pre-registration required.) Thursday, May 4th, 2017, 11:30 AM  Book and Author Luncheon Brandeis National Committee Middlesex NJ chapter Pine Manor, 2085 Rt. 27 Edison, NJ 08817 PUBLIC INVITED (pre-registration required.) (If your community or organization is having an event and needs an engaging speaker, please have them check the testimonials--and contact me Sharing the stage with other authors.... Readers are sometimes surprised that their favorite authors have not met in person, forgetting that most often we don't all live in the same neighborhood.... That's why I enjoy sharing the stage at some literary events with another author (or two,) whose works I admire.  This year I've had the pleasure of meeting in person bestselling authors B.A. Shapiro, David Greene, Lynn Cullen, Charlie Lovett, Jillian Cantor, Pam Jenoff, Ellen Meister, Naomi Eve, and Brenda Janowitz. (Photo, with Ellen Meister, author of the bestseller, "Dorothy Parker Drank Here.")

My previous novel, JERUSALEM MAIDEN has done it again!

In August, my previous novel, JERUSALEM MAIDEN was listed in Amazon Movers & Shakers. Once again--five years after its release(!)--it made it again to the top 100 digital list! I thank you all, devoted readers, who continue to share the buzz around. Many of you have asked for a sequel. I'm working on it in my head, since that story needs to brew.... (In the meantime I am hard at work on my 5th novel that, once again, tells a heart-wrenching--and mind-boggling--story that has barely been touched in fiction before.)

MOSCOW is hot!

Every day, news of global events continue to take center stage. Readers of HOTEL MOSCOW report how they better understand the Soviet psyche as it seeps into today's event. (Check the video book trailer.) This is most often the topic of my presentations titled, "Russia: When the rug was pulled out" or "The morning after: When a nation wakes up to 'Democracy'."

Happy [Jewish] New Year!

To all my Jewish friends and readers, let's hope that the coming year be one of sanity and peace, one of openness and common-sense.... Thank you everyone for your support and for sharing my publishing journey, Talia Talia Carner www.TaliaCarner.com

P.S. If you haven't yet read HOTEL MOSCOW, here are links  for both the trade paperback--about $13--or the digital format. You may read the first chapter on my website or download a digital sample.