Cissy - Hi BecAntes Welcome to our chat with Carole Bellacera! We're talking to Carole tonight about her newest release EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON. We're operating on protocol tonight so if you have a question for Carole just type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
Carole Bellacera - Hi, BecAntes.
BadBarb - hi becantes
BecAntes - hello
O -
Cissy - Celeste has the next question (O in line)
Celeste - I've always had a hard time reading about adultry (man or women), so what would you tell me to convince I should try this book (know there is adultry in it)?
Carole Bellacera - I really enjoyed writing the second half of the book that takes place in Norway. What an interesting country!
BadBarb - hi sari
Cissy - Hi ShariM Welcome to our chat with Carole Bellacera! We're talking to Carole tonight about her newest release EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON. We're operating on protocol tonight so if you have a question for Carole just type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
Carole Bellacera - I realize my theme is controversial, but everyone who has read it has said that I handle the situation very well.
Carole Bellacera - Hi, ShariM.
BadBarb - er
gerri - Hi everyone
Shari M - Hi Everybody
Cissy - Hi gerri Welcome to our chat with Carole Bellacera! We're talking to Carole tonight about her newest release EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON. We're operating on protocol tonight so if you have a question for Carole just type ? and I'll call on you in turn.
Celeste - thanks Carole
BadBarb - hi gerri
Carole Bellacera - All I can say is, give it a try. You may not agree with Leigh's choices, but I think you'll understand why she makes them.
BadBarb - ?
Carole Bellacera - Hi, Gerri.
Shari M - I've read three of Carole's books, and I think that East of the Sun, West of the Moon is by far and away the best to date
Cissy - O has the next question (BadBarb in line)
Cissy - oh, thanks, Shari!
Carole Bellacera - Thanks, Shari. So glad you enjoyed it.
O - Do you just write Comptary ?
Carole Bellacera - So, Shari, one of the questions I had was about the adultery theme. How did you think I handled it?
Carole Bellacera - Yes, O, I do write contemporary fiction.
BadBarb - //sneeze
Carole Bellacera - Bless you!!!
Shari M - I think you handled it beautifully... Leigh was justified in every aspect of what she did, despite how it may seem.
BadBarb - Carole, from what you said, I think that the adultery was handled well
Shari M - Let's not forget that her husband cheated first
Shari M - not that two rights make a wrong
Shari M - but Leigh didn't do it out of spite, she did it out of love
Carole Bellacera - The thing is, Leigh's husband, doesn't love her.
BadBarb - I think she was justified, her husband was cheating on her
Carole Bellacera - She is forty years old, and has never been loved, really.
Shari M - exactly! Why be stuck in a loveless marriage when everything you know you want is in the bedroom down the hall??
Cissy - lol, Shari!
gerri - Wasn't it Karen Robard who had a book with adultery in it.....?
Carole Bellacera - She was one of those kind of women who went directly from her parents to a husband, never having a chance to be on her own.
Shari M -
Shari M - However, I do think that Leigh did at one time believe that she loved her husband, and that he loved her back
Shari M - Otherwise, why would she have married him in the first place
Carole Bellacera - Oh, yeah. Definitely! But he was a different man when she married him.
Shari M - It is quite clear that politics scarred him and changed him... or could it have been his administrative assitant?
Shari M - regardless, he couldn't always have been that way
Shari M - Leigh was more than justified to explore in my opinion
BadBarb - or maybe a combination of both?
Cissy - BadBarb has the next question (no one in line)
Carole Bellacera - No, I think it was politics, and the power thing. It changes people.
BadBarb - Carole, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Carole Bellacera - He became obsessed with his career, and he belittled Leigh.
Carole Bellacera - What spare time? LOL!!!
Carole Bellacera - No, seriously. I LOVE to ski!!! I'm already thinking about winter and going to Stowe.
BadBarb - so she was being emotionally abused?
Shari M - BIG TIME!!
Carole Bellacera - Oh, most definitely emotionally abused.
Carole Bellacera - And you know, I know a lot of women who are emotionally abused by their husbands.
BadBarb - do you live in New England?
Carole Bellacera - No, I wish I lived in New England! I live in northern Virginia.
Celeste - I can relate to that, Carole (emotionally abuse) and I've been divorced now for almost 20 years
BadBarb - oh really one of my close friends lives in virginia beach
Carole Bellacera - I used to work on Capitol Hill, and that's where I got the idea for EOS.
O -
Cissy - Carole, EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON is in stores now, right?
Carole Bellacera - Yes, it's in the stores, but I've been told by a few people they're having trouble finding it.
BadBarb - what did you do on capitol hill?
Carole Bellacera - So, I always say it's available from all the online stores.
Celeste -
Carole Bellacera - I worked as a receptionist for a congressman from Texas. And no, he wasn't like Bob. LOL!!! I don't think...
Cissy - LOL, Carole
Shari M - lol.. one would certainly hope not!
Cissy - O has the next question (Celeste in line)
O - Whati is his name?
Carole Bellacera - He was good looking, though. I'll say that.
Carole Bellacera - The congressman? Jack Fields from the Houston area.
Shari M - lol, carole... it's nice that we concentrate on the important things
Cissy - Celeste has the next question
Carole Bellacera - Yeah, really! LOL!!!
Celeste - what is coming up next from you, Carole and are you books always released in hardcover first?
BadBarb - how long did you work there?
BadBarb - oops sorry celeste
Cissy - hey, priorities are important!
Carole Bellacera - Yes, Celeste. My books come out in hardcover, and then, a year later, in paperback.
O -
Carole Bellacera - My next one is titled UNDERSTUDY, and it's about a woman who takes over her best friend's identity.
Celeste - and when can we expect that to be released?
Carole Bellacera - BadBarb, I worked on Capitol Hill only for a year. It was a favor I did for a friend.
Cissy - oh, cool, Carole - when does it come out?
Carole Bellacera - Last I heard, UNDERSTUDY will be out in June 2003.
Shari M - July! I'm way ahead of the game
Shari M - oh June? well I was close
Carole Bellacera - I haven't got cover art on it yet, so I'm going to have a contest on my website for ideas.
Cissy - oh neat idea!
Carole Bellacera - Shari, it originally was supposed to be out in July, but they moved it up a month.
Cissy - O has the last question
Carole Bellacera - You can read the prologue of UNDERSTUDY on my website.
O - What would you like to write that you han't wriiten yet
Celeste - so it takes about 2 years between releases (no including the paperback and I'm really not trying to sound crital)
Carole Bellacera - A best seller! LOL!!!
Cissy - no, that's a year, Celeste
Shari M - lol
Cissy - LOL, Carole! We'll do our best to help!
Carole Bellacera - No, usually, it's only a year between hardcovers, but I screwed up last summer and turned down an offer. It delayed things.
Celeste - my spelling sucks as usual
Carole Bellacera - There's a lot of books I want to write. I have a bunch of titles I need to use. I love titles!!!
Shari M - Carole, you've got such unpresidented talent, you'll be on the best seller list yet... I see it in your future.
Cissy - Carole, thanks so much for chatting with us tonight!
Celeste - I find the story behind the title for you current book fascinating
Cissy - We're not kicking you out of course, but we like to offer authors a "graceful exit" after an hour in the hot seat
Carole Bellacera - Thanks, Shari. You're sweet.
Carole Bellacera - Thanks, Cissy. I'm having fun.
O - So you do titles first then the book?
Shari M - I speak only the truth, Carole
Carole Bellacera - I hope you'll enjoy the book, Celeste, but if you don't, I'll understand. It's not for everyone.
Carole Bellacera - No, I don't usually do titles first. But sometimes, I find really cool ones, and want to build a book around it.
Carole Bellacera - Right now, I'm working on one titled TANGO'S EDGE.
O - What is that about
Carole Bellacera - It's about a Russian ice dancer who defects to America with the help of my heroine--an American ice dancer.
Cissy - I love the title EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON - especially now that you've told us the story behind it
Shari M - that sounds intriguing... and it's just a title!
Celeste - cool title
Carole Bellacera - I love EOS, WOM, too. I was kind of afraid my publisher wouldn't let me keep it, because it's so long.
O - That sounds good carole
Carole Bellacera - Well, I think it's good. But my agent wants me to update it to the present time. I want to keep it in 1988. What do you all think?
Shari M - Don't update it!! Espeically now with the whole Russian skater thing
O - Kepp it in 1988
Cissy - you almost have to go late 80s or earlier to make a Russian defection compelling, wouldn't you?
Celeste - I'm sorry to bug out on you all, but I've got to fix some dinner....thanks for chatting with us Carole
Carole Bellacera - That's what I keep telling my agent, but he wants me to make him on the run from the Russian Mafia.
Carole Bellacera - Thanks, Celeste.
Cissy - why would an ice dancer be on the run from the Mafia?
Celeste - Night
Shari M - lol... okay, give me your agent's number... I'll explain why that would be a bad idea
O - i thought there was only the Itialian mafia
Carole Bellacera - That's what I'll have to come up with. <<groan>>
Cissy - No, O, there are Mafias all over - Russia and Japan have two of the most dangerous, actually
Carole Bellacera - Goodnight, Celeste.
Cissy - I think you should stick to your guns, Carole
Shari M - I agree
Carole Bellacera - Well, unless any of you have any more questions, I'll let Cissy get to whatever she needs to do tonight.
O - Yes you should Carole
Carole Bellacera - Thanks for the input. I've already told him I'm sticking to my guns.
Cissy - that'd be my dinner, Carole
O - Thanks for coming Carole
Cissy - thanks for a great chat, Carole
Carole Bellacera - Go eat, Cissy. Thanks, all of you. I had a great time!
Shari M - Thank you Carole.. we had fun too!
Carole Bellacera - Bye!!!!