Jay Amberg's Blog, page 7

THD: Elif and Özlem at Kapıkaya

Elif and her mother, Özlem, argue while hiking at Kapıkaya, the ancient sanctuary dedicated to Cybele, the Earth Mother.

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…Her mother’s obsession with unearthing human artifacts is hers alone; Elif’s work is focused on the earth itself and on creating images that might hold meaning. Their only juncture is ancient sites, like Kapıkaya, that are, at least for her, sacred.…

“But why bring me?” Elif tries to hold her gaze. “Why trick me into coming?”

“Because, my dear,” Boroğlu says, her tone becoming less combative, but still resentful, “you’ve become better at reading the earth than I ever was.”

Elif scrunches her face. She and her mother look at the world far differently—the earth itself, people, life. Everything, it sometimes seems. An artist is not an archeologist. Her mother looks for what is dead and buried; Elif feels for what is living. Her mother searches. In her sculpting, except for the current project, which has required almost a dozen models so far, Elif waits and becomes, at least sometimes, connected—a conduit. “I don’t know about that,” she says finally.

TDH: Elif and Özlem at Kapıkaya

Elif and her mother, Özlem, argue while hiking at Kapıkaya, the ancient sanctuary dedicated to Cybele, the Earth Mother.

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…Her mother’s obsession with unearthing human artifacts is hers alone; Elif’s work is focused on the earth itself and on creating images that might hold meaning. Their only juncture is ancient sites, like Kapıkaya, that are, at least for her, sacred.…

“But why bring me?” Elif tries to hold her gaze. “Why trick me into coming?”

“Because, my dear,” Boroğlu says, her tone becoming less combative, but still resentful, “you’ve become better at reading the earth than I ever was.”

Elif scrunches her face. She and her mother look at the world far differently—the earth itself, people, life. Everything, it sometimes seems. An artist is not an archeologist. Her mother looks for what is dead and buried; Elif feels for what is living. Her mother searches. In her sculpting, except for the current project, which has required almost a dozen models so far, Elif waits and becomes, at least sometimes, connected—a conduit. “I don’t know about that,” she says finally.

Interview: Fran Lewis on Blog Talk Radio

[image error]This upcoming Monday, November 4, I will be talking live with author, reviewer, and all-around hard worker, Fran Lewis. She was one of the first to review The Healer’s Daughters and I’m looking forward to discussing the book with her. The interview is at 9 am Central time; please listen in, here.

THD eBook sale on The Fussy Librarian

Happy Witches’ New Year, as my partner Sarah would say.

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Image from Kate Leth, just because. Her art is fantastic; you can see more here.

[image error] It’s also my mother’s birthday soon. To celebrate, I’m running a sale on The Healer’s Daughters eBook. From November 3rd to 5th, the eBook will be $1.99 on Kindle. Many thanks to The Fussy Librarian for their great work on the promotion.

If you haven’t read my latest thriller novel yet, now is the perfect time to get your copy. Here it is on Amazon. I hope you enjoy it.

THD review on Red Headed Book Lover

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“Stands out amongst the thriller/terrorism genre…unlike anything else…a sensational but unique novel! Twists and turns galore genuinely had me shocked…an immersive, unforgettable reading experience!”

An energetic new review by Aimee Ann, the Red Headed Book Lover. You can read the full article here.

Zion and Bryce National Parks

Right now, I am visiting Zion and Bryce National Parks. Here are a couple photos from their websites. I intend to post my own photos soon.

THD in the Evanston RoundTable

The Healer’s Daughters has received a very nice write-up in the Evanston RoundTable. I have lived in Evanston almost my entire life. You can read the article here; many thanks to Mary Helt Gavin (and to my daughter, Katie, for the link).

THD research photos: Aegean sunsets

The Aegean area itself is a central character in The Healer’s Daughters. The water, the sky, the light…all entranced me. Sunsets like these three were not uncommon, but each was still breathtaking.

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THD: Amulets in the tomb

In The Healer’s Daughters, Elif makes a discovery that could change everything…

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…The skeleton lying on its back was once a wealthy aristocrat, a leading citizen of Pergamon. A bronze box lies on a low marble pedestal near the skeleton’s feet.

Kneeling in front of the box, [Elif] begs for forgiveness. She then lifts the box’s lid, her headlamp shining on the rolls of parchment. When her hand shifts the parchment, the five gold amulets, each worth a fortune, gleam. She picks up the exquisite rendering of Athena. Each line, including the facial features and hands, is precise, close to perfect. Her own work, she fears, isn’t comparable. She squeezes her eyes shut and re-opens them. Still holding the goddess between her thumb and forefinger, she looks about the tomb at the human remains, the rock ceiling, the sealed entrance, the dusty floor.… This amulet, which would seemingly solve her brother’s immediate problem, would create still more grave risks for him and the rest of her family.

THD: Red City Review

[image error]“In The Healer’s Daughters, author Jay Amberg delivers a superb, thrilling work of historical fiction with believable characters and a captivating plot. Full of Turkish traditions, Amberg invites readers to immerse themselves in the country’s culture and customs throughout the story. The Healer’s Daughters’ complex and layered plot—delicately laced with mystery—keeps readers engaged, eager to learn what happens next, and the simple black and white illustrations which appear throughout the book provide helpful glimpses into Bergama and the ancient sites central to Tuğçe’s investigation. The Healer’s Daughters is a uniquely gripping story that will appeal to everyone from history enthusiasts to fans of mysteries and political thrillers.”

Thank you to Red City Review for the excellent new review. You can read more here.