Category: leaving cleveland

If it is Friday, it is Post Time, and this one is a real treat.

July 21st, 2023
It has been a productive week. I created 4 short videos of reviews of my book Leaving Cleveland. My goal is to do 4 a week. Before I make the next batch, tell me the one you like best. If you have read the book, please leave a review on Amazon. I need 5 more studies to be able to discount my E-Book.

Please take a look and while you are there subscribe to my YouTube channel for the latest update and videos.

Type your email…

Have a great weekend, and I look forward to your feedback.

Steven
Share this:
X
Facebook
Reddit
More
LinkedIn
Like Loading…
Nine Discussion Prompts for book clubs who have read Leaving Cleveland:

July 12th, 2023
So excited to be mentioned in Steve Anchell’s Nexus Newsletter.

Last week I received a request from a book club in North Carolina to Zoom with them and did a Q&A for the group that had just finished my book. Unfortunately, I was unavailable, but I created talking points/prompts to guide the conversation about Leaving Cleveland. If your book club is thinking about or has read my book, here are the prompts:
- 1
- The text states that the main protagonist in the book is named Sam, and he is based on Voltaire’s character Pangloss from Candide. Sam is described as a pedantic and always optimistic tutor, similar to Candide. Although Sam is not specifically a tutor, he approaches every situation with optimism. Additionally, the text mentions that this narrative structure, one of the “seven stories” by Christopher Booker, has been used in other classical works, including Greek classics.
- 2
- Although Izzy appears to be a difficult person, does she have redeeming qualities?
- 3
- Should artists be forgiven for their poor behavior because they are famous?
- 4
- What do you know about generational trauma? In the book, Sam’s nightmares are caused by his father’s experience in the concentration camps. Are there other classes of people who may suffer from generational trauma?
- 5
- Should celebrities be put on a pedestal in our society, and how do we perpetuate this ideal?
- 6
- Has the book enlightened you about something that you never knew about?
- 7
- If so, what was it, and did it change your worldview?
- 8
- What would you do if you were Sam and had a boss like Izzy?
- 9
- The journey is one of the “ seven stories, “ according to Christopher Booker, in a narrative. What other classics used this narrative to tell the story? It goes way back to the Greek Classics.
Have a book club interested in Leaving Cleveland?

The book can be purchased as E-Book, Paperback, and Collector Edition in Hardback at BookBaby, Barnes&Noble and, of course, Amazon.

In the next issue learn about how my book Leaving Cleveland will soon be found at your local libraries.

To Stay up to date Subscribe

Type your email…

Sharing is caring so pass this on to your family and friends. IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK PLEASE PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW AND RATE ON AMAZON OR WHEREVER YOU PURCHASE BOOKS.

Thank you and I look foward to hearing from you.

Steven

Last week I rec
Share this:
X
Facebook
Reddit
More
LinkedIn
Like Loading…
Podcast #2 and Reviews

June 29th, 2023
My amazing wife, Kate Siegrist, joins me at Barnes and Noble for the Leaving Cleveland book signing. I am excited to say Barnes and Noble invited me back in December.

I am so excited to present the second Podcast of Leaving Cleveland. Each time I create one, it gets a little better.

This week Kate Siegrist and I are reading from chapter 2, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. To set you up for this chapter, Sam reflects on the time he dropped acid with his sister in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with Rachel while driving to NYC after getting a call from his sister, Rachel, to move in with her and pay half the rent. On his trip, he reluctantly picks up a woman who, by trade, is a prostitute and hitchhiking to get home. As she gets in the car, Sam realizes he made a mistake and wonders if he will be murdered.

Reviews! Reviews! Reviews!

I know more than 17 people have read my book; that is the number of ligament reviews posted on Amazon. So please, if you have read the book and enjoyed the read rate, review the book on Amazon.
1. Why does this matter to the author?
2. For three reasons:
  - It informs potential readers of the book’s content and helps them decide whether to purchase it.
  - If I have 25 or more 4-star reviews, I can reduce the price of the E-Book to $1.99. This will allow more people to read the book at a very affordable price.
3. Finally, if the book becomes popular, there is a good chance a publisher will want to distribute the book. Leaving me more time to work on the next book. 🙂
If you are uncertain how to write a review on Amazon ( you can even do it anonymously), here is a ridiculous, short video on how to place a review on Amazon.

Here is the LINK. It will take you to YOUTUBE; the video is 1 minute and 47 seconds long.

If you go directly to Amazon and write that fantastic review, here is the link.

AMAZON LINK TO LEAVING CLEVELAND

Thank you for your support and your feedback. Enjoy your 4th of July, and I look forward to sending out the next blog in a couple of weeks with Chapter 3.

Type your email…

Happy Reading and Travels
Share this:
X
Facebook
Reddit
More
LinkedIn
Like Loading…
To Podcast or not to Podcast. That is the question. Read and listen to my first audio recording of Leaving Cleveland.

June 23rd, 2023
Hi Friends,

This post is going to address the question as to whether I should podcast chapters of my book Leaving Cleveland or not. Eventually, I want to create an audiobook of Leaving Cleveland, and I am looking into my options. This crazy idea was sparked by my friend Peter Rafelson who started up a new company ElectraCast in Los Angeles. Click on his name above and check out the podcast about AI; it is a great listen.

This crazy idea was hatched when I was at Barnes and Noble, and the audience suggested I read a chapter of my book. I was hesitant at first and not really prepared. When your audience decides to take a couple of hours out of their Saturday to come and support you at your book signing, it is time to give back. So I read chapter 22, the trip to Springfield, Illinois, with Sam and Izzy to document the ERA protests. I looked up from the book about halfway through, thinking the audience would be running out of patience, but to my surprise, they were looking at me, waiting to see what would happen next. I even asked them if they wanted me to read on…” please do.”

That terrifying experience was a game changer and built my confidence about reading my book out loud. As a writer, when you write, the characters’ voice is in your head. To have the opportunity to share that voice out loud was empowering and a chance to bring my character to life. The event at B&N was successful on many levels, and I was even asked to come back by the store manager. We set a date in December this year.

Back to Podcasting:

Today, with the help of my daughter, Tika, I attempted my first audio recording of the first chapter of my book, Leaving Cleveland. Take a listen and let me know what you think. I know it needs some work, but like everything, the more I record, the better the results.

On another note, if you have read my book, PLEASE write a review or rate it on Amazon. I just discovered that if I have 25 reviews with 4 plus stars, I can enroll in a program where I can sell E-Books for $2.99 and eventually give them away for FREE. Which for me would be great since I want as many people to read Leaving Cleveland as possible. I am up to 16 4-star plus reviews; an anonymous person gave it 1 star, most likely that someone did not read the book.

I am burnt out, so that is all for this post. I want to thank you for sharing, subscribing, and for your suggestions. Have a great weekend and I look forward to your feedback.

Steven

Type your email…
Share this:
X
Facebook
Reddit
More
LinkedIn
Like Loading…
📚 Join us at Barnes and Noble this Saturday, June 17th, for an unforgettable event featuring acclaimed author Steven H. Begleiter! Prepare to be captivated by the compelling tale of “Leaving Cleveland,” as Steven takes us on an extraordinary journey through the pages of his novel. 🎙️ Be part of an engaging talk where Steven will share his inspiration, the creative process, and the heartwarming themes are woven into his captivating story. Gain unique insights into the characters, settings, and emotions that make “Leaving Cleveland” a must-read for literature enthusiasts. 🖊️ Following the talk, immerse yourself in an exclusive book signing session with Steven H. Begleiter. Get your personal copy of “Leaving Cleveland” signed by the author, making it a cherished addition to your literary collection. 🎉 This event promises to be a literary delight for all avid readers and fans of Steven’s work. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the author and connect with fellow book lovers in a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. Join us at Barnes and Noble on Saturday, June 17th, and embark on a memorable literary adventure with “Leaving Cleveland” and Steven H. Begleiter!

June 16th, 2023
Type your email…
Share this:
X
Facebook
Reddit
More
LinkedIn
Like Loading…