Layla Fiske's Blog

A perfect way to end a wonderful year of accolades ~ The Fig Orchard was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by the very prestigious Kirkus Reviews!!!!

Needless to say, I am thrilled and honored to have my work recognized. Many thanks to the Indie editors of Kirkus Reviews for selecting The Fig Orchard as one of the Best Books of 2014.

Just Announced!! The Fig Orchard was selected as an Award-Winning Finalist in the "Fiction: Historical" category of the 2014 USA Best Book Awards!!! So. Very. Thrilled!!!

“With its exotic setting, engaging writing, and intriguing story about a strong heroine living during a challenging time in history, THE FIG ORCHARD by Layla Fiske will please readers looking for a deep story. In my view, this work is reminiscent of authors such as Amy Tan…

This author clearly has writing talent. I found this talent shown not only by the author’s choice of words, the way the sentences flow, and so forth, but also because of the way she handled her story and setting. The Middle East at the turn of the century is not necessarily a setting I would run to for reading pleasure. Yet because the story is so timeless and we immediately care about the characters, I had no problem relating to them. I admire how the author shows the time and place having an unmistakable and unavoidable effect on the characters, yet again, they were easily relatable to anyone with a heart.

I hope this author will continue to write books. Excellent work.” ~ Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

I’ve just learned that The Fig Orchard won an Honorable Mention in the Genre Fiction category for the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest’s Self-Published Book Awards!!! With over 2,800 entries overall, there were 35 Honorable Mentions, 8 of them in the Genre Fiction category. Woo-Hoo!!! Doing the happy dance!!!

I'm very excited to share that THE FIG ORCHARD was featured in the Sunday Arts and Cultural Section of the U~T San Diego (San Diego's prime newspaper.) Here is the link to the on-line version where I am interviewed regarding the inspiration for writing the novel. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/j...

I hope you enjoy it!

I am proud to announce that The Fig Orchard won the San Diego Book Awards Theodor S. Geisel Award for Best Published Book ("Best of the Best"); and the Award for Best Published Historical Fiction. What a thrill and an honor!! Winners were announced at the Twentieth Annual San Diego Book Awards Ceremony (2014) in San Diego, California.

The San Diego Book Awards Association is dedicated to enriching the large, diverse and vibrant literary community, while promoting literacy in the nation's third largest county.

"Fiske’s ambitious novel successfully weaves several subplots into a single, emotionally rich tapestry. Nisrina’s story, particularly her education as a midwife, serves as the heart of the novel, but Jabran’s experiences as a conscript in the Turkish army are just as dynamic. These two characters are surrounded by a well-developed cast of supporting players, including members of Jabran’s extended family and the nuns at the university. ... A sweeping historical epic anchored by a compelling heroine, finely honed historical detail and a fully realized setting." - Kirkus Reviews

To read the full review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

THE FIG ORCHARD has been selected as a finalist in the San Diego Book Awards Association's '2013 Book and Writing Awards Contest' for Historical Fiction!! The SDBAA honors the best books written by San Diego County residents each year, and also promotes literacy in San Diego County schools through its Read-4-Fun program. It is an honor to be recognized by this local organization!

I am humbled and thrilled to have THE FIG ORCHARD named an honoree novel and Silver Award winner for the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Award for Historical Fiction.

The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) today announced the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Award honorees. Contributors to this year's list of honorees include the 39th U.S. president Jimmy Carter, actor Jim Carrey, musician Art Garfunkel, and author Garrison Keillor.

"We have an extremely strong group of honorees this year," said IBPA Executive Director, Angela Bole. "We received nearly 1,300 entries into the program. The 154 titles selected as honorees are truly the best of the best."

Here is the link to my title in the Historical Fiction category: http://www.ibpa-online.org/bf/#hisfic

I had the honor of being interviewed by the very gracious, E. Nina Rothe, for an article in The Huffington Post. Here is a brief excerpt:

"Fiske tells the story of Nisrina, and her love Jabran, across ages and lands, borders that are created by men and wars, joy and tragedy and most of all, their undying devotion for each other. Alright, so far so good. But the true beauty of Fiske's writing lies not only in the story she tells, a spellbinding and turmoiled tale of Palestine and its people at the turn of the century -- much before the 'Nakba' -- but in the way she tells it. With care and warmth, through lavishly formed sentences that allow the reader to smell the bread baking in the oven, cower with fear at the Ottoman soldiers' cruelty, and all the while feel, feel, feel. I love a work of art that makes me feel, and also manages to teach me something I didn't know before. The Fig Orchard is all that, and more." E. Nina Rothe, The Huffington Post, March 19, 2014

To read the full interview click on the following link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/e-nina-...