Hello ,
We have a winner! I apologize, as the drawing for an autographed copy of PURE GRIT was supposed to be announced two weeks ago, but I lost
track time. Congrats to recent subscriber Martha Whaley! Send me your mailing address, Martha, and I will put your book in the mail. Exciting news! I am releasing it only here in the newsletter--please keep it to yourself. There is a deal in the works for a PURE GRIT movie! Details to follow as they become
available.
The Story Behind the Poetry |
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, My visit to the Statue of Liberty earlier this week inspired me to learn more about the woman
who wrote those famous words. They really struck me, almost to tears when I first heard them as a child. I marvel at them again now, and at the power of poetry to move people's emotions and stir them to action. Where does such power come from?Emma Lazarus was born in New York City in 1849 to a wealthy Jewish family. Her ancestors were Sephardic Jews who fled the Spanish Inquisition for Colonial America. Emma was a curious,
bright child who loved reading, and started writing poetry at a young age. Living in 19th Century America, she had at least two strikes against her. She was a woman, and she was Jewish. However, her father fully supported her writing, and self-published her first volume Poems and Translations: Written Between the Ages of Fourteen and Sixteen. At some point her poetry impressed Ralph Waldo Emerson
and they began a long-term correspondence. In 1883, during the drive to raise money to build the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, Emma wrote "The New Colossus".She'd been hearing news of the vicious anti-semitic pogroms in Russia, and as Jewish refugees streamed into the U.S. from Eastern Europe, Emma was shocked. Poor, sick, and uneducated, they were nothing like her upper class New York
social circle. Many well-established Jewish Americans feared these immigrants would reflect badly on them and didn't want anything to do with the newcomers. But not Emma! Read the rest of her story and the full poem... Just got word I'll be speaking at the National Council of Teachers of English in Washington D.C. this coming November.
I will be
joining a panel with Author Claire Rudolf Murphy, Illustrator Brian Collier and Marilyn Carpenter, PhD. Our topic: Investigating How the Landscape of Research Ignites Story in Fiction & Nonfiction.Claire and Brian have a
wonderful new book out: MY COUNTY 'TIS OF THEE. Here you see me helping Claire celebrate the book's launch earlier this month at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA. PURE GRIT was in the news again this last week.
I am so humbled by the wonderful review in the Asheville, N.C. Citizen Gazette, "...an impeccably researched, in-depth chronicle of a group of women who faced deadly odds while remaining true to their country and their vocation....Farrell excels at making the women's stories lively and evocative." Read more...
Also a beautiful review earlier this month in the Champaign/Urbana, IL News-Gazette, here... Kid lit bloggers across the internet celebrate nonfiction books for children and teens every Monday. I'm grateful to Blogger/Author L.L. Owens for interviewing me this past Monday. Check out her blog here...Further thanks to Blogger Sally Heavenrich for featuring PURE GRIT on Sally's Bookshelf this week. I'll be making a swing through Western Washington in the next couple weeks, talking about how the POW nurses survived battle and prison camp, including historical film and photographs.
If you're in the neighborhood, I'd love to see you!
Monday, June 30th, 7pm Olympia, WA
Tuesday, July 1st, 7pm (reception to follow
program) Bellingham, WA
Wednesday, July 2, 1pm Concrete, WA Take care, thanks for reading! If you know anyone who might enjoy this newsletter, please forward it. I know your time is valuable and endeavor to honor that. I will never spam you or sell your email address, you can unsubscribe anytime
with a single mouse click. To find out more about my books, my calendar or how I help students, teachers and librarians visit my website. www.MaryCronkFarrell.com Thank you! Mary
Questions? Comments? Contact me at MaryCronkFarrell@gmail.com Click here to subscribe to this newsletter,
|
|
