An Imprint of
Mannahatta Maine Coons
12
Tamarack Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011
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See author & orderinginformation below!
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Raising Rufus
Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold Paper;
perfect bound 131
pp. ISBN 978-1-4507-8463-4 |
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Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story by Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold is a tender and tragic love story about an older couple, their Newfoundland dog, and their passion for the coast of Maine. A romantic drama with a live action animal subplot, Raising Rufus is the tale of Gus and Maria Sundergaard, who realize their dream of building their retirement home in Midcoast Maine. Though deeply devoted to each other, their forty-year marriage has been sometimes plagued by demons and discord and by secrets hidden deep in GusÕ heart. Childless, they adopt a Newfoundland puppy, Rufus, and embark on a series of hilarious and heartwarming adventures together. Discovering RufusÕ extraordinary talent for water rescue, Gus and Maria train and compete with their dog at the national breed water trials, where Rufus becomes a true hero when he rescues Gus, who suffers a heart attack in the midst of the competition. Though tragedy looms ahead, Rufus helps to heal his family, celebrating with them a renewed love for each other and for the place they call their home. Written after the sudden death of the authorÕs husband of forty years, this poignant novel will speak to anyone who has ever loved and lost a soul mate, to readers who cherish the bond between man and dog, and to all those captivated by MaineÕs rugged beauty.
A love story for the ages, the beautiful vistas of Maine and a boisterous Newfoundland puppy named Rufus - who could ask for a better tale? - Newfoundland Club of America, April 2012 Newsletter
The story unfolds with a beautiful and poetic lyricism. Ð Albert H. Black, playwright (Boot Camp & other plays)
A seamless novella evoking the woods and sea of Maine, the bond between a dog and his humans, and the happy and tragic scenes of a long and loving marriage.
- Donna Puccini, poet, (To Sip Darjeeling Tea & other volumes)
Self Publishing Review 1/10/12
****
Raising Rufus: A Maine
Love Story
by Carla Maria
Verdino-Sullwold is about a couple in their sixties who
choose to leave their hectic lives behind in New York to
live in their dream retirement home in Maine along the
coast. Gus and Maria Sundergaard have survived forty
years of marriage and their relationship has been full of
love and devotion. However, Gus has kept a couple of
secrets that cause discord in the relationship and Maria
senses that there are issues but is fearful to push for
answers. To complicate matters, Gus struggles with
depression, which frightens Maria.
The couple never had
children and when they settle into their new home in Maine
they adopt Rufus, a Newfoundland puppy that is boisterous
and full of love. Once they learn that Rufus loves the
ocean the couple decides to train Rufus to become a water
rescue dog. The raising and training of Rufus brings
the couple closer to each other. Not only do they
start to air out their problems, but their love for each
other is reinforced. People who have been in a
relationship will be able to relate too many of the coupleÕs
issues. Marriage is not always easy, but Gus and
MariaÕs story shows just how rewarding a relationship can be
as long as both people are willing to work at it.
The writerÕs use of
flashbacks helps aid the reader to understand the
complexities of the coupleÕs relationship. And as you
read more about the coupleÕs past you begin to understand
how they reached the point they are at and the motivations
for the move to Maine and the adoption of Rufus.
Verdino-Sullwold wrote
this touching novel after her husband of forty years died
suddenly. If you have ever suffered the loss of your
soul mate and best friend, this story will touch your
heart. And many readers will fall in love with the
adorable Rufus.
As I read the novel, I
realized that the author has a love for the English
language. I suggest having a dictionary close
by. This is not to say that her writing is
pretentious. In fact, her writing is beautiful and
poetic at times. As I read the first sentence, ÒA
ribbon of undulating cerulean divides sky and landÓ I
thought I was in for a tough read. Instead I fell in
love with her descriptions of Maine and I pictured myself
frolicking on the beach with the couple and Rufus. For
those who have been to Maine, this tale will make you miss
the landscape. And for those who have never been,
youÕll want to visit by the time you finish the novel.
The novel is only 134 pages long, so instead of
being immersed in Gus and MariaÕs story you are given
glimpses into their lives. At times I wanted to know
more and to feel more. However, given that this
novel was written soon after Verdino-Sullwold husbandÕs
death, giving more might have been too painful. This
begs the question, will the author explore this subject
again. If she does, I would love to read it. I
give the book four out of five stars.
AUTHOR WINS GRAND PRIZE for SCREENPLAY BASED on NOVEL
Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold was awarded the GRAND Prize in the Rhode Island International Film Screenplay Competition for 2011. The screenplay, Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story will be the focus of the screenplay component of RIFF's August 2012 Festival in Providence, RI. The press releases are attached. Ms. Verdino-SŸllwold is now represented by Matthew Valentinas Law, who is helping to develop the script for submission to the TV and film industry.
| RIIFF ANNOUNCES 2011
SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS .... 364 submissions received from throughout the United States and across the globe (PROVIDENCE, RI) ¥ Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold from Brunswick, Maine was the Grand Prize Winner for this year's 2011 FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) Screenplay Competition. The awards announcement was made Tuesday by George T. Marshall, RIIFF Executive Director. The winning screenplay ÒRaising Rufus: A Maine Love StoryÓ is a tender and tragic love story about a childless older couple, their Newfoundland dog, and their passion for the coast of Maine. After forty years of a devoted, but troubled marriage, they adopt Rufus and embark on a series of heartwarming, heroic and ultimately healing adventures. ÒThis screenplay is something that should be made. Reading it, you can literally envision the actual film,Ó said J. Scott Oberacker, RIIFF Educational Outreach Director. ÒThe outstanding quality of this year's submissions and the level of creativity, made for difficult decision-making on the part of our international group of judges,Ó added Oberacker. ÒOur adjudication team read 364 screenplay entries this year, the largest entry base in the competitionÕs history. Each submission was analyzed and scored according to a set of criteria, including Character, Dialogue, Setting, Plot and Technique. ÒAfter extensive reading and deliberation among the judges, prizewinners were chosen in five different categories: Main Competition, Gay and Lesbian (GLBT), Local (New England) Focus, Horror, and Short Screenplay,Ó she added. ÒEach will come with its own set of awards.Ó ÒWe could not be more pleased with the selection of this yearÕs winners,Ó noted George T. Marshall. ÒAs this competition continues to grow and expand, we have access to some of the worldÕs brightest and most talented writers in the craft.Ó |
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD Friday, November 4, 2011 Maine woman wins R.I. screenplay competition The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. Ñ A Maine woman has won the Rhode Island International Film Festival screenplay competition with a story about a childless older couple and their adopted Newfoundland dog. The screenplay "Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story" by Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold of Brunswick was selected as the winner in the main competition category. The Flickers film festival calls it a tender, tragic story about a couple in a troubled marriage of 40 years who adopt a dog named Rufus and set out on a series of adventures that help them heal. Winners were also chosen from among the 364 entries in several other categories, including New England Focus, Horror, and Gay and Lesbian. Officials said the number of screenplays entered was the largest in the competition's history. |
About the Author
Born and raised in the metropolitan New York area, Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold took her degrees at Sarah Lawrence College and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She began her career as a teacher and arts administrator before becoming a journalist, critic, and author. Her music and visual arts reviews and features appeared regularly in Opera News, Gramophone, OpŽra International, Opera, Music Magazine, Beaux Arts, and The Crisis, and her byline headed numerous program essays and record liner notes. Among her scholarly works, the best known is We Need A Hero! Heldentenors from WagnerÕs Time to the Present: A Critical History. She helped to create several television projects, serving as associate producer and content consultant/writer, among them I Hear America Singing for WNET/PBS and Voices of the Heart: Stephen Foster for German television. She is also the author of Top Cat Tails of Mannahatta, a fictional account of her and husband GregoryÕs adventures in breeding Maine Coons. In 2009 the SŸllwolds realized a lifelong dream to move to coastal Maine. Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story is a fictionalized account of the coupleÕs last year together with their beloved Newfoundland, Rufus, before Gregory SŸllwoldÕs fatal heart attack in February 2010. Now semi-retired, Ms. Verdino-SŸllwold continues to write and teach part time. She shares her home in Brunswick, Maine, with her kitties and a new Newfoundland puppy, Ruffian.
To order:
To order your copy of Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story just
fill out this form, print it, and mail it to: Carla Maria Sullwold, Weiala
Press,
12 Tamarack Drive,
Brunswick, ME 04011, or fax it to 207-373-0471, or
email your request to mannahattamainecoons@mac.com. Faxed or emailed orders will be
processed upon receipt of payment. Make checks payable to Carla
Maria Sullwold.
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
PHONE: (day) ______________________________(eve)____________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________
| RAISING
RUFUS
Quantity
|
List Price |
|
Subtotal |
| $17.95 |
Less any
discount |
||
| Shipping/Handling
|
$4.90
|
||
| ME Sales Tax @ 5% (if applicable) |
$0.89 | ||
| Total Due: |
If another form of shipment is desired, please request at time of ordering. Additional charges will be billed.
To receive a shipping estimate at time of order, please email us at mannahattamainecoons@mac.com.
RELEASED
JUNE
2008!
Available directly from Weiala Press
 |
Tails of Mannahatta By
Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold Paper;
perfect bound 185
pp. ISBN 978-1-60530-487-8 |
 |
Confessions from the Cattery!
Candid diaries
of twenty-one felines who have made their home at Mannahatta,
the national award-winning Maine Coon cattery,
and at Friskie's Feline Finishing School, its rescue
component.........
In a series of
dramatic monologues these colorful characters tell their
heartwarming tales, both funny and sad,
with spice, wit, and more than a little wisdom.
Through the eyes and voices of these "tribesman,"
four-legged folks can
enter the magical, metaphysical
world of the feline mind.
based on the true-life experiences of a Maine Coon breeder.
Curl up with a kitten or two under each arm, a cup of tea in hand,
and this book on your lap. You won't regret it!
Ð Donna Pucciani, poet/author Jumping off the Train, The Other Side of Thunder & Chasing the Saints
To order:
To order your copy of TOP CAT Tails of
Mannahatta, just fill out this form,
print it, and mail it to: Carla
Maria Sullwold, Weiala Press,
12 Tamarack Drive, Brunswick,
ME 04011, or fax it to 207-373-0471, or email your
request to mannahattamainecoons@mac.com. Faxed or emailed orders will be
processed upon receipt of payment. Make checks payable to Carlla Maria Sullwold.
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
PHONE: (day) ______________________________(eve)____________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________
| TOP
CAT
Quantity
|
List Price |
|
Subtotal |
| $16.95 |
Less any
discount |
||
| Shipping/Handling
|
$4.90
|
||
| ME Sales Tax @ 5% (if applicable) |
$0.85 | ||
| Total Due: |
If another form of shipment is desired, please request at time of ordering. Additional charges will be billed.
To receive a shipping estimate at time of order, please email us at mannahattamainecoons@mac.com.
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