My devoted readers and friends,

I’m thrilled to tell you that our mutual dream of seeing The Bronze Horseman on the big screen is one step closer to reality.

ITA Productions, a British company, has optioned the rights to my book. The producer, Martyn Hall, and the director, Sash Andranikian, love Tatiana and Alexander, and want nothing more than to make it into an emotional visual spectacle of a film. Sash, from a long line of animators and movie-makers, is Russian-American like me. He has read all three TBH books, and tells me that he loves them all. Martyn says The Bronze Horseman is the only book that has made him cry. They are looking to go into pre-production by the end of 2013, and to begin shooting early in 2014. So perhaps by the end of 2014, with a healthy dose of luck, we might have our movie.

We are going to be working from a script I wrote, which is fantastic, though it does mean that I have to rewrite it, which inevitably means I have to cut it. As you all know from my books, brevity is hardly my strong suit. My editing process always results in my books becoming twenty percent longer, not thirty percent shorter, which is what Martyn would like.

The good news is, the producers are promising that I will be on set to revise and add scenes as needed during filming, so at least we are going to have participation and some small measure of control in the creation of this magical thing called The Bronze Horseman, a movie.

I welcome your comments, questions, concerns, and of course, casting suggestions.

No, the film will not be in Russian. (Like the book wasn’t!)

What do you think of Alex Pettyfer as Alexander?

My very best,

Read it here.

I thank you for your letters, your kind words, you bring me joy, you make me happy. Seeing you on my travels clutching my books to your hearts makes me happy like few things do.

Some other things: seeing all my four children noisily together.
Reading while eating a long slow lunch in complete silence
Ice
My piano

I picked a random five names out of my daughter’s school bag, but then felt it was too few. So I picked two more. I wish I could get a signed book to each and every one of you. Thank you again. I hope you enjoy Children of Liberty. Keep your visits and your comments everflowing.

Here are the seven:
Kathleen O’Brien
Mandy Arthur
Sharon Davis
Carol Stark
Dana Levcikova
Giulia Paradiso
Rachel Flynn

If you are one of these names, we will follow up with you to get your address and send you a book as soon as we can!

Hi everyone,

In honor of Valentine’s Day yesterday, I am having another little giveaway of five signed books, this time for Children of Liberty. Here’s what you do to enter:

Just complete the sentence “[Blank] makes me happy” and tell me why. It could be a person, a place, or, for you readers out there, a book!

Send your entries to the email address paullinasimonscontest@gmail.com.

The contest starts today, and closes next Friday. We will announce the winners picked at random the following Monday, February 25th.

And for those of you who don’t end up winning, Children of Liberty goes on-sale in the US on February 26th!

Good luck, and as always, thanks for reading.

The Children of Liberty Australia/New Zealand tour for October/November has been finalized. Ta da! See the dates and locations below.

New Zealand
Sunday October 28th:
Talk/Reading
Whitcoulls Sylvia Park
Mt Wellington, Auckland
3 pm

Monday October 29th:

Signing
Whitcoulls Queensgate Mall
Wellington
12:30-1 pm

Talk/Reading
Whitcoulls on Lambton Quay, Wellington
6 pm

Tuesday October 30th:

Signing
Masterton Paper Plus
Masterton
12:30-1 pm

Talk/Reading
Palmerston North Library
Palmerston North
6:30 pm
(Tickets $5, from the Library 06 351 4519 or Paper Plus 06 359 4635)

Wednesday October 31st:

Signing
Whitcoulls The Plaza, Palmerston North
11-11:30 am

Talk/Reading
Paper Plus Napier
6 pm

Thursday November 1st:

Signing
Whitcoulls Corner
Queen Street, Auckland City
12:30-1 pm

Australia
Sydney and Surrounding Areas:
Friday November 2nd:
12 pm
Dymocks Chatswood Event

5 pm
Dymocks Erina Event

Saturday November 3rd:
11am Castle Hill Library Talk

Sunday November 4th:
11:30 Wagga Country Golf Club Literary Lunch

Monday November 5th:
7 pm Norton Cinema Talk

Brisbane and QLD:
Thursday November 8th:
6 pm Clovely Estate Literary Dinner

Perth:
Friday November 9th:
6:30 pm Presbyterian Ladies College Theatre Evening Event

Saturday November 10th:
3:30 pm Karrinyup Library Talk

Adelaide:
Monday November 12th:
7 pm Brighton Performing Arts Centre Event

Tuesday November 13th:
10 am Norwood Town Hall Talk

3 pm Blackwood Library Talk

Melbourne:
Thursday November 15th:
6:30 pm Ebony Quill Cafe evening event

Friday November 16th:
12:30 pm Torquay Resort Talk

7 pm Weirrebere Plaza Library Cocktail Night

Hobart:
Sunday November 18th:
11:30 pm Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Talk

Canberra:
Monday November 19th:
6 pm Woden Library Talk

For more information on how to book certain events, please see my Facebook page, which has phone numbers and contact info. Looking forward to seeing you all, and I hope you’re enjoying Children of Liberty.

Kiwis, mark your calendars for these dates this fall (summer for you guys). I’ll have locations and more information sometime next week, hopefully.

Sunday 28 October: Auckland

Monday 29 October: Wellington

Tuesday 30 October: Masterton, Palmerston North

Wednesday 31 October: Napier

Thursday 1 November: Auckland

Hi everyone (and a particular shout-out to my Aussie/Kiwi fans today),

This fall, I will once again be lucky enough to visit some of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever had the pleasure to go to. For your viewing pleasure, here are the dates I will be in various areas of Australia below. (New Zealand dates are still being finalized. Event locations to come soon.) Clear your calendars now!

Sydney & Surrounds                       November 2-5 2012

Gold Coast                                          November 6-7

Brisbane                                              November 8

Perth                                                     November 9-10

Adelaide                                              November 11-13

Melbourne & Surrounds               November 14-16

Hobart                                                  November 17-18

Canberra                                             November 19

Hi everyone:

You may have seen this somewhere already, but here’s the official announcement: my new book is called Children of Liberty, and here’s the description (from Amazon):

At the turn of the century and the dawning of the modern world, Gina from Belpasso comes to Boston’s Freedom Docks to find a new and better life, and meets Harry Barrington, who is searching for his.

The fates of the Barringtons and Attavianos become entwined, on a collision course between the old and new, between what is expected and what is desired, what is chosen and what is bestowed, what is given and what is taken away.

As America races headlong into the future, much will be lost and much will be gained for Gina and Harry, whose ill-fated love story will break your heart.

I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I have loved writing it. It will be out in Fall 2012.