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NEW RELEASE - January 2013!

Available directly from Weiala Press or on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
See author & orderinginformation below!
cover
 


The Whaler's Bride


A Novel

 by
Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold

 

Paper; perfect bound

 120 pp.


Weiala Press

An Imprint of Mannahatta M.C.

ISBN 978-1-4675-4535-8

 

                      $17.95

 

rear cover

The Whaler's Bride is award-winning author, Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold's second novel. Obsessed by a scrimshaw carving given to her by her late husband on their honeymoon, a middle-aged widow, accompanied by her faithful Newfoundland dog, sets out on a quest to discover the origins of the piece, only to embark on a journey  that takes her across several lifetimes to another dimension.  Spanning  almost two hundred years, this touching and mystical tale travels from Midcoast Maine to New Bedford and Cape Cod in search of the answers to the questions of transcience and timelessness, art and life, and the indestructible power of love.
Part metaphysical mystery, part paranormal adventure, this love story continues the author's quest to understand the human journey.


The prose and plot swell like a Bach cantata.  Ð Albert H. Black, playwright (Boot Camp & other plays)

The Whaler's Bride - Self Publishing Review  1/4/13
**** 1/2

Love isn't always perfect, but those who have felt it know its power. Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwoldÕs novel, The WhalerÕs Bride, is a love story that conquers all, even death. Mary Lee and Lucas had a marriage most people would envy. When they were together all could see how much they loved each other. Once when they stayed at the Billingsgate Motel for their fifth wedding anniversary they forgot to pack up their clothes and left them. All that mattered when they were together was being together. Everyday life didn't matter. Love mattered.

After forty years of marriage, Lucas succumbs to a sudden heart attack. She lives in their cottage with two Maine Coon cats and their Newfoundland, Ruffian. One day Mary Lee examines a scrimshaw that Lucas purchased for her during their honeymoon. At the time the couple couldn't afford the piece, but Lucas had to buy it for Mary Lee. Over the years she has treasured it.

During a visit to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Mary Lee stumbles upon a scrimshaw exhibit. One piece by Lars Lindquist catches her eye. Not only is the detail astounding but itÕs the spitting image of her dead husband, Lucas. This discovery sparks a fire to seek out information about Lindquist and the two scrimshaws. Oddly enough, the scrimshaw that Lucas purchased years ago looks like it was made by the same hands. Is there a connection? And are Mary Lee and Lucas connected to Lindquist and his bride? She sets out with Ruffian to seek answers. What she uncovers will warm your heart.

This is my second novel by Verdino-SŸllwold. I feel lucky to have discovered her talent. This novel, like her first, is quite short. However, it is not short on story and entertainment. The opening pages tugged on my heart. Losing her husband after four decades and having to endure life alone seems cruel. I felt Mary LeeÕs anguish as she recounted trips taken together and their love for each other.

While I enjoyed the story, what I loved most is Verdino-SŸllwoldÕs love of language. She doesn't just write Mary Lee loved to watch the ocean. She pens descriptions that immerse me in the story and I feel like IÕm seeing it all first-hand. For example, Mary Lee Òfeared the anger of the surf in a storm, yet she reveled in the peace that the sea and sand brought on a clear day when she would stare for hours at the water as it met the sky and would drink in the rhythm of the tides.Ó Her use of language amazed me in her first novel and this novel does not disappoint.

If I had to name a complaint it would be that I wanted more. The love and mystery in this story, for me, demanded more attention. SheÕs a talented writer and selfishly I wanted to read more of her words. She dangled just enough of the story in front of me, but I sense that thereÕs more. Or maybe I just want there to be more so I can continue to discover words and images through her writing.

The WhalerÕs Bride is a delightful story that will make you smile and believe in love. While I wanted more, I canÕt fault the writerÕs skill. Read her words and let her whisk you away into another realm. I give this novel 4.5 stars out of 5.


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.   Her first novel, Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story was a fictionalized account of the coupleÕs last year together with their beloved Newfoundland, Rufus, before Gregory SŸllwoldÕs fatal heart attack in February 2010.  The author's screen play version of the same title won the 2011 GRAND PRIZE at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.  The Whaler's Bride is her second novel.  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 The Whaler's Bride  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.

 


    NAME: ______________________________________________________________
   ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
   PHONE: (day) ______________________________(eve)____________________
   Email: _______________________________________________________________
THE WHALER'S BRIDE                  Quantity 
List Price
                                        
Subtotal

$17.95
Less any discount



Shipping/Handling                   
$4.90


ME Sales Tax @ 5%
(if applicable)                    
$0.89


Total Due:

 
           Books will be sent by U.S. Priority Mail, unless otherwise specified. 
      
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.



AWARD-WINNING NOVEL- November 2011!

Available directly from Weiala Press or on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
See author & orderinginformation below!
rufuscover
 


Raising Rufus
A Maine Love Story


A Novel

 by
Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold

 

Paper; perfect bound

 131 pp.
$17.95

ISBN 978-1-4507-8463-4

author, husband & rufus

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.




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.

 


    NAME: ______________________________________________________________
   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:

 
           Books will be sent by U.S. Priority Mail, unless otherwise specified. 
      
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


 
topcatcover
 


TOP CAT

Tails of Mannahatta

 

By Carla Maria Verdino-SŸllwold

 

Paper; perfect bound

 185 pp.
$16.95

ISBN 978-1-60530-487-8

author&cats


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.



 

Prose and poetry for the ultimate cat-lover,
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.

 


    NAME: ______________________________________________________________
   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:

 

           Books will be sent by U.S. Priority Mail, unless otherwise specified. 
      
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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