November 2006

"INSTEAD OF ATTACKING MADONNA, WE SHOULD BE FLOCKING TO FOREIGN ADOPTION AGENCIES TO SAVE BABIES WHO MIGHT NOT LIVE PAST THE AGE OF FIVE."

Author Talia Carner, who investigated foreign orphanages and adoptions sees Madonna's story as a call to action.
 

"The alternative to baby David's life would have been death," says author Talia Carner following Oprah's October 25th interview of Madonna. "Being familiar with the appalling conditions in orphanages in China, I had no doubt that in Africa, where the entire population is impoverished and at high health risk, these institutions are far worse." Ms. Carner is also quick to defend Madonna against those accusing her of using the adoption of a baby as a publicity stunt. "Any parent-including the journalists that have leveled such irresponsible charges at the celebrity-knows that parenting is the most serious emotional and physical commitment anyone can make, one you can never reverse. No one, especially a performer with a hectic life filled with artistic creativity and extensive travel, would make such a commitment without giving it their all."

Carner speaks from knowledge, having researched extensively both the music industry and infanticide for her just released novel. CHINA DOLL is the story of a pop icon on a concert tour in China, who fights to save an infant from the dumping ground of a Chinese orphanage. Like Madonna, the star-protagonist in Carner's novel deals with the media feeding frenzy. Like Madonna, the CHINA DOLL's protagonist uses her money and fame to build orphanages and bring good to the world.

"As babies are dying en masse in orphanages around the globe, the book pushes to the surface a major human rights issue that often gets buried under other dramatic headlines," says Steven Emerson, a foreign affairs expert. "CHINA DOLL is a must read, as it illuminates infanticide in the context of the current management of U.S-China relationship."

In the irony of life imitating art, Madonna's case only highlights CHINA DOLL's significance; the relevance of the novel has been coming up at every one of the author's book signing and guest speeches about infanticide. Against the winds of negative publicity, Ms. Carner has been defending Madonna, praising the star's charitable activities. "Instead of attacking her," Carner says, "Americans should be flocking to foreign adoption agencies to save babies by opening their homes and their hearts to them. We need to follow Madonna's example to adopt children who, most likely, will not live past the age of five."

On the other hand, Carner, who had worked with African women's groups, points out the difference between African and Chinese orphanages, where infant mortality can reach 80%. "Most African countries are Third World nations with no economic foundations and with underdeveloped forms of governance. That is not the case with China, a totalitarian government on its way to becoming a superpower. Unlike many impoverished African nations, China is capable of improving the conditions in the orphanages and save lives-had China made it its policy."

CHINA DOLL was released October 15th, 2006 in paperback [304 pages, $13.95; ISBN 978-0-9773821-2-5]. It has been praised as "Spicy, worldly, and meticulously researched," "intricate, psychologically-nuanced," and "page-turning, globe-spanning adventure," and was described by a reviewer as a cross between "Da Vinci Code and War and Peace." To the question whether Madonna has read Talia Carner's novel, Mr. Walters responded that he didn't know, but hoped to get a copy into the diva's hands by way of thanking her for her courageous stance on an issue by setting an example.

About the Author of CHINA DOLL: Talia Carner was the publisher of Savvy Woman magazine. A former adjunct professor at Long Island University School of Management, she was also a counselor and lecturer for the Small Business Administration, a member of United States Information Agency missions to Russia, and a participant at the 1995 International Women's Conference in Beijing. Ms. Carner's first novel, PUPPET CHILD, was listed in The Top 10 Favorite First Novels 2002 by BookBrowse and, reaping over forty rave reviews, launched a nationwide legislation that is the platform for two Senatorial candidates. Her personal essays and short stories have appeared in The New York Times and in literary magazines and anthologies. Talia Carner and her husband Ron, have four grown children. The couple lives in Bridgehampton, Long Island and in Manhattan, New York.

For Additional Information, please check the author's website at: www.TaliaCarner.com

11/06