One thing I loved about writing my
post World War Two novel was my main character’s passion for movies. Alice
Brighton and her late husband loved to go to movies on Friday nights. Now, even
after the war made her a widow, Alice still loves movies and compares everyone
she meets to a movie character.
Of course for Alice, all these
wonderful classic movies and movie stars and a part of her culture, but for me,
it was so much fun because I love classic movies. In the novel, Alice compares
her landlord to Cary Grant. Cary Grant is one of my favorites. After starring
in movies like Suspision, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Notorious, Grant was one of the biggest
stars around in 1946 when Alice’s Notions
takes place. My favorite Cary Grant movie wouldn’t be made until a few years
later. An Affair to Remember,
released 1957, with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr is one of my all-time
favorites.
At one point in the novel, Alice
thinks back to when her late husband always said she reminded him of Judy
Garland. Garland would have been twenty-four at the time, just a bit younger
than Alice, but she became a big star in her teens. She began acting at two
years old when she debuted as Baby Francis and sang Jingle Bells. After playing in various roles including a few movies
with Mickey Rooney, Garland had her big break in The Wizard of Oz. She went on to star in a ton of movies and had a
thriving singing career until she committed suicide in the 1960s. One of my
favorite Judy Garland movies released in 1945 during the war was The Clock. The Clock was about a woman who met and fell in love with a GI on
leave. Their romance was intensified because they only had the weekend before
he was shipped out again for the remainder of the war. This movie must have
been in Alice’s mind since she had lost her husband shortly after the movie
came out.
During Alice’s Notions, Alice goes on a date to see the movie, The Postman Always Rings Twice, starring
Lana Turner and John Garfield. It was released in 1946 and was considered
scandalous at the time because the two main characters have an affair and
murder her husband. The main theme of the movie is you can’t get away with your
sin. The truth will be revealed. In Alice’s
Notions, the truth being revealed is also a main theme.
So you may be wondering what classic
movie Alice’s Notions reminds me of. Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey
Hepburn was released in 1963. In that movie, Hepburn is being pursued and doesn’t
know who she can trust. The movie has light hearted intrigue, suspense, and
romance just like Alice’s Notions.
Alice is also in the middle of intrigue she doesn’t understand and doesn’t know who she can trust.
Alice’s Notions Blurb:
In
this quaint mountain town, things aren't always what they seem.
World
War 2 widow Alice Brighton returns to the safety of her home town to open a
fabric shop. She decides to start a barn quilt tour to bring business to the
shop and the town, but what she doesn't know is sinister forces are using the
tour for their own nefarious reasons
Between
her mysterious landlord, her German immigrant employee, her neighbors who are
acting strange, and a dreamboat security expert who is trying to romance her,
Alice doesn't know who she can trust.
Buying Links:
Desert Breeze Publishing http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/alices-notions-epub/
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alices-notions-tamera-lynn-kraft/1126188711?ean=2940157248970
Bio:
Tamera Lynn Kraft has always
loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United
States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong
elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. She has received 2nd place in the
NOCW contest, 3rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in
the Frasier Writing Contest and has other novellas in print. She’s been married for 38 years
to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and two
grandchildren. Tamera has two novellas in print: A Christmas Promise and Resurrection
of Hope. Her first full length novel, Alice’s Notions, was released in
April.
Tamera has
been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry
called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches
workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist
and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007
National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement
in children’s ministry.
You
can contact Tamera online at these sites.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdybpb
1 comment:
Alice's Notions sounds like a great read filled with suspense, intrigue and romance. Thank you for sharing this interesting post.
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