M.G. Crisci's Blog, page 2
April 25, 2012
Elvis, John Cash, Jerry Lee and Me.
Memphis, TN. March 2012.
Had a great time in Memphis. Did a book presentation and newspaper interview, and met some great people. Also discussed the possibility of a Call Sign, White Lily movie with a Hollywood Producer-Director who spends part of the year in Memphis. More about that in news and press section in a few days.
While that was all good, the absolute highlight of the trip was my tour of Sun Records. For those of you that are not familiar with the Sun label, a young man by the name of Sam Phillips started the place in 1953. He discovered four of the greatest rock and roll singers ever, the Memphis sound as it was called. The guys names were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. One day, they did a little jam session in the modest studio. They became known as the million dollar quartet. Sam died in 2003, but left a wish that all should remain as it was.
As I walked around, I was allowed to take some really cool pictures. In picture #2 I’m holding the actual microphone that Elvis Presley used to record his first record, My Happiness. In picture #3 I’m sitting at the piano seat the quartet used during their famous jam session. Picture #4 is the actual soda pop machine that the legends used. Picture #5 is me outside the entrance Sun Studios. It is amazing how such a small place could change the face of music in America forever.
Once I finished at the studio, I went for some lunch at the Advantage Restaurant near Main Street in downtown Memphis. That’s picture #6. Elvis had breakfast there whenever he was in town. In fact, picture #7 was his booth. They let me have my breakfast there. What a hoot! Ham, eggs and Elvis.
Who do I have to thank for this magical step back in time? The world’s first female fighter pilot, my Russian friend Lilia Litvyak. God certainly works in wondrous ways.
April 24, 2012
Amelia Earhart vs. Lilia Litvyak – Only one is the “Real Deal”!
A beautiful young Russian girl falls in love with flying at age 11. It’s 1932. He becomes so skilled at flying solo that she trains 45 pilots for the Russian Air Force by the age of 17, using rickety old planes. Two years later she becomes the first female fighter pilot to be granted entry into Russia’s elite 73rd Air Squadron. She runs 268 missions, is shot down four times, has 15 solo kills against the technically superior German Messersmitt, and becomes Adolph Hitler’s worst public relations nightmare. On August 1, 1943, 17 days before her 22nd birthday, she disappears in a dog fight over the Eastern Ukraine. Her plane, body and story remain lost in time for 66 years. Her gravesite a modest affair in a desolate open field in a hard to reach area of the Eastern Ukraine.
Sadly, the World’s greatest female flying hero still remains a tiny footnote in history after more than 66 years.
But together, we can change that!
Call Sign, White Lily
April 19, 2012
Amelia Earhart vs. Lilia Litvyak – Only one is the “Real Deal”!
Amelia Earhart, a Playful Media Creation; Russian Teenage Flying Ace, Lilia Litvyak, the Real Deal.
A beautiful young American girl, Amelia Earhart, attends finishing school in Philadelphia in 1915, and falls in love with flying at the age of 20. She meets a wealthy book publisher and publicist, George P. Putnam, who foots the entire bill for his then 31-year-old girlfriend to fly across the Atlantic in a state-of-the-art Fokker F7 with two highly-experienced male crew members. They fly 21 hours from Trepassey Newfoundland to Burry Port, Wales. Her story makes worldwide headlines. She returns to a ticker tape parade in New York and a reception held by President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.
A beautiful young Russian girl falls in love with flying at age 11. It’s 1932. He becomes so skilled at flying solo that she trains 45 pilots for the Russian Air Force by the age of 17, using rickety old planes. Two years later she becomes the first female fighter pilot to be granted entry into Russia’s elite 73rd Air Squadron. She runs 268 missions, is shot down four times, has 15 solo kills against the technically superior German Messersmitt, and becomes Adolph Hitler’s worst public relations nightmare. On August 1, 1943, 17 days before her 22nd birthday, she disappears in a dog fight over the Eastern Ukraine. Her plane, body and story remain lost in time for 66 years. Her gravesite a modest affair in a desolate open field in a hard to reach area of the Eastern Ukraine.
Sadly, the World’s greatest female flying hero still remains a tiny footnote in history after more than 66 years.
But together, we can change that!
April 16, 2012
“Call Sign” appears in the San Francisco Book Review’s March Issue!
“The importance and magnitude of the Soviet sacrifices made during World War II are so great that they are almost impossible to comprehend. Grief and loss of human life on a scale beyond belief, and heroic actions by comrades compelled to protect the Motherland – all stories that are vital to Russian history and indeed, the history of the free world today. M. G. Crisci, moved to make the Russian tragedy a part of the public eye, decided to tell the story of a famous heroine to encapsulate the fighting spirit and patriotism of the Soviet men and women: the world’s first female fighter pilot, Lilia Litvyak, became the vehicle of his storytelling. An unlikely hero, a diminutive and beautiful woman, she challenged the traditionalist chauvinism of her day and rose through the ranks as an acclaimed and feared fighter pilot, the White Lily.
The story is poignant and powerful. The reader will be rewarded with a magnificent tale of patriotic integrity and characters that must be admired, and acts of valor and loyalty that embody the dedication of undying love and devotion to country and countrymen.” - San Francisco Book Review
March 26, 2012
Greg Gagarin, Former Top-Secret American WWII Pilot, discusses “Call Sign, White Lily”
Greg Gagarin, an MIT Club Partner, was in Army ROTC at MIT before Pearl Harbor and in his junior year accepted a provisional commission in the US Navy. Upon graduation in 1943 he received his commission, was affiliated with the Harvard-MIT Radar Laboratories, and went to Corpus Christie, Texas to do naval airborne radar training. Shortly after, he was assigned to “Project Zebra,” a secret lend-lease program transferring sea planes to the Soviet Naval Aviation.
He discusses “Call Sign, White Lily”, MIT during the war, the Soviet program, differences between Soviet and US military aviation training, and the effect of the atomic bomb on us and the Soviets.
Greg, thank you for the heartfelt review!
February 15, 2012
A Most Unusual Endorsement from Dr. Yury Zaitsev
I may be one the greatest fans of the New York Times newspaper fans in the history of the world. Between print and digital subscriptions, I’ve been reading it every day since I was about 14 (and that’s a long, long time ago!). But, it seems every time I read a story about Russia, the NYT feels obligated to accent the negative, either directly or indirectly via something as subtle as story selection and adjacency.
I’m not a diplomat, a historian or an intellectual. I’m just the son of a Bronx butcher and a New York Telephone Company operator who somehow wound up devoting three years to creating a historical narrative (translation: based on true story with plausible embellishments) about the life and loves of a most extraordinary Russian teenager who became the most successful female fighter pilot in the history of the world…during a time when Russia was a distinctly man’s world. Along the way I meet many generous, kind and compassionate Russians who still wonder why things are the way they are between two democracies. This blog is devoted to them.
It’s also a thank you to my friend, support, and cultural advisor, Dr. Yury Zaitsev, Director of the Russian Cultural Centre in Washington D.C., for his kind words about the project. Hope you enjoy reading his note. I’m not sure many Americans with absolutely no Russian ancestry have ever wandered down this path.
Here’s the endorsement, and the full text below:
To Whom It May Concern
The primary mission of the Russian Cultural Centre in Washington D.C. is to increase mutual respect and understanding between our respective nations by supporting a broad variety of cross-cultural events and initiatives. With this in mind we would like to make you aware of one of the more unique projects we have ever endorsed.
An American author, M.G. Crisci, a passionate man with absolutely no Russian ancestry, has written and published (in collaboration with two Russian women) a tender and interesting coming-of-age story about Muscowvite Lilia Litvyak, the world’s first female fighter pilot. The book, entitled Call Sign, White Lily, sheds light on her humanitarian interests, her friends, and her deep love for her commanding officer, the handsome Alexi Solomatin. It also provides approachable insights into many important Russian customs and traditions.
Unfortunately, history has not treated Lilia kindly. Her plane and its remains were not recovered for 37 years. It was not until 1990 President Mikhail Gorbachev finally named Lilia a Hero of the Soviet Union, our country’s highest military honor at the time. And, so with all the societal changes within and around the Federation of Russia, current generations know only bits and pieces of her live, her loves, her deeds. Also, Lilia is virtually unknown among Americans.
Mr. Crisci’s book—in both English and Russian–simply and accurately depicts the extraordinary resolve of the Russian people during the darkest moment in its history; a moment neither we and Mr. Crisci pray the world will never forget.
Sincerely,
Yury Zaytsev
The Representative of the
Rossotrudnichestvo in the U.S.,
The Head of the Russian Cultural Centre
November 7, 2011
Papa Cado Taught Me a Lot…Meet Frank from New Orleans
Writing PaPa Cado taught me volumes about what the human spirit can accomplish. After all, overcoming 46 heart procedures is a lot of adversity in one lifetime.
Is in that spirit I’d like you to meet Frank from New Orleans. He loves people, food, and most of all music. Unfortunately, Frank is confined to his bed most of the time in an assisted living facility. It will probably be his last home because of numerous health issues, including a case of emphysema that would make most men crumble.
Recently, Frank, attached to his oxygen tank, serenaded his fellow residents for with his favorite song, “Make Believe”. He sang for 1 minute and 26 seconds. I had the good fortune of capturing it on video. So to all those who become annoyed and troubled by life’s little twists and turns, I give you Frank…
First Meeting between M.G. Crisci and Yelena Sivolap
Capturing that First Moment
Creating and writing Call Sign, White Lily with Yelena Sivolap had been an amazing collaboration for almost two years. Imagine, a Russian school teacher and an American author, products of two cultures that had been long-time enemies, came to trust each other; to laugh about each other’s preconceived notions; and to build an enduring monument to one of the world’s great female heroes, the beautiful, fun-loving young girl from Moscow, Lilia Litvyak, who died far too young (age 21), and has been lost in time far too long (68 years). Along the way, Lena and I became brother and sister.
Despite the cascade of emails, letters, and Skye conversations, we were about to meet in person for the first time. My wife, Mary Ann, and I had traveled 8,000 miles from Carlsbad, California to Krasny Luch, Ukraine. As I stepped out of the car, I could feel the joy and disbelief in Lena’s eyes. We hugged, and wept tears of joy. Fortunately, my wife captured it all on video. I hope you savor the moment as much as I did.
My journey with Lena has also forever changed my view of the world. This arrogant, insular American with no prior political aspirations, no Russian ancestry, and little care about the world at large, created a proper, but belated thank you to the families of the 40 million Russians who perished during World War II.
November 5, 2011
Iona College – Spotlight on Alumni Authors
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from a little commuter college in New Rochelle, NY, called Iona College. Over the years—no thanks to me–the College has developed quite a reputation as a bastion for the study of Liberal Arts. On a recent trip back East, I stopped by the campus to pay a visit, and tell the Alumni Office that one of their least literate graduates had taken to writing books. Anyway, they were kind enough to list book #6, Call Sign, White Lily, in the author’s corner of the Alumni Magazine. I’m sure my old English Literature Professor, Br. Darby Ruane, would roll over in his grave if he saw the promotional blur.
November 2, 2011
To My Russian Friends Around the World
The brand new Russian edition of Call Sign, White Lily is now available for sale through Amazon. Anyone, anywhere in the world can buy it, and Amazon will ship it to your door. At the same time the autographed print Russian version can still be purchased at this website, as well as the electronic download edition. Sorry, Amazon is unable to stock the Russian version just yet, although they do carry the English download edition.
“Here on August 18th, in a non-descript ward, a squirming, screaming Lilia Vladimirovna Litvyak announced to her proud parents, Vladimir and Anna, two former peasants from tiny Istra Village-a six hour horse and carraige ride from Moscow-that she had entered the world.”
