Novelist Opens Up About New Book

In author Jay Canfield's best-selling new novel, a writer named Tommy Malkin tries to escape his mistakes but only encounters new problems. The book, titled Starting Over, was released on July 4. I spoke with Canfield after:his book signing at Trent's Books on 54th Street, which drew a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The novel, Canfield's fifth, is the tale of a formerly successful New York City author who has seriously ruined his career and hurt his marriage through selfish behavior. "He moves with his wife to a small seaside town and becomes a schoolteacher in an attempt to begin a new life, but finds it isn't that easy," Canfield said. He credits the basic idea for the story to his own wife, Andrea, who also collaborated with him on his best-selling tale of an American student in Japan, Green Tea. (Both Canfields were born and raised in Sedona, and they recently bought a new home here after years of world travel.)

Jay Canfield will be speaking at the Sedona Book Festival on July l 5. He is currently working on another novel, his sixth. Based loosely on his own life, it will be released next fall.

Customer Reviews of Starting Over
Michelle Elie rated it ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

In this excellent novel, the main character Tommy Malkin's life is falling apart. His work, marriage, and health are all on the edge of disaster. Having failed for years to repeat the success of his first book, he tries a change of location and career. I don't want to spoil the plot by saying more, but it doesn't end the way you'd expect!

Hollywood should definitely make a film based on this book. Canfield's characters are so vivid you feel like you know them. The visual imagery is beautiful, particularly the scenes on the beach. My only problem with the novel is that it should be about 50 pages shorter-someof the long descriptions felt unnecessary. But overall, this is his best book yet. I enjoyed it much more than his last one, which I thought was boring, despite its popularity. This one captures readers' imagination from the first page to the last, and leaves them with a lot to think about. Do yourself a favor and read it.