Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a stop along their current tour featuring a work of Children's Historical Fiction. It takes place during the Nazi invasion of Italy and is based on a true story of one of the war's unsung hero's. Curious? I know I was, so let's take a look, shall we? Ready or not, here comes today's title in the spotlight...
by
Patricia Murphy
Poolbeg Press
About the book...
It’s 1943 and young Leo tries to protect his disabled sister Ruby as the Nazis invade Italy. After his mother is arrested, he turns to Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty to save them. But he is no ordinary priest. Known as ‘The Pimpernel of the Vatican’, the Monsignor is the legendary organizer of the Rome Escape Line. Soon Leo is helping out with this secret network dedicated to saving the lives of escaped prisoners of war, partisans and Jews. But as the sinister Nazi leader Kappler closes in on the network, can Leo and his sister stay out of his evil clutches?
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Sounds good, right?
See...told you so...BUT WAIT! There's more...
My stop along the tour isn't just a spotlight, intriguing as it may be, but a Q&A with the author herself! So get ready to explore this work from the other side of the pen, and capture a more personal look at the person who penned it. Ladies and gents, please welcome author Patricia Murphy!
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Q&A: Author Patricia Murphy
If you had to describe your work in TEN WORDS or less, which of course is EXACTLY what I'm asking you to do, what would you say...
A dramatic roller-coaster of Good V Evil in Nazi-occupied Rome.
(I cheated with a couple of compound words!!)
Though I've not read Leo's War (yet...never say never), I gotta say, simply reading the synopsis gives me chills. What made you choose this particular event to write about? How did you first happen upon this "secret World War II hero"?
My nephew Sennan can take the credit for this one. He lives in Killarney in County Kerry and went to this famous school called The Monastery – “The Mon” for short. He asked me to come to speak to his class– boys all around 12 years old, about my novel Molly’s Diary, which is about the Easter Rising in 1916. It was the hundredth anniversary and my fictionalised account through the eyes of a young girl was having a “moment” and was a bestseller. Afterwards we were having photographs taken and his headmaster Colm Ó’Súilleabháin pointed to a giant mural of a tall priest behind us and said, “Behold the subject of your next book.”
It was Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an old boy of the school who was basically the Irish Schindler, rescuing six and a half thousand Allied Prisoners-of-War, Partisans and Jewish people from the Nazis. The Vatican was officially neutral but behind the scenes the Monsignor set up The Rome Escape Line, orchestrating a massive game of hide-and-seek, concealing thousands of people in hideouts all over Rome. Some were in convents and monasteries; many were sheltered by ordinary Italians at great personal risk.
The Monsignor was quite a character, spoke German and Italian fluently and held three doctorates. He was also a master of disguise and became known as “The Pimpernel of the Vatican”. I was hooked but I wasn’t quite sure how to tell the story of a priest, no matter how heroic. Luckily I had this image of the character of 12-year -old Leo, fiercely protective of his disabled sister Ruby and tormented by little Fascist bullies at his school. Leo is funny, rebellious, and half-Jewish. Not remotely “holy” and sceptical about the ability of a “man in a dress” to take on the Nazis. I had an “in”.
Even though it’s about a dark chapter in history, there is a lot of light, I hope. Leo is irreverent, determined to poke fun at the Nazis and the Monsignor is a total maverick, ingenious and brave. But he is a committed humanitarian, ready to rescue anyone who needs it. His message to Leo is, “it only takes one candle to put out the darkness. Be the light.” Despite the circumstances it’s a portrait of human goodness, not just the Monsignor but also thousands of others who fought so bravely in World War 2. It’s a testimony that even at the worst of times, you can see the best in people.
I noticed in your "about me" that much of your work and many of your causes deal with children, and sometimes more specifically those with disabilities. Tell us, how were you called upon to help give them a voice?
When I was six at school, I was badly bullied by two girls in my class. Classic stuff – they took my lunch, called me a weirdo and made me do their homework. I fought back and made other friends but they didn’t stop. One day I made a mistake in Maths and as I had done their homework their answers were wrong too. But the teacher bizarrely accused me of copying them. Another girl stood up for me, then a few more spoke up. And that put a stop to the bullying. That girl’s bravery made a huge impression on me, that show of solidarity by my peers. I always felt it was important to stand up for the underdog after that. I am also the eldest of six, and as a big sister I was expected to take care of younger kids. It’s in your DNA if you are Irish!
I am fascinated by children and I naturally gravitated to subjects that affected them, particularly if they were disadvantaged. But I’ve also made documentaries about “the dark side”. I’ve spent a lot of time filming with criminals. And they are another misunderstood group. There are complex reasons why people end up on the wrong side of the law.
After a series about crime I was asked by Channel 4 to make a series about children born with disabilities. It was an amazing experience. I met so many extraordinary people. I became interested in portraits of human goodness, of people achieving against the odds. So many children born with disabilities are utterly astonishing. They have such drive and a will to live. They overcome the most daunting of obstacles. And yet they are often written off and misunderstood. Ruby is my tribute to so many of the amazing children I have met. And their families.
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| Vervain |
These are a few of YOUR favorite things! Let's share! What is your favorite...
...color? Blue
...season? Early summer as the trees come into leaf.
...food? Dark chocolate
...smell? Vervain – also known as wild hyssop. It is supposed to have magical properties.
...place to relax? South of France.
...author and/or book? Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice and James Joyce’s Ulysses.
...thing about writing?
I love everything about the writing process – the dawning of an idea, the immersion in character and plot, the honing and refining when editing. The pleasure of typing “The End”. But the real magic happens when your book gets into the hands of the reader and you make a connection. Like when a child says they’ve read your book four times! Or three generations of the one family pass on you book to each other. That’s really special.
If you weren't writing, or directing, given no limitations on ability or skill, what career would you have chosen?
Internationally acclaimed tap dancer.
Last, but certainly not least, if you could share a few words of advice with your younger self, what would you say?
Around 1997, Steve Jobs is going to come back to this company called Apple. Beg steal or borrow the money but buy the shares! And don’t go dancing in Belfast on New Year’s Eve 2002, You’re going to regret damaging your foot.
Seriously - hold the dream. And don’t waste time bellyaching and feeling sorry for yourself. Just pick yourself up and move on!
Thank you for your amazing questions! I really enjoyed answering them. I hope you get a chance to reach my book on your teetering pile. I love the energy and verve of your site! And I loved, loved that story about the 12 year-old Neveah Mosher reading 300 books a year. What a warrior!!
Thank you for your amazing answers! Always a pleasure getting to know the minds behind the works! 😊
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About the author...
Patricia Murphy is the bestselling author of The Easter Rising 1916 – Molly’s Diary and Dan’s Diary – the War of Independence 1920-22 published by Poolbeg.
She has also written the prize-winning “The Chingles” trilogy of children’s Celtic fantasy novels. Patricia is also an award winning Producer/Director of documentaries including Children of Helen House, the BBC series on a children’s hospice and Born to Be Different Channel 4’s flagship series following children born with disabilities. Many of her groundbreaking programmes are about children’s rights and topics such as growing up in care, crime and the criminal justice system. She has also made a number of history programmes including Worst Jobs in History with Tony Robinson for Channel 4 and has produced and directed films for the Open University.
Patricia grew up in Dublin and is a graduate in English and History from Trinity College Dublin and of Journalism at Dublin City University. She now lives in Oxford with her husband and young daughter.
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Special thanks to
Rachel at
Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as to author Patricia Murphy for indulging my questions. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...
Until next time, remember....if it looks good, READ IT!
