"Ithaca" Is a Movie That Features Petersburg

Meg Ryan is one of my favorite actresses. Because of her part in "Sleepless in Seattle", I modeled the heroine of my novel, Daddy's Christmas Angel, after her. Now I am excited to know that "Ithaca", the movie she directed and plays the lead in, will soon be released.

Filmed in Petersburg during the summer of 2014, places like the Globe Department Store and Brickhouse Run Restaurant, as well as Sycamore Street are recognizable in the film, according to reports. After being connected to Petersburg for many years through Petersburg Regional Arts Center, and now The Ward Center for Contemporary Art, it will be exciting to see our street and a restaurant that we really like as part of the movie.

"Courthouse in Old Towne Petersburg" ©Mary Montague Sikes

An article by Shelby Mertens of the Petersburg Progress-Index describes Ryan's feelings as a mother that influenced the telling of this story that is set in the 1940s. Ryan found Petersburg to be an ideal setting for the story. The film crew praised the city for embracing them and allowing streets to be blocked off during the production.

Because of the historic ambiance of Old Towne Petersburg, the area is poised to become the setting of more movies in the future. Like other Virginia towns and cities, memories of the past still hang in the air and that is a factor to attract the motion picture companies.

***Please visit my new art blog, "The Artful Way".

Daddy's Christmas Angel and Its Book Cover

Daddy's Christmas Angel, my new novel, is set for release later this week. Inspired by the "Sleepless in Seattle" movie in which the little boy wants to find a new wife for his father, my book features Kathleen, a little girl who conspires to connect her father with her second grade teacher. From the moment I began to develop the story idea, I had the vision of a little girl on the cover printing "Dear Daddy" on a piece of school paper. I wanted the child to be a composite image that represented my three daughters as well as all the many little children I've taught in my elementary school classes over the years.

Here is the cover that my publisher' designer created using my art image. I am thrilled to see my story and the cover about which I've dreamed come to fruition. It is a story for all seasons.

--Mary Montague Sikes

Genre Favorites Blogfest

   

My favorite movie genre: Romantic Comedy

I love movies that are fun and have happy endings, like "Sleepless in Seattle." Actually, I probably like anything with Meg Ryan starring, so I guess they are old movies in TV reruns!

My favorite genre of music: Rock from the '80s

I enjoy the Rock and Roll tunes from the '80s, especially Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, "I Love Rock and Roll." Those songs are great for workout music, especially "YMCA."

My favorite book genre: Women's Fiction

I like to read anything by Diane Chamberlain and especially enjoyed her latest book, The Good Father.  I also like books by Mary Alice Monroe, probably because they take place in the South in settings I recognize like Charleston, SC and the low country areas (Hilton Head) that I visit each year.

My guilty pleasure genre: Following baseball all season long

Wow! That really takes away time from everything else. In September, everything really heats up, especially this year when so many teams are vying for the second wild card in each league!