Author:  Kathryn Witt
ISBN:  978-160844-132-7

Click Here To Purchase The Secret of the Belles 

Today, Amy Lignor one of Bookpleasures.com's reviewers is excited to have as our guest, Katherine Witt author of The Secret of the Belles.

Amy: 

Kathy, as our readers can see in my review, I am a big fan of The Secret of the Belles.  So, I have to ask, why this particular subject?  Have you been a fan of Gone With the Wind (GWTW) since you were a kid? 
 
Kathy:  

The Secret of the Belles actually began as a time travel concept based on one of my favorite paintings at the Cincinnati Art Museum. That was three years ago and I was on deadline to produce several chapters to share with my online children’s writing critique group, The Storyboard. I wasn’t getting anywhere with this project, so I put it aside and refocused.  In my freelance work at that time, I’d been writing (a lot!) about the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square.  Not only did I have all this research about the collection, I also had a ton of anecdotal information from the collection owner, Chris Sullivan, because I had talked to him so often for the various articles I was writing about the museum.  It helped that I’ve always been a huge fan of the book and the movie, as well as of Margaret Mitchell and her husband, John Marsh - also a Kentuckian – and that I’d been to MM sites in Atlanta and to the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum and had toured around the town of Marietta.
 
Amy: 

What do you think is the reason why GWTW has remained the beloved iconic story that the world still constantly talks about? 
 
Kathy: 

There is no disputing GWTW’s timeless appeal – it really captures the heart, soul and imagination of each succeeding generation with its universal themes of love, romance, survival against all odds, overcoming personal obstacles and those beyond your control – and all written with such beautiful language by Margaret Mitchell and filmed with such dramatic immediacy by David O. Selznick.
 
Amy: 

There was recently a GWTW event that you attended.  Can you tell us about it? 
 
Kathy: 

“70 Years of Gone With the Wind: A Re-Premiere,” was a two-day gala (Nov. 13-15) that included author book signings, autograph sessions with the GWTW stars, a lavish “Belles and Beaus” costume ball, a screening of the 1939 film classic with pre-show activities hosted by Robert Osborne, film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, and a red carpet vintage car Parade of Stars.

Gone With the Wind cast members in attendance were Ann Rutherford (“Carreen O’Hara”), Mickey Kuhn (“Young Beau Wilkes”), Greg Giese (“Bonnie Blue” and “Beau” at infancy), Patrick Curtis (“Baby Beau”) and, an eleventh hour surprise, Geneva Miller Roberts, who played an extra in the Twelve Oaks barbecue scene and was making her first appearance at a GWTW event.

Authors in attendance included Herb Bridges, preeminent GWTW authority, and Michael Sragow.  Warner Bros. artist Joseph Yakovetic was also present, showing the gorgeous 70th anniversary artwork he had been commissioned to paint in conjunction with the film's anniversary.  Rounding out “Re-Premiere” festivities were VIP and cocktail receptions, tours of the extraordinary collection housed at the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square that were conducted by the collection owner, Chris Sullivan, and a private dinner shared by the actors, authors and special guests at one of Marietta’s most charming restaurants.

Amy: 

If you could be one of the characters in GWTW which would it be? 
 
Kathy:

Great question!  I think I would be Carreen O’Hara.  Of all the characters in the book and movie, she really seemed to have held onto her innocence and optimism. She wasn’t bitter like India Wilkes and Suellen O’Hara.  She wasn’t, shall we say, compromised, like Belle Watling. She wasn’t scheming and vindictive like a certain Southern belle who needs no introduction. And let’s face it – she didn’t die like Melanie did. I’d like to think that Carreen held onto that attitude through Reconstruction. I can see her adapting with grace and spirit to her new circumstances, without rancor or trying to take advantage of someone else.

Amy: 

What's next for you?  Are you sticking with YA books? 
 
Kathy: 

I’m currently working on two book projects, both YA.  One is called My (Mostly) Wonderful Life and it tells the story of Lou Dakota, one of the characters introduced toward the end of The Secret of the Belles.  It will give a bit more information about Lanie Sullivan from TSOFB – but it is Lou’s story. The other project is an as yet untitled sequel to The Secret of the Belles, which picks up the morning after the opening of the museum.  I’m so excited about this project that I’ve put Wonderful Life aside to dig into it.  It’ll be historical fiction – and there will be another mystery for Belle Blakely to solve.
 
Amy:

I can't wait to read them!  Thank you so much for your time Kathy and your great answers.  You are truly an "author to watch" and, again, you have certainly found a big fan in me.
 

Click Here To Purchase The Secret of the Belles 

Click Here To Read Amy's Review of The Secret of the Belles