2009 Northern California Book Awards

By Frances Dinkelspiel / March 23, 2009 /

I am delighted to report that Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, has been nominated for a Northern California Book Award. The award was established by the Northern California Book Reviewers in 1981 “to honor the work of writers and recognize exceptional service in the field of literature in…

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The Mysteries of the Bestseller List

By Frances Dinkelspiel / February 3, 2009 /

I was pleasantly pleased to discover that Towers of Gold made the bestseller list of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association this week. Towers of Gold was the #7 bestselling book for the week of January 25. But I was puzzled, too, since the only event I did that week was at the private Metropolitan…

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Update on Towers of Gold

By Frances Dinkelspiel / January 21, 2009 /

Did you know there was a thriving Jewish community in El Paso, Texas? I didn’t, until this review of Towers of Gold came out in the El Paso Times. Apparently there are three shuls and a Holocaust Museum.   Daniel Olivas, a Los Angeles lawyer, author of four books, and editor of Latinos in Lotusland:…

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Ten Things I am Thankful for Concerning Towers of Gold

By Frances Dinkelspiel / December 22, 2008 /

  1)      That my cousin Warren Hellman and I will be on Michael Krasny’s Forum on KQED on Tuesday Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. Listen in to hear an original song on Isaias Hellman performed by Warren’s band, the Wronglers. I have listened to Krasny’s show for years and have always dreamed of being on…

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Going Right to the Heart of Hellman's Financial Empire

By Frances Dinkelspiel / December 11, 2008 /

I am heading back down to Los Angeles, where I will give a talk this evening at Metropolis Books, a small independent bookstore in the heart of the city’s downtown and banking districts. I am really looking forward to this reading because the store sits next door to the building Isaias Hellman constructed in 1905…

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A Parody of Towers of Gold

By Frances Dinkelspiel / December 10, 2008 /

In my book on my great-great grandfather, Isaias Hellman, I go on and on (and some say on) about his prescience in backing business partners who would go on to do great things for California. For example, Hellman formed partnerships with the founders of Lehman Brothers, with Harrison Gray Otis, who bought the LA Times,…

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Back from New York, recuperating

By Frances Dinkelspiel / December 8, 2008 /

Today is the first day in about three weeks that I can take a breather, relax, and reflect on all that has happened since Towers of Gold was released a little more than three weeks ago.   All I can say is: wow!   I never expected this response. I never expected to have so…

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Tidbits from the Road

By Frances Dinkelspiel / November 25, 2008 /

Old Los Angeles I just spent five days in Los Angeles and will be home for just 24 hours before leaving for New Jersey and New York.   I flew into the Burbank Airport around 9:30 on Thursday and was met by Ken Wilson, who is known in the publishing business as a media escort.…

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Life on the Book Circuit

By Frances Dinkelspiel / November 15, 2008 /

It’s been a whirlwind week of talking, talking, talking and signing for Towers of Gold. It’s so strange to be finally doing this – selling my book – after dreaming about it for years. By far the most fun is going to bookstores and venues to talk about the life of Isaias Hellman. Last night…

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Publication Day!

By Frances Dinkelspiel / November 11, 2008 /

Today is the day I have been waiting for the last eight years. Today is the day that Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California is officially published. Did the heavens sing to me this morning? Did stardust drop around my head as I woke up? Frankly, no. It was…

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