Death by Opera, Author Erica Miner

Death by Opera

By Erica Miner

Opera is filled with passion, and what better setting for secrecy and murder. What could possibly go wrong behind the curtain, in those dark corners, hidden hallways, stairwells, scenery and props when larger than life egos fuel rivalries? The machinations of Death by Opera are skillfully conducted in a masterful story authored by Erica Miner. Memorable characters vividly come to life on this novel stage and engage the reader in a puzzling mystery to solve.

This is the second book in a captivating series. Having survived her entanglement in a murder plot at the Metropolitan Opera, violinist Julia Kogan finds herself once more in operatic turmoil at the Santa Fe Opera. Against the breathtaking backdrop of mystical New Mexico and the elegant contemporary outdoor Santa Fe Opera Theatre, chaos ensues, as murderous activities plague the performers on stage and off.

The reader is mesmerized by the chance idea that life imitates art imitates life. If all the world’s a stage, and we merely players, then how will this macabre overture turn the story, through its acts and arias? And how does it all end? This mystery is a fascinating glimpse into a world that few have the privilege to be a part of, and then it includes the intrigue of a life and death mystery to solve. And there is a fun dynamic to the book, including the operatic quotes starting each chapter.

This author’s many years as a violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and her enchanting imagination combine to indulge the reader in a vibrant show that’s rich in history and chills. Erica Minor retired from the Met and moved to the West Coast where she studied screenwriting and won awards in several competitions including with the Writer’s Digest. Her first novel in this series, Murder in the Pit is also a celebrated mystery.

Your idea of opera may be a staged drama set to music; a story told of a guy who gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. If so, you’ll want to join these characters backstage in Death by Opera to see for yourself how a murderer is discovered, and if that murderer can be stopped in time, before the fat lady sings.

Living in a Foreign Language

Living in a Foreign Language

By Michael Tucker

                Indulge in the full sensory story of American ex-Pats who impulsively buy a rustico, a cottage home in Northern Italy, and literally move into la bella vita. In this full bodied memoir, the author vividly shares the warmth, fun, humor, romance and the spirited aspects of this joyful, life adventure, especially the amazing meals. These meals are daily opportunities to treat the taste buds, as well as appreciate the fine art behind the cooking, and linger over the loving company of friends and family. After years living the fast paced lifestyles of New York and California, wedded actors Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry decided that “spring was about change, and so were we.” And so they began Living in a Foreign Language.

                It’s true that they could not speak Italian when they decided to move there, but as they began to learn the language, they also learned that people communicate in many ways. It’s refreshing to read how their forays into daily, Italian life show the bright and positive parts of human nature. And the cooking, have I mentioned the cooking! This author is an epic epicure. His tenderly detailed descriptions of collaborative meal preparations, along with the lingering scenes savoring the results of their labors, matched with the chosen wines virtually delight all the senses.

                The heartfelt picture the author paints of this beautiful country and people creates an insatiable longing for all they discovered, and an aspiration to take time to sculpt aspects of this bravissimo life into wherever you call home. This memoir is above all a love story. A love for the vitality of life, for bold changes that bring exciting results, and a love between two people that overflows to everyone around them. “To have the partner of a lifetime – for a lifetime – is rare stuff. We’d be fools not to indulge it to the limit. What extraordinary freedom it is not to care about up or down, rich or poor, East Coast, West Coast, as long as we’re in the taxi together.”

                Michael Tucker’s writing is delightful, conversational, beautifully descriptive, and almost lyrical as it wanders through Italian countryside and cities with great humor and affection. He makes the effort to really bring to life the people, situations and scenes for his readers’ enjoyment. A veteran stage, film, and television actor, perhaps best known for his role on the long-running television series L.A. Law, this is his second book. As you read, you’ll wish it never ends. He’s found another calling as an author. Bravo!