Grunwald: A Novel of the Baltic Crusade By: Susan Altstatt Shortly before marrying her husband, John, the author and he were allowed to go through the two Victorian houses belonging to John’s recently passed Polish grandmother and take what they wanted. In a paper bag, in the basement of a house of treasures, the author discovered, “the most beautiful book I have ever seen.” It was all in Polish, which neither John nor his mother could read. The author could tell it was the 500th anniversary of Grunwald, “but what and where was that?” So, she took to the Stanford Library and taught herself about the conversion of the last pagan people in Europe and the Baltic Crusades, a magnificent, glorious, alternate history. And now, years later, she’s written a book about it.
He said he'd be back in three years. She's eighteen now, and doesn't need anybody's permission to elope with a rock star. He's drug-free and grateful. They drive to Nevada and get married. His lead guitarist, Harlan Parr, is honest enough to be grateful also. If a man can feel grateful and vindictive all at once. Susan Altstatt's second novel, White Leather and Flawed Pearls, is a showcase for three characters who find themselves in a complex romantic triangle. Tommi Rhymer and Harlan Parr have been lovers since before they formed the rock duo Belshangles, at the top of the charts in 1986. Then there's Andy (Miranda) Falconer, Tommi's fan of seven years and wife of seven days. Problem: Tom is due back in London. Andy has no passport. He insists someone of his entourage stay with her till she gets one. Who volunteers? Harlan Parr. Three years ago, Andy shanghaied Tommi when he passed out in the alley beside her car, and kept him cooped up in her parents' mountain cabin. That crude intervention scared him sober. Harlan had been unable to wean him off the drugs, so he just joined him. Amazingly, both are now clean. Tommi admires Andy no end for what she did to him. (Harlan calls it the Stockholm syndrome.) Tommi regrets his lifestyle: he can have anybody he wants, and usually does. Andy is his off-ramp from the sexual fast lane. But Tommi is in London. Harlan takes charge. Andy needs a wedding dress for her grand second wedding in Westminster Cathedral, plus a wardrobe befitting a rock star spouse. Privately, Harlan needs to know if he can live with Andy married to his partner. So begins a series of madcap adventures-à-deux around San Francisco, Harlan as mentor, a guitar-wizard fairy godfather with unlimited funds to effect Andy's metamorphosis. To her distress, she finds herself falling in love. White Leather and Flawed Pearls is a welcome sequel to Ms. Altstatt’s debut novel, Belshangles, published in the fall of 2015. The characters of the first novel reappear in the second, after three years spent in different continents. Each of the two novels can be read as a standalone, or they can be read in either order. Chances are if you read White Leather and Flawed Pearls first, you’ll be hooked; you’ll seek out Belshangles, if only to spend more time with some of the most original and entertaining people you’ve met inside or outside a book.
He said he'd be back in three years. She's eighteen now, and doesn't need anybody's permission to elope with a rock star. He's drug-free and grateful. They drive to Nevada and get married. His lead guitarist, Harlan Parr, is honest enough to be grateful also. If a man can feel grateful and vindictive all at once. Susan Altstatt's second novel, White Leather and Flawed Pearls, is a showcase for three characters who find themselves in a complex romantic triangle. Tommi Rhymer and Harlan Parr have been lovers since before they formed the rock duo Belshangles, at the top of the charts in 1986. Then there's Andy (Miranda) Falconer, Tommi's fan of seven years and wife of seven days. Problem: Tom is due back in London. Andy has no passport. He insists someone of his entourage stay with her till she gets one. Who volunteers? Harlan Parr. Three years ago, Andy shanghaied Tommi when he passed out in the alley beside her car, and kept him cooped up in her parents' mountain cabin. That crude intervention scared him sober. Harlan had been unable to wean him off the drugs, so he just joined him. Amazingly, both are now clean. Tommi admires Andy no end for what she did to him. (Harlan calls it the Stockholm syndrome.) Tommi regrets his lifestyle: he can have anybody he wants, and usually does. Andy is his off-ramp from the sexual fast lane. But Tommi is in London. Harlan takes charge. Andy needs a wedding dress for her grand second wedding in Westminster Cathedral, plus a wardrobe befitting a rock star spouse. Privately, Harlan needs to know if he can live with Andy married to his partner. So begins a series of madcap adventures-à-deux around San Francisco, Harlan as mentor, a guitar-wizard fairy godfather with unlimited funds to effect Andy's metamorphosis. To her distress, she finds herself falling in love. White Leather and Flawed Pearls is a welcome sequel to Ms. Altstatt’s debut novel, Belshangles, published in the fall of 2015. The characters of the first novel reappear in the second, after three years spent in different continents. Each of the two novels can be read as a standalone, or they can be read in either order. Chances are if you read White Leather and Flawed Pearls first, you’ll be hooked; you’ll seek out Belshangles, if only to spend more time with some of the most original and entertaining people you’ve met inside or outside a book.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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