On April 26th the Kennett Paper (Kennett Square, PA) published a wonderful article by reporter Pru Osborne about my books.  Here is the link:  www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18263605&;BRD=2250&PAG=461&dept_id=451991&rfi=6 - 30k -

The following Monday, April 30th, I received a phone call from a screenwriter in Los Angeles, Bill Rotko, (BREACH, Universal Pictures) expressing interest in purchasing the screen rights to the stories.  After getting over my initial disbelief, he went on to say that his father had read the article and sent him a copy, encouraging him to buy the rights to the books.  He hadn't read the books yet but they were on order from Amazon and he would call me back after he had read them. 

After a week went by and I didn't hear from him, I figured he had decided to pass.  Oh well, I thought, it was fun getting the call!  Then much to my surprise, he phoned again, said he and his writing partner had read the books, loved the story and wanted to negotiate a contract for the screen rights. 

To make a 3 1/2 month long story short, the screen rights have been negotiated, the contract has been signed, now all fingers are crossed that he writes a terrific screenplay that the studios just cannot pass up! 

                                                          -Donna Nordmark Aviles

 

I loved your books. We forget what life was like back in those days, very hard indeed. I was disappointed that you didn't show a photo of Edward and that you did not mention whether Oliver and Edward reunited after Oliver's marriage to Estella. Perhaps that will be covered in the next book. What a movie this story will make, I've got my tissues ready! Best Regards, Edythe Joines/Kennett Square, PA

Thanks for your comments, I love hearing what people think about the books! There is no picture of Edward because the only one that exists, as far as we know, is his mug shot from prison. Unfortunately, the prison system has a "75 year rule". Edward has to be dead for 75 years before any of his record can be released - I'll be 75 before I can read it since I was born the year he died! Maybe I'll write to the governor and ask for an exception.... Also, in the epilog of Beyond The Orphan Train, it tells what happened to Edward. He was released from prison when it was obvious that he would soon pass away, and he went to live with Oliver where he died. During the time of Oliver's marriage to Estella, Oliver did visit Edward in prison several times, as did some of Oliver's children over the years. Thanks again and hopefully we'll see the story on the big screen! Donna Aviles:)