Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 159

Modern Take on a Biblical Story

Lovely new review for my novel, A Peek at Bathsheba:

5 Modern Take on a Biblical Story, August 4, 2015
By Loves To ReadThis review is from: A Peek at Bathsheba (The David Chronicles Book 2) (Kindle Edition) I'm a fan of historical fiction and have a soft spot for biblical fiction. In this second book of Poznansky's series about David, I was drawn to to beautiful imagery and characterization of historical figures I know so well from the Bible. What stuck me most about "Bathsheba" was the humanity of those characters and how under Poznansky's care, David became "real" for me. The author's unique perspective on time period drew me in, making me believe she had first hand knowledge of the conversations between David and Bathsheba which felt both biblical and contemporary at the same time. What made the book so enjoyable was that I connected to David as a person, a human with mortal faults and weaknesses, just like me. He questioned himself and his loyalty to God, all the while struggling with the power of sin. Outside of the Bible, within in the context of this series, David (and Bathsheba) are still both holy and worthy of reverence, but are also people in need of our empathy and understanding. Bravo. Highly recommend to historical fiction lovers, especially those who enjoy novels like The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.

Cover reveal: My Own Voice

I have just finished designing the cover for my upcoming novel,  My Own Voice , which is volume I of my series, Still Life with Memories. It is already available for preorder--get it now!

Here is what the story is about:

Ten years ago, when she was seventeen, Anita started an affair with Lenny, in spite of knowing that he was a married man. Now married to him and carrying his child, she finds herself condemned to compete with Natasha’s shadow, the memory of her brilliance back in her prime, before she succumbed to early-onset Alzheimer’s. Despite Anita’s lack of education, her rough slang, and what happened to her in the past, Lenny tries to transform her. He wants her to become Natasha. 

Faced with his compelling wish, and the way he writes her as a character in his book, how can Anita find a voice of her own? And when his estranged son, Ben, comes back and lives in the same small apartment, can she keep the balance between the two men, whose desire for her is marred by guilt and blame? 

Note:  My Own Voice  and  The White Piano  are woven together into my novel,   Apart from Love .


★ Love reading? Get this series ★
Still Life with Memories

Volume I & II, woven together: Apart from LoveEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible

Volume I: My Own VoiceEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume II: The White PianoEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume III: The Music of UsEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
“Liberally salted with buttery smooth prose & fascinating insights”

Poetry in pictures

I am thrilled to find a truly perceptive review for my children's book, Now I Am Paper, written by top Amazon reviewer and author Sheila Deeth. In addition to her novel, Divide by Zero, she has written The Five Minute Bible Story Series, and other books. With a Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University, England, she is a a top reviewer for Amazon, Goodreads, Gather and other reading sites. This is what she says:

Poetry in picturesBy Sheila Deeth VINE VOICE on August 11, 2015Format: Kindle Edition
Now I am Paper, by Uvi Poznansky, begs to be read with a small child who enjoys playing hide and seek. Whose little foot would the tree like to feel? Who would it love to hold and swing? And who might climb?

Pictures in beautifully suffused light evoke a happy childhood time, for child and tree. But the life of a tree includes more than leaves and branches. The ax intervenes and the reader soon sees, together with child and tree, how wood becomes paper.

It’s a nicely intriguing lesson in real-world mechanics, but that’s not the end. Leaves of paper can speak just as surely as those on a tree, and they do. In the final product, the author’s poetic and artistic touches combine to make this a beautiful poem to share, and a lovely picture book for all to enjoy.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.

Entertaining historical read

Just found this lovely review by Lauren Alumbaugh, highlighting the quality of narration for my novel, A Peek at Bathsheba: 
FollowLauren AlumbaughWaco,TX08-14-15OverallPerformanceStory

"Entertaining historical read"

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Peek at Bathsheba?Getting to look at behind the scenes moment with his wives
Which character – as performed by Justin Harmer – was your favorite?King David himself, he really seemed to embody the character.
Any additional comments?while most historical books are not something I'm a fan of, Uvi takes a new refreshing look at historical beings. In this second story we King David anthe rise and fall of him. This is a great look into history without seeming to be a lecture or class. Fantastic read cannot wait to read more by this author. I listen to this book on audible, the narrator did a fantastic job.

Dream-like fantasy for young children

I am so thrilled to read this in-depth dual review, written by Dii, a Top 500 Amazon Reviewer, together with Mary-Grace Bylo, a girl of 11 years old, for my children's book Jess and Wiggle:

Dream-like fantasy for young childrenBy Dii TOP 500 REVIEWER on August 10, 2015Format: Kindle Edition
Mary-Grace Bylo, 11-year-old reviewer:

Jess and wiggle is a delightful story about a young girl that never laughs or smiles until she meets a small creature named wiggle. Wiggle tries to make Jess laugh and smile, then Jess caught wiggle and refused to release him. Then wiggle takes Jess high into the air and floating around them were socks, combs, and knots. Then while Jess was telling wiggle to stop with all of crazy doings she let a laugh a small laugh and a smile.

This book is great for kids with a great imagination. I would recommend this book for children ages 8 to 9 reading it by themselves and ages 5 to 7 having it read to them. The pictures are beautiful and colorful. I liked the way you made the story rhyme.

My Review
Uvia Poznansky’s Jess and Wiggle is pure whimsy and fantasy, perfect to engage the minds and imaginations of young children with the soft and colorful pictures filled with a melange of objects, as well as young Jess and the magical Wiggle. A beautiful way to send a small child off to dreamland with gentle rhyming, soft illustrations and delicate handwriting making this entire tale a work of art to treasure for generations from a gifted artist in all she does.

We received this edition from Uvi Poznansky in exchange for our honest reviews.

Cover reveal: The White Piano

I have just finished designing the cover for my upcoming novel, The White Piano, which is volume II of my series, Still Life with Memories. It is already available for preorder--get it now!

Here is what the story is about:


Coming back to his childhood home after years of absence, Ben is unprepared for the secret, which is now revealed to him: his mother, Natasha, who used to be a brilliant pianist, is losing herself to early-onset Alzheimer’s, which turns the way her mind works into a riddle. His father has remarried, and his new wife, Anita, looks remarkably similar to Natasha—only much younger. In this state of being isolated, being apart from love, how will Ben react when it is so tempting to resort to blame and guilt? “In our family, forgiveness is something you pray for, something you yearn to receive—but so seldom do you give it to others.” Behind his father's back, Ben and Anita find themselves increasingly drawn to each other. They take turns using an old tape recorder to express their most intimate thoughts, not realizing at first that their voices are being captured by him. These tapes, with his eloquent speech and her slang, reveal the story from two opposite viewpoints. What emerges in this family is a struggle, a desperate, daring struggle to find a path out of conflicts, out of isolation, from guilt to forgiveness. 
Note: My Own Voice and The White Piano are woven together into my novel, Apart From Love.

★ Love reading? Get this series ★
Still Life with Memories

Volume I & II, woven together: Apart from Love$0.99 sale now: Ebook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible

Volume I: My Own VoiceEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume II: The White PianoEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume III: The Music of UsEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
“Liberally salted with buttery smooth prose & fascinating insights”

Cover reveal: The Music of Us

I have just finished designing the cover for my upcoming novel, The Music of Us, which is volume 3 of my series, Still Life with Memories. It is already available for preorder--get it now!

Here is what the story is about:

In 1970, Lenny can no longer deny that his wife is undergoing a profound change. Despite her relatively young age, her mind succumbs to forgetfulness. Now, he goes as far back as the moment he met Natasha, when he was a soldier and she—a star, brilliant yet illusive. Natasha was a riddle to him then, and to this day, with all the changes she has gone through, she still is.
“Digging into the past, mining its moments, trying to piece them together this way and that, dusting off each memory of Natasha, of how we were, the highs and lows of the music of us, to find out where the problem may have started?”

To their son, Ben, that may seem like an exercise in futility. For Lenny, it is a necessary process of discovery, one that is as tormenting as it is delightful. He often wonders: can we ever understand, truly understand each other—soldier and musician, man and woman, one heart and another? Will we ever again dance together to the same beat? Is there a point where we may still touch?

★ Love reading? Get this book ★Volume I & II, woven together: Apart from Love$0.99 sale now: Ebook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible

Volume I: My Own VoiceEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume II: The White PianoEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume III: The Music of UsEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
“Liberally salted with buttery smooth prose & fascinating insights”

My new series: Still Life with Memories

For a long time, I had this idea of creating a series around the events in the life of a unique family. The charters had to have not only a compelling voice, but they had to see things in an entirely different light, which would create contrasts and conflicts, as each one of them comes from a different background and has different passions, needs, and aspirations.

This series is now in the making, and it's titled Still Life with Memories. In the coming days I will share the book covers and the release dates. Meanwhile, check out the book descriptions and the ways they relate to each other: 

Apart from Love 
(volume I and II of Still Life with Memories, woven together, with two additional chapters):
Apart from Love contains two threads, volume I and II of Still Life with Memories, woven together (along with two new chapters) around the same events in 1980, when Ben returns to meet his father, Lenny, and his new wife, Anita. It is then that he discovers a family secret. 
My Own Voice 
(volume I of Still Life with Memories)
Ten years ago, when she was seventeen, Anita started an affair with Lenny, in spite of knowing that he was a married man. Now married to him and carrying his child, she finds herself condemned to compete with Natasha’s shadow, the memory of her brilliance back in her prime, before she succumbed to early-onset Alzheimer’s. Despite Anita’s lack of education, her rough slang, and what happened to her in the past, Lenny tries to transform her. He wants her to become Natasha. 

Faced with his compelling wish, and the way he writes her as a character in his book, how can Anita find a voice of her own? And when his estranged son, Ben, comes back and lives in the same small apartment, can she keep the balance between the two men, whose desire for her is marred by guilt and blame? 
The White Piano
(volume II of Still Life with Memories)
Coming back to his childhood home after years of absence, Ben is unprepared for the secret, which is now revealed to him: his mother, Natasha, who used to be a brilliant pianist, is losing herself to early-onset Alzheimer’s, which turns the way her mind works into a riddle. His father has remarried, and his new wife, Anita, looks remarkably similar to Natasha—only much younger. In this state of being isolated, being apart from love, how will Ben react when it is so tempting to resort to blame and guilt? “In our family, forgiveness is something you pray for, something you yearn to receive—but so seldom do you give it to others.” 

Behind his father's back, Ben and Anita find themselves increasingly drawn to each other. They take turns using an old tape recorder to express their most intimate thoughts, not realizing at first that their voices are being captured by him. These tapes, with his eloquent speech and her slang, reveal the story from two opposite viewpoints. 

What emerges in this family is a struggle, a desperate, daring struggle to find a path out of conflicts, out of isolation, from guilt to forgiveness. 

The Music of Us 
(volume III of Still Life with Memories)
In 1970, Lenny can no longer deny that his wife is undergoing a profound change. Despite her relatively young age, her mind succumbs to forgetfulness. Now, he recalls how he first fell in love with her in 1941, when he was a young marine, and she—a rising star.
New cover for Apart from Love
★ Love reading? Get this book ★Volume I & II, woven together: Apart from Love$0.99 sale now: Ebook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
Paperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible

Volume I: My Own VoiceEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume II: The White PianoEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords

Volume III: The Music of UsEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
“Liberally salted with buttery smooth prose & fascinating insights”

A Beautiful Tale for Children of ALL Ages

I am so thrilled to read this wonderful joint review, written by Dii, a Top 500 Amazon Reviewer, together with Mary-Grace Bylo, a girl of 11 years old, for my children's book Now I Am Paper:

A Beautiful Tale for Children of ALL AgesBy Dii TOP 500 REVIEWER on August 9, 2015Format: Kindle Edition
This review is written by Mary-Grace Bylo, 11 years old.

The book Now I Am Paper is a wonderful story about a tree making a friend with a young child; the child plays and enjoys the tree. When the child leaves the tree grows sad and lonely. Then the tree gets cut down and becomes paper. The tree realizes being paper is starting a new life; a life the tree adores being a book of a caring child forever.

I did enjoy the book; I would recommend it for children the ages 8 to 10 reading by themselves and 5 to 7 read to them. I liked how the story was written in the perspective of the tree and how the tree feels about its life and how it’s like to start a new life as something new. The illustrations were beautiful and I liked how you put the text on the leaves.

My review:

Uvi Poznansky has taken the beauty of her art and combined it with the beauty of her poetic words while telling the tale of life, friendships, loss and change. A perfect read for bedtime, family time and alone time. The cadence of the rhyming flows gently, the meaning behind the words make for a perfect family discussion after!

We received this copy from Uvi Poznansky in exchange for our honest reviews.

Long live the king!

I awaken from my dreams when Solomon comes in. Here he is, standing over me. It must be very late or else very early, because the chamber is dark, so dark that even his freckles cannot be spotted.I try to sit up in bed, but find myself humiliated by my frailty, as I cannot do it. Instead I raise my hand in greeting, and at once he places his inside mine, as if he were not a young man but a little child, craving warmth. “Dad,” he says, “are you cold?”“Not anymore,” I say, and mean it. At long last I feel connected to a son of mine. My son leans over and for a brief moment, lays his face upon my chest. “I need you,” he says, simply. “Don’t leave me.”To which I say, more to myself than to anyone else, “I’m about to go the way of all the earth.”Solomon says nothing, but his hand trembles in mine.“Be strong,” I say, “and act like a man.”“It’s not easy.” “Don’t I know it.”“But,” he says, “on second thought I think I can act like a man, even as I’m learning to be strong.”I smile, but my heart aches to know that having been anointed, a change will soon come over him. He will soon sense it himself. The poet in him must stand aside and make way for a leader to be born.How can I prepare him for that? I have so much advice in me, which I am not sure he would learn to accept. There is so little time! I fear I may stumble over my words in my attempt to teach him. So I take a deep, labored breath and tell him, “To mete out justice, you must harden.”And he asks, somewhat reluctantly, “Must I?”“Yes,” say I. “I’ve reigned forty years over Israel: seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. It’s time for you to sit on my throne. Let your rule be firmly established.”Cutting in, “I have a feeling,” he says.“What kind of a feeling?”“You’re going to give me a lot of advice, aren’t you?”“It’s now that I must give it.”“Not sure I’m ready for it, dad.”“You yourself know what Joav, son of Zeruiah, did to me,” I say and immediately cut myself off, because I cannot talk about the death of Absalom, not now. Perhaps, not ever. So I start again. I say, “Joav supports your brother, Adonijah, and will always scheme against you.”“That I understand,” says Solomon. “He’ll be a danger to me even if he serves me.”“You know what he did to two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner, and Amasa son of Jether.”“I do.”“He killed them,” say I, “shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.”I feel a shudder going through my child. “Deal with him,” I advise, “according to your wisdom.”Solomon raises an eyebrow. “So you won’t tell me what to do with him?”“No,” say I. “You’re the king now, are you not? Just remember this: don’t let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.”To my surprise, “Wait,” says the kid. “Let me write this down, so I can figure it out later.”“This is not a quote for your Song of Songs,” say I. “You must understand it now, or it’s going to be too late for you.”
David in The Edge of Revolt
My trilogy is greatly inspired by art of all ages. Here is a lovely painting by Ferdinand Bol, depicting this quite yet dramatic moment of leaving the heir to the throne with a difficult charge: to kill the first in command. The artist uses light from above, light that highlights the pale face of the dying king and glows all around him, on the pillow, while his son stands in the shadows.And below, an illuminated manuscript with the letter E depicting the same moment in a decorative fashion, and a detail from the Sistine chapel depicting David and Solomon by Michelangelo.

David's Dying Charge to Solomon by Ferdinand Bol
David's charge to Solomon, top, and David and Abishag, bottom 12th century illuminations from the Winchester BibleWinchester Cathedral Library, England
The Ancestors of Christ: David, Solomon by Michelangelo
★ Love giving gifts? Give the trilogy ★

The complete trilogy:The David Chronicles (Boxed Set) 
Ebook: Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook ★ Kobo ★ Smashwords
Volume I: Rise to PowerEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ SmashwordsPaperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible
Volume II: A Peek at BathshebaEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ SmashwordsPaperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&NobleAudiobook: iTunes ★ Amazon ★ Audible
Volume III: The Edge of RevoltEbook: Kindle ★ Nook ★ Apple ★ Kobo ★ SmashwordsPaperback Amazon ★ Barnes&Noble
"The miracle of Uvi Poznansky's writing is her uncanny ability to return to old stories and make them brilliantly fresh"-Grady Harp, Hall of Fame reviewer