Tacoma Film Festival, Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross, Author Meet and Greet with Extra Special Giveaway!

Let the adventure begin, proudly I can tell you I did the dang "Pope Joan" movie thing in Tacoma Washington and I loved every last minute of it. I have to let you in on a secret that I have been fiercely hoping an opportunity like this would arise and now I get to tell you the down low on the movie. I could not take it much longer if I could not watch the movie based off of Donna Woolfolk Cross’ novel “Pope Joan”. Very near and dear to my heart this novel still is; it was my first author request review. I not only got a wonderful book to review but found a kindred spirit with Donna. The gift of Joan’s story is profound to say the least; she is one of histories most self empowered women. I loved the book and I had to list it last year as one of the top ten reads of 2009. Really it could not get much better than that but then to go to a movie, I could hardly contain myself. You had better believe when I got the news that Pope Joan was coming to Tacoma and Donna really was going to be there, I knew I must go. I was on it and the plan was no children allowed and I am unavailable all day.

I bought tickets online the day the announcement went out and had the confirmation paper printed immediately. I dragged, well not really more like force-ably removed my mother and sister from home. We took off and pulled into Tacoma in 2 hours from mom’s house out on the river in the sticks. We made record timing and we even made it in a bit early for an exclusive meet and greet brunch with the lovely Donna to hear a few thoughts on the creation process of Pope Joan. First off the hotel was lovely and themed in glass because one thing about Tacoma I did not know was that it has a glass museum. This is me and my sister about to head in we were so excited. My sister is in green. When we converged to the room Donna was just everything I had ever hoped and so much more. She is expressive and is charismatic with her knowledge and just her all around person. She just exudes warmth and love for her work and is a real motivation to never give up on a dream and the key to power is the one found within. I could go on I swear I am so in love with Pope Joan and Donna all over again.

 Meet and Greet with Donna 

Donna speaking on the struggles the movie has faced in the US, Everywhere else in Europe especially Germany loves Pope Joan. The Vatican even took the time to condemn the movie.

Donna must have her own glass to share too!

I had the pleasure of hearing the tales of woe of all the hurdles the movie has made it over while sharing delicious champagne with the ladies. It seemed like Donna went through nothing but struggle for over twelve years from scripts to companies to even the actors and the dreaded plagiarisms was thrown in there. It is a labor of love for Joan and Donna has put in hard work to make sure Joan gets her just desserts. Honestly lets get down to the nitty gritty here and this goes out to the ladies but any modern day woman today could admire the story of a woman who defied everything to be disguised as a man and later become the POPE of all things. I have to believe Joan existed somewhere in the Vatican is a hidden book with more on “Joanna” or “Joan”. I can not believe she did not live she is the ultimate symbol of a woman empowerment, crashing the male dominated glass ceiling of the Roman Church.

After the brunch with Donna it was movie time at the theater right down the street. We really had no inclination what to expect but I can say when we all came to the door to see the turn out we all were stunned. It was a full house the theater entry was lined up to the doorway and it was great to see so many other people interested in the Joan I fell in love with. I was so excited beyond the point of containment when the movie began. It was Barveheart meets middle-aged Rome. It was just as violent as the book and just as passionate. I loved every minute of it. The hottie David Wenham who was in the first Lord of the Rings movie was the perfect fit for the role of Gerold. He was honorable and sexy; really he was modeled just for this part. I really loved it and I know everyone around me enjoyed it. Hearing what was being said in the hallway afterwords I gathered many people enjoyed the movie and were raving about it. We have to prove the US that they are wrong we do want this movie to be local. I also came to realize that Pope Joan the movie was the closest book to movie rendition I have ever seen, I think it has come down to the fact that Donna worked on the script also. She was a key contributor to the script and it showed. I found it very like the book and of course it has differences and that is because it is a movie and if every word of the Pope Joan novel was in the movie it would be like 6 plus hours long. Johanna Wokalek played Joan with a style and grace that befitted her; I loved how she lowered her voice to sound more like a man. She did an excellent job and really did Joan justice. Bravo!

Donna giving holding a Q and A after the showing. I really enjoyed the questions on the documents that make reference to Joan. The best one for me was the reference that a document that stated "we do not count Joanna".

Donna graciously sighing my books.

Shocking as it was but when Donna opened the first one I bought at the Q and A it was already signed. Cool I thought it was just meant to be.

I love these last few ones of Donna she is adorably classy chic and I love her personality she is so vibrant and funny at the same time.

Since this was a very special event it needs to have a very special giveaway to go with it. This is a absolutely to die for brand new paperback copy of Pope Joan, signed by Donna Woolfolk Cross. Since I am the one hosting this one I am making it INTERNATIONAL this time! YAY finally one that everyone can enter. Since I am already changing it up a bit how about we change up the rules this time also?

GIVEAWAY RULES

For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.

For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and please let me know in the comments. You're eligible for the extra entry as well.

For 3 entries blog or tweet or facebook it, get creative if there are any other sites you can post viewable links for me to see on leave me a address link and that counts for a point too. 

Want more points this time? How about this time you can come back once every 24 hour period and retwitter it or refacebook it. Whatever you can come up with. You just have to come back here and leave the link each time. 

You had better believe this time around I will be regulating on the links and that means I will be checking each and every link to make sure you really did it. I will be checking the links this time through email notifications.

Live in Califorinia? If you go to the show and come and enter this giveaway with a comment on a status update on face book or twitter where you saw the show then you will get 10 automatic entry points.

I know for a fact this book is a treasure trove treat and I do want to share, one absolutely lucky reader is going to be elated with this beauty.

To celebrate the showing of Pope Joan in LA and San Francisco the giveaway will end on October 23 which is the last night to catch the movie on San Fran. 

Giveaway ends on 10.23.2010 at 12 PM.
  
Here is the movie schedule,

Los Angeles, California Goethe Film Festival
7:30 PM, Friday, October 22, 2010
Aero Theater
1328 Montana Ave at 14th Street,

Santa Monica, CA 90403

Tickets:  $ 11/ general, $9/seniors, students

Advanced Tickets @ www.fandango.com

Info:  margit.kleinman@losangeles.goethe.org

  
San Francisco, California Goethe Film Festival
7:30 pm, Saturday, October 23, 2010
Castro Theater
429 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114-2019.
Tickets and info: (415) 263-8760 
or email:  festival@sanfrancisco.goethe.org

Want more?

Check out the trailer

Amazon Pope Joan: A Novel

Donna's Site Movie Schedule

For the Love of Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross, Movie Premier in WA and West Coast

This has been a long time in the works and  finally this weekend I will be going to watch the premier of Pope Joan the movie in Tacoma WA. Have you ever read a book that was so compelling and so unique that even years after reading it you can still vividly recall the details of the book? Pope Joan for me has been the kind of book that I tell anyone and everyone who will listen about just how good of a read it was including my neighbors. Since Pope Joan was literally one of my first reviews here I have diligently followed its progress. I have showed my support for the movie with these ( D.C. showing , and Help the Release, Sundays Art the Irminsul) cool posts in the past but this is where you come in now. Pope Joan will be showing at selected theaters around the US here is the list of showings that just might be in your area. YES there are still tickets available for Tacoma and honestly if you are anywhere near WA it is worth the effort to catch it. I am driving 2.5 hours each way to make sure I see it, that is how bad I want to see it. I hope to see you there. Check out Donna's site for more information also http://popejoan.com/movienews.htm

This weekends showing info,

Tacoma, Washington Film Festival
2 PM Sunday, October 10
Grand Cinema 606 S Fawcett Ave
Tacoma, WA, 98402
Tickets and information: Phone: 253 593 4474.
Email: tacomafilmfestival@gmail.com

Los Angeles, California Goethe Film Festival
 7:30 PM, Friday, October 22, 2010
Aero Theater
1328 Montana Ave at 14th Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Tickets:  $ 11/ general, $9/seniors, studentsAdvanced Tickets @ www.fandango.com 

Info:  margit.kleinman@losangeles.goethe.org

 

San Francisco, California Goethe Film Festival
7:30 pm, Saturday, October 23, 2010
Castro Theater
429 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114-2019.
Tickets and info: (415) 263-8760 
or email:  festival@sanfrancisco.goethe.org

Ojai (California) Film Festival
November 5 - 7
(details as soon as we have them)

Pope Joan

"For a thousand years, her existence has been denied. She is the legend that will not die--Pope Joan, a controversial figure of historical record who, disguised as a man, rose to rule Christianity in the 9th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter. In this riveting novel, Donna Woolfolk Cross paints a sweeping portrait of a heroine whose strength of vision led her to defy the social restrictions of her day.

Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against medieval laws forbidding women to learn. When her older brother is brutally killed during a Viking attack, Joan takes up his identity and enters the monastery of Fulda, where she is initiated into the brotherhood in his place. As Brother John Anglicus, Joan distinguishes herself as a great scholar and healer. Eventually she is drawn to Rome, where she becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web of love, passion, and politics. Triumphing over appalling odds, she finally attains the highest throne in Christendom, wielding a power greater than any woman before or since.

But such power always comes at a price...

Pope Joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9th century -- the Saracen sack of St. Peter's, the famous fire in the Borgo that destroyed over three-quarters of the Vatican, the Battle of Fontenoy, arguably the bloodiest and most terrible of medieval conflicts. This masterwork of suspense and passion brings the Dark Ages to life in all their brutal splendor and shares the dramatic story of an unforgettable woman who struggles against restrictions her soul cannot accept".

Amazon

 

Pope Joan lovers Help The Movie Release

Hello all! If you have read Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross then you probably know that they have have been working on the movie based on the book. Which I really want to watch since I loved the book so much. With out immediate support you may not see the movie in a theater near you. We all have the power to influence this by going here. I already did mine have you done yours?

"Here’s how. Put yourself on the map of Pope Joan fans and future movie-goers across the U.S. Add your friends -- or ask them to add themselves by forwarding this email.

Even better: in the message section, let the producers know if your vote represents multiple attendees. If your book group means to attend as a whole, say so. If you’ll bring a spouse, daughter, son, friend, wandering passerby, say so! If you think Pope Joan's story has appeal for U.S. audiences, say so! Say anything you think will help, for your words will go straight to the producer. (So please be tactful and upbeat.)"

Book Review: POPE JOAN by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Being set in the 9Th century Pope Joan's extraordinary one of a kind story humbles a person to be grateful we do not live in such times anymore. At the end a reader question was asked of why the brutality? I personally had come to expect a extreme brutality since it is the 9Th century, not 19Th century and in my mind set I had pictured an extreme living. A time of darkness in which life was unforgiving and most cruel. Many were lucky if they happened to make it past twenty five. Sleeping on the dirt with animals is literally what had come to my mind. In this time women were also objects of possession, thought to be completely with out sense or thought. My personal feelings of why I love historical fiction so much is it brings life into prospective. That we are so fortunate to have evolved into a era of higher learning, science, and are encouraged as women to our own self empowerment. That we may choose our own fate and destiny, and we can reach for the sky and there is no limit to what is up there.

Joan grew up with her father "The Cannon" and her mother Gundrun "the heathen", she also had two older brothers Mathew and John. The Cannon was cruel in his firm religious belief. He had brought her mother back with him from a missionary in Saxony. Pushing his sons to a higher learning and forcing his daughter and wife into abusive submission. "A woman's hair, her husband said, is the net wherein Satan catches a man's soul". Her oldest brother Matthew taught her secretly how to read and write, all the time being afraid of what the Cannon might do if he found out. Matthew perished and with him all Joan's hope of an education. Hopelessly she showed her father she could read and she paid for it almost with her life. Joan had developed very early in life a sense of how to fight for her right to survive, her unbreakable spirit, and even on the verge of death would not surrender her spirit. She made it over hurdle after hurdle after hurdle in a mans arena with out truly ever reaching a point of safe ground even in her own household.

Her courage and ability to question led her to some very interesting people who would play an important role in her life. The first was her Greek tutor Aesculspius who had arrived to teach her brother but he took Joan as a student instead and had to be coerced into teaching her brother John. I firmly believe everyone has a destiny. Sometimes we have to fight for it even if we do not know what it is we are fighting for. Joan is a perfect example of this, she was smart, smarter than most, she knew it, and it got her into trouble. Escaping her father's wrath, Joan went onto the schola to further her education, her Greek tutor had found her a place there even though it was a boys only school. There she was to meet Gerold, the knight in shining armor. He spoke up for her in the beginning and took her in as his ward. She lived with his family and worked on her education continuously fighting the constant threat she posed as a woman among men. Until the fateful horrific attack on the town by Vikings. Joan the woman died but John the man (her deceased brother) lived just long enough to escape the horror, and flee.

In a string of events Joan ends up in Rome after leaving the monastery of Fulda where she had lived for many years after the Vikings attack in her disguise as John. A inquisitive mind such as Joan's, it figures she would become what they called a doctor, she had the unquenchable thirst for knowledge, always questioning. Fully devoting herself to her philanthropy work previously at the monastery and now to the throne of St. Peter. She went where help was needed and with out fear. In Rome she was John. She never forgot that there were people out there who had nothing, came from nothing, that society expects them to stay nothing hiding in the shadows. Refusing to give up on people, she deeply cared, where there is a will there is a way. It led her into becoming Pope, she never gave up reason for the people. One determined "old soul" who always thought of others first and foremost. A woman as Pope, unthinkable right? How would they even think to question with out a reason or a cause.

I loved this book I was kind of getting bored after my last review. Where nothing seems pleasing, floundering in the wind, and nothing really grabbing me. This was just what I needed. It gave me the ump I needed to go back to my TBR list. Thank you Donna for so graciously sending me a copy to review, it was a pleasure! I will be patiently waiting for her next book which is to be set in 17Th century France, ooh. Also the book will be a movie, set to come out soon, and which is going to be worth getting a babysitter to see in the theaters. This is such a inpisring quote and it was in the questions response, As George Santayana said, "Those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it".

"A Synopsis of Pope Joan: As its title reveals, the novel is based on the life of one of the most fascinating, extraordinary women in Western history--Pope Joan, a controversial figure of historical record who, disguised as a man, rose to rule Christianity in the 9Th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter.
Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against the medieval social strictures forbidding women to learn to read and write. When her older brother is killed during a Viking attack, Joan takes up his cloak and identity, goes to the monastery of Fulda, and is initiated into the brotherhood in his place. As Brother John Anglicus, Joan distinguishes herself as a great Christian scholar. Eventually she is drawn to Rome, where she becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web of love, passion, and politics. Triumphing over appalling odds, she finally attains the highest throne in Christendom.
Pope Joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9Th century -- the Saracen sack of St. Peter's, the famous fire in the Borgo that destroyed over three-quarters of the Vatican, the Battle of Fontenoy, arguably the bloodiest and most terrible of medieval conflicts. The novel is a fascinating vivid record of what life was really like during the so-called Dark Ages, as masterwork of suspense and passion that has as its center an unforgettable woman, reminiscent of Jean Auel's Ayla, Jane Austen's Emma, and other heroines who struggle against restrictions their souls will not accept."

New Release, Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Brand New Re-Release June 9Th 2009 Paperback
"One of the most controversial women of history is brought to brilliant life in Donna Woolfolk Cross's tale of Pope Joan, a girl whose origins should have kept her in squalid domesticity. Instead, through her intelligence, indomitability and courage, she ascended to the throne of Rome as Pope John Anglicus"

Sister lover of Historical fiction and author Donna Woolfolk Cross, thank you for paying a visit to Historically Obsessed and letting us in on some of the details of Pope Joan. This looks right up my alley, a strong heroine character, set in a male dominated world, and destined to out shine them all. During her visit, Donna said "This is NOT a simple re-release; it's a revised edition with corrections and additions, an updated Author's Note with a lot of new material (including support for Joan's actual historical existence), and a list of "Best of the Best" reading group questions, based on my many years of chatting by speakerphone with reading groups" I will be buying this one for sure. I can not wait for the movie. Want more info go here!