Ask the Author: Talia Carner
Answered Questions (12)
Talia Carner
Congratulations on completing your first book, and sorry for your disappointment that people closest to you do not grant you the favor of reading it. The first question that comes to my mind is how ready was your manuscript for publication. All too often, novice writers, exhilarated by their first body of work, rush it to publication.
It took me years of writing, editing, revising and polishing my first manuscript—and it still didn’t sell to a publisher. Along the way I attended many writing workshops and seminars to hone my craft, and got feedback from my writing group and professional editors.
My second manuscript, after years of a similar process, almost sold to Simon & Shuster, so I knew it was good enough for publication. I self-published it, and immediately it won a prestigious award.
Unless you have gone through rigorous learning the craft and honing your fiction-writing skills, it is comparable to your taking this many months of piano lessons, rented a concert hall, and being disappointed that no one came to hear your play.
It took me years of writing, editing, revising and polishing my first manuscript—and it still didn’t sell to a publisher. Along the way I attended many writing workshops and seminars to hone my craft, and got feedback from my writing group and professional editors.
My second manuscript, after years of a similar process, almost sold to Simon & Shuster, so I knew it was good enough for publication. I self-published it, and immediately it won a prestigious award.
Unless you have gone through rigorous learning the craft and honing your fiction-writing skills, it is comparable to your taking this many months of piano lessons, rented a concert hall, and being disappointed that no one came to hear your play.
Talia Carner
The reviews of books I've read appear in my list of books. I am not sure whether GR sends you a notice whenever I review a book.
Reviews of my books appear on my website, www.TaliaCarner.com
Thanks!!
Reviews of my books appear on my website, www.TaliaCarner.com
Thanks!!
Talia Carner
Actually, I've been doing it in my novels that have been spanning the globe--Jerusalem, Paris, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Moscow, and New York.... But rather than look at the place first, I let the social issue that is at the center of the story draw me to the place....
Talia Carner
My first "book" to read this summer is the draft of my novel-in-progress, "The 4th Daughter," which I will probably read a few times.... Then there are novels by writing buddies and friends (some more known than others) for which I am asked to give blurbs (those quotes appearing on the book jacket or back cover.) Not only some of these books will not be released until later in the year, I can't even endorse them before reading each. Overall, outside my research, for fun, I read only a handful of books each year.
That said, as soon as I finish reading a book I post a review on Amazon and here on GoodReads, so I suggest you just peek at my list of books here.
That said, as soon as I finish reading a book I post a review on Amazon and here on GoodReads, so I suggest you just peek at my list of books here.
Talia Carner
The people closest to us still harbor topics they do not speak of. Secrets of separations, losses, deeds--actions of their own or of others to whom they are related--of which they are ashamed.
It may not come to light until a any of the forces that shape our lives--religion, geography, politics, economics--creates a pressure-cooker that explodes that secret....
Such is the story of my most recent novel, HOTEL MOSCOW, but the theme appears in both my previous novels and in my one now in progress.
It may not come to light until a any of the forces that shape our lives--religion, geography, politics, economics--creates a pressure-cooker that explodes that secret....
Such is the story of my most recent novel, HOTEL MOSCOW, but the theme appears in both my previous novels and in my one now in progress.
Talia Carner
Tevye and his wife Golde, from the author Shalom Aleichem's short stories made famous by the dramatic adaptation into Fiddler On The Roof.
His philosophical approach to life, contrasted with her non-nonsense realistic approach that is nevertheless subject to superstitions, make for a great tapestry of a married life.
His philosophical approach to life, contrasted with her non-nonsense realistic approach that is nevertheless subject to superstitions, make for a great tapestry of a married life.
Talia Carner
An update: I am writing my 6th novel, THE BOY WITH THE STAR TATTO. It is a historical fiction novel, set in France.
Talia Carner
1) Write what you DON'T know. Research and discover along with the protagonist all she needs to know.
2) Rewrite and revise a zillion times. Enjoy reading grammar books.
2) Rewrite and revise a zillion times. Enjoy reading grammar books.
Talia Carner
The creative process. Closing my eyes and allowing myself to be transported into the scene and then let my fingers record on the keyboard whatever I hear, see, smell and feel.....
Talia Carner
I've never had a writer's block. I only suffer from not having enough time to cover all the subjects I'd want to write about.
Talia Carner
Ideas find me and don't let go until I sit down to write a whole novel....
Talia Carner
My escape from Moscow in October 1993 after I was caught in the uprising of the Russian parliament against then-president Yeltsin.
For more, you may read the Q&A on my website, http://www.taliacarner.com/hotel-mosc...
For more, you may read the Q&A on my website, http://www.taliacarner.com/hotel-mosc...
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