Martha Hall Kelly's Blog: Martha's Blog, page 7
January 28, 2019
An Amazing Time at ALA Midwinter 2019 with Fabulous Authors
Had a wonderful time in Seattle for the American Library Association 2019 midwinter meeting. Not only is Seattle such a fun city, the Penguin-Random House staff took such good care of us (the wonderful Kelly Coyle-Crivelli and Sydney Czech, above) and it was so much fun sharing Lost Roses with librarians. But the highlight was sitting alongside my fellow PRH authors: Jayson Greene, Steven Rowley (above) and Blake Crouch (sadly, Chuck Wendig was sick and couldn’t make it.) It was fascinating listening to them share the stories of their books—all coming soon. I’ve included a little info about their books below. All sure to be incredible reads.
RECURSION by Blake Crouch Pub date June 11 “All across the country, people are waking up to lives different from the ones they fell asleep to. Are they suffering from False Memory Syndrome, a mysterious new disease that afflicts people with vivid memories of a life they never lived? Or something more sinister?” Cant wait to dig into this mind-bending thriller I know will keep me up nights turning pages.
‘THE EDITOR by Steven Rowley Pub date April 2nd. “From the bestselling author of the fabulous Lily and the Octopus comes a novel about a struggling writer who gets his big break, with a little help from the most famous woman in America.” Hearing the charming and relentlessly funny Steven Rowley share anecdotes about this novel about Jackie O. sent it straight to the top of my TBR pile.
ONCE MORE WE SEE STARS by Jayson Greene Pub date May 14 Cheryl Strayed’s lovely quote says it best about this exquisite debut novel: “A gripping and beautiful book about the power of love and loss in the face of unimaginable loss.” In one sitting I finished this beautifully written account of two parents’ devastating loss and the hope it ultimately ushers in. So uplifting and inspiring.
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January 20, 2019
Caroline Ferriday’s Letter from Martin Luther King, Jr.
Caroline Ferriday’s archives are filled with interesting bits of history, but this is one of my favorites. It may just be a standard thank you letter, but it’s beautifully written, heartfelt and sincere. I especially love the phrase “dungeon of despair,” and the fact it is addressed to Ms. Ferriday. And I love looking at that signature, too. Not written in some a computer-generated hand, but by Dr. King himself.
As we celebrate Martin Luther King’s life this holiday it’s comforting and inspiring to revisit this connection between these two incredible people, however small. Thank you to Peg Shimer and Dorothy Ambruso of the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Gardens for making this letter available to me, two of the wonderful people at Connecticut Landmarks dedicated to keeping Caroline’s legacy alive.
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January 18, 2019
Lost Roses Dust Jacket Hot Off the Presses
I was thrilled to see this lovely hardcover dust jacket in the mail this morning, courtesy of the best editor ever, Kara Cesare at Ballantine. In person it is even more beautiful, the title in red foil. I love the details, like this tiny tour Eiffel on the spine.
It is enjoying a new spot on my Lilac Girls shelf. Guess I’d better make a new shelf for Lost Roses. 
January 11, 2019
Just added China and Germany–Thirty Foreign Editions for Lilac Girls.
It has been so moving to see the foreign editions of Lilac Girls arrive at my door. Some use the original cover art, some change the title (love France’s Lilacs only Bloom After a Harsh Winter title) and some reinterpret the art in their own way. (Russia in lower left is the latest.) Was especially excited to hear Lilac Girls went to #1 in Norway. So exciting. Can’t wait to see Israel, China and Germany soon!
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Spring Came Early This Year Thanks to this Lovely New Lost Roses Map
Once I finished writing Lost Roses, the prequel to Lilac Girls, the first thing I did was ask the wonderful illustrator Holly Hollon to create another incredible map. Just as she did for Lilac Girls, she made the book come alive, this time from Russian former aristocrat Sofya Streshnayva’s point of view, Caroline Ferriday’s Mother Eliza’s best friend. It focuses on Sofya’s world after she is forced to leave Russia, when she seeks refuge in Paris. The map gives a few clues about the plot of book #2 and highlights some of the book’s scenes around Paris, including the infamous Rue de Chabanais brothel, my all-time favorite French candy store and Eliza Ferriday’s Paris apartment. I hope you enjoy this little taste of spring in January.
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Spring Came Early This Year Thanks to this Gorgeous New Lost Roses Map
Once I finished writing Lost Roses, the prequel to Lilac Girls, the first thing I did was ask the wonderful illustrator Holly Hollon to create another incredible map. Just as she did for Lilac Girls, she made the book come alive, this time from Russian former aristocrat Sofya Streshnayva’s point of view, Caroline Ferriday’s Mother Eliza’s best friend. It focuses on Sofya’s world after she is forced to leave Russia, when she seeks refuge in Paris. The map gives a few clues about the plot of book #2 and highlights some of the book’s scenes around Paris, including the infamous Rue de Chabanais brothel, my all-time favorite French candy store and Eliza Ferriday’s Paris apartment. I hope you enjoy this little taste of spring in January.
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January 2, 2019
The Lost Roses Book Tour: Coming to a City Near You.
My publicist Melanie DeNardo and the rest of Team Roses at Random House have worked so hard on this incredible book tour for my Lilac Girls prequel, Lost Roses. I can’t wait to get on the road this spring and come see everyone. Hopefully a city near you is on the list, but if not I love Skyping with book groups!
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December 24, 2018
A Gorgeous Christmas for the Romanov Children
When I was researching the prequel to Lilac Girls, Lost Roses, I came across this photo of the Tsar’s children many times, but then I stumbled upon this wonderful website and found it colored in such a natural way it came to life. Colorization is a slow and demanding process (in doing the Civil War research I’m working on now, I’ve found colorizing was insanely popular) and it is done so well here. (Black and white version below.)
I’ve included a few more colorized Romanov pics, below (especially love the one one of Tatiana with the Tsarina’s favorite lilacs.) You can find them and more here: https://www.deviantart.com/missylynne/art/Romanov-Christmas-421963958
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December 21, 2018
How Hitler Brought a Whole New Weird to Christmas.
One of the scenes from Lilac Girls that readers often ask me about is the one, which takes place at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, where the camp staff, including the commandant, dress up as angels and shepherds and celebrate their own Nazi version of a Christmas party. “Is that based on fact?” they ask. Yes. In researching the book, it was fascinating to see how, during WWII, Hitler and Himmler actively suppressed all spiritual doctrines and created their own twisted religion.
Under Himmler’s watch, swastikas became part of Germany’s Christmas pageants, getting equal if not higher billing than the traditional crosses.
Hitler’s new religion was mandatory for members of the SS and many ardent Hitler supporters practiced the new religion and incorporated the swastika into their Christmas trees and holiday cards.
Nazi Christmas card
Nazi Christmas tree, above, ornaments below.
Soon Goebbels and Himmler were spreading their new, sanitized version of Christianity, one that removed God and Jesus from the narrative.
Magazines targeted at German women, like Frauen-Warte below, espoused Hitler’s religion, based on ancient runes, where the winter solstice was the focus, not God or Jesus. Suggesting the German people were supreme, editorials encouraged Germans to worship themselves, not God.
Once the war ended and Hitler was no longer in power, Christians in West Germany returned to their pre-war religious practices. But it’s disturbing to see how quickly one man could come so close to virtually erasing all traditional religions in Germany. This happened over seventy years ago, but this holiday season it’s a good reminder that we have to be vigilant to protect all of our precious rights.
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December 8, 2018
Like to Give a Signed Copy of Lilac Girls for the Holidays, Inscribed to Someone Special? Just call Hickory Stick Books.
When I moved to Litchfield County a year ago I was thrilled to be just a short drive away from the wonderful Hickory Stick Bookshop. So this holiday if you’d like a signed Lilac Girls copy, with a personal inscription to someone special, just give Hickory Stick a call or email and next weekend, December 15th I will sign it and add your personal message. They can gift wrap it and ship to you or directly to the recipient. (I have 30 of the Lilac Girls holiday postcards, below, and can add one with a message, as well.) They have amazing children’s books, too. (Tallulah’s Ice Skates, below, ages 4-7, is such a great book and makes a lovely gift.) Super easy way to make someone happy this holiday!
Hickory Stick phone: 860-868-0525 Or email: books@hickorystickbookshop.com
holiday postcard
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