Children of Liberty: Something Wicked This Way Comes

SPOILER ALERT:  I am starting Chapter 11: "The Quarry" in Children of Liberty

"No man is rich enough to buy back his past."  ~ Oscar Wilde

I haven't mentioned that I'm reading Children of Liberty because it's a busy time of year for me with school ending...so I don't have a ton of time to read.  For some reason, I feel this need to sign up to be a class mom every year...and between Christmas and the end of the school year, it's a wonder I don't have a substance abuse problem.

THAT SAID...there is no better feeling than having to put the book down RIGHT AWAY and blog...and I just had that feeling.  I can't stop myself, folks.  I have to say what's on my mind.

This book is fascinating because I am a sucker for class struggles.  And this book has loads of them.  There is nothing like a good Paullina Simons period novel to get you wistfully thinking of your grandparents and having an aching in your stomach to have them back again so you could ask them a million questions about their youth.

Having read The Bronze Horseman series, I know what happens to Gina and Harry.  That is the main reason I was terrified to read this book.  But I am on page 199 and they're nowhere near couple status.  Gina's got a crush on Harry...and he barely knows she's alive.  (Actually he pushes her, kicking and screaming, out of his head whenever she pops into it...but we won't get into my theories right now.)  And so far, although he reads 24/7 and takes political classes at Harvard, he has shown ("shown" being the operative word here) zero interest in politics, let alone Communism.  So I am now at the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen.

Once Harry decided to help Gina with Salvo's restaurant, I said "Here we go...now we're getting down to brass tacks".

But what made me jump up and grab the computer??

Alice is happy Salvo quit the mill because he was nice to her?  Wow.  And I get it - it was over a hundred years ago.  It wasn't proper for him to smile at her...and she knew he was "interested" (who wouldn't be?)  But wow.  WOW.  He quit!  And she doesn't care.  And he needs the money.  And now he's going to open a restaurant and she's going to find out since Harry is fronting the loan...and she's going to remember Salvo...

Oh this just got completely DELICIOUS!!!!!

And I don't want to cheapen this beautiful story by blurting out my usual "oh no she di'nt" banter.

So I'll just quietly say:

Ho.  Ly.  Cow.

That's all for now.  I have GOT to go read!  Popsicles and teacher gifts be damned!

The Bronze Horseman FILM

Sit.  DOWN.  No seriously...you may need to LIE DOWN for this.

Paullina announced today that the Bronze Horseman FILM is going into pre-production by the end of the year!!!!

I am SPEECHLESS!

Apparently ITA Productions is using her script (THANK GOD) and she now has the tedious task of revising it so it will fit into the production company's desired timeframe.  That means cutting scenes, y'all.  But don't be scared.  PAULLINA is doing it...so you know it will get done with conviction by the person who knows the story and characters best.

Last year I had the outstanding opportunity to help revise a script as well as be involved with casting and finally watch the film I worked on come to life on screen.  Let me tell you, it is a daunting task and Paullina has her work cut out for her.  There can be a lot of heartache involved when you have to cut certain scenes, but it has to be done in order to meet running time expectations.  And the casting struggle of who's right for the part vs who's available vs who's interested is a constant source of stress for months.  And you think about all of this 24/7 while trying to live your "regular" life in the pickup line at school and in the checkout line at Shoprite, a la Larissa Stark !  ;)

Bottom line...none of this is going to be easy for Paullina.  Unbelievably rewarding, yes.  But easy?  No way.  So let's all remember to be KIND to her from here on out regarding casting...and what scenes end up on the cutting room floor.

That said, let's discuss, discuss, discuss!

CHILDREN OF LIBERTY is Here!

Guess what came today?!?  The copy of Children of Liberty I won in Paullina's contest!!!  I am beyond thrilled!!

My heartfelt THANKS goes out to Paullina Simons for being awesome, as usual, and sending me this book.  I can't WAIT to read it!

Hildy, et al - when do we start?!

Bronze Horseman Charms

Check out these FANTASTIC charms Tonya just made!  She's making more...I'll post them when she's finished!

Tatiana's Table for the Holidays?

It's the holiday season!  And you know what that means?  Time to ask your family to buy you Tatiana's Table: Tatiana and Alexander's Recipes for Food and Love!  Now's your chance to sit back and let someone buy it for you!

Ellis Island Photos

SPOILER ALERT:  Do not read unless you have read Tatiana and Alexander. 

Tonya sent in this fantastic link to new photos of Ellis Island and said it reminded her of Tania and Anthony...and I couldn't agree more!

When Books Come to Life

SPOILER ALERT:  Don't read unless you've read The Summer Garden!

Scroll down if you have.  If you haven't, LOOK AWAY and scroll past it. :)






















Hildy took a trip to Arizona and sent me this photo.  There were only two words in her email:

Shura??  SHURA!!!