GR Magazine discussion

"I knew it the very next morning, and I still know it now: My brother hates me. He has removed me from his mind, stricken away any thought, any memory about me. I am dead to him. The scary part is, that being dead will not stand in the way of him killing me, if ever he lays eyes on me again.
It is an odd feeling. Have you ever faced it? Being dead to someone you envy; someone you miss, too; someone who knows you intimately and, even worse, has the chutzpa to occupy your thoughts day in, day out. It grinds down on your nerves; doesn’t it?
Trust me, being dead to your brother is not all that it is cracked up to be, but it does set you free—oh, don’t act so surprised! It frees you from any lingering sense of obligation. Brother, you say to yourself. What does it mean, Brother? Nothing more than a pang, a dull pang in your heart.
You have betrayed him. Accept his hate."

Yankle, in A Favorite Son



My retelling of the biblical story of Jacob and Esau takes the time to concentrate on two things: the contemplation of the crime, and the mental anguish afterwards. Here is another view of my Ceramic sculpture of the character. It is called "What if my father touches me."

"When I sprinkle my secret blend of spices; here, take a sniff, can you smell it? When I chop these mouthwatering sun-dried tomatoes, add a few cloves of garlic for good measure, and let it all sizzle with lentils and meat—it becomes so scrumptious, so lip-smacking, finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth good!
There is a certain ratio of flavors, a balance that creates a feast for the tongue and a delight for the mind; and having mastered that balance, with a pinch of imported cumin from the north of Persia, a dash of Saffron from the south of Egypt, I can tell you one thing: When the pot comes to a full bubbling point, and the aroma of the stew rises up in the air—it would make you dribble! Drive you to madness! For a single bite, you would sell your brother, if only you had one! "

This is the voice of Yankle, in my new ebook, A Favorite Son. Modeled on the biblical story which is truly fascinating to me, this is a present-day twist. At this point in the story he is preparing a lentile stew for his brother, Esau, who comes home so hungry from a day of hunt, he is prepared to throw away up his birthright for a bite of that stew.

Later in the story Yankle will resort to cheating his father, who is lying on his deathbed, to steal away the inheritance. Here is a ceramic sculpture of Jacob preparing to wear the hide of a kid on his arm, so that if his father will touch him, he will mistake Jacob for his hairy brother Esau. In this piece, I focus on the moment of contemplating the crime, rather than the moment of action. He is about to make a choice: is the inheritance truly worth the price of losing his honesty, his soul?

Things are happening so fast that my head is spinning! Author of War Songs, Grady Harp is an artist representative, gallery owner, writer of essays and articles on figurative and all Representational art for museum catalogues and for traveling exhibitions, and an Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer. He describes himself as being ever on the alert for the new and promising geniuses of tomorrow. So I am deeply honored that he has posted this five-star review on Amazon for my just-published ebook, A Favorite Son:

5.0 out of 5 stars Betrayal and Consequences, January 1, 2013
By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States)
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
Uvi Poznansky has that enviable ability to push paint and words into that category of combining reality with fantasy, myth with story, tradition with contemporary sidebars. She has ably accomplished that in THE FAVORITE SON, drawing upon the Biblical tale of Isaac and his twin sons by his late birthing wife Rebecca - Jacob and Esau.

Isaac is growing old and his inheritance is to be passed to his firstborn. Therein lies the problem: Esau and Jacob were twins and in Poznansky's version, Esau pushes Jacob to the back of the womb allowing Esau to be the firstborn son. An inimical relationship dwells between the brothers - Esau is big and hairy and a hunter while Jacob is more his mother's son, interested in cooking and in the beautiful clothes and jewelry his mother Rebecca owns. Rebecca (or Becky as she is called in this quasi updated version) favors Jacob and plans the deception of Isaac by designing a goatskin arm form a beloved coat to place on Jacob's arm when Isaac will make the pronouncement of his passing of the inheritance. Or interest, Jacob has already tricked Esau with his cooking wiles and Esau has promised Jacob his inheritance. But as the story develops the sibling rivalry is complicated by the mother's intervention and Jacob is granted the inheritance as well as the love of the father who has always favored his older brother.

What Poznansky has managed to do is include many of the aspects of the lineage of Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and the stories that surround them: in Poznansky's tale the miracle of Jacob's ladder is inserted - and even that happed long after the birthright theft. She manages to bring the story forward by inserting contemporary language (Isaac even promises Rebecca the equivalent of a Rolls Royce!) and in doing so she opens the old story to be instead a lively psychological study of family and of greed and longing for paternal love and more. It works spectacularly well. Would that more of the Old Testament stories could be updated like this then perhaps more children would be fascinated with the abundant mythological stories of the Bible. Grady Harp, January 13

The cover of my ebook, A Favorite Son, is based on a mixed media paining I painted not long ago. In it I floated various paints on the paper, letting them drizzle and mix, to create an intricate, fiery flow of color. Then when they dried out I came in with a black pen, and drew just a few lines to suggest the figure.

To me, this is what this image means: looking directly at yourself, facing the pain and the ugly imperfections within, without any attempt to mask who you are—even if you find yourself on the verge of a meltdown. Which is the process the protagonist, Yankle, is going through in this story. He finds himself coming to terms with his core being, with how the tension between his emotions and needs has driven him over a lifetime.



As in my previous book cover designs, the font of the book title and the author name casts a subtle shadow over the image. However, One detail is different here: Two of the letters of the author name cast a shadow like all the other letters, but the two glyphs themselves—the objects that cast the shadows--are intentionally missing. Why? For two reasons.

First, because often in my art I discover that the eye is drawn to the unexpected, and the brain rises to the challenge when there is a missing link to resolve. The observer, then, becomes engaged with the art, and in a sense, becomes its creator.

And second, because this missing detail is a symbol, an indication of the flawed character in this story.

So I wish to invite you to my launch event for A Favorite Son. The event includes two fun activities: the first one:

Writing Contest
The biblical story of Jacob and his twin brother Esau competing for their father’s love inspired my writing in my new ebook, A Favorite Son. Which figure from history, mythology or the bible inspires you?
For those who have joined the event, here is a writing contest:
http://uviart.blogspot.com/p/contest_...

Favorite Figures on the Battlefield
Which figure from history, mythology or the bible inspires you? Joan of Arc? Moses? Perseus? The good samaritan? Spiderman? The snake in the garden of Eden? Mary Magdalene? If you you have joined the event, suggest a figure to be included here.
http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/01/fi...



To join the event go here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/43870...

"At that second it dawns on me—I understand, in its entirety, my mother’s plan; which nearly brings me to split my sides and roar with laughter—but at a single hint from her, I hold it in. No need for other people to hear us.
Intoxicated, I marvel in her plan; and in my mind I shout: My God, this is so clever! So deceitful! This costume, I think, is so much fun! Designed for the pleasure, so to speak, of a blind man... Ha! What does he know! That damn blessing may yet be mine, after all.
In my excitement I stumble across a thought, which is so outlandish that immediately, it makes me sober up. “What if he suspects something,” I ask, in a whisper. I hate to admit it, but it is not love for my father, nor respect for his age, that drive me to such hesitation. Rather, it is fear: The fear to be found out.
She lowers her eyes, thinking intensely, searching for an answer.
So I press on: “What if he touches me? He will guess, perhaps, that I am not the son I pretend to be; and so, instead of a blessing, I will end up, God forbid, being cursed!”
What can she say, I wonder. True, my mother is close to me. We could always think alike. But for the life of me, I cannot understand her right now. She is the mother of twins, so in my mind, she should love us both, in fairly equal measures. In the years to come I would often wonder: Why would a woman do this, why would she pit one son against another?"

This is how Yankle describes the plot, which his mother Becky (Rebecca) conceives to cheat both Esav, her other son, and her husband Isaac who is lying on his deathbed. Her plan is for Yankle to fool his blind father, and wear a costume, pretending to be his twin brother. When she tells Yankle, "On me your sin, my son," it is not love for him that drives her.

In A Favorite Son, this is the moment depicted in my sculpture of Rebecca: her hand gesture is meant to wave away his fears--but at the same time, it is only herself that she hugs. You can see nother view of this piece here.

It is such a thrill to read a review written by Michelle Bellon. She is a young yet prolific author. I have read two of her recent books, Embracing Me, Embracing You and her newest work, Rogue Alliance, both of which were thrilling to read. She writes as easily in one genre as another and her love for the music of language is ever present. This is what she posted on Amazon for A Favorite Son:

★★★★★ An Old Tale Given New Life!, January 15, 2013
By Michelle Bellon
Amazon Verified Purchase

Uvi Poznansky has done it again!

With masterful storytelling and rich, poetic prose that feeds all of the senses, she has breathed life into an old tale, giving it layers and depth which gives the reader a thought to pause and think.

In A Favorite Son, Yankle is a character which is so complex, I struggled to decide how I felt about him, or anyone in the story for that matter. At times feeling both anger, sympathy, sadness, and betrayal, all at once. It is a difficult thing to bring forth so many emotions and not lose the reader. But Uvi does it beautifully.

I highly recommend this quick, powerful read.

Marsha Casper Cook is the author of six published books and eleven feature-length screenplays, a literary agent with fifteen years experience, and the host of the blog talk radio show A Good Story is a Good Story. So I am thrilled that Marsha invited me to be appear on her show.

A Good Story Is A Good Story

"I hear the slight rustle of her skirt, and her soft voice saying, “Wait, Isaac—” just before it becomes muffled. So sharply, so unexpectedly does it happen, that it makes me giddy with curiosity; and so, I do what I have to do: I lift the flap of the tent, allowing light in, to peek in on them; and what I see leaves me dumbfounded.
There she is, kneeling down before him amidst ripples of silk. She wraps her arms around his frail shoulders, draws closely and kisses him, long and full, on his mouth. And then, when she rises up, you can see that his face is confused, and his hand is trembling a little."

In this excerpt Yankle describes his mother Becky, modeled after the biblical figure of Rebecca. Her husband Isaac is lying on his deathbed. He is blind, and waiting for his firstborn son Esav to come back from the hunt, so he can give him the blessing. Becky plots to deceive the old man. In my story, A Favorite Son, she goes into his tent to say her last farewell, and just before sending Jacob in to execute her criminal plan, she kisses her husband. Watching this from a distance, Yankle says:

"I have to wonder: What was that kiss? Her way to say farewell? Was it inspired by some old memory, some image of their younger days—or else, was it designed to make him vulnerable, make him ready for me, just in time for my entrance? I agonize, I puzzle over that kiss. Was it act of love—or of deceit?"



Yankle, in A Favorite Son

★★★★★ Skilled Masterpiece!
By Dolores Ayotte (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
This review is from: A Favorite Son

I am an author. Once again, after reading a book penned by gifted Author Uvi Poznansky, I am able to dream of my possible potential should I follow in her footsteps and continue in my endeavors to stretch my talents like she so adeptly manages to do. Her astonishing knack of expertly drawing from her creative and artistic abilities never ceases to amaze me.

Most of us are familiar with the well-known Bible story of Jacob and Esau. Twin sons born to Rebecca and Isaac in their later years, are at odds and in competition to inherit the much coveted blessing from their father on his deathbed. The collaboration that takes place between mother and her favorite son, Yankle, in order to dupe Isaac effectively demonstrates the length some parents will go to in their unfairness, or what I refer to as, the "division" of their love. According to the main thread skillfully woven into this novel, the phenomenon of favoring one child over another may be a curse not only for the favored child but for the rejected one as well. I purposely use the word "division" of love to describe the favoritism both Rebecca and Isaac displayed for opposite sons in this story in order to stress what I consider to be a poignant point.

In my opinion, neither parent expresses true love. True love does not divide families nor does it create ugly competitiveness, sibling rivalry, jealously, hatred, anger and all the other undesirable, negative traits expressed between these two sons. Neither parent shows love for their offspring nor toward each other. It has been said that true love multiplies...it never divides. When one discovers this definition of love and fully embraces this concept, the negative emotions experienced by this family and many others, will no longer exist. To me, that is the true moral to this Bible story.

Ms. Poznansky takes an age old story and gives it a modern twist. The reader is invited into the tortured psyche of Yankle and the grief, guilt, and full knowledge of the consequence of his deception in order to demonstrate what a living hell is all about. Yankle is haunted by his choice, that of manipulating his father's deteriorating physical condition along with his mother, in order to steal his brother, Esav's birthright. He does not want to repeat history in his own life and continue with this kind of favoritism in his relationship with his own sons. This author shows not only by the cover she has so beautifully painted, but also by the words she has so carefully chosen to depict the results of such a past and present dilemma...the consequences of such a devious act.

To quote Ms. Poznansky when describing her book cover, she states, "To me, this is what this image means: looking directly at yourself, facing the pain and the ugly imperfections within, without any attempt to mask who you are--even if you find yourself on the verge of a meltdown." I think each of us will eventually reach this point in life, and regardless of what path we take to get there, we must face ourselves, our actions, our lives and learn what true love is all about...I think this is the genuine motive and goal behind the work of this talented artist and author. Her writing is meant to provoke, prod, persuade, and push us to the limits of our inner selves in order to tie it all together. In my opinion, she is not only showing us a part of herself, her every desire is for us to see our own reflection in her work and see what personal message it holds. She has certainly succeeded with me...

Angela Davis writes from the heart. She is not a writer--but a poet, and her words are deeply moving to me. I am thrilled to read her review of A Favorite Son. This is what she wrote:

★★★★★ Brilliant Reconfiguration, February 2, 2013
By Angela Davis
Amazon Verified Purchase

I am not a writer, I am a reader, and I know what captivates me. A Favorite Son is far more than an updated version of a well known Biblical story of Jacob and Esau and their supposedly inimitable mother, Rebecca.

Written- by Uvi Poznansky (Apart From Love, Home) an original and brilliant author whose work will simply mesmerize and create a depth of thought long after the reader has reluctantly left the final page.

Ms. Poznansky's ability to create characters that are quite relatable and emotional and that encompass the range of human emotions- fear, rage, insecurity, love, desire, hatred, and the all-consuming need for acceptance from a parent, is unparalleled.

Her ability to reconfigure one of the most indomitable tales is simply genius.
Written with a mild hand, but with a punch to the gut simultaneously-is intense, and will provide discussion and thought long after the close of the final page.

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:


★★★★★ Bringing the familiar to unfamiliar life, February 13, 2013
By S. Deeth "Sheila Deeth" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

Two Amazon reviews for my ebook A Favorite Son coming in on the same day! Now that's a first... Brilliant? Compelling? You Decide!

★★★★★ stars Brilliant., February 14, 2013
By Wendy Scott (New Zealand)

This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)
I loved the descrptive writing, so flavourful it was almost as if I was inhaling and tasting the story. The story flowed well and the narrative voice rang true. Just wondeful!

★★★★★ Compelling., February 14, 2013
By Sara Alexi - The Greek Village Series

As the reviewer above says this is a modern retelling of the Bible story of Esau and Jacob and the rivalry between brothers and it does translate well into a modern context. Beside all stories have been written before, good against evil, a right of passage etc. What made me read on was the way it had been written, direct and compelling.

Drum roll please...:
Here is my announcement of the day:
A second one of my books is going into audio production! Here is a detail of the cover:



And here is the title:

http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/02/dr...

Christian Ashley is an author of Historical Romance, Paranormal Fiction, and Erotic Fantasy. You may have seen some of her books: Rose of Gwynedd, In Daddy's Arms, and Dignity. I appreciate a story for its contrasts, which explains precisely why I enjoy her mixed-genre work. I am thrilled that she posted a ★★★★★ review for my ebook, A Favorite Son.

Here is what she wrote:

★★★★★ A Captivating Tale, February 21, 2013
By Christian Ashley (Los Angeles, CA)
Amazon Verified Purchase

I love how the author, Uvi Poznansky, can convincingly tell a story from a first person perspective, literally fold time, and simultaneously convey the emotions of all of the other characters as well. The way that Jacob tells his story is captivating, and I read it through from the beginning to the end. Jacob is also quite humorous as he often pulled something in from the present day to bring forth a chuckle. The "Yankle in the Box" actually made me laugh aloud. Bravo, Uvi! A Favorite Son, like Apart from Love, is brilliant!

Like the ebook cover of A Favorite Son, the cover of the audiobook edition is based on my own mixed media painting. The main difference between the two covers is the proportions (square instead of rectangle.) In the original art I floated various paints on the paper, letting them drizzle and mix, to create an intricate, fiery flow of color. Then when they dried out I came in with a black pen, and drew just a few lines to suggest the figure.

To me, this is what this image means: looking directly at yourself, facing the pain and the ugly imperfections within, without any attempt to mask who you are—even if you find yourself on the verge of a meltdown. Which is the process the protagonist, Yankle, is going through in this story. He finds himself coming to terms with his core being, with how the tension between his emotions and needs has driven him over a lifetime. In a most profound sense, this is a story of crime and punishment.



As in my previous book cover designs for Apart From Love and Home, the title and the author name cast a subtle shadow over the image. However, one detail is different here: two of the letters of the author name cast a shadow like all the other letters, but the two glyphs themselves—U and P--are intentionally missing. Why? For two reasons.

First, because often in my art I discover that the eye is drawn to the unexpected, and the brain rises to the challenge when there is a missing link to resolve. The observer, then, becomes engaged with the art, and in a sense, becomes its creator. And second, because this missing detail is a symbol, an indication of the flawed character in this story.

As with the U and P, the narrator's name appears in shadow form only. This extends the graphical concept of the missing glyphs, and it is also symbolic, because the voice is a soul. It fills our mind and heart without having a visual, physical existence.

"When I sprinkle my secret blend of spices; here, take a sniff, can you smell it? When I chop these mouthwatering sun-dried tomatoes, add a few cloves of garlic for good measure, and let it all sizzle with lentils and meat—it becomes so scrumptious, so lip-smacking, finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth good!
There is a certain ratio of flavors, a balance that creates a feast for the tongue and a delight for the mind; and having mastered that balance, with a pinch of imported cumin from the north of Persia, a dash of Saffron from the south of Egypt, I can tell you one thing: When the pot comes to a full bubbling point, and the aroma of the stew rises up in the air—it would make you dribble! Drive you to madness! For a single bite, you would sell your brother, if only you had one!"

Yankle, in A Favorite Son

Brian M. Hayden is the author of Death: Living To Talk About It and Road To Transplant, a memoir of his journey to get a heart transplant. Every time I read excerpts of his books, I found myself gripped in the description. So I feel it is a great honor that he posted this article about my work on his blog. Among other things, he says:

"I first became aware of Uvi’s work about a year ago. I am a member in several writing groups on face book. One day I noticed one of her posts. She had shared a poem. I so enjoyed reading her poem that I followed the link that led me to her web site. When I arrived, I was amazed. There were samples of her art work, poetry and writing. I quickly became a fan..."

To read the entire article go here, to his blog post about my book, A Favorite Son: http://brianhayden.net/book-review-a-...

I had the great opportunity to appear for an interview on the website of a fabulous author and friend, Christine Nolfi, where I was asked this: Why move between genres?

This is a question I often ask myself. My books cannot easily be classified in the narrow confines of a particular genre, because life as we know it–and my art, which mirrors it– constantly change from one genre to the next. One moment is is humorous; the next, it is erotic; then, it might be a tragedy.

To read the interview, in which I also talk about the latest and greatest news--my two audio projects--click here:
http://www.christinenolfi.com/blog/?p...

New review for A Favorite Son:

★★★★★ "A Favorite Son" is a favorite of mine, March 4, 2013
By Brian M. Hayden
Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently read her book, “A Favorite Son.” Let me tell you what I thought of her book.

“A Favorite Son” is a modern day interpretation of an old biblical story. Two brothers – twins, and by all accounts equal, except one brother was born one minute before the other. Uvi skillfully sets up the story as she introduces the brothers first. We begin to understand the dynamic of their relationship, and the importance of being first born.

Next, Uvi introduces the mother. As we understand her, the special relationship between the mother and one of the sons is unveiled. Like building a brick house, piece by piece Uvi layers the characters and the inter-relationships. The last character she introduces is the father.

The stage is set. The characters introduced. All that is left is to see how it will all play out. For the answer to that…you must buy the book – and I am telling you: You must buy this book!

Uvi Pozansky is an excellent word smith. She so carefully put this story together that it held my attention from start to finish. For those of you who know me, that is indeed an accomplishment.
Uvi Pozansky’s book, “A Favorite Son” is a favorite of mine. It is a must read for everyone!

Download this highly-praised book here:
http://www.amazon.com/A-Favorite-Son-...

"With that, she gave a slight nudge to the camel, turned it swiftly around and with a clip and a clop away she went, taking her chances elsewhere, into a rainy fog.
Never again would I see her. Upon my return to this place, more than two decades later, I would learn that my brother never forgave her for loving me, loving me only..."

Yankle in A Favorite Son



This is a quick color sketch, using acrylic paint on paper, looking at a white-clad model, From another direction than the first sketch, here: http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/03/th...

Tonight, to my surprise, I found a new review for my book, A Favorite Son. The review was written by Jerry Beller, an author who writes historical fiction. His work includes the "American Myth series", which covers American History from before the republic, up to the present. So I find it a true honor that he said this:

★★★★★ Creative and entertaining, March 16, 2013
By The Review - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase

"A Favorite Son" by Uvi Poznansky is a skillful, creative modernization of the Biblical story of Isaac and Rebecca, and their twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Ms. Poznansky creates a story full of jealousy, spite and even hate, which competes with compassion, family ties and love. This is a quick read that was entertaining and often funny. The author appears to take turns respecting and mocking tradition, doing both in a delightful manner. One of the many lessons in this book is to be careful what you wish for, as is so brilliantly illustrated in the character Yankle, whose voice carries the story.

This is a real good book and I look forward to reading more of Uvi Poznansky's work.

This review can be seen here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R23R1AOA...

"She collected an array of translucent, sheer veils of fantastic rainbow colors, which she wore, I am told, on her wedding night. My father found it enchanting. The first time he had actually seen her face was, of course, the morning after. With the veil removed, she had fainted upon seeing him. It was not the excitement of first love. No—it must have been the corset; a tight undergarment contraption which, according to gossip, she had brought with her from the North, to keep her figure in shape.
Everyone knew she was homesick. It was no secret she would have done anything, back then, for a trip back home; but this being the middle of nowhere, far away from the towns and the settlements, out there in the densely populated regions to the west of us, there was no bus to be found; and my father insisted that a plane ticket was out of the question."

Yankle about his mother Becky in A Favorite Son



This is my quick color sketch, using acrylic paint on paper, looking at a white-clad model, and trying to accentuate all the colors hinted in the shadows of the white... Quite a strange challenge...

Doing the happy dance! My ebook, A Favorite Son (soon to come out in also in print and audio editions) is climbing the ranks on Amazon! Take a look, it is currently #14 (in paid books) in two categories...

What is the working title of your story?
The title of my story is A Favorite Son. Sounds familiar? Maybe because its Kindle edition has been published a couple of months ago. To my surprise, the story was received with great acclaim. So now there are two great developments which I would like to share with you: first, the story just about to come out as a paperback book! And the second--even better!--it is just about to come out as an audiobook!

Where did the idea come from for the story?
I have long been fascinated with the story of Jacob and Esav, which to me, captures several layers of emotions which we all go through in our families: a rivalry between brothers, the way a mother’s love, unevenly divided, can spur them to action, to crime, even; and how in time, even in the absence of regret, a punishment eventually ripens.

What genre does your story fall under?
The best definition I can offer for a genre is this: it is a new-age-biblical-twist genre, set in the twenty-first century, in a primitive camp of tents at the frontier of the desert in Canaan, in what seems, at first, to be an innocent fable.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I am going to change the question... Why, you ask? Because when your book is picked up for a major movie deal, this success--incredible as it may be--usually comes with a caveat: your work will be used by the screen writers merely as a suggestion, so it remains to be seen how much of the original text is retained in the final cut... However, when your book is picked up for narration, every sentence, every turn-of-a-phrase, every breath and pause in the original text is not only retained, but comes to life in the voice of the narrator.

So let me rephrase the question as follows: which actors would you choose to play your characters in a narrated rendition? Ah! What a great question! I would choose an actor with a great literary skill, one that can interpret the layers of meanings in my story, and one that has versatile voices in him. In short: David Kudler, and I had my heart set on him the moment I heard his audition.

David has been a voice and stage actor, a writer, and a book editor for over twenty years. Since 1999, he has been in charge of publications for the Joseph Campbell Foundation. As you can see, he is a man for all seasons... As a narrator, he has a warm, versatile voice, and a great ear for character and dialect. For A Favorite Son, he plays Yankle, Esav (Yankle’s brother), Isaac (Yankle’s father), Becky (Yankle’s mother) and Eliezer (Becky’s butler.) For each one of these characters, there is a distinct voice!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your story?
This is a present-day twist on the biblical story of Jacob and his mother Rebecca plotting together against the elderly father Isaac, who is lying on his deathbed, in order to get their hands on the inheritance, and on the power in the family.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
My book--in its paperback and ebook editions--will be self-published. I enjoy every aspect of the publishing process: the cover design most of all, as well as the interior design. Once my book is written and edited, I have an quick turnaround time to having it published--usually within a week. The audiobook edition, obviously, takes longer, because it involves a creative exchange of ideas between the narrator and me.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Start to finish, this book took me six weeks. But it had been brewing in me for several years before that. Being an artist, I expressed it through sculpture. So here you can see Yankle and his mother Becky, plotting to cheat the father, and unable to look each other in the eye as they are doing so.

I am so excited to invite you! Come celebrate with me: My book, A Favorite Son, is coming out in two new editions: audiobook and print. We will have a writing contest, fun activities, and surprises for all. Stay tuned!

https://www.facebook.com/events/31888...

Exciting news: First, the Kindle edition of A Favorite Son continues to climb the ranks. It is currently in 16th place in Biblical and in Biblical fiction categories! And who do I have to thank for it? You! You who read it, you who reviewed it, you who is celebrating its launch in my launch event, and even you who is helping me spread the word!

Second, the paperback edition has just become available on Amazon, just in time to celebrate Passover and Easter! I am working on uploading the information for the Look Inside feature (which exists in the book page for the Kindle edition but not yet for the paperback edition.)



So to get this ★★★★★ highly acclaimed book, with a beautiful cover and 13 eloquent Amazon reviews, click the cover image:



Join me at the launch event for the audiobook and the paperback edition!
The Voice Is Jacob's Voice

As part of the launch event The Voice Is Jacob's Voice, I am announcing a Writing Contest for all who join me in the celebration. Read the rules here: Writing Contest

“Are you jealous?” I tease him. “I can’t believe it!”
To which he roars, “You do nothing, you! You cook, you hide. Coward! Aha, coward you!”
He takes one step forward; I take two back. The arrows slung over his shoulder clink against each other. It is a steely, menacing sound. With one blow of his hand, he smacks down the canvas; and, on the double, the entire tent is flattened into a lopsided mess, collapsing upon itself; its pegs flying clear out, bouncing over and over, over the soft sand.
He gets in my face; we are standing nose to nose. The moment I have dreaded all my life is suddenly upon me, and there is no way to withdraw. I have to face him, which forces me to examine him closely...

This excerpt, in Yankle's voice, captures the beginning of a dialog between him and his twin brother Esav, who is coming back from a day of hunt utterly famished, and tested to the limit of his wits by the smell of the lentil stew. Here is this snippet in audio:

To listen to this audio excerpt, click the link
http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/03/ar...

Wow! Just got this email about my audiobook coming out:

"Congratulations, A Favorite Son is now on sale at audible.com. And we plan to make it available on iTunes and Amazon.com within the next few days."

A Favorite Son

When I sculpt a figure, such as here, in one of my earliest pieces, I let it age and become young again, adding and reducing wrinkles as the piece is being formed. For me, working on the audiobook of A Favorite Son is no different, and let me tell you why...



To listen to voice clips from the audiobook click the link:
http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/04/be...

Without even looking at the entrance to the tent, without even touching the cold surface of the hourglass, I know: It is nearly empty. The sand is running out. For us, there is no more time. He will never realize who it was standing there by his bedside, overcome and awash with tears.
I let one word escape, hoping that he cannot catch the sound of it—but wishing, in spite of myself, that he would:
“Dad,” I whisper.
It is then that he raises his hand and with a strength I did not know he possessed, takes hold of my limb. He runs his fingers through the hair of the goatskin sleeve, comes as high up as my heart—and then, loses his breath and lets go. “The arm is the arm of Esav,” he whispers. “But the voice is the voice of Yankle.”

Yankle in A Favorite Son

This is a seminal moment in the story... To read more and to listen to the audio narration click here:
http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/04/th...

Try Audible free for 30 days and get a free audiobook!
You can cancel anytime.
Then get the just released audiobook
With multiple ★★★★★ reviews
"Compelling", "Entertaining", "Brilliant"
A Favorite Son

http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/04/tr...

Who me? Making you think? Never!
Here is a new 5 star Amazon review for A Favorite Son:

★★★★★ Made me think, April 5, 2013
By Betty J. Hairston - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)
This book was comical and true to the bible story however with a twist. It refers back to other bible stories in explaining a why. It was comical in that he says he will never have a favorite son.

Just discovered a new review, this time from a reader who purchased the paperback edition of A Favorite Son! Here goes:

★★★★★ A beautifully written book- a must read!, April 7, 2013
By Laura - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Favorite Son (Paperback)
A bitter rivalry between two sons. Yankle wants to be his father's favorite son! Highly emotional and deceptive!! An excellent book!

The poll has been posted!
Cast your vote for your favorite entry in the Writing Contest.
And by all means, share this link so your friends and followers get to read the entries and vote, too!
http://uviart.blogspot.com/p/contest_...

To my surprise, A Favorite Son has been received with warm, wonderful praise on Amazon--15 reviews and counting! And to top it all off, today I am thrilled to discover the first customer review of its audiobook, which was published only a few days ago on Audible:


Audible customers get to review the story as well as the voice, which is to say, the performance. This is truly special, not only on behalf of my work--but on behalf of my amazing narrator, David Kudler. He truly deserves this praise, because he is man of a thousand voices. Between us: I hesitate calling him on the phone, because he can bring out one character after another from his throat, and fool his mother, let alone me...

In addition to the Writing Contest in my launch event I am announcing a new fun activity. If you have partied in my previous events, you have seen such activities: The Quilt of Memories, Our Family Tree, And Figures on the Battlefield.

So what will it be this time, you ask? Well, because now we are talking a lot about sound and voice, here is the new activity:

http://uviart.blogspot.com/2013/04/jo...

The Launch event The Voice Is Jacob's Voice will come to its height Friday, April 9th between 9:00 am to noon PST. Come check it out--you won't want to miss this!

https://www.facebook.com/events/31888...

So glad to discover a new review for A Favorite Son. It is written by the author Eleonore Caron. She has written a series of mystery stories for children, the first of which, Gizmo and Ellen Mysteries, has been published recently in paperback. Here is what she said:

★★★★★ A Favorite story of mine now, April 12, 2013
By Eleonore Caron - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Favorite Son (Paperback)

I really liked this story. The author made me feel what the characters felt. There is a biblical connection and also a modern day one. It doesn't pay to be deceitful in the end.
I've come to know Uvi a little more now and she is a great lady with numerous talents from creating art to writing stories and poems.

Check out the new audio edition of A Favorite Son

Ode to the Great Kudler

Springing out of my mind, out of this cage
His words but a whisper, right here on this page
Jacob trembles in shame--not because of his sin
But because he wears nothing but a sleeve of goatskin

Lonely and naked, how can he rejoice
Wishing to be wrapped by the warmth of voice
While back in the camp, Eliezer the butler
Croaks out of the throat of the Great Kuddler

Oh please, trust me now, this is no spelling mistake
For his voice can cuddle--but it can also shake
Yes, Kuddler lets you hear the subtle clipclop
Of a camel approaching, Becky perched at the top

And so at long last, by hook and by crook
Jacob speaks loud and clear in this audiobook



The gifted narrator of my audiobook, David Kudler is an author, editor and performer. Since 1999, he has overseen the publications program of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, where he has served as the managing editor of the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell series. He lives in Mill Valley, California (the next town north from Sausalito) with his wife, teacher and author Maura Vaughn, their two author-to-be daughters, and their non-literary cat.

New! Print edition of A Favorite Son

New! audiobook of A Favorite Son

Shebat Legion is the author of wacky, off-the-wall entertaining, and hard-to-classify books. I Just found her 5-star review for A Favorite Son:

★★★★★ A remake with a twist, April 18, 2013
By Shebat Legion
This review is from: A Favorite Son (Paperback)

A Favorite Son by Uvi Poznansky is a modern twist on a biblical tale that takes no prisoners. Witty and yet pensive, Uvi manages to bring the reader into a compassionate state for the protagonist and with well thought out characterization, an unexpected likability is discovered as well. Enjoy!

For three days--April 24 through 26, I have reduced the price of my Kindle ebooks to 99 cents.

They are:
Apart From Love (a novel: romantic suspense/family saga)
A Favorite Son (a story: biblical fiction)
Home (poetry)



Oh! Almost forgot: while you're on Amazon to download A Favorite Son, check out the audiobook edition! You can even listen to a voice clip...Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/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:

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: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

★★★★★ review: "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."

Review by Sheila Deeth

Just found a new review for A Favorite Son!

★★★★ A Must Read, May 11, 2013
By Cynthia Hamilton "Cindy" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: A Favorite Son (Kindle Edition)

This book is a superb modern day version of the biblical story of Isaac and Rebecca and their twin sons. It tells of how deceitful and greedy people can be within their own families.

The author also writes poetry and it shows in her beautiful flowing way with words. It's a book to remember!

Check it out! This news flash, put together by Erika Goodkin of Literati Consulting PR, has just been released:

Israeli-American Author Releases New Book of Biblical Fiction

Among other things, this news flash reveals who wrote the praise on the back cover of the print edition of my novel, Apart From Love. Hint: guess who wrote the screenplays for the blockbuster movies 'Every Which Way But Loose', 'Any Which Way You Can' (with Clint Eastwood in the title role), and 'Going Ape' (with Tony Danza in the title role.)

What is the Author Alliance? It is founded to promote good books and authors, and to unite good authors and books with avid readers. Their collection of professional editors, graphic artists, web designers, promoters and teachers within the business provide authors virtually everything they need to get a book published.

I am so thrilled that my interview with the Author Alliance (focusing on A Favorite Son) has gone live! Check it out:

Author Alliance Interview with Uvi Poznansky

Highly praised ★★★★★ new-age twist on an old yarn, 18 reviews!

"The first time he saw her face was, of course, the morning after. The veil removed, she fainted upon seeing him."

Take a listen to★ A FAVORITE SON ★

We have not been camping close to a well for nearly three days now—but I happen to know where water can be found, because in her tent, under her bed, my mother keeps a full jug, for no one else but me. And so, I bring it to him, catching myself in an unexpectedly generous mood. He takes a long gulp. Then he has to catch his breath.
“Yankle?” he says.
“Yes, Esav?”
“What is this smell? So good...”
“It’s my new recipe! I call it a stew.”
“Give me. Give me now!”
“Well, no,” I say. “There are limits to my generosity.”
“You be sorry,” says he.
“Well, what’s in it for me?”
“Huh?”
“Do I really have to explain? What will you give me in return?”
“Give you?” he flares up. “A big smack.”
“Oh well,” I laugh in his face. “Forget it, then.”
He falls to some deep thoughts, by the end of which he throws his hands up in the air. “I give you something,” he offers. “Anything.”
I smile. “You know what I want.”
Then he hesitates. “No. Not that.”
Well, by now you know me: I can find a way, some way to convince him. So I go over to my big pot and, as theatrically as I can, raise the iron lid.
Out comes a puff of steam, escaping high into the air and carrying with it the most tempting, most delectable scent. Then, using my brother’s arrow as a skewer, I pierce through the juiciest, most succulent piece of meat, and bring it right under his nose.

Take a listen to the voice sample!