WV Stitcher Chats with Barbara Holstein author of Next Year in Jerusalem! Romance, Mystery and Spiritual Awakenings

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Enchanted Self Press (September 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979895235
• ISBN-13: 978-0979895234

This book is also available as an e-book.

About Next Year in Jerusalem:
You may be wondering why I chose the title Next Year in Jerusalem! for my new novel.  Why not Forbidden Romance or Romantic Travel or Spiritual Awakenings or Lust, Memories and Old Friends on Facebook?  After all Natalie and Maggie are two women, both caught up in issues that many of us face: a somewhat dull but faithful husband; a bad marriage leading finally to a divorce; a desire for adventure; unsatisfied spiritual longings.  They have a great friendship with each other, something research keeps confirming, keeps us young and emotionally happy, but life is far from easy for either women.
So again, why would I focus on a strange title that comes out of a book written thousands of years ago?
Here is one of the reasons.  Next Year in Jerusalem! is actually a phrase that shows up at the end of the Haggadah.  Those of you who are not Jewish may wonder what that is.  The Haggadah is a book that the Jews have used for thousands of years to celebrate and relive the Passover experience.  Many people know that the central theme of the story is how the Jews, who were slaves in Egypt, were finally able to escape and began their long journey of 40 years to get to the promised Land, which was Israel.  However, what a lot of people don't realize is that this theme is universal and can be taken metaphorically for all of us.  That is why when the Haggadah ends with the fourth glass of wine being drunk, and the words, Next Year in Jerusalem! the phrase becomes so significant.
Click here to purchase your copy of Next Year In Jerusalem.


Interview with Barbara Holstein:
Q:  What is your favorite part of your book?

One of my favorite parts of Next Year in Jerusalem, Part 1 is the love scene between Natalie and Jack, her old boyfriend, right at the end.  I like the love scene because I think it is very realistic as to what might happen between oneself and an old flame if one goes down a dark alley at night!

Q:   What are some of the themes in Next Year in Jerusalem?

There are so many universal themes in this book; the return of old feelings about someone who was in our life, or simply the yearning to travel and maybe indulge in some romantic or mystical travel.  And who wouldn't like to solving a mystery, as long as nothing really bad happens.

Q:  How did you come up with the plot for your novel?

Many of you may wonder how I came up with the plot for a romance, mystery, travel book that has many spiritual and religious overtones. My girlfriend and I were chatting over lunch on a summer's day.  We were lamenting the loss of a special teacher in our lives, who, now that she had left to teach elsewhere, had become almost like a mystery figure in our lives.  We started to imagine a film where one of the main characters was like this wonderful kind woman.  Suddenly the plot emerged, set in Israel.  Why not?  We would love to visit Jerusalem ourselves and could easily see how this mystical city would lend itself to meeting a mystery woman, some romantic nights, intrigue and the anxiety of unanswered questions. Of course we decided that the two women who meet up with the mystery woman had to be based on us!  Such fun.  Two hours later, the plot for actually two books of three parts each and hopefully a film was launched.



About Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein :

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known positive psychologist, inspires thousands with her ENCHANTED SELF®. Around the world people benefit from her techniques to enhance well-being, and to live up to their potential. Known for her ability to make complex psychological concepts easy to understand and to implement, she has now turned her talents to novel writing.  "A great fiction read is a great escape, and yet, it is more! It is the gateway to new ways of thinking and behaving."

Dr. Holstein received her Doctorate in Education from Boston University and her BA degree from Barnard College. Dr. Holstein has been a school psychologist and taught first and second grades. She is in private practice with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Find her at http://www.enchantedself.com/
 and http://www.next-year-in-jerusalem.com./
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Year-Jerusalem-Spiritual-Awakenings/dp/0979895235
Her previous books include:
· THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy 
· Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! 
· The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything) 
· Seven Gateways to Happiness: Freeing Your Enchanted Self.


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