If Israel is to survive, physically and spiritually, it needs to undergo, collectively, a sea change in its vision of reality and face some unpleasant though obvious facts.

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/09/israel-the-way-out-david-shulman/

Antonio Canova’s clay models reveal the creative struggle behind the classical perfection of his marble sculptures.

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/09/natures-rival-canova-sketching-in-clay/

Seen from a certain perspective, Constance Debré’s recent trilogy of novels—Playboy, Love Me Tender, and Nom (Name)—looks ready-made to appeal to audiences hungry for autobiographical tales of female self-emancipation. The books are based on events from Debré’s own life, the facts of which are as follows: born into an illustrious French family, Debré grew up […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/09/wanting-for-nothing-playboy-constance-debre/

In 1988 Vaslav Nijinsky visited the dancer and choreographer Molissa Fenley in her New York City studio. He had been dead for nearly forty years—longer than Fenley had been alive. But as she worked on a wrenching, thirty-five-minute solo called State of Darkness, set to Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (1913), she couldn’t shake […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/04/20/company-she-keeps-molissa-fenley/

“I don’t have any programmatic agenda for art, merely a hope to cut through received patterns of thought.”

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/04/20/a-curious-temperament-julian-bell/

In Silence Cries the Heart follows an American schoolteacher on a trip to Scotland who uncovers the tragic history of a couple from the 17th century and a mystery surrounding their love. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

During the summer of 2019 while on a tour of Scotland, I and my fellow travelers stopped at Urquhart Castle, the ruins of which rest on the banks of Loch Ness. Visiting the dungeon there, I read a placard that mentioned the name of its most famous prisoner, Domhnull Donn, a cattle thief who had been executed not so much because he was a reiver but because he had the audacity to fall in love with the laird’s daughter, Mary Grant. When I asked the tour guide for further information about this doomed pair, he really didn’t know a whole lot beyond what was stated there on the display.

For some reason, I just couldn’t shake the memory of the castle, the dungeon, and the two lovers themselves, so when I got home to New York, I started digging around to find whatever I could about Donal and Mary. During that research, I found a particularly wonderful book by William Mackay called, Urquhart and Glenmoriston, Olden Times in a Highland Parish (1893) which included intriguing comments about Domhnull, calling him “the Rob Roy of his generation” who “had more poetry in his soul than the famous Macgregor had.” In addition, Mackay also recounted Domhnull’s capture, his final days, and even his last words before succumbing to the ax. I started to think, What kind of love could be so strong that it would be worth dying for?

I knew I had the shell of a tremendous story from history; I just needed to flesh it out.

Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?

I believe so. I hope readers will be captivated by the story of Mary and Donal and feel transported back to another age and time.

There is so much to be said about love in this book. What do you hope your readers take away from your story?

Two things actually. First (as stated earlier), I hope that they will be enchanted by a love that transcends time. Second, I hope that they will come to realize that silence is something to be welcomed, not avoided. For it is in silence where we learn so much about the soul–the spirit that connects all human beings from ancient times to today. Silence is something we have so little of today. Think of all of the buzzing notifications we get on a minute-to-minute basis: FB updates, incoming text messages, Instagram posts, etc. We simply can’t escape the noise and the distractions. But the truth is, we need silence. It’s a requisite for self-discovery. Only in the silence do we get to know ourselves, and when we can do that, we can then identify the part inside of us that’s the same stuff inside every other person–even those who lived in the Scottish Highlands back in the 1600s.

Thus, the Dedication at the opening of the novel:

“To the voices of yesterday that can be heard in the silences of today”

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

I’m currently working on another dual-narrative novel, but this one is set in the years before the Norman Conquest. It’s a tumultuous time, and powerful men are jockeying for possession of the English throne.

Various rulers stake their claim, each believing he is the rightful leader to wear the crown. But the waters grow even muddier when King Edward the Confessor, childless and already in failing health, sends for his nephew, Edward the Exile, to return home. What will this mean for Harold Godwinson? For William, Duke of Normandy? And when the Exile mysteriously dies almost immediately after coming ashore, what will become of his son Edgar, the last surviving male member of the royal dynasty of the king?

While these men assume a significant role in the novel, the two main players are women: Melisende, a simple farm girl from Caen, Normandy, and Margaret, daughter of Edward the Exile and future queen of Scotland. Their two lives eventually intersect when Melisende is forced to spy on Edgar, Margaret, and Margaret’s suitor, Malcolm III of Scotland. Facing adversity, loss, and death, each woman is transformed by those experiences to see her own lustrous reflection mirrored in the other. Enemies no more, they emerge as kindred souls: triumphant, brave, and able to endure. Thus, the title, Therein Lies the Pearl.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/04/20/a-love-that-transcends-time/

No Dog Food, Please! follows a Labrador Retriever as he transitions from city life to a rural farm, aiming to adapt to his new environment while navigating the challenges of family dynamics and seeking acceptance. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration for this story was our dog Chipper, a Maltese Poodle (Malti-doodle) who preferred what we were eating to dog food. We learned how to balance what he wanted with what was good for him. No Dog Food, Please! began as a poem about his dietary preferences. It evolved into a book over a period of years.

What inspired you to choose a Labrador Retriever as the protagonist in No Dog Food, Please!?​

I have been intrigued by the ability of various dogs to work with humans for many years – as police dogs and guide dogs for the blind, for example. It’s incredible but true that some dogs can even be trained to smell certain types of cancer in humans. Besides being increasingly amazed by what dogs can be taught to do, I have always enjoyed being around animals. My husband is an animal lover as well, and we took our son to visit several farms when he was younger. Getting back to your question…Labrador Retrievers are intelligent, friendly animals. I knew that a Lab would fit in nicely with a story revolving around active farm children and the adults in their lives. The more I worked on the book, the more I found humorous ways to contrast the boisterous nature of the dog with Grumpy Grandpa’s old-fashioned ways.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

When I was a kid, I liked reading funny stories that also had connections to real-world experiences. As an adult, I enjoy writing books that are humorous and can potentially help children solve problems in their lives. In the case of this book, the problems centered around differences of opinion in a multigenerational family. Also, in No Dog Food, Please! I enjoyed creating parallel adoption stories focusing on Jack and the youngest child, Ben, who developed a strong bond, and exploring how the rest of the family had to adjust their lives following the adoptions. I worked on this book in my spare time for a few years, adding scenes as I thought of them, and then weaving everything together.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I have completed my first children’s picture book, which I expect to publish later this year. The protagonist is also an animal, but one that is much smaller than a dog. In addition to pursuing my writing interests, I’m fortunate to be part of a great group of writers called Author Reader Connection. We have begun to do virtual author visits at schools. In February of this year, we spent a week with some talented students and their teacher in Maui, Hawaii. Working in groups or individually, the students were given the choice to write and publish a picture book, a comic book, or a poetry book. Here’s a link to a poetry book created by a group of those students. Rising From the Ashes: Our Stories of Lahaina – A Poetry Collection. All of the poets and artists featured in this book are from Lahaina, several of whom were displaced by the Lahai…

Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/04/20/connections-to-real-world-experiences/

Hattie’s World follows a young woman as she emerges from her father’s shadow, striving for independence and redefining her community amidst her father’s pursuit of power. What do you believe your novel conveys about the power of individual actions?

Human resilience and the importance of righting the wrongs of the past.

Hattie’s World delves into themes of family legacy and personal resilience. How do you approach weaving these themes into your narrative without overpowering the story?

I hope I simply allow the characters to grow, relate to others, go through the motions of life, and experience its highs and lows in as natural a way as possible.

What inspired the character of Hattie Winthrop, and how did you develop her journey from a marginalized figure to a symbol of hope and leadership?

Strangely, I was inspired by an abandoned mansion that had fallen into ruin and was falling apart. I tried to imagine its past and came up with a short story which is the basis for the epilogue, “Herbie Banks.” I thought there was enough in it to transform it into a novel. Hattie and her father’s story emerged from my imagination.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I’ve recently completed The Last Tryst, a historical novel of the Belle Epoque in Paris. In it, my protagonists, a young man who gains access to high society by romancing ignored wives of the very rich and a fallen socialite who becomes a successful courtesan, mingle with some of the period’s historical figures.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Amazon

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/04/20/righting-the-wrongs-of-the-past/

In Skye Bothma’s heartfelt novel, Shooting Stars, readers are drawn into a tumultuous world of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. The protagonist, Cathy, navigates through the complexities of her job, ex-partner, and unexpected encounters that force her to reassess her life and dreams. Bothma’s emotionally resonant story captures a quintessential struggle between personal aspirations and societal expectations, making it an engaging and relatable read.

Bothma’s writing is sharp and evocative and pulled me into Cathy’s emotional rollercoaster. Her ability to craft vivid scenes is evident as she intricately details every emotion, from the palpable tension in office confrontations to the crushing disappointment of personal betrayal. The dialogue is particularly strong, offering authenticity to each character’s voice and enhancing the unfolding drama. The thoughtful pacing of the narrative allows for deeper introspective moments that enrich the understanding of the protagonist’s inner journey, even though I felt it occasionally tempers the story’s momentum.

The novel’s exploration of personal growth and resilience is not just a personal journey for Cathy, but a poignant commentary on societal expectations. Bothma excels in depicting Cathy’s evolution from a passive observer in her life to an empowered individual who confronts her realities and takes charge. This transformation is not only inspiring but also a critical commentary on the often-overlooked emotional labor that women endure in both professional and personal arenas.

The story challenges readers to think about the importance of authenticity and self-value in a world that frequently demands compromise and conformity. The book’s setting, a bustling corporate office where interpersonal dynamics come into play, serves as a microcosm to explore these themes. At times, the motivations of the secondary characters appear somewhat superficial, but they effectively serve their roles in propelling Cathy’s journey forward.

Shooting Stars is a fun and uplifting story that will resonate with readers who enjoy women’s fiction stories of personal struggle and triumph. It’s ideal for readers who are navigating their own crossroads in life or anyone who appreciates a story that combines emotional depth with the complexities of everyday life.

Pages: 342 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C1HXD7GW

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/04/20/shooting-stars-2/

In The Trouble with Bubble Gum, author Shari Schwert crafts a charming tale that playfully addresses the timeless theme of a child’s adventurous disobedience. This story centers around a young boy, fixated on his delightful but excessive bubble gum chewing habit, despite his mother’s repeated warnings about its potential consequences.

Schwert’s narrative style is engaging and builds a subtle sense of anticipation. As the boy continues to disregard his mother’s advice, readers, led by the author’s hints, sense the looming trouble. This effective storytelling approach resonates particularly well in a children’s book, as it gently instills the value of heeding parental guidance. The boy’s journey to an inevitable sticky predicament serves as a light-hearted yet meaningful lesson about the importance of listening to one’s parents.

The visual appeal of the book is significantly enhanced by Mari Sebastian’s vivid illustrations. These colorful and lively images complement Schwert’s storytelling, bringing the narrative to life in a manner that is both entertaining and immersive. The artwork not only supports the story but enriches it, providing a visual delight that aligns seamlessly with the unfolding events.

My experience of reading The Trouble with Bubble Gum was one of amusement and delight. Schwert debuts in children’s literature with a tale that strikes a balance between fun and educational content. The book, with its engaging storyline and vibrant illustrations, is likely to captivate young readers and leave a lasting impression about the value of parental advice. This story comes highly recommended for its enjoyable narrative and the important message it conveys in an accessible and entertaining way.

Pages: 38 | ISBN : 978-1637556948

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/04/20/the-trouble-with-bubble-gum/