Portobello Book Blog

My author in the spotlight today comes from across the Atlantic. She is Carla Golian and is going to tell us a bit about her writing. I think you’ll be able to guess who her writing hero is! Her latest book, Icon, is available to order online here: Icon

Thanks for joining me Carla. First of all, would you tell my blog readers a little about yourself?

Of course, and thank you for having me on your blog. By profession, I am a dental hygienist, and have dabbled in acting and filmmaking. I live in Los Angeles, I am not married and I do not have any children, although I hope to one day.

What inspired you to start writing?

Writing poetry was a love while I was growing up, and writing short stories got me through my teenage years. I rekindled my love for writing when I wrote the script to a short comedy “Don’t Gag Me” which I produced and star in under my stage name Carolena Sabah. The film is about a dental hygienist who turns dominatrix in a nervous patient’s fantasy. It’s a fun and clean 9-minute comedy. Since then, I’ve published three books.

Tell me about your journey to publication

When I won the Experimental Witch Film Competition, based on the book “The Witch of Portobello”, I got to meet Paulo Coelho. Our meetings inspired my first publication “Dreams of Love: A Book of Poems and Short Stories”.

In a nutshell, what is your latest book about?

It is an occult romance fiction with mysticism and symbolism.

One day Victoria comes across a book “La Très Sainte Pyramide”. Her world turns upside down as disbelief and intrigue grasp her; the author is none other than the legendary ascended master, The Count of Saint Germain, and it is a new publication. How could it be possible for the three centuries old alchemist to have published a book? Mysteriously she becomes compelled and obsessed with this book of the master’s alchemical great work and has to get to the bottom of it. She journeys through Paris to hopefully find the alchemist. In Paris, a love story begins.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

Today’s Icons of Hollywood are featured in the book. Mystically, there is symbolism to the original Icon.

How did you celebrate publication day?

I opened a bottle of champagne and had a glass with my family.

Do you have a work in progress just now?

Working on continuing the love affair of “The Icon” with a sequel.

What’s your favourite book you’ve read in the past few months?

“Hippie” by Paulo Coelho. Perhaps because the protagonist’s name is Carla. It is what readers love to do, put ourselves in the story.

What are you reading just now?

“Gabriel’s Promise”, the fourth book in the “Gabriel’s Inferno” series by Sylvain Reynard.

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what one book would you take with you?

The Alchemist

Is there a book you’d like to see made into a film? Who would be in your dream cast?

It’s going to have to be “The Icon”. I would love to see the Count of Saint Germain on film. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, or Michael Fassbender as The Count. Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson (with brown hair), or Emilia Clarke as Victoria.

How can people follow you or connect with you on social media?

I would love to connect through any of my social media accounts.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/carlagolian

Twitter – https://twitter.com/CarlaGolian

Blog – https://www.mysticlove13.com/

Website – https://www.carlagolian.com/

And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?

Julia in “Gabriel’s Rapture”, because the Professor is so attentive to her and loves her so well.

From the back of the book

What is God? Who am I? Why am I here?

These are questions Victoria has been endlessly trying to answer all her life.

Things take a turn when she comes across a book, “La Très Sainte Pyramide.” The three centuries old alchemist, The Count of Saint Germain, has authored the book.

How can it be? Is he alive? Is the book legitimate or is it a scam?

Victoria sets out to answer!