Today, I am privileged to introduce Elle Newmark, author of The Book of Unholy Mischief. Be sure to visit her blog and watch the video of Walking Tour of Venice. It's fascinating ! The direct link is here. You can also find a book trailer here. So, without further ado, here's what Elle had to say.
Read The Book Not The Back Story by Elle Newmark
" This blog reviews good books so it seems a perfect opportunity to get something off my chest. Ever since my novel, The Book of Unholy Mischief was published last December, people have been talking about the unusual publishing story behind it. Even the New York Times began its review with " The Story of this book's publication is the stuff of fiction itself."
What?
Eventually the reviewer got around to saying nice things about the book, but you had to wade through the publishing story to get to the actual review. Since when do reviewers talk more about how a book came to be published than the book itself?
Today, I would like to pointedly ignore the story of how this book got published. Anyone who wants to know the publishing story can read the blog on my website, Better Late Than Early at http://www.ellenewmark.com/
But why would you? You're looking for good books to read, no? Well, if you would like to spend some time in the doge's kitchen in Renaissance Venice, you should skip the back-story and go straight to the book. If you l ike the idea of food as metaphor (as in Like Water for Chocolate)forget about the publisher's auction and read The Book of Unholy Mischief. If you like a mystery surrounding a chef and his apprentice (as in the mentor/student relationship in The Name of the Rose) read The Book of Unholy Mischief. Let's face it: there wouldn't be such a freaking big publishing story if there weren't a pretty decent book to back it up.
If this sounds like a shameless promotion, that's because it is. Isn't that the whole point of a blog tour? I'm sick of talking about the back-story and I want to talk about the book that took me three years to write. Wouldn't you?
If you are heavily into the ins and outs of the mad, mad world of publishing, go ahead and read the back-story. But if you like novels, if you like the Renaissance Venice, or a culinary motif, or historical mystery, or rags-to-riches story of redemption, read The Book of Unholy Mischief. Please. "
Those are certainly some compelling reasons to read The Book of Unholy Mischief. Thank you Elle for the gift of your time to visit with us today.
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Atria; First Edition edition (December 30, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416590544
ISBN-13: 978-1416590545
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
A big thank you to Tracee of Pump up Your Book Promotion for Elle's guest post.
There are so many books that take place in Venice lately which is great since Venice has been my favorite city since we visited last year. I'll have to actually get to this one and the others soon!
ReplyDeleteAs for the back story of how the book got published, don't know about it and after her post was surely not going to click to find out more ;)
Thanks for the guest post.
I prefer to read the book and then, if I'm interested, the back story.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I read this book about a month ago and loved it. Until I read this post I didn't even know there was such an exciting story behind its publication.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Elle!
Sounds like an interesting book, great review kaye :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book, and anything Italian...I'm all over it!
ReplyDeleteI will have to check this book out!
Have a Happy Day!
Okay...I simply want to go to Venice. I do enjoy a good back story to how a book came to publication, but I definitely want to know about the meat of the book. :) Sounds like a book I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Venice sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteJust stopped by to check out your Blog and found this interview..i requested an ARC of the book (but didn't get one)..it's on my TBR list....and i agree..sometimes, so much effort is spent on unearthing BackStory..that people neglect the novel itself..a Pitfall of Publishing?
ReplyDeletei don't know
Jude
Super Guest Post, Kaye! BTW, I didn't ask permission to use a penguin in a post (http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-sisters-double-giveaway-day-part.html) so hope you forgive but he was a cutie!
ReplyDelete