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<TD> <IMG SRC="images/spacer.gif" WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=7 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD ROWSPAN=6> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_35.gif" WIDTH=502 HEIGHT=44 ALT=""></TD> <TD ROWSPAN=5> <A HREF="buybook.htm"> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_Buy--Book.gif" WIDTH=46 HEIGHT=40 BORDER=0 ALT=""></A></TD> <TD COLSPAN=2 ROWSPAN=6> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_37.gif" WIDTH=55 HEIGHT=44 ALT=""></TD> <TD> <IMG SRC="images/spacer.gif" WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=3 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN=2> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_38.gif" WIDTH=27 HEIGHT=12 ALT=""></TD> <TD COLSPAN=5> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_39.gif" WIDTH=121 HEIGHT=12 ALT=""></TD> <TD> <IMG SRC="images/spacer.gif" WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=12 ALT=""></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD ROWSPAN=11> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_40.gif" WIDTH=2 HEIGHT=378 ALT=""></TD> <TD COLSPAN=6> <A HREF="projectmessenger.htm"> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_Project-Messenger.gif" WIDTH=74 HEIGHT=13 BORDER=0 ALT=""></A></TD> <TD COLSPAN=3 ROWSPAN=2> <IMG SRC="images/mc_ts_42.gif" WIDTH=88 HEIGHT=21 ALT=""></TD> <TD> <IMG 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Is "Song of the Messenger" a true story?<br> There are parts of the book that are true and those that are fictional. A lot of the names and places were changed, and certain storylines were altered to protect the privacy of the real people.<br> <br> True:<br> " The facts given about Grandpa Bynder in Katie s interview are all accurate, with the exception of the coin given to him by his Swiss comrade (he died in one of the first barrages). He was one of fifteen survivors of his original company that took Guadal Canal during World War II.<br> " Shanahir fought at the battle on Omaha Beach, found his brother Paul while they were both overseas in the military (they each had thought the other was dead), and guarded Goering at the Nuremberg Trials. He also entered a seminary and left to marry Nana (Anne). The ways in which these events unfolded, however, were presented a bit differently in the book. Carrollevere, their home, is a real place and bears the name on the side of the building, carved in stone.<br> " Cleveland Heights High School sponsored annual trips to Africa and Poland ( Journey of Conscience ); this effort was pioneered by a brave teacher, Dr. Rabinsky, who also established a semester long class in Holocaust Studies.<br> " I was assigned an interview project but interviewed neither Grandpa nor Shanahir; Nana was actually the person whom I chose to interview. Shanahir joined the interview about half way through and shared his experiences of WWII. Mrs. Broadbooks, a Social Studies teacher at Heights, began this tradition of assigning interviews to help students examine the difference between generations. Two of my brothers, Jamie and Gene, conducted the interview with Grandpa Bynder.<br> <br> Fiction:<br> " The character of Laura is fictional, but she is based on several of my close high school friends<br> " Mr. Loland is based on one of my college English professors<br> " Neither Amy nor Jake are real people, though they were based on people I have known over the years<br> " Matt s character represents a conflict that often arises between brothers, but more importantly, he represents the enduring love that sees them through those conflicts; he is based on several people I knew in high school and bears no resemblance to any of my brothers<br> " I did attend Cleveland Heights High School (all of my brothers did as well), and feel very lucky to have been a part of this diverse and inclusive school. In fact, it is much more progressive than the school depicted in the book. When I attended Heights, there were many exceptional programs that facilitated tolerance and multiculturalism, such as  Unity ,  GRE (I was a founding member), and Holocaust Studies. I made the decision to depict the school in the book as one still in need of a shift toward multiculturalism and tolerance because many of the places I have visited since attending high school have been very far from this inclusive ideal. I wanted to describe an atmosphere to which a wide variety of kids could relate, and I wanted to send a message that transformation and the facilitation of tolerance is not only possible, it is powerful especially during the middle and high school years.<br> <br> <br> 2. Why was "Song of the Messenger" written?<br> I began writing  Song of the Messenger as a movie script and it was originally called  To Those Who Have Come Before . I became frustrated with the script format and so I attempted to write in narrative style; I found that it really enabled my thoughts to flow onto paper. The reason I began writing the story in the first place was in reaction to Grandpa Bynder s death it was a way for me to deal with my first experiences of losing a family member and come to terms that I learned about all of the important things he had accomplished when my uncle read his eulogy. My brothers (Gene, Jamie, Brendan, Phillip) and I were standing together digesting this new information, when Jamie suggested that someone should write about Grandpa s life. In that moment, I did not know that the story would grow in momentum over the next several years, but indeed that is what happened. The themes of tolerance, multiculturalism, and finding a common ground through creative expression have been central to my life experiences; I wanted to write something that reflected these values and would serve to motivate others to examine their own roles in changing American culture to be more inclusive.<br> Through the course of many, many edits and rewrites, I was able to get to the core of the characters and the subplots began to reveal themselves. Writing about characters who undergo life-changing transformations and experience the ups and downs of relationships is both challenging and incredibly healing. It is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. It is my sincere hope that the story affects readers as deeply as the process of writing it affected me. <br><br> 3. Is the character of Phil real?<br> Yes and no. I wanted to represent all of the  Carroll kids in the story, so I could hardly tell it from the perspective of a girl (I am outnumbered by the boys). So, I chose to model the main character after my youngest brother, Phil. His personality and mine are very similar, we have many of the same interests (music, performing, writing), and the fact that he was still in high school when I began to write offered numerous possibilities for character growth. Phil is now 23 years old and is a very talented actor, singer, dancer an all-around triple threat. Our other brothers are Gene (writer, artist, computer genius), Jamie (actor, singer, tax wiz), and Brendan (EMT, talented artist though he d deny it,  Simpsons quote expert).<br><br> 4.. How can I find out more about the places in the book?<br> Cleveland is a very special place and I feel honored to be able to share it with those who have never been there, or who may have overlooked the many rich, multicultural strengths it has to offer. Check out the recommended links section of the website to visit the official site of Cleveland Heights High School, the historical archive of the City of Cleveland Heights, Tommy s Restaurant, City Buddha, and more!<br><br> 5. What is Project Messenger and how can I get involved?<br> Inspired by the young adult novel,  Song of the Messenger , this progressive movement challenges young people to recognize their unique gifts, honor their families, and serve their communities by making a commitment to self, others, and responsible action. In conjunction with parents, teachers, and mentors, the young people of Project Messenger identify ways in which they can powerfully affect the world by living from a place of courage.<br><br> You can get involved with Project Messenger by encouraging your teachers to include the book and three dimensions in your classroom, by signing the Messenger Pledge (option coming soon), by sharing your story (option coming soon), and by responding to the blog. If you have any ideas about possible involvement, I d love to hear them! <br><br> 6. How can I contact you?<br> I love communicating with readers and try my best to respond to each e-mail or letter I receive. You can write to me at:<br> <a href="mailto:mary@marycourtwright.com">mary@marycourtwright.com</a><br> or<br> P.O. Box 2083, McKinney, TX 75070. <br><br> 7. What are you working on next?<br> I am working on several projects I don t think I d be happy unless I was busy all the time! " Writing: My brother Gene and I are writing a young adult fantasy series (i.e., dragons, castles, & magic swords).<br> " Project Messenger: This initiative is near and dear to my heart; I will be actively working to support its ongoing development and hopefully succeed in integrating it into schools one by one!<br> " Teaching: I am preparing to graduate with a Master s Degree in Teaching and want to spend as much time as possible in the classroom with the middle schoolers that inspire me! 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