Dear Ones, I’m elated today!
Most of you know how I suffered from depression for many years until yoga and meditation transformed my life. Well, writing fiction has been a lifetime journey, fraught with rejection, which did not help my depression, as well as gratifying personal reward. Having so many dismissing letters like this one: “Oh I loved this book and I stayed up all night reading it, but it’s not for us,” one editor wrote my agent. The editors usually end their letters with, “Best of luck finding a home for this excellent novel.”
Now, I am thrilled to tell you about my collaboration with the actor Daisy Fair to bring Temple Dancer’s principal character Saraswati to life on Audible audiobooks. Saraswati, the child mystic who grows up to become an auspicious temple dancer in the 1940’s, has lived in my heart and soul for 26 years. Daisy has given her voice and presence in the world.
Daisy and I sat down to talk about her process in the creation of Temple Dancer. One thing that I found personally gratifying is that she says that performing the narration contributed to her own personal growth. Click the image at the top for our video chat, and click the link below for a 5 minute audio sample.
Have fun watching, and let me know if you’d like a FREE COPY of the Audiobook. I’m giving away 10 codes – first come, first served – just reply to this email! EDIT: Thanks, all codes have been claimed!
Also, the audiobook is launching just as we learn that Temple Dancer has won a has won a Silver Medal award from the Nautilus Book Awards for Fiction! I love their motto: Better Books for a Better World, and it’s a great honor. This is in addition to being a finalist in the Indie Fiction Award in in the “religion” category (winners announced in June). The Nautilus Award has only one fiction category, it’s international, and the email I received says that they had more entries than ever before.
Happy Spring indeed!
Click HERE to hear a sample of the audio. A young Saraswati listens as her father explains her destiny. Wendy ruminates about being a “good enough” mother.
Daisy Fair‘s acting and interpretations drew me in. In fact, I was so engrossed in some of the scenes that I forgot I wrote them! There were moments that made me hold my breath. There were moments that made me cry.
Some quick media reviews:
🏆 “Thoroughly entertaining and engaging … An original and extraordinary literary experience that effectively showcases Amy Weintraub’s impressive flair … especially and unreservedly recommended.” Midwest Book Review
🏆 “Entwined, Saraswati’s and Wendy’s stories make a richly detailed novel, informed by authentic Indian classical dance and spiritual practice; and made complex by cultural differences, mores, and sexual manners.” Arizona Daily Star
