Historical Fiction / General Fiction
Date Published: 9/26/12
A gripping story of ambition, lust, seduction, and betrayal . . .
After the communists destroy his dream of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an alluring striptease dancer whose interest inBéla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism?
After the communists destroy his dream of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an alluring striptease dancer whose interest inBéla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism?
Francis Berger was born in New York City in 1971. Recently, he completed a six year stretch as a high school teacher in the Bronx and Queens in New York City. He has published some short stories, most notably in The Toronto Star. The City of Earthly Desire is his first novel. He currently lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife and young son.
Reading Addiction Blog Tours Meet and Greet
#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Though some writers view writing as a career, I see writing as more of a vocation, in the strictest sense of the word. Some people choose to become writers; others have no choice in the matter. They are called.
#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
Anything after the first draft: proofreading, editing, revising. The first draft is pure creation and inspiration. It is very much like falling in love. You lose that feeling during the composition of the second and third drafts and consequent revisions. Nonetheless, as is the case with love, the work done at later stages will reveal true beauty and meaning if you have the patience and endurance to see it through.
#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
My good friend David Kuswanto provided me with a tremendous amount of help with proofreading and editing. Ironically enough, we met in a creative writing class nearly twenty years ago, but had abandoned hopes of becoming published writers shortly after leaving school.
#4 – What is next for your writing?
I really don't know. I'd like to write a few more novels, but I don't have any stories floating around in my head at the moment.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I have zero interest writing any young adult fiction, paranormal romance, erotica, horror, etc. This means my future writing, like my current novel, will likely appeal to a much smaller, but perhaps more discerning segment of the reading public.
#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
I currently have a one-year-old in the house; quiet time has become somewhat of a rare luxury. In light of this, I have been reading short, digestable works – poems by Rimbaud, Shakespeare's sonnets, passages from the Bible, Hemingway's short stories – but I am looking forward to diving back into long, meandering epic novels the moment time allows.
This or That?
#1 - iPd or Mp3?
Neither. I listen to the radio. And yes, I don't own a cell phone or an Ipad or any other portable communication device.
#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate because it is my wife's favorite.
#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
Mashed potatoes, if they're done well.
#4 – Comedy or Drama?
Drama – I encounter more than enough comedy in everyday life.
#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
I have not read either of them, and I doubt I ever will. Still, if I had to choose, I guess I would say Sparks simply because I've seen segments of film adaptations of some his books and though I found them painfully sentimental, they did contain some uplifting themes.
#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Reality – once again, I encounter more than enough fantasy in everyday life.
#7 – Call or Text?
Call . . . and through a landline, too.
#8 – Public School or Home School?
Home school appeals to my sensibilities more as time passes.
#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Coffee, coffee, a thousand times coffee.
#10 – eBook or Paperback?
The page over the screen, every time.
Follow Along With This Tour!
January 8 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO
January 12 - My Devotional Thoughts - Guest Post/PROMO
January 14 - Honesty Variety Books - Review/Guest Post
January 18 - My Reading Addiction - Review
January 23 - Must Read Faster - Review/Guest Post
January 25 - Love in a Book - Guest Post/PROMO
January 26 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Interview/PROMO
January 29 - Author Ever Leigh - Review
February 1 - My Cozie Corner- Review
February 2 - Andi's Book Reviews - Interview/PROMO
February 4 - Books For Me - Review
Francis Berger was born in New York City in 1971. Recently, he completed a six year stretch as a high school teacher in the Bronx and Queens in New York City. He has published some short stories, most notably in The Toronto Star. The City of Earthly Desire is his first novel. He currently lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife and young son.
Reading Addiction Blog Tours Meet and Greet
#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Though some writers view writing as a career, I see writing as more of a vocation, in the strictest sense of the word. Some people choose to become writers; others have no choice in the matter. They are called.
#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
Anything after the first draft: proofreading, editing, revising. The first draft is pure creation and inspiration. It is very much like falling in love. You lose that feeling during the composition of the second and third drafts and consequent revisions. Nonetheless, as is the case with love, the work done at later stages will reveal true beauty and meaning if you have the patience and endurance to see it through.
#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
My good friend David Kuswanto provided me with a tremendous amount of help with proofreading and editing. Ironically enough, we met in a creative writing class nearly twenty years ago, but had abandoned hopes of becoming published writers shortly after leaving school.
#4 – What is next for your writing?
I really don't know. I'd like to write a few more novels, but I don't have any stories floating around in my head at the moment.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I have zero interest writing any young adult fiction, paranormal romance, erotica, horror, etc. This means my future writing, like my current novel, will likely appeal to a much smaller, but perhaps more discerning segment of the reading public.
#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
I currently have a one-year-old in the house; quiet time has become somewhat of a rare luxury. In light of this, I have been reading short, digestable works – poems by Rimbaud, Shakespeare's sonnets, passages from the Bible, Hemingway's short stories – but I am looking forward to diving back into long, meandering epic novels the moment time allows.
This or That?
#1 - iPd or Mp3?
Neither. I listen to the radio. And yes, I don't own a cell phone or an Ipad or any other portable communication device.
#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate because it is my wife's favorite.
#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
Mashed potatoes, if they're done well.
#4 – Comedy or Drama?
Drama – I encounter more than enough comedy in everyday life.
#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
I have not read either of them, and I doubt I ever will. Still, if I had to choose, I guess I would say Sparks simply because I've seen segments of film adaptations of some his books and though I found them painfully sentimental, they did contain some uplifting themes.
#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Reality – once again, I encounter more than enough fantasy in everyday life.
#7 – Call or Text?
Call . . . and through a landline, too.
#8 – Public School or Home School?
Home school appeals to my sensibilities more as time passes.
#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Coffee, coffee, a thousand times coffee.
#10 – eBook or Paperback?
The page over the screen, every time.
Follow Along With This Tour!
January 8 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO
January 12 - My Devotional Thoughts - Guest Post/PROMO
January 14 - Honesty Variety Books - Review/Guest Post
January 18 - My Reading Addiction - Review
January 23 - Must Read Faster - Review/Guest Post
January 25 - Love in a Book - Guest Post/PROMO
January 26 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Interview/PROMO
January 29 - Author Ever Leigh - Review
February 1 - My Cozie Corner- Review
February 2 - Andi's Book Reviews - Interview/PROMO
February 4 - Books For Me - Review
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