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Synopsis:
Set in New York and
Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio
Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous
lives of its heroes.There is Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and
part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and
fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless
obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition
he craves.Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs
into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out
that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her
living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted
attention of her early abuser.
Monique Domovitch’s
debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched
characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising
promises to resonate with all who once had a dream.
The Reviews are in!
I'm looking forward to
seeing what happens in the next book of the series. ~ Deb Cushman
I LOVED the book, and
will look forward to reading the sequel to it. ~ EmJayKay
Both stories had the
common theme of ambition, which I thought was very different; at least, it was
told in a very different way, in my opinion. ~ Jenn Booksessed
Purchase Links:
Paperback Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Scorpio-Rising-Monique-Domovitch/dp/1463790732
About the Author
Monique
Domovitch was born in Canada, where she led a number of successful careers,
from top model during the 70s, to financial adviser with her own national
television show. Now, in what she calls the best part of her life, she launches
into yet another career, this time as a fiction writer. Now, with two novels
under her belt, and a contract for three murder-mysteries with Obsidian, she
seems once again, headed for success. http://www.moniquedomovitch.com
Q&A with Monique Domovitch
Q:
The beginning of the novel starts off abruptly and with a lot of very
physical, sensual, and even taboo themes. What made you decide to start Scorpio Rising this way? How do you
think your readership reacted initially?
A:
Alexander Ivanov is an irresistible charmer and I wanted to illustrate
this from the start. It was also important that I create a reason for his
mistrust of women. Abused children often become victims of sexual predators
because of their immense need for love. These children can grow up and
gravitate toward others very much like them. This is why I also chose to make
Brigitte an early victim. Throughout the book, I tried to show the duality
these early experiences gave them, how their strength manifested in their work,
and their how weakness manifested in their insecurities and unhealthy life
choices.
Q:
Paris is an effective backdrop for Brigitte and the final scenes of the
novel. Why did France, and specifically Paris, stand out to you as the setting you
wanted to use rather than Canada or a closer city?
A:
I chose cities that most resembled my main characters—New York for its
fast pace, its huge ambition, opportunities, and for what we often think of
when we think New York: skyscrapers and
multi-million dollar real estate deals. This was the perfect representation of
Alex. Paris, on the other hand, makes me think of everything that is beautiful,
such as romance and art, is representative of Brigitte.
Q:
Though the story starts with Alex, Brigitte’s chapters grow longer and
more detailed. Was this something you planned or did Brigitte grow on you as a
character? How did you decide to use the competition in Paris as a method of
linking the two characters? Did you ever consider keeping them from meeting?
A:
These two characters were destined to meet. As exciting as the first
novel is, the sequel is where the action really starts. Everything revolves
around Alex and Brigitte’s relationship. To answer your question, yes, Brigitte
grew on me. She is such a wonderful character, so strong yet so flawed. Being a
bit of an artist myself, I found myself enjoying her struggles and her
successes.
Q:
What novels and authors inspired you to write Scorpio Rising? Are any themes from these novels alluded to in your
story?
A:
I don’t know that any specific authors or specific books inspired me,
except maybe the Centaine series by
Wilbur Smith. I just love books with really strong characters that are as
lovable as they are sometimes despicable. I wanted to create a cast that
wouldn’t leave readers indifferent.
Q:
Which character was your least favorite to write? What about that
character made him or her so difficult to convey? Do you feel you successfully
developed him or her?
A:
The most difficult character to develop was Lucien. I wanted readers to
see him for what he was, but still disguise his real motives from Brigitte.
Q:
Sex is a great example of power and how some characters, such as Anne
and Alex, use it to try and exert their will over others. While you wrote Scorpio Rising, did you expect sex and
power to play such strong roles? How do you think the novel would be different
without the aspect of sex?
A:
I was very careful to write sex scenes that were not graphic. I wanted
the reader to know that sex was taking place, but without going into detail.
When I write, I always keep in mind that my parents and my children will be
reading this. Sex, however, is an important tool to use when illustrating
manipulative behavior.
Q:
While Lucien and Anne may be in the second book, Sting of the Scorpio, can your readership expect to see any other
characters that have a negative impact on the protagonists’ lives?
A:
We can say goodbye to Lucien, but Anne Turner does return, and although
her presence in the second book is relegated to short but regular sections, her
role is pivotal. You’ll be seeing enough of her to make her your favorite evil
character again.
Q:
Brigitte doesn’t seek to have power or control over anything but her own
life. What was the goal in creating such an opposition of control between her
and Alex?
A:
Brigitte’s entire reason for being is to earn the love of her husband.
She truly believes that if she is good enough or tries hard enough, she can get
Alex to change. How many of use believed that when we were younger? Those flaws
are so easy to see in a character from a book. Too bad we don’t always
recognize them in ourselves until life has given us a few harsh lessons.
Q:
Who was your inspiration for Gigi? Does he represent any specific theme
or have any relation to another work? Will other Gigi-like characters appear in
the sequel?
A:
I just wanted to have fun and also to poke a bit of fun at Alex for
being so macho. Many readers have told me that they had to put the book down
because they were laughing to tears at the Gigi scene. That’s exactly what I
hoped it would do—give us all a good laugh.
Q:
Gender and sexual orientation play very specific roles in Scorpio Rising. For example, Fortune
often mentions that he is gay and was never interested in Brigitte as a lover.
He often is expressed as resenting his previous protégé, Cigogne, for cheating
him out of his money. How do Fortune’s sexuality and his desire for money work
hand-in-hand?
A:
Two of the strongest driving forces in human nature are love and money,
and love is often defined as sexuality, and money is often expressed as power.
I’ve also noticed that more powerful men often seem to have the greatest
libido. I read somewhere that testosterone is largely responsible for a man’s
ambition—which might explain why the rich and famous are often such
carousers—so I linked the hunger for money and for sex in my most ambitious
characters.
Q:
With Sting of the Scorpio already
released, what are you currently
working on?
A:
I have a finished novel—still unpublished—currently being considered for
a Hollywood movie. This is incredibly exciting for me. I keep reminding myself,
however, that the chances of it getting produced are slim to none, but just
being considered is a huge compliment. I’m also nearing the finishing line of
my first murder mystery for Penguin, after which I’ll probably take a few
months to finish a few other projects I’ve had to put aside. I have so many
stories floating around in my head that I’ll never be without material, or
without a break for that matter.
.
Purchase
Links:
Paperback Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Scorpio-Rising-Monique-Domovitch/dp/1463790732
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I've not really been a member of a book club, but our small group from church does read books together and then we discuss. I love it!
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