Michaela MacColl

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September 2014 Archive

Archives for September 2014

Booklist is a fan of Rory’s Promise

September 14th, 2014, 1:45 pm

Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association and the thing about them is that they don’t review books they don’t like. So just getting a booklist review is a good thing! Here’s their take on Rory’s Promise:

MacColl and Nichols team up for the first title in the new Hidden Histories series, which spotlights lesserknown

historical moments. Twelve-year-old Rory Fitzpatrick’s life at New York City’s Foundling

Hospital is upended when her younger sister, Violet, is set to be adopted in Clifton, a town in the Arizona

Territory. Unbeknownst to the nuns in charge, Rory sneaks onto an orphan train to stick with her sister.

Upon arrival in the mining town, they are thrust into an ongoing disagreement between the wealthier

Anglo women and their intended adoptive parents, Mexican Catholics. Though the pace sometimes slows

thanks to the dry narrative style, intrepid Rory is a likable protagonist with determination and heart, all of

which will endear her to readers. Multifaceted adult characters drawn from history, especially Sister Anna,

bring to life the complex dynamics in Clifton at the turn of the century. Extensive back matter provides

further historical context and lesson tie-ins. Pair with Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train (2013) for an

even more comprehensive look at this part of American history.

— Jennifer Barnes


Categories: Blog, Reviews

Happy Book Birthday! Rory’s Promise has hit the shelves!

September 6th, 2014, 1:37 pm

Please join me in welcoming Rory’s Promise to the world!

Rory’s Promise is based on a real story that happened in Arizona in 1904.  A trainload of young Irish-American orphans came to Clifton AZ to be adopted. It’s quite a story involving kidnapping, tarring and feathering and more than one mob.  Here’s a picture of the kids setting off from Grand Central Station:

Categories: Blog, News, Uncategorized

Want to write historical fiction? I’d be happy to tell you what I know!

September 2nd, 2014, 1:37 pm

For anyone in the Westport CT area — I’m going to be teaching a two-part workshop on writing Historical Fiction at the Westport Writers’ Workshop in October. I’d love to see anyone who is interested in this most fascinating of genres! If it’s not your cup of tea but you know somebody — please pass it on!

Categories: Appearances, Blog

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<h4>Revelation of Louisa May</h4>
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