Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 210

A lovely review of Rise to Power (audiobook) appears on Dab of Darkness

Just discovered a lovely review of Rise to Power (the audiobook edition, narrated by David George.) Here is how it starts:

The story opens with an old king, one who has had his claws and fangs pulled. Indeed, he is not a particularly impressive specimen. Through the course of one night, his memory flashes back to younger days...

To read the review in full, click here:

A flashback to Passovers past

Here is a timely excerpt from Apart From Love, a flashback to Passovers past:

"If I were to focus strictly on my parents, ignore the entire background of this place, and let the clutter and the smell of it just fall away, this could take me back to a different time, a time in my childhood, when our kitchen table was set for the Passover meal. What comes back to me first is the tinkle, as my father finished blessing the wine, and clinked his glass against hers, against mine.I remember: the table was draped, all the way down to the floor, with mom’s best, rarely used tablecloth, made of the smoothest ivory satin you ever touched. Dad sat at the head of the table, mom to his right, I opposite her. All day long she had been cooking, which infused the air with a wonderful aroma. In it you could detect a sharp whiff of horseradish and of gefilte fish and sweet brisket and red cabbage and roasted potatoes, all of which made my stomach growl. It went on growling until he finished reading the long, archaic text in the Hagadda, which meant little to me, except a vague notion of the utter futility of patience.  I remember: my mother ladled the clear, golden chicken soup and set it here, steaming before my eyes, with three matzo balls floating inside, which was her way of giving. “It’s hot,” she said. “Make sure to blow on it first.” Yes, the smell of her cooking was good, but then, the taste! Just wait till you took the first bite—"


"A literary symphony complete with a cast of likeable, bruised characters""Treat yourself to a gift
Apart From Love★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

Happy Passover! Need a gift for the holiday? Check out the rave reviews

Here are but a handful of the reviews:
The miracle of Uvi Poznansky's writing is her uncanny ability to return to old stories and make them brilliantly fresh. At times startling, as times awe-inspiring, and at al times fine reading, this is a welcome addition to the growing library of one our more important writers.  -Grady Harp, Hall of Fame Reviewer ★ What a treat to have the story of David presented in such an intellectually stimulating manner.  -Christoph Fischer, Top 500 reviewer
★ A tale of madmen and kings, youth and old age, prison cells and freedom's ring. It's drawn from Biblical history, enjoyed through the eyes of modernity, and it vividly recreates character and place.  -Sheila Deeth, Top 1000 Reviewer ★ Written for a smart and perceptive reader, who is not afraid to let her imagination fly.  -Oleg Medvedkov, Top 500 reviewer ★ Dark, intense, entertaining, thought-provoking and emotional, these stories each hold their own brand of magnetisim that lasts long after the last word is read... A wealth of depth in few words.  -Dii, Top 1000 Reviewer

Biblically inspired, highly praised storiesTake them home for the holiday 

Rise to Power★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

A Favorite Son★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

Twisted★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

I blinked again and at once, things went back to the way things should be—except that the girl was still there

Now I could see the girl sitting there, opposite him. She raised her glass and clinked it against his, then cuddled up to him, like, to whisper something up close, in his ear. I don’t hardly know if there was something odd with the air, which stirred past me with cloud after cloud of salty mist; or the sheet of glass over there, which must have had some flaws all over it; or the mirror image of sunset, which buckled out of shape, in and out of the flaws; or else, was it the film of tears, which formed in my eyes; or the sorrow, which came in like a tide, to wash over me—but in a blink, everything blurred. Everything started swimming in front of me: like, the shadow of her little black dress, the flash of her gold earring, even the blond streaks in her hair. All of them things, which lived on the other side of the layers—the layer of mist, and of glass, and flaws, tears, wash—they all rippled a bit and then, settled into a haze.  I blinked again and at once, things went back to the way things should be—except that the girl was still there, by his side, where I should have been, had I not left him. 
Anita in Apart From Love

Fall in love with Anita★★★★★ "A diamond in the rough"
Apart From Love★ Audiobook ★ Ebook ★ Print ★ 

Historical, Biblical fiction at it's best

What a lovely new review by Linda Whitehead Humbert for A Favorite Son. It means a lot to me, because this review comes from the perspective of someone who has studied the holy scriptures. 

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical, Biblical fiction at it's best, April 5, 2014By Linda Whitehead Humbert - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition) A work of historical fiction based on the story of Esau (Esav) and Jacob (Yankle) in the Old Testament, Ms. Poznansky gives a new twist to an old tale. She portrays Esav as someone easily duped, and Yankle as the trickster - the cunning man that the Bible calls him in the beginning. The story, of course is about the birthright, something to be had, to be envied, in a family during those long-ago times. With each piece of historical fiction, Uvi gives me as a reader, and one who has studied the Holy Scriptures, a feast to chew slowly, to savor, to bring to the light and see something that's often put to the side and glossed over. As other books that I have reviewed of this author's, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book with no reservations. If you are easily offended by the light the author casts on these Biblical heroes, then don't read this book. If you recognize that these heroes from the Bible are flawed, sinful people as we all are, then by all means, read!!!

Clever retelling of ancient story

What a lovely review for A Favorite Son:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever retelling of ancient story, April 4, 2014By TucsonSusan (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition) A Favorite Son is a very clever retelling of the story of Jacob and Esau. The underlying story holds very strongly to the conflict of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca as described in the book of Genesis. However, just as reading the Torah is a lot about reading between the lines and interpreting what is said, and not said, so, too, does A Favorite Son provide the "inside story" from the viewpoint of all the major characters in this tale. The story is set in modern times, with modern conveniences, such as the stiletto heels Rivkah wears, and the reference to a Rolls-Royce when she demands a quadruple-humped camel from Isaac. This is a tongue-in-cheek satire that also makes the reader think about the motivations of the characters in the story in the book of Genesis. The story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis is well - known: Jacob steals Esau's birthright by convincing the dying Isaac that he is Esau, Isaac's favorite, with help from his conniving mother Rebecca, whose favorite is Jacob. In this amusing re-telling, Jacob is Yankel (a Yiddish-ized version of Jacob), and he is a snide, lazy, whining, well, schmuck, but his parents and brother are no better. While the book is very funny, the underlying story of family dysfunction and the consequences of envy, favoritism, and deceit, as told in Genesis, is made even more obvious in this re-creation. I have read other attempts to re-tell Bible tales and have been sorely disappointed; and so approached this tale with a great deal of hesitation. I was pleasantly surprised to find this so well done. I would like to read more by this author.

Reading my book? Your Image here!

Have you noticed the new slideshow feature on my blog? At the top right corner?

If you are reading any one of my books--Rise to Power, Apart From Love, A Favorite Son, Home or Twisted (in ebook, print, or audio editions)--I will gladly feature your image, too! 

Here's how:
Tell me (via PM on facebook) which of my books you are reading, and I will compose it with your facebook profile pic. I will post it here, in the slideshow!

I strut out of the cave in his direction

He turns to me with a sly look. To my surprise, his smile—even with those sharp fangs—is quite endearing.“Job’s wife, I presume? Hallelujah! I have been expecting you for quite a long while,” says Satan. His voice is sweet. He must have sung in a choir in his youth, because in some ways he  sounds as pious as my husband. “Shame, shame, shame on you,” he wags his finger. “You sure made me wait, didn’t you...”And without allowing time for an answer, he brings a magnifying glass to his bloodshot eye. Enlarged, his pupil is clearly horizontal and slit-shaped. Which makes me feel quite at home with him, because so are the pupils of the goats in the herds we used to own. Meanwhile, Satan unfolds a piece of paper and runs his finger through some names listed there. Then, with a gleam of satisfaction he marks a checkbox there, right in the middle of the crinkled page. At once, a whiff of smoke whirls in the air. Satan blows off a few specks of charred paper, folds the thing and tucks it into his breast pocket, somewhere in his wool. Cashmere, I ask myself? Really? In this heat? Back home, when I would count my gold coins, this was something I craved with a passion... It would keep me warm during the long winter nights... Then, without even bothering to look at me, Satan says, “I swear, madam, you look lovely tonight.”For a moment I am grateful that my husband is among the living. Or so I think. Nowadays, influenced by the elders, he regards swearing as a mortal sin, as bad as cursing. He even plugs his ears, for no better reason than to avoid hearing it. But if you ask me, I swear: without a bit of blasphemy, language would utterly dull, and fit for nothing but endless prayer. Sigh.Strangely, Satan does not frighten me that much anymore. And so, swaying on my hip bones, I strut out of the cave in his direction. I feel an odd urge to fondle his horns. Along the path toward him I make sure to suck in my belly, because in the company of a gentleman, even a corpse is entitled to look her best.  
“No—not a corpse,” he corrects me, as if he has just read my mind. “A soul! That is what you are.”“A damned one, too,” says Leila, cutting in.And he says, “Aren’t we all.”And she hisses, “Especially her. She is a nobody. She belongs with the dreamers among us; the losers.”I figure she does not like me, and she does not appreciate competition. All smiles and giggles, she is batting her eyelashes at him while wiggling her heavy bust and advancing, somehow, in the mud, over her diamond-studded sandals. Which in a flash, angers him. In spite of a visible effort to remain calm his face turns red, and he shakes his fist at her. I spot a dark feather wagging back and forth behind his neck, nearly tickling him, which is the first clue to what happens next: wings sprout from his back, and they spread out—monstrously massive—with an furious, ear-splitting flutter.  “Go,” he spurts out, no longer in control of himself. “Not now! I am busy here, can’t you see?”“With her?” says the bitch, utter disbelief ringing in her voice. “Who—what is she to you?”And he answers, mostly to himself, “First and foremost, she is a case study. An accomplice in my plans, even though she does not recognize it—not yet. When she does, I can use her. Therefore, she is a possible ally. Even one soul can tip the scales, change the balance of power and overturn things, up and down, heaven and hell.”
Job's wife and Satan in Twisted

You can listen to this excerpt by clicking the link and hitting the play button (under the cover image.)
My charcoal drawing, where the two female figures build up the male figure. Can you discover them?
Twisted★ Audio ★ Ebook ★ Print ★
Amazon must be out of their mind... 
The  Print  edition is on sale below cost @ $2.36!
Hint hint... Get it now

What to expect in a candle lit, virtual cave

Hi everyone! Can't wait for our historical fiction event...Here is what to expect:
Friday, April 4 at 4:00pm PDT until Sunday, April 6, 2014 3:00 PDT We will whisk you a way to a different time, a different placeEach one of us authors has a sealed scrollIf you have joined the event your name is already inscribed on itWant to increase your chances to win? Then like, comment, or share the posts that catch your fancy
Sunday, April 6, 2014 4:00 PDTWe will all gather around in a candle lit, virtual caveEach one of the authors will break the seal of her scroll, unfurl it and announce who won her books

Haven't joined yet? What are you waiting for?  A Time to Remember This event is going to be rocking!

If you wish to control the noise level, here's how:
Stop fb emails

and
'Stop Notifications' from any particular post on the event page
This option becomes available to you only once you like/comment under the post

What to expect in A Time to Remember

Hi everyone! Can't wait for our historical fiction event...Here is what to expect:
Friday, April 4 at 4:00pm PDT until Sunday, April 6, 2014 3:00 PDT We will whisk you a way to a different time, a different placeEach one of us authors has a sealed scrollIf you have joined the event your name is already inscribed on itWant to increase your chances to win? Then like, comment, or share the posts that catch your fancy
Sunday, April 6, 2014 4:00 PDTWe will all gather around in a candle lit, virtual hallEach one of the authors will break the seal of her scroll, unfurl it and announce who won her books

Haven't joined yet? What are you waiting for?  A Time to Remember This event is going to be rocking!

If you wish to control the noise level, here's how:
Stop fb emails

and
'Stop Notifications' from any particular post on the event page
This option becomes available to you only once you like/comment under the post