Uvi’s Comments (group member since Apr 09, 2012)

Uvi’s comments from the The Creative Spark with Uvi Poznansky group.

A lovely new ★★★★★ review for Home:

Home, August 6, 2013
By jeannette joyal - See all my reviews
This review is from: Home (Kindle Edition)
I was gift this book by the Author for a honest review. A priceless collection of Poems and memories! How can I put into to words the emotional heartache this Man felt throughout life's journey in a world full of disappointment and harsh reality? I cannot however, His Daughter Uvi, the Author of this book can. She has with great care translated from Hebrew, her Fathers deepest thoughts, that was written in the form of poems over the years and discover after his passing. I can't imagine how Emotional this must have been to discover these! As I read through both her and her Fathers accounts I wondered to myself how many of us could have endure what this Man faced and survived? I for one am not sure if I would have had the strength that this Man possessed. His emotional outpour through out the book reminded me of David the psalmist, when he cried out during his most darkest hours, begging God for strength, only to be faces with silence not knowing if he would be heard. I feel blessed and privileged that Uvi shared this incredible part of her legacy.

Wow, it is so rewarding to hear from a reader of your work, and especially from a reader who has never posted a review before--until now! Thank you!

★★★★★ Love this Author / Artist, August 6, 2013
By james a watts (belmont, mi United States)
Amazon Verified Purchase

The really nice thing about Uvi Pozanski's 'Twisted' is you get three for the price of one! She is a brilliantly multi-talented Author, Poet & Sculptor extraordinaire. Your experience starts out with Job's wife who is still on a Quest for recognition even after her death. She ends up in Hell and her interaction with Satan was to me both telling and hilarious. Uvi's description of Hell is really, well hellish. Very unigue is her intertwinining the Old Testament story with modern day angles. 'Twisted' continues with a beautiful description of the "Creato" creating a Sculptor from the Creation's point of view. Simply brilliant and the picture of the finished work is a must see! Her surprise Poem describing conversation/feelings between the scuptures was almost mystical. There is even more but I will leave that for you to discover. All in all, a great experience and I look forward to rediscovering her work again and again. A sign of truly gifted Artist..

Check out the rave reviews!

He is waiting for me

This hour is so intimate; so sweet, and it is fast coming to its bitter conclusion.
And the only thing that disturbs me, the only thing that stands here between us, is not being able to look each other in the eyes, during the last moments that remain to us.
My mother gets up. She is a petite woman, but the snakeskin shoes give her some stature. She throws the remains of the damaged coat back into the chest. Then she pulls out one of her fur hats and sinks her face into it, taking in the smell. “The air of the hunt,” she says, then hands it to me. “Here, put it on.”
After that, my mother attends to the cooking. I can hear the hiss, the slight hiss of the pot as it comes to a boil. I can smell the aroma. Somewhat bland to my taste; but then again, this is the way my father likes his meat. At any rate, he can barely swallow food nowadays.
She ladles a steaming hot portion onto a platter and sets it upon a large tray, so I can carry it over there, to his bedside. Then she gives me the slightest of hints. It is all set up. The time is now.
My arm covered with the hide of a kid, I stand up. Pretending to be that which I am not, I am ready, at long last, to do her bidding. Ready for my defining moment with my father: The old man is on his deathbed. He is waiting for me. Waiting there, in his tent, for his trusty, favorite son.

Yankle in A Favorite Son

As part of my launch event for the upcoming audiobook edition of TWISTED, I am announcing a ★ Writing Contest ★ Check it out! Then, invite your friends to join. The more the merrier!

Cover Reveal: Twisted (Audiobook Edition)

For the audiobook edition, I adjusted my design not only for the square proportions of the cover, but also for the inclusion of the narrator's name, Heather Jane Hogan. Come here to my blog in the coming days, to hear her voice.

As you can see, the colors used for the text goes from hot orange for the title, to cool light gray-blue for the author's name, to an even cooler dark gray-blue for the narrator's name. This ensures that the book title stays the most distinct text field on the cover, the one that 'jumps' at you. The hot to cold play of hues is also apparent, in a more subtle way, in the background itself. It goes from warm at the left edge to cool at the right.



★★★★★ Print and ebook editions just out!
Get Twisted
★ Audiobook ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

Celebrate with me! My ★★★★★ unique collection of tales Twisted is coming out in an amazing audiobook edition! Join the Writing Contest, listen to my narrator's voice, be here for the cover reveal... And whatever you do, don't miss out!

Let's party! Go to Get Twisted and click Join.

Just finished reading The Agent, and here is my review:

This is a story of danger and fascinating pretense, a riddle developed ever so skillfully so as to pique your curiosity at every twist and turn. In its center is a man who lives in the shadows. He used to have an identity as private detective Jake Lewis, upon whose 'death' he takes on the identity of a hired thug named Eugene Salvador. This is the undercover identity he wishes to shed off throughout the story, in order to be incarnated as Jackson Cook, his best friend's brother.

Opposite him is Autumn Prescott, the reporter who focuses on the Salvador case. The one thing she knows for sure is that the man claiming to be Salvador in the courtroom only pretends to be. Having discovered this man's picture in an article reporting about the death of Jake Lewis, and having unearthed certain conflicting evidence about it, she wants to interview him--even in the face of strong discouragement, and threats to fire her, from her boss.

The author, Charity Parkerson, is the maven of intrigue. She gives you just enough to hint at where the story is going, only to change direction at whim while keeping a dynamic pace.

Enjoy the ride!
Five stars.

What a wonderful, eloquent review from Deborah for my poetry book, Home!

★★★★★ Home, August 1, 2013
By Deborah - See all my reviews

The book has poems and prose from a father and daughter with two very different and distinct ways of writing but underlying the difference you see a common thread woven through them all. A thread that is the one thing we all think of differently, home.

For her father it brought a sadness and a deep sense of longing. You can feel his suffering, the pain, the changes that age can bring and nothing is glossed over. This is raw emotions that you feel in your very soul and at times its disturbing. You feel like a voyeur looking through the pages of anothers life and seeing it all unfold in your mind. There is also a sense of wanting it to be over as though life has been lived and the time is now past and the author wants to move on. Not knowing exactly what lies ahead and yet at most times welcoming it with open arms while at others he seems to want to pull back perhaps to make changes. But those moments have passed and they are now a part of his very being which in the end he seems to accept.

Uvi must have been amazed to find poems from her father that had been hidden for years. I cannot imagine what it must have been like going through those notes and pages while still grieving the loss of her father. With her emotions so very tender and raw his words at times must have cut to the very center of her being and also to have given her some joy in knowing that their time together was not over.

Through the newly found works Uvi is with her father as she works on the translation process so they are in a sense sharing those last two decades of his life in a very different way and on a deeper level.

Whereas Zeev writes his poems almost as a diary, a journal of his life, his daughter tends to write and see things differently and paints a picture that you form in your mind of the thoughts, feelings, the way things were in a very descriptive but somehow more detached manner. Focusing on the physical changes around her rather than the changes within. But even with the difference in style all of the emotions are still there to touch and feel. Very real, very alive and powerful.

A wonderful tribute by one amazing poet to another that takes us down two different paths. Through the same struggles, demons, and soul searching which somehow comes together. The paths converging to lead us to that elusive destination, place or state of mind that is home.

I feel that people you meet as well as

books you read change you. You are never the same as part of them will always be with you and I am honoured to carry both these poets and their works in my heart and yes my very soul.

Christoph Fischer is a high-ranking reviewer on Goodreads: #46 best reviewers #9 top reviewers. And, he is the author of two highly praised historical fiction books, Sebastian and The Luck of the Weissensteiners. I am greatly moved that he posted this ★★★★★ review on Goodreads and Amazon for my novel, Apart From Love:

★★★★★ s Powerful story, August 1, 2013
By diebus - See all my reviews
This review is from: Apart From Love (Kindle Edition)
"Apart from Love" by Uvi Poznansky is yet another amazing novel by this very talented writer.
The book concerns Ben, a twenty-seven year old student, and his family at a time when the marriage of his parents breaks down due to the father's infidelity. The father, Len, marries Anita.
Told in two separate narratives we get to see Ben's and Anita's 'sides' of the story.
Poznansky gives a magnificent close-up of the family breakdown, exploring the themes of seduction, blame and love and a variety of conflicting emotions.
The characters are multidimensional and with their background stories and the use of changing perspectives the book makes for some intense and at times emotional reading.
The situation is uncomfortable for all involved but nobody is purely bad or reduced to klischee, everyone tries in their ways to find harmony and love.
We question why the divorce had to happen, there is still love between the divorced couple, admiration for the pianist mother and what she brought to the family, but now that she is here Anita has also valuable things to contribute. And Ben and Anita are becoming close, too.
Poznansky asks what love is and also who really does love and means it.
Conflict and contradiction never seem to go away completely and we are left with these questions.
One of Poznansky's biggest talents is to challenge and change our perspective with her sharp-minded observations and powerful prose and she does so very well.

How rewarding it is to get a review from a reader who is not only a truck driver who has seen most of the continental US through her work--but a poet and author as well! Cindy J. Smith, the author of Voices In My Head and They Won't Shut Up, has just posted her awesome review on Amazon and Goodreads for my book, Twisted:

★★★★★ Pieces of Heart and Soul!, July 30, 2013
By Cynthia J. Smith
Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a collection of 4 short stories, each with an unexpected twist! Uvi has again shown her mastery in the writing field. The stories are all told first person and you can tell that Uvi has left a piece of herself in each of the characters! A beautiful sampling of artistry to be visited again and again. Darkness and hope abound!

Her art work also shows what a talented woman Uvi is! Amazing!

In the first story, I Am What I Am, we meet Job's wife as she tries to deal with the Satan attempting to keep her name. The dialogue between them is pointed and you are easily drawn into the discussion.

I Am Woman, lets us become a piece of clay that is being molded into a woman. We can feel, as Uvi does, the loving creator's hands.

The Hollow takes you to a place where your ideas of reality are brought into question.

The One Who Never Leaves is a haunting story about the life of a cat.

Uvi also shares a poem, Dust, which is told by both a man and woman's point of view as they share their feelings with us.

He:
"If shadows peel and lift away
If ever you break free
From my embrace
If you catch sight of me
In light of day--
Go... Leave me here,
My Grace,
In my debris--"

Their love and doubt is felt so deeply!

This is a true masterpiece! Kudos Uvi! Keep sharing yourself with us!

At the end of each month, I check the 'behind the scenes' statistics to analyze trends, and to learn if there is anything I can do to make this blog more attractive to you. Guess what? Having taken a slight dip last month, the number of pageviews has...

Guess: Going Down Or Coming Up?

Sheila Deeth is a top 1000 Amazon reviewer, and an author of several biblical fiction books. So I truly value her opinion about the biblically-inspired hell in Twisted, and about the women's voices expressed in it.

★★★★★ Fascinating and deeply involving prose and poetry, July 29, 2013
By S. Deeth "Sheila Deeth" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

What is woman? Uvi Poznansky's four curious tales in her Twisted collection find various answers to this question. Is a woman denied existence if we hide her name, or if we define her just by relationships to man? Does the female sculpture come first or second to the creator's hand? Does death create, destroy or preserve, and can imagination fly?

A haunting story of Job's nameless wife starts this short collection and sets the tone. With pleasing plays on words and history, evoking intriguing shades of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, the author renders the Biblical story of Job into a timeless world where Job's wife stands in need of a name.

It's not hard, after these pleasing Biblical allusions, for the reader to identify with a slab of clay in the next tale and share its search for the creator's purpose. But the slab is woman and the purpose is filled with beauty and pain.

From lilting poetry to feline's fearsome claw, these pieces draw the reader in, enticing with intriguing depths and surprising with sudden light. Twisted, puzzling, but perfectly put together, the collection has the feel that it was meant to be this way, no random grouping of fiction but a twisted exploration that turns and returns this reader to the singular question: What is woman?

Disclosure: The author kindly gave me an ecopy of this book with a request for my honest review.

Oleg Medvedkov is the amazingly gifted author of quite a number of humor books. He is also a top Amazon reviewer (with an incredible ranking of 300.) I am greatly honored that he posted this review for Twisted:

★★★★★ The sharper the perception--the more complex the interpretation, July 28, 2013
By Oleg Medvedkov "How to Prevent Unicorns from Stealing Your Car"

This book, "Twisted," is a collection of stories that give a feeling of being painted on the page. When you read them, come loser to see the touches of the brush and then stand afar to see the whole picture. Then, turn away and savor the after-taste before looking back to make sure you have really seen all of it.

In her potent style, Uvi Poznansky weaves mythology with modernity in "I Am What I Am." Elevators and high heels are mentioned together with camels and sheep in what might have been a retelling of a Biblical story. Yet, this is far beyond any retelling or re-imagining. Trying to find an answer to a seemingly simple question "What's my name?" the Wife of Job moves through emotions and the labyrinth of logic to arrive to a conclusion that will surprise the reader and is open to a slew of interpretations.

"The One Who Never Leaves" is a story that is seen through the eyes of a cat. But is it really about a cat? The story has a lot of symbolism that makes the careful reader relate and think and paint her own image of what this story means.

"The Hollow" takes you in a world of a strange perception where you, little by little, lose the touch with reality and give in to the sensory stimuli of the imagined(?) awareness.

My favorite story by far in this collection is "I, woman." When you start reading it, you get a sense of "Oh, I know what's going on! It's just a retelling of the creation story, be it original. Well, aren't I smart!" Then, as you read on, you lose that certainty, bit by tiny bit. When you are almost done, you are hundred percent sure that your first hunch was wrong and you have created a new theory as to what the story is all about. Yet, when you finish reading, it hits you. "Wait a second! Could it be? No, surely not... Perhaps, but... What's going on here?"

To quote the author: "The sharper the perception--the more complex the interpretation." This statement applies to all the stories in this book. Yet, I'd like to add to that statement that with the sharper perception, your interpretation becomes not only more complex, but from a singular, it will split into multiples, then it all will twist in on itself, and then branch off into whatever direction your mind is capable of taking it.

Yes, this is that kind of book, written for a smart and perceptive reader, who is not afraid to let her imagination fly. If you are that person, pick up this book, your won't be disappointed.

Just finished reading Parrots and Popcorn and here is my review:

The opening sentences of Parrots And Popcorn set the story in motion, by giving a motive to the actions of the little girl: "For her birthday, Kara wanted popcorn, a real magic show, and a pet of her very own. That wasn't what Kara was getting."

Her brother volunteers to do some silly tricks in front of her friends, which would no doubt make a mockery of her expectations. So Kara wonders: What is it that makes his tricks so silly? It is the magic hat itself that is faulty, or the way he chants the magic words, or the way he takes a bow?

And one by one, she puts each one of her three theories to a test. Lo and behold, the third try is a charm! Magically, her wish comes true--and now she has to deal with its unexpected consequences. And deal with it she does--by using her newfound magical powers, only to be faced with even greater complications! This is a vicious cycle of trial and error, that comes to its resolution in the end. It is described in an endearing way and illustrated beautifully, with a touch of humor in writing and pictures alike.

Five stars.

Parting is such sweet sorrow... Once I clicked the "Approve audiobook" button, indicating that the project is completed, I felt this tinge of satisfaction mixed with sorrow. Do you know this feeling? Time to move on, this project is done...

It has been such a joy, listening to my quirky characters come to life through the voice of my brilliant narrator, Heather Jane Hogan. So now, this baby is out of my hands and on its way. Please stay tuned: in a few days I will kick off new facebook launch event, inviting you to celebrate the launch of audiobook edition of Twisted.

Take a listen to the opening credits, HERE.



Get Twisted:
★ Audiobook ★ Ebook ★ Print ★

WJ wrote: "Thank you for letting me know how this works. So much to learn on Goodreads"

Yep, you live and you learn... This is what I'm learning myself...

Just finished reading They Won't Shut Up. Here is my review:

They Won't Shut Up is a heartfelt body of work, presented with a stark title, and with a cover that expresses what is unique about this author. Cindy J. Smith is a truck driver who is blessed with a natural gift. Often while driving through the night, when all is quite, she is hearing these voices flowing through her mind, heart and gut, making her a vessel through which they are delivered to paper. This verse, for example, brought a mile to my lips:

I write what they have to say
Rhyming as fast as I can
So that I might possibly
Have some peaceful sleep again

She quotes these voices with rare directness; she holds nothing back, even though they touch upon painful, deeply intimate moments:

Sometimes I feel
Like a small child
Wandering around
Lost in the wild

The most poignant poems, for me, were the ones scented with the fragrance of jasmine, which she presents to her daughter as a token of consolation:

To make all perfect
Dear daughter of mine
I'll tie a great bow
Of fresh jasmine vine

This fragrance is an allusion to the girl she calls "My angel in Heaven" whom she misses, and whose poetic work is included at the end of the book as a tender tribute. Oh, such a sense of aching and hope in these words, "Someday we'll never part..."

Five stars.

Summer Bargain Sale

Apart From Love --only $0.99 today only!

And while you're at it, I warn you: do Not check out the audiobook, because you may be seriously tempted to get it...

Just finished reading Dare The Devil by Elaine Raco Chase. Here is my review:


The book opens with Luthor (Thor) Devlin, a ranch owner, trying to steady the nerves of his friends, who--along with us readers--are whipped into a frenzy at finding the tracks of some strange wildbeasts. Incredibly, a wooly mammoth with curved ivory tusks and a saber toothed tiger come rising out of knee-deep fog, right there in formidable landscape in the middle of Montana. And to top things off, he spots what seemed to him as a naked, bronzed bodied female savage, whom he intuitively sees as a perfect match to the hero in him: a damsel in distress.

Cam is anything but. Wearing the scent of a skillfully blended perfume that drifts on the breeze, she makes the haze of prehistoric world evaporate from Thor's imagination. No, this is real. Camilla Stirling--Cam for short--is a stuntwoman on a movie set.

The author, Elaine Raco Chase, gave a lot of thought to the choice of names. Thor (with echoes right out of Norse Mythology) and Devlin (which means fierce courage, and sounds like a devil.) He is a strong counterpart to this woman, who is a daredevil herself. But while his name, as well as his like of dialogue, suggest a link to a primal world, and to the aura of the old west, her name suggests quite the opposite. Her full name Camilla suggests warrior maiden (in Virgil's Aeneid)--but in its modified form, Cam, it is sleek and modern, as she lives in the world of cameras, snapshots, and illusions. So the story brings together more than simply two characters: it brings two worlds to a clash, which heightens the attraction between them, and enriches the romance.

This is the Taming of the Shrew turned inside out on a prehistoric stage set.
Five stars.

Muse

The lamp swings like a pendulum
Pictures sway on their nails
Then slip down the walls, leaving scratched trails
Amidst the quake, the grief, the confusion and scare
Slowly ascending is my father's armchair

And beyond all these outlines of what I see there
Beyond the sofa, the knickknacks, the old furniture
Light pours in, and it paints something new
It reveals, it unveils at this moment a clue

The clue to a presence only he could once see
A presence he longed for, because only she
Could call him back home, and envelop him so
Touching-not-touching, her hands all aglow

These pages, upon which he'll never scribble a line
Are floating out of shadows, into the shine
Only she can now read the blanks, she and no other
He's ascending into the arms of his muse, his mother.

Listen to my narrator, the tallented Kathy Bell Denton, read these lines, Here.



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Audiobook coming soon