Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 254

Powerful Modern-Day Relevance behind a Haunting Antiquity

I am thrilled that my new ebook, A Favorite Son, has just received a five-star review from top Amazon reviewer and author Sheila Deeth. She has just released her novel, Divide by Zero. With a Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University, England, she is a reviewer for Amazon, Goodreads, Gather and other reading sites. This is what she says:


5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing the familiar to unfamiliar life, February 13, 2013By S. Deeth "Sheila Deeth" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)Dysfunctional families aren't reserved just for the modern day, and this story retells what must be one of the most classic cases in history. The fact that it's Biblical history just adds to the mystique.

It's the gentle twists of difference that bring this tale of Jacob and Esau to life and give it power. Yankle, the younger son, grows up resenting his bigger, stronger, marginally older brother. Parental favorites wound. Meanwhile the beloved mother appears as a foreigner, carried away from home and family (and riches) to live in a tent with her past safely hidden in a box. She doesn't wear a burka. Her shoes are painfully inappropriate. She doesn't belong, and neither does her son.

Author Uvi Poznansky adds a sense of immediacy to the tale as Yankle looks back on his past with a curious mix of modern and ancient perspectives. There's a pleasing humor as he muses over religions born from his home or complains of "no bus ticket to be found; and... a plane ticket was out of the question." There's all the delight of the familiar when Jacob's ladder appears, and all the joy of the new as hints and details sneak quietly into the tale. Simultaneously bringing past and present to life, the author gives this Bible story a powerful modern-day relevance behind its haunting antiquity, with every detail inspiring further thought and contemplation. A masterful retelling.

The Audio Edition of Apart From Love is in the Works!

Did you hear the great news? I am so excited to tell you: my novel, Apart From Love, is now in production, soon to become an audiobook! As you may already know, the novel is told in two voices, Ben's and Anita's, and the interplay between the two of them is the essence of the story. In the coming weeks I will tell you everything about the voice auditions, and about the two amazing narrators I have chosen. Today, I will start with a different aspect of the production: the cover art.

Of course, the image is the same as for the print edition--with one exception: the dimensions. The cover art for the audiobook must be square, which means that I spent my time extending the folds of the red fabric left and right of the image. So, it went from the rectangular image of the print edition to this:


So here you can see layers and layers of red, shimmering fabric, in which the main character finds herself tangled more and more, losing herself in a knot of passion. The ends of the strips of fabric are falling away from you, disappearing gradually into the mist of distance. The depth of the picture and its layering effect are both symbolic of the story: each on of the characters has a depth of memories going back to their childhood, and a rich layering of conflicting emotions, love-hate, guilt-blame.

Over this art I will float the text: the book title, author name, and the names of my two fabulous narrators. Stay tuned... Will show it to you soon...

Hang Out With Me At The Authors Corner

I am so excited to invite you! Here is my interview at The Author's Corner. The host of the show is Elaine Raco Chase. She is the author of erotic romantic comedies (updated eBooks), updated 'steamy' romantic eBooks, and classic eBooks. The show was originally scheduled for Thursday night--but as fate decreed, a sudden family emergency stood in the way. Elaine's husband is doing good now, and she thanks everybody for their prayers and concern.

In this show Elaine stringed together several author interviews, mine being the first. Come take a listen:


Listen to internet radio with Triangle Variety Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Meet Me At The Authors Corner

I am so excited to invite you. Join me for my interview on The Author's Corner with host of the show, Elaine Raco Chase. 

Head to The Authors Corner at 5:00pm PST, Saturday Night, February 9, 2013). After the show, I will post the interview here for you.

It Grabs Your Attention And Does Not Let Go

I met Teresa E. Gallion in poetry groups on facebook, and she is one of those who got an autographed edition of my book, Apart From Love. This morning she gave me the best surprise--her review of the novel on Amazon. Click the link to read what she says:


 Pleasurable Read, February 7, 2013By Teresa E. GallionThis review is from: Apart From Love (Paperback)Apart From Love grabs your attention and does not let go until the final pages of the book. The attention to detail showcases the smooth pen of the author as she weaves a tale of a dysfunctional family and the complex love that binds them and pulls them apart. Ms. Poznansky masterfully teases the reader with just enough mystery to keep you reading. It is a pleasure to read and I recommend it for your good reads list. Teresa E. Gallion, Poet and Author

In Cupid's Name, What Should I Say?

What does she want, come Valentine's day?In cupid's name, what should I say?She smiles, Bring me Home,  Apart From Love...Then I'll be yours, like a hand and a gloveAnd you say, Give me A Favorite Son...Now let's blow off the candles, one by one 

Home: US & India, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain. Apart From Love:US & India, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain.A Favorite Son: US & India, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain
(No Kindle? No Problem! Amazon gives you a free Kindle app) 

Savor the Ties and Tensions between Inseparable Characters

I feel truly honored that Rich Weatherly, the author of Closed Doors, has posted a review of my novel, Apart From Love. This is what he writes:


5.0 out of 5 stars Savor the ties and tensions between inseparable characters, February 4, 2013By Richard L. Weatherly "RichWeatherly43" (North Richland Hills, TX (near FT Worth))
(REAL NAME)   This review is from: Apart From Love (Kindle Edition)The family saga, Apart From Love by Uvi Poznansky opens on a scene in the family home. The reader finds Ben, son of Lenny, the family patriarch, in a strange, tense situation. It is a tense situation because Ben has just been greeted by Anita, his father's bride. He finds Anita to be attractive if uneducated. She is a year younger than Ben who is 27.

As chapters progress through the saga, each is delivered as a first person account of the events taking place between Ben, Lenny and Anita. Readers of literary fiction with a biographical tone will find Apart from Love compelling. Uvi Poznansky paints vivid portraits of these primary characters and others with whom they interact.

We learn early on that Natasha, Ben's mother separated from Lenny. An element of tragedy is introduced when we learn from Lenny that Natasha has early onset Alzheimer's disease. Ben had been led to believe his mother had been traveling on a world concert tour. He is shattered to learn Natasha has been in a nursing home.

To me, Anita becomes the strongest character in the story. True, she doesn't have much education and she was abused at home. That said, we learn through her first person narratives that Anita has good common sense, is attractive and has strong character, especially when it involves protecting her unborn child. It seems she spends much of her time at home, along while Lenny is `away' writing and following his own self-interests. Maybe that is part of the attraction that begins to draw Ben and Anita together. One of the early hints comes as we see Ben and Anita performing an enthusiastic duet on the piano. By the end of the performance, both characters seem non-plused.

Additional tension develops when Ben discovers Lenny has plagiarized recorded memos from a tape recorder. This machine will eventually prove to provide a growing body of information which is revealed at the end of the book.
After Lenny and Natasha's separation, it seems Ben left home for an extended period of time. In the following excerpt you will get a glimpse of Uvi Poznansky's give of description and a feel for the lyrical prose she is capable of writing.

Excerpt - A special moment between Ben & his father at Venice Beach, Apart From Love by UviPoznansky
"My father just smiles, pouring me one cup of milk after another. "Well, now," he says, once I have gulped down the last one. "Lets get some fresh air." And so, an hour or so later, the old man and I are down at Venice Beach, which is nearly deserted, barely a soul around. There in front of us, closing in on an unclear horizon, is an autumn sun, reddening every ripple out there in the ocean, every little wrinkle here on the shore, and casting endless shadows, shadows made of vapor and dust, which seem to be flowing along, right over the surface. We stand side by side. We smell the salt ..."

I highly recommend, Apart From Love. When you read the book, I encourage you to savor each chapter, much like reading an important letter from a friend or family member. As you read each chapter you'll see a cohesive structure emerge. By the end you'll find a story where the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts. Read it and enjoy!

Meet Me At The Authors Corner

I am so excited to invite you. Join me for my interview on The Author's Corner with host of the show, Elaine Raco Chase.  

Head to Triangle Variety Radio at 5pm PST, Thursday Night, February 7, 2013). After the show, I will post the interview here.

A Special Moment of Bonding between Father and Son

Rich Weatherly's professional career spanned several decades. Much of that career included technical writing and copy writing. He also worked in media production and corporate photography, all of which contribute to his cinematic writing. He is the author of Closed Doors, a trilogy of three stories. 

Today, Richard posted a review of my novel, Apart From Love, not only on Amazon and Goodreads, but on his blog, too--where, in addition to the review, he offered a little excerpt of a special moment in the story, a moment of bonding between father and son. To him, the description of that moment felt lyrical and cinematic, for which I feel grateful. 

Check it out on his blog, here.

Meet Me at Goodreads, You'll Get a Chance to Win My Novel!

I am honored to be invited to appear in the Q&A and book giveaway discussion on Goodread's Romance Readers Reading Challenges. So if you are a Goodreads member, come and meet me there! Let's talk anytime during February 6 - February 7, 2013.

At the end of the second day, I will be giving away 4 complementary ebook editions of Apart From Love, just in time for Valentine's day. I hope you win it!