Congrats to Martha Lawson
More Winners…
June 28, 2012 by
Guest Post & Giveaway: Vincent N. Parrillo’s Writing Space
June 15, 2012 by
Yesterday, I reviewed Guardians of the Gate by Vincent N. Parrillo, a historical fiction novel about Ellis Island set in the early 1900s. The novel is heavy in facts and even includes so historic pictures of Ellis Island at the time; Check out the review.
If you’re anything like me, I love learning about author’s writing habits and writing spaces. And today, we’ve got a special look at Parrillo’s writing space. Please give him a warm welcome.
As an author of numerous sociology textbooks, I am often asked, first, how I came to write an historical novel, second, why Ellis Island, and third, given my responsibilities as a professor and graduate director at William Paterson University, how I found the time to write it.
I’ve always liked the challenge of expanding my horizons, and—in writing—that desire led to 1) creating academic books on different subjects (cities, diversity, immigration, social problems); 2) becoming co-lyricist for a show (see www.hamlettherockopera.com); and 3) scripting two PBS television documentaries (I’m working on a third right now). Guardians of the Gate evolved as my desire to explore a new genre, using imagination to create characters, a setting, and plot that, hopefully, would result in a compelling read.
The genesis for choosing Ellis Island as the setting was my documentary work in 1991. I had the good fortune to be there before its restoration. Walking up the original staircase with steps deeply grooved by millions of immigrants, and seeing the examining rooms and corridors in their abandoned, deteriorating condition, all combined to create a haunting effect in my mind. I keenly felt the history of the place as a touchstone for the many that came in pursuit of the American Dream.
It occurred to me that, although much is “out there” about immigrants in photos, films, family histories, and nonfiction, little exists about the people who worked at Ellis Island. These were the first Americans the immigrants encountered. Who were they? Well, many were immigrants themselves, mostly Germans and Irish. Some were caring, dedicated workers; some were just doing a job; and some were scoundrels exploiting the greenhorns. So, I decided to focus mainly on them. Furthermore, most people know of Ellis Island only in its twentieth-century manifestation, but little about dramatic and provocative events occurring there in the 1890s. That was the story I wanted to tell. To spice up the narrative, I knew from the outset that I also wanted to include a good love story, one filled with challenges and passion.
Naturally, any writer of good historical fiction must research the subject fully. I had a head start with what I learned years earlier in writing my documentary, but now much more investigation was necessary. I sought and read anything I could find: memoirs, newspaper accounts, and histories. From these I created a timeline to incorporate actual events into the novel. I made my protagonist a young doctor, because he would have freer access to different work areas on the island (the inspection stations, hospital, and dormitories) and thus enable me to give a more complete portrait of immigration activities.
With my teaching and professional responsibilities consuming only three days a week, I could block out significant amounts of free time for research and writing. My work station, set in an alcove, includes good overhead lighting and a comfortable swivel chair. What I like best about this arrangement is that it’s downstairs (I live in a townhouse), away from all window views and other distractions in the upstairs living quarters.
Over the years, I’ve had many different types of writing spaces, but this one is by far the best.
With my teaching and professional responsibilities consuming only three days a week, I could block out significant amounts of free time for research and writing. My work station, set in an alcove, includes good overhead lighting and a comfortable swivel chair. What I like best about this arrangement is that it’s downstairs (I live in a townhouse), away from all window views and other distractions in the upstairs living quarters.
On this lower level is the family room with sliding doors out to the patio, but my back is to all that and so I can easily concentrate on what I’m doing. My re-energizing breaks from writing are either a power nap on the nearby couch or a half hour on the treadmill. An occasional cup of hot green tea is another good, healthy stimulant to keep me going.Thanks, Vincent, for sharing your writing space with us.
To enter to win Guardians of the Gate by Vincent N. Parrillo,
You must be a U.S. resident and leave a comment on this post about what interests you about Ellis Island.
Deadline to enter is June 22, 2012, at 11:59PM EST
Guardians of the Gate by Vincent N. Parrillo
June 14, 2012 by
Guardians of the Gate by Vincent N. Parrillo is a historical fiction novel about Ellis Island between 1893 and 1902 as immigration to the United States increases, particularly from Italy and other non-northern European nations, and sentiment in America turns against immigrants. Dr. Matt Stafford and his wife have moved to New York City and are living the high life with a very busy social calendar as he works at Presbyterian Hospital. After losing a child in a miscarriage, their relationship fractures and each seeks satisfaction in life through different means — Peg through social activities and Matt through his job as a surgeon and ultimately as a doctor at Ellis Island. Stafford is a likeable doctor and clearly cares about his patients and learning different languages and cultures, but his morals become more flexible when his wife’s ailment takes a turn for the worse and he spends more time with a lovely nurse at Ellis Island — a relationship that starts too quickly given the set up of the nurse’s character as aloof and consummately professional, even shying away from small talk with co-workers.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the book is spent with Ellis Island’s lead administrator Dr. Joseph Senner, whose heavy handed management style rubs personnel the wrong way, but endears him to his kindred German immigrants. Senner expresses his concerns about the operations at Ellis Island openly and sets about making changes. Senner is aloof to his workers and his German accent remains thick, even after 13 years in America. Parrillo’s adherence to the use of “v” rather than “w” and other typical German-American accented English words continue to pull the reader out of the story and could have been phased out early on after the cadence had been well established. Given the aloof nature of Senner’s character from his employees, the relationship in the latter half of the book between him and Dr. Stafford is surprising.
“The impact of this grand hall was striking. The hall was virtually the full size of the building itself. Its vastness was enhanced by the cathedral ceiling and the light — even on this overcast day — that filtered through the tall, eave-high windows. A wide-planked pine floor, resembling a sailing ship’s deck so familiar to the arriving ocean voyagers, set off the woodwork. The place even seemed to have the scent of a ship. Ten parallel aisles, framed by railings, marked where the immigrants began the screening process. Potted plants, American flags, and red, white, and blue bunting festooned the hall.” (Page 5)
However, Parrillo is clearly a student of Ellis Island history as details about the island, the immigrants, the inspection procedures, and even the buildings themselves pour into the dialogue between Senner, who is a new administrator, and his assistant Ed McSweeney. The facts and figures, plus the inclusion of photographs from the real Ellis Island provide this historical fiction novel with a unique style, mimicking a piece of nonfiction. There are good and bad workers on Ellis Island, but the story is less about them and the immigrants than it is about Stafford and his troubled love life.
While Parrillo does include fictionalized accounts of immigrants coming to Ellis Island and their histories, the prose merely tells and does not show the emotion of these characters, as it does when the immigration officials interact. While the plot and Dr. Stafford anchor the story and keep the pages turning, readers may want greater depth from Parrillo’s characters who at times are wooden in their actions and conversation. With that said, the historical details of the bureaucracy related to Ellis Island, the corruption of immigration officials, and the procedures that had to be put in place to accommodate an influx of immigrants is interesting. Through carefully selected details, Parrillo ensures that Ellis Island comes to life, nearly becoming a larger-than-life character of the book and stealing the show from Dr. Stafford and others.
Guardians of the Gate by Vincent N. Parrillo is a satisfying look at Ellis Island’s struggles in the beginning of the 1900s as immigrants began flooding America’s shores. Parrillo is adept at blending in historic details and data into his prose, bringing to life the historic buildings and struggles of those entering the country and those helping them enter. Those interested in Ellis Island’s history (complete with photos) and immigration will enjoy the historic parts of the novel.
About the Author:
VINCENT N. PARRILLO is a professor of sociology at William Paterson University of New Jersey. An internationally recognized expert on immigration, he is the executive producer, writer, and narrator of the award-winning PBS television documentary, Ellis Island: Gateway to America (1991). He currently lives in northern New Jersey.
This is my 45th book for the 2012 New Authors Challenge.
Mailbox Monday #162
January 30, 2012 by
Mailbox Mondays (click the icon to check out the new blog) has gone on tour since Marcia at A Girl and Her Books, formerly The Printed Page passed the torch. This month’s host is the At Home With Books.
Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme.
Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.
Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.
Here’s what I received this week:
1. The Golden Hour by Margaret Wurtele for review from Penguin.
2. No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie unrequested from HarperCollins.
3. My City, My New York by Jeryl Brunner for review from the author; check out my Interview.
4. Guardians of the Gate by Vincent Parrillo for review from the author.
5. The Auroras by David St. John for review from HarperCollins.
6. The Girl in the Box by Sheila Dalton, unrequested from the publisher.
7. The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney for review.
What did you receive this week?
