Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 247
May 2, 2013
Missing Her When She's Gone
"A week drags by—seven sleepless nights—during which I find myself missing my ma so much that it hurts, because now that the little one is finally here, I don’t even get how she did it, like, how she managed to take care of me all these years, all on her own. No wonder she ended up being grumpy, which is one thing I’d rather forget."
Anita in Apart From Love
I so enjoy writing a character with an accent! It is such a delightful challenge! Anita Southern twang, her way of speaking and even thinking, marks a boundary between her and the people around her. She is a stranger in a strange land, if you will.
Being resourceful, Anita is strong enough to survive all odds, but somehow, becoming a mother makes her realize how much she misses her mother. Here is my Mother and Child piece, which you may have seen from a different angle in an earlier post, A Mother's Lullaby.
Take a listen to the how faithfully my narrator, Heather Jane Hogan, gives voice to Anita:
Looking for the best Mother's Day gift?Make her happy! Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
Anita in Apart From Love
I so enjoy writing a character with an accent! It is such a delightful challenge! Anita Southern twang, her way of speaking and even thinking, marks a boundary between her and the people around her. She is a stranger in a strange land, if you will.
Being resourceful, Anita is strong enough to survive all odds, but somehow, becoming a mother makes her realize how much she misses her mother. Here is my Mother and Child piece, which you may have seen from a different angle in an earlier post, A Mother's Lullaby.
Take a listen to the how faithfully my narrator, Heather Jane Hogan, gives voice to Anita:
Looking for the best Mother's Day gift?Make her happy! Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
May 1, 2013
Coming to a Peak
I am so glad to share this behind-the-scenes information with you!
It shows how many people visit pages on this blog, month by month,
since its inception.
During the month of April, the graph came to a peak:There have been 12,628 page views. This graph, and statistics about individual posts, are great tools for tracking what attracts your attention.
As you can see from the intensity of green on this map, my blog has achieved a global reach, particularly in English speaking countries but also in other countries.
It shows how many people visit pages on this blog, month by month,
since its inception.
During the month of April, the graph came to a peak:There have been 12,628 page views. This graph, and statistics about individual posts, are great tools for tracking what attracts your attention.
As you can see from the intensity of green on this map, my blog has achieved a global reach, particularly in English speaking countries but also in other countries.
April 30, 2013
A Mother's Lullaby
Have you ever listened, I mean, really listened to the lyrics of 'Twinkle, twinkle'? The words can truly take on different meanings, which is something I explored in moments of despair and moments of hope in my novel.
When Ben goes to Sunrise Home to visit his mother, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, he wonders about her. Can he reach her, can he evoke some memory in her mind? Her body is intact, but is it now merely an empty shell? He knows not what she has become, who she is... In the background, an old woman's voice can be heard, croaking a lullaby. And somehow, the words take on a meaning of a heart-wrenching farewell:
"Then, to the sound of the thin, painful voice in the distance, breathing the words, Though I know not... What you are... Twinkle, twinkle... Little star, I glance at my mother. I wonder if what I am going to say about this or that photograph will make any difference, because now I am starting to lose heart. I doubt we can ever find a way—be it a way back, or a way forward—to connect to each other.
The time I remember is no more than a wrinkle for her."
Ben in Apart From Love
In another scene, Anita raises her eyes to the musical animal mobile, which she has hung up overhead, for her baby. She sings the words as she crosses her hands around her body, embracing him. Expecting new life, the lullaby takes on a meaning of hope:
"For now, I mean, until I get a cradle for my baby, it’s hung up in the bedroom window, right in the center, where the blinds meet. So at night, when I feel sad, or tired, or just sleepy, I pull out the little string to wind the thing up, which makes the animals go fly—fly like a dream—so slowly around your head. And at the same time, it brings out a sweet lullaby, chiming, Twinkle, twinkle, little star... How I wonder what you are...I stand here, by the window under the mobile. I touch the glass between one blind and another, and watch them animals, mirrored. They come in like ghosts, one after another, right up to the surface, swing around, and fly back out, into the dark. Then I gaze at them stars up there, so far beyond, and ask myself if they’re real—or am I, again, misreading some reflection."
Anita in Apart From Love
The subject of motherhood is near and dear to my heart, and I express it in my writing and in my art, as you can see here:
Looking for the best Mother's Day gift?Make her happy! Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
When Ben goes to Sunrise Home to visit his mother, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, he wonders about her. Can he reach her, can he evoke some memory in her mind? Her body is intact, but is it now merely an empty shell? He knows not what she has become, who she is... In the background, an old woman's voice can be heard, croaking a lullaby. And somehow, the words take on a meaning of a heart-wrenching farewell:
"Then, to the sound of the thin, painful voice in the distance, breathing the words, Though I know not... What you are... Twinkle, twinkle... Little star, I glance at my mother. I wonder if what I am going to say about this or that photograph will make any difference, because now I am starting to lose heart. I doubt we can ever find a way—be it a way back, or a way forward—to connect to each other.
The time I remember is no more than a wrinkle for her."
Ben in Apart From Love
In another scene, Anita raises her eyes to the musical animal mobile, which she has hung up overhead, for her baby. She sings the words as she crosses her hands around her body, embracing him. Expecting new life, the lullaby takes on a meaning of hope:
"For now, I mean, until I get a cradle for my baby, it’s hung up in the bedroom window, right in the center, where the blinds meet. So at night, when I feel sad, or tired, or just sleepy, I pull out the little string to wind the thing up, which makes the animals go fly—fly like a dream—so slowly around your head. And at the same time, it brings out a sweet lullaby, chiming, Twinkle, twinkle, little star... How I wonder what you are...I stand here, by the window under the mobile. I touch the glass between one blind and another, and watch them animals, mirrored. They come in like ghosts, one after another, right up to the surface, swing around, and fly back out, into the dark. Then I gaze at them stars up there, so far beyond, and ask myself if they’re real—or am I, again, misreading some reflection."
Anita in Apart From Love
The subject of motherhood is near and dear to my heart, and I express it in my writing and in my art, as you can see here:
Looking for the best Mother's Day gift?Make her happy! Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
A Mother's Lullaby: From Despair to Hope
Have you ever listened, I mean, really listened to the lyrics of 'Twinkle, twinkle'? The words can truly take on different meanings, which is something I explored in my novel. When goes to Sunrise Home to visit his mother, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, he wonders about her. Can he reach her, can he evoke some memory in her mind? Her body is intact, but is it now an empty shell? At this point, he knows not what she is. In the background, an old woman's voice can be heard, croaking a lullaby. The words take on a meaning of a heart-wrenching farewell:
"Then, to the sound of the thin, painful voice in the distance, breathing the words, Though I know not... What you are... Twinkle, twinkle... Little star, I glance at my mother. I wonder if what I am going to say about this or that photograph will make any difference, because now I am starting to lose heart. I doubt we can ever find a way—be it a way back, or a way forward—to connect to each other.
The time I remember is no more than a wrinkle for her."
Ben in Apart From Love
In another place in the novel, Anita sings these very words as she crosses her hands around her body, embracing her baby. And she raises her eyes to the musical animal mobile, which she has hung up overhead, for him. The lullaby take on a meaning of welcome, of hope:
"For now, I mean, until I get a cradle for my baby, it’s hung up in the bedroom window, right in the center, where the blinds meet. So at night, when I feel sad, or tired, or just sleepy, I pull out the little string to wind the thing up, which makes the animals go fly—fly like a dream—so slowly around your head. And at the same time, it brings out a sweet lullaby, chiming, Twinkle, twinkle, little star... How I wonder what you are...I stand here, by the window under the mobile. I touch the glass between one blind and another, and watch them animals, mirrored. They come in like ghosts, one after another, right up to the surface, swing around, and fly back out, into the dark. Then I gaze at them stars up there, so far beyond, and ask myself if they’re real—or am I, again, misreading some reflection."
Anita in Apart From Love
Looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift?Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
"Then, to the sound of the thin, painful voice in the distance, breathing the words, Though I know not... What you are... Twinkle, twinkle... Little star, I glance at my mother. I wonder if what I am going to say about this or that photograph will make any difference, because now I am starting to lose heart. I doubt we can ever find a way—be it a way back, or a way forward—to connect to each other.
The time I remember is no more than a wrinkle for her."
Ben in Apart From Love
In another place in the novel, Anita sings these very words as she crosses her hands around her body, embracing her baby. And she raises her eyes to the musical animal mobile, which she has hung up overhead, for him. The lullaby take on a meaning of welcome, of hope:
"For now, I mean, until I get a cradle for my baby, it’s hung up in the bedroom window, right in the center, where the blinds meet. So at night, when I feel sad, or tired, or just sleepy, I pull out the little string to wind the thing up, which makes the animals go fly—fly like a dream—so slowly around your head. And at the same time, it brings out a sweet lullaby, chiming, Twinkle, twinkle, little star... How I wonder what you are...I stand here, by the window under the mobile. I touch the glass between one blind and another, and watch them animals, mirrored. They come in like ghosts, one after another, right up to the surface, swing around, and fly back out, into the dark. Then I gaze at them stars up there, so far beyond, and ask myself if they’re real—or am I, again, misreading some reflection."
Anita in Apart From Love
Looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift?Get the beautiful print edition Apart From Love
Audiobook coming soon!
Mondays Are Murder
Today I am happy to invited to Laurie Hanan's MONDAYS ARE MURDER interviews. This is how she opened the conversation:
"It’s my pleasure to have as my guest today Uvi Poznansky. While she doesn’t write murder mysteries, according to Uvi her characters do harbor murderous thoughts. Here’s what she has to say about them..."
Check out my interview, which she titled Murderous Sparks and Murderous Rages.
"It’s my pleasure to have as my guest today Uvi Poznansky. While she doesn’t write murder mysteries, according to Uvi her characters do harbor murderous thoughts. Here’s what she has to say about them..."
Check out my interview, which she titled Murderous Sparks and Murderous Rages.
April 29, 2013
A New Showcase of My Literary Work
A new author page now showcases highlights of my literary work: book descriptions, cover images, author's bio, excerpts, links and what not... What, you may ask, is AUTHORSdB? Here is a quote that explains it:"There are very few places where authors are able to add their information, one time, including promoting links to buy their books on all bookseller platforms. A place where authors continue to write while expert SEO people can assist in Social Media Marketing for free. Authors need an unbiased place to shout out about their creative works without 'big brother's' control—without fear of loosing to unknown algorithms."
-Angel Investor-Take a look at my new author page and please, tweet or like it: Uvi Poznansky's New Author Page.
April 28, 2013
The Embrace of ♥ Love ♥
In addition to the Writing Contest in my launch event I am announcing a new fun activity, in the same vein as the recently completed activity, Join the Musical Chorus. What will it be this time, you ask? Together, we will be transforming the space of my large oil painting, titled There is no room to grow here anymore II, taking it from isolation to embrace.
This painting is inspired by an earlier one, titled There is no room to grow here anymore I (the banner image of this blog) where the space was harshly lit, parched dry, yellow, and utterly desolate. At the time, I asked myself: what would happen if I turn off the light, and turn every line in the first painting into a metal wire? What would happen if I drench the space in darkness, and let characters emerge from it? How would they relate to each other, and to their flimsy, confined existence, hanging inside this contorted cage?
Even with these characters, the space retains an atmosphere of isolation... So here is what I ask you to do: help me transform it!
First, join the event (if you haven't already.) Go here: ♥ Love ♥ then click Join.Then, find a image of yourself, or--in celebration of Mother's Day--of your mom. The image can be a photograph or even a freehand sketch--anything goes. In it, you should give--or receive--either a hug or a gift. The gift can be flowers, wine, or a book (and why not make it Apart From Love... Hint hint...) Send the image to me through a private message on facebook; use Add Photo in that message. I will then add it here, and we will party together with a lot of hugs, gifts, and flowers!
This painting is inspired by an earlier one, titled There is no room to grow here anymore I (the banner image of this blog) where the space was harshly lit, parched dry, yellow, and utterly desolate. At the time, I asked myself: what would happen if I turn off the light, and turn every line in the first painting into a metal wire? What would happen if I drench the space in darkness, and let characters emerge from it? How would they relate to each other, and to their flimsy, confined existence, hanging inside this contorted cage?
Even with these characters, the space retains an atmosphere of isolation... So here is what I ask you to do: help me transform it!
First, join the event (if you haven't already.) Go here: ♥ Love ♥ then click Join.Then, find a image of yourself, or--in celebration of Mother's Day--of your mom. The image can be a photograph or even a freehand sketch--anything goes. In it, you should give--or receive--either a hug or a gift. The gift can be flowers, wine, or a book (and why not make it Apart From Love... Hint hint...) Send the image to me through a private message on facebook; use Add Photo in that message. I will then add it here, and we will party together with a lot of hugs, gifts, and flowers!
Book Spotlight on Jacqueline's Writing Blog
Here is a spotlight of my novel, Apart From Love, on Jacqueline's Writing Blog, where she shares both her writing and that of others. Thank you so much Jacqueline Driggers! The post includes an excerpt from the novel...
Check it out here: Book Spotlight
Check it out here: Book Spotlight
April 26, 2013
Poet and Author from India: "I highly recommend “A Favorite Son”
Aniruddha Sastikar authored two poetry books entitled “Maiden Musings – Vol. 1” published in October 2012 and Vol. 2 in January 2013. He credits learning Haiku Poetry to his dear friend & former Lt. Col Shyam Kumar Sharma, who resides in New Delhi, India. Aniruddha authored a short story book for children – “Once upon a time...” published and released through good friend & Publisher - Brian Wrixon, Burlington, Canada and Blurb Inc., in December 2012 and is working toward writing a fiction. I am honored that he has posted this ★★★★★ review on Goodreads for A Favorite Son. This is what he says:
Writing a review on a book authored by a talented and skillful artist, writer, and poet - Uvi Poznansky, is in itself an honor and privilege for an amateur poet and writer like me.
I am incapable to review work of such an educated, elegant, and accomplished artist, but I’ll try to do so.
“A Favorite Son” by Uvi Poznansky is a wonderful combination and presentation of love, sacrifice, jealousy, fear, hate, hopes, wistfulness, and much more to it. Images through out the book are excellent. They really are captivating and transports the reader to that location, literally; as if the reader is observing the characters, live. I haven’t had read any Biblical tales till date, but “A Favorite Son” introduced them to me. It is noteworthy how a mother (portrayed in “A Favorite Son”) plays a significant role in bringing up her children. Her sacrifices, her love, and her plans. Aren’t all these found in a Mother? Yes. They are an inbuilt characteristics of a Mother anywhere on earth.
There’s no doubt Uvi carries a strong vocabulary and has that ability to create a picture using them, which keeps the reader gripped till the last page. Apart from being an outstanding writer, she’s a first-class artist and sculptor, which is noticeable from the cover art of this book and visiting her blog site.
For those who are looking to read on strong family ties, I highly recommend “A Favorite Son”.
This review can be seen here.
Writing a review on a book authored by a talented and skillful artist, writer, and poet - Uvi Poznansky, is in itself an honor and privilege for an amateur poet and writer like me.I am incapable to review work of such an educated, elegant, and accomplished artist, but I’ll try to do so.
“A Favorite Son” by Uvi Poznansky is a wonderful combination and presentation of love, sacrifice, jealousy, fear, hate, hopes, wistfulness, and much more to it. Images through out the book are excellent. They really are captivating and transports the reader to that location, literally; as if the reader is observing the characters, live. I haven’t had read any Biblical tales till date, but “A Favorite Son” introduced them to me. It is noteworthy how a mother (portrayed in “A Favorite Son”) plays a significant role in bringing up her children. Her sacrifices, her love, and her plans. Aren’t all these found in a Mother? Yes. They are an inbuilt characteristics of a Mother anywhere on earth.
There’s no doubt Uvi carries a strong vocabulary and has that ability to create a picture using them, which keeps the reader gripped till the last page. Apart from being an outstanding writer, she’s a first-class artist and sculptor, which is noticeable from the cover art of this book and visiting her blog site.
For those who are looking to read on strong family ties, I highly recommend “A Favorite Son”.
This review can be seen here.
April 25, 2013
You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Heard Her Singing
I have just read an article written by David Kudler, the gifted narrator of my upcoming audiobook. In it, he draws parallels between two of his recent projects, especially the use of music in both of them. So here, I will quote from his article; then I will invite you to listen to a hilarious character as she speaks--and sings!--from his throat; and finally, I will invite you to read his article in its entirety.
Here is how David opens it:
"I’ve just wrapped recording on my second full-length audiobook this month — David Wesley Williams lyrical novel of sex, family, and rock ‘n’ roll, Long Gone Daddies. As I was listening through just now, I realized that there were a lot of similarities between this bluesy book and my most recently completed (and soon-to-be-released) project, Uvi Poznansky’s Apart From Love. Both books dissect tangled, dysfunctional families featuring deeply fractured father-son relationships, each of which is hiding some very important secrets. And music is very much at the heart of each.
For an audiobook narrator/producer, music is both a joy and more than a bit of a challenge. Audiobooks — for the most part — are not meant to include music tracks (Audible and Amazon don’t like them), and so any music must be created purely by the narrator in the character’s voice. When a song is known, that can be great fun; when it’s created by the author, that’s fun too… but can sometimes take your breath away."
Later, David introduces the opening chapter of Apart From Love:
"The Kaminsky family in Apart from Love also has a musical soul; unfortunately, that soul belonged to the mother, Natasha. Divorced from narrator Ben’s father, she has disappeared, like Luther Gaunt’s progenitors. Where the Gaunts left behind only an old guitar, however, Ben’s mother left behind a beautiful white grand piano. When Ben’s father Lenny decides to remarry his long-time (and much younger) girlfriend Anita, the new Mrs. Kaminsky decides to use her predecessor’s piano as the stage for a dramatic entrance to the wedding reception. The scene is described here in a letter by Ben’s acid-eyed great aunt Hadassa — and you haven’t lived until you’ve heard an aged Jewish lady singing Bryan Adams..."So now, imagine the voice of Aunt Hadassa (depicted below in my watercolor painting of the Rosenblatt sisters) and then, take a listen:
Read the entire article here: David Sings the Blues.
Here is how David opens it:
"I’ve just wrapped recording on my second full-length audiobook this month — David Wesley Williams lyrical novel of sex, family, and rock ‘n’ roll, Long Gone Daddies. As I was listening through just now, I realized that there were a lot of similarities between this bluesy book and my most recently completed (and soon-to-be-released) project, Uvi Poznansky’s Apart From Love. Both books dissect tangled, dysfunctional families featuring deeply fractured father-son relationships, each of which is hiding some very important secrets. And music is very much at the heart of each.
For an audiobook narrator/producer, music is both a joy and more than a bit of a challenge. Audiobooks — for the most part — are not meant to include music tracks (Audible and Amazon don’t like them), and so any music must be created purely by the narrator in the character’s voice. When a song is known, that can be great fun; when it’s created by the author, that’s fun too… but can sometimes take your breath away."
Later, David introduces the opening chapter of Apart From Love:
"The Kaminsky family in Apart from Love also has a musical soul; unfortunately, that soul belonged to the mother, Natasha. Divorced from narrator Ben’s father, she has disappeared, like Luther Gaunt’s progenitors. Where the Gaunts left behind only an old guitar, however, Ben’s mother left behind a beautiful white grand piano. When Ben’s father Lenny decides to remarry his long-time (and much younger) girlfriend Anita, the new Mrs. Kaminsky decides to use her predecessor’s piano as the stage for a dramatic entrance to the wedding reception. The scene is described here in a letter by Ben’s acid-eyed great aunt Hadassa — and you haven’t lived until you’ve heard an aged Jewish lady singing Bryan Adams..."So now, imagine the voice of Aunt Hadassa (depicted below in my watercolor painting of the Rosenblatt sisters) and then, take a listen:
Read the entire article here: David Sings the Blues.
