When envisioning a newspaperman from the 1930s, most people likely picture a suited reporter hovering outside a courtroom with a notepad or an oversize camera in hand. Early in the story, why did you choose to make Ellis a more unconventional writer assigned to the Society page?
I admit, it wasn’t the first job I had in mind for him. (Sorry, Ellis!) To make his actions involving the second photo more understandable, though, there had to be a strong reason behind his desperation to hold on to his big break—something that went beyond paying the rent or achieving a promotion. I decided that him being stuck as a so-called “sob sister” would have provided that motivation. In that era, the “women’s pages” were written almost invariably by women, supposedly in no small part because men were so averse to the job. So, it would have been a humiliating assignment for Ellis not only among the staff at the paper, but also with his father.
Interestingly enough, while researching for the book, I happened to learn about Clifford Wallace, the first male editor of the women’s page at the Toronto Star and hence nicknamed “Nellie” (as in, yes, Nellie Bly). Apparently, after much begging, he was relieved of the job, which was then given to Gordon Sinclair, who did nearly everything he could to be fired or reassigned. This included limiting his work hours to only three hours a day and even clipping the majority of his material from other newspapers. Before a proofer discovered the latter, Sinclair actually managed to retain his job for more than a year!
Aside from the true accounts you’ve already mentioned, what are some of your other favorite pieces of history that are woven into the book?
The actual newspaper articles strewn throughout the story definitely intrigued me the most. A headline about a runaway bride reuniting with her groom made me smile, above all because it appeared as a prominent headline in a major paper. The same went for the piece about the couples caught with thousands of counterfeit banknotes stuffed in their mattresses. On the grimmer side, the slaying of Mickey Duffy, known as Prohibition’s Mr. Big, is primarily fascinating for the fact that his notoriety managed to draw thousands of curious onlookers to his funeral.
As for my very favorite articles…I probably have two. One was the story about a séance held by a rumrunner’s widow hoping to identify her husband’s murderer, and the second was about the mythical floating nightclub known as the Flying Dutchman. (In my novel, I renamed it the Lucky Seagull.) During Prohibition, Sanford Jarrell, a reporter at the Herald Tribune, wrote a copyrighted lead story detailing his visit to the elusive speakeasy, complete with a map of its location and a menu of prices. The article and his follow-up pieces quickly became quite the sensation, so much so that authorities went on a determined hunt for the ship. But soon after, many of his claims began to fall apart, and when pressured with questions, Jarrell resigned with a note confessing that the whole story was a hoax. In a painful front-page admission, the paper ended up publishing an acknowledgment of the truth, admitting it had been deceived.
When it comes to bustling newsrooms, New York City quickly comes to mind, especially for a story that involves supper clubs, gambling halls, and mobsters. Was there a reason you chose Philadelphia as another setting over a city like, say, Chicago?
I actually used to live near Chicago and absolutely love that city. Since I’d already featured it in some of my other novels, though, I thought it would be fun to go with another setting. Years ago, I also lived near Philadelphia for a time, so I was already familiar with the area and its rich history. Plus, Pennsylvania’s diversity of landscapes and livelihoods made it ideal for the story. Within a relatively short driving distance from all the activity of a big city, there are sprawling fields and farms, mining towns, and textile factories. And, of course, the presence there of major mobsters during the ’30s added even more appeal.
What were some of the most helpful resources for your research?
Personal experience from growing up around a newsroom was probably the most helpful. As a kid, I was fortunate enough to host a children’s weekly television show for an ABC affiliate station. We would shoot in the studio every Wednesday night, squeezed in between the two evening news programs. While waiting around during editing, I would hang out with the anchors, reporters, and sportscasters. But my favorite person was the meteorologist who let me move the clouds around on the weather map. (Hey, back then, this was very high-tech.) Later, while in college and exploring different career paths, I even had a summer internship in that same newsroom.
Of course, to gather more insight for the story, I relied on a combination of journalist friends, documentaries, and a stack of wonderful nonfiction books. Those I found the most valuable include Skyline by Gene Fowler, City Editor by Stanley Walker, Nearly Everybody Read It: Snapshots of the Philadelphia Bulletin edited by Peter Binzen, and The Paper: The Life and Death of the New York Herald Tribune by Richard Kluger.
Acknowledgments
In all likelihood, the idea for this book would still be only a possibility scratching at my mind if it weren’t for three dear friends in particular. For repeatedly insisting that I write about the photo that haunted me, I give enormous thanks to Stephanie Dray, and to Therese Walsh and Erika Robuck, whose “arm-chill-o-meters” are always my first crucial tests for gauging the potential of any story.
To Aimee Long, my incredible, hilarious, smart-aleck friend—how can I possibly thank you enough? From countless hours of brainstorming and plot fixing to trimming and tweaking every page of this book (many of which you surely have memorized), I could not have done this without you. If I weren’t worried about keeping you humble, I’d add your name to the cover. At minimum, I owe you a fancy Bloody Mary and a pedicure with extra crystal gel.
Thank you to my mother, Linda Yoshida, for guiding my characters onto the right path and for listening to yet another whole book read aloud (yes, she really does this) while helping me buff and polish along the way. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to Tracy Callan and Shelley McFarland. Ladies, your unwavering support, love, and friendship truly mean the world.
To my wonderful agent, Elisabeth Weed, I offer my deepest thanks for your insight, belief in my work, and vision of what’s possible for both my characters’ journeys and my own. And to my editor, the amazing Shana Drehs—your keen editing eye and enthusiasm for this story have been utterly invaluable. You are such a joy to work with. Sending huge thanks out to you and the rest of the Sourcebooks team for your tireless efforts in bringing this book to readers.
I often say that writing a novel is like composing a symphony. Similarly, the finished products are merely pages marked with ink until the musicians, or readers, bring them to life with their own experiences and interpretations. So, thank you, dear readers, for inviting my stories into your lives and homes and for venturing through those measures with me. And to the fabulous book champions out there, especially Jenny O’Regan and Andrea Katz, your encouragement and support are beyond measure.
On the research front, I have many people to thank for their time and generosity (any errors or creative liberties are mine alone): Portland police officer Sean McFarland for help on all things police and jail related; newspaper publisher and president Mark Garber for your feedback and enthusiasm; Claire Organ for, once more, ensuring the accuracy of my beloved Irish characters; Renee Rosen for crucial details about old-time newsrooms and photojournalism; Traci and Parker Wheeler for your horse expertise, sorting out my nickering, neighing, and more; Dr. Gordon Canzler for, yet again, allowing any injuries, illnesses, and “doc talk” to ring true; Ellen Marie Wiseman for being the first to bring breaker boys to my attention and for helping me to tell their stories right; and, of course, Terry Smoke and Neil Handy for such great input on Model Ts, radiators, and all that jazz. Neil, you are missed by so many.
Finally, above all, I’m grateful to my husband, Danny, and our sons, Tristan and Kiernan. Together, sweet boys, you are my rock. Your love and faith in me not only make everything in my lif
e possible but, more important, give all of it meaning.
Also available from Kristina McMorris
NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
“Will grab your heart on page one and won't let go until the end.”—Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants
On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard's only daughter—one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island—has gone missing. Tending the warden's greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl's whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search's outcome.
Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.
Skillfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.
About the Author
© Colleen Cahill Studios
Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have garnered more than twenty national literary awards and include five novels and two novellas. Prior to her writing career, she hosted weekly television shows since age nine and was named one of Portland’s “40 Under 40” by the Business Journal. Kristina is a frequent guest speaker and workshop presenter and holds a bachelor of science degree in international marketing from Pepperdine University. She lives with her husband and two sons in Oregon.
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