Kathy Witt

Lanie Sullivan and Belle Blakely never meet, but they share a fascination for all things Gone With the Wind—especially Belle Watling, a character in the book, and Ona Munson, the actress who portrays Belle in the movie. Lanie meets Ona in 1939, during the three-day movie premiere. When Lanie thwarts a thief in Ona's hotel room, Ona rewards Lanie with a gift—a gift originally given to Ona by Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell.

More than sixty years later, as she helps prepare a museum dedicated to Gone With the Wind for its Grand Opening, Belle reads Lanie’s letters to Ona and is intrigued by Lanie’s references to the gift. Margaret Mitchell died in 1949; Ona Munson in 1955. What about Lanie? Belle begins a quest to discover what the gift was that connects the three women, where it is now—and what happened to Lanie Sullivan. . .
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The Secret of the Belles is an engaging debut novel told through the alternating points of view of Lanie Sullivan, a young girl who lives in Marietta, Georgia, in 1939, and Isabelle Blakely, who lives in Lanie's childhood home in Marietta over sixty years later. The girls are separated by time but connected by the enduring influence of Margaret Mitchell's famous novel, Gone With the Wind, and the blockbuster screen portrayal of the book that premiered in Atlanta in 1939.

Lanie can't wait to join her Aunt Callie at the Georgian Terrace Hotel where Callie works in Atlanta—the hotel where many of the movie's stars will be staying during the three-day premiere. She plans to see as many of the actors and actresses as possible during the festivities—most especially Ona Munson, her favorite screen idol. Lanie does meet Ona, and the two forge a friendship that will endure through the letters they exchange, especially as Lanie looks forward to pursuing her own career as an actress in Hollywood.

Belle is thrilled to be a part of the new museum in Marietta devoted to Gone With the Wind—and what better way to practice her skills as a curator-in-training? As she helps the museum's director prepare the artifacts he has gathered for display, she is intrigued by a set of letters written by Lanie Sullivan, a young girl from Marietta to Ona Munson, a famous Hollywood actress who portrays Belle Watling in the movie. Belle wants to solve the mystery of the gift Ona gave Lanie, but the more she learns, the more she wonders if she really wants to know—and if the gift is somehow cursed.

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STORY in The Cherokee Connection on Sunday, October 11:

Author Pens 'Secret' Tribute to 'Gone With the Wind'

How does one convince Ann Rutherford, star of Gone With the Wind, that you're not writing a book about prostitutes geared to thirteen-year-old girls?

That is the dilemma facing author Kathryn Witt. The plot of her new children's novel, The Secret of the Belles, involves Gone With the Wind, Ona Munson, who portrayed Belle Watling in the 1939 film classic, and a collection of memorabilia relating to Margaret Mitchell, her immortal book and the beloved movie that is housed at the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square.

"When Ann Rutherford heard about the book earlier this year, that is what she thought it was about," says the author. "But it's not. It's about two young girls in Marietta, Ga.-one living at the time of the movie's 1939 premiere in Atlanta and the other living in present day Marietta-who happen to love the book and movie and admire the actress, Ona Munson, and the strength of her character, Belle Watling. In fact, my character, Lanie, makes an interesting comparison between Belle and Vivien Leigh."

Witt's book, aimed at a middle grade reading audience, actually began as a time travel concept based on a painting at the Cincinnati Art Museum. That was three years ago and she was on deadline to produce several chapters to share with her online children's writing critique group. Feeling frustrated, she put the time travel project aside and refocused.

"In my freelance work, I'd been writing about the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square," she says. "I had all this research about the collection a lot of anecdotal information from the collection owner, Chris Sullivan."

Intrigued by a story Sullivan had shared about costume pieces, Witt immediately began work on what was to become The Secret of the Belles, writing the book's prologue and first two chapters by her deadline.

"It's a page turner," says Sullivan, who read an early draft of the manuscript. "She wrote a book that is at once a romance, a mystery, a recounting of history, and an adventure - all wrapped up with a big glorious bow of old Hollywood glamour!"

Cammie King Conlon ("Bonnie Blue Butler") read a portion of the book and pronounced it "a beautiful read, and another amazing tribute to the phenomenon that is Gone With the Wind."

Available mid-October, the book arrives in time for the 70th anniversary of the filming of Gone With the Wind, an event that will be celebrated in grand style November 13 and 14 during "70 Years of Gone With the Wind: A Re-Premiere."

The two-day gala - hosted by the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square and with supporting partners Turner Classic Movies, Warner Home Video and the recently renovated Earl Smith Strand Theatre - will include autograph sessions with the stars, author book signings, a lavish costume ball and a Big Screen showing of the 1939 classic, with pre-show activities hosted by Robert Osborne, film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies.

Witt will be one of several authors signing books and participating in Q&A sessions during the "Re-Premiere." Also appearing will be Herb Bridges, preeminent GWTW authority whose books include Gone With the Wind: The Definitive Illustrated History of the Book, the Movie and the Legend; Molly Haskell, Frankly, My Dear: Gone With the Wind Revisited; Sally Tippett Rains, The Making of a Classic: The True Story Behind Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind; and Robert Osborne, 80 Years of the Oscar. Cammie King Conlon will also join the authors, signing her recently released book, Bonnie Blue Butler: A Gone With the Wind Memoir.

Headlining the "Re-Premiere" will be GWTW cast members Ann Rutherford, Mary Anderson ("Maybelle Merriweather"), Mickey Kuhn ("Young Beau Wilkes"), Cammie King Conlon, Greg Giese ("Bonnie Blue" and "Beau" at infancy) and Patrick Curtis ("Baby Beau"), all of whom will sign autographs and participate in Q&A sessions.

Rounding out "Re-Premiere" festivities will be a "Belles and Beaus" costume ball; VIP and cocktail receptions; dinner and dancing; a showing of Gone With the Wind-still one of the most beloved movies of all time; a Parade of Stars; and tours of the extraordinary collection housed at the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square conducted by Sullivan.

Witt met Rutherford several years ago during a GWTW event in Florida and has chatted with the actress by phone on several occasions. When she sees the star at the "Re-Premiere" in November, she hopes to sit down with Rutherford and explain what her book is really about.

"I think she'll give me that chance," Witt says. "Ann Rutherford is so gracious, and more than once I've heard her say how important it is to her to draw in new generations of fans to Gone With the Wind."

"My hope is that she'll read The Secret of the Belles and see that it's really about two girls who share a love of Gone With the Wind - like she and I do ourselves."

Misconceptions aside, Sullivan believes that Witt's novel will find its place in the Gone With the Wind legacy. I think The Secret of the Belles has earned its own short hand 'initials' name, just like GWTW," he says. "TSOTB!"

New novel debuts at “70 Years of Gone With the Wind: A Re-Premiere”
Author to share red carpet with stars of Gone With the Wind during
Marietta, Ga., event

COVINGTON KY – October 20, 2009 – Kathryn Witt of Taylor Mill/​Covington, Ky., author of the new novel, The Secret of the Belles, will be joining the stars of the movie, Gone With the Wind, on November 13 and 14 at its 70th anniversary celebration in Marietta, Ga. Witt’s book, which is aimed at middle grade readers, is told through the alternating viewpoints of two thirteen-year-old girls, Lanie Sullivan and Belle Blakely, who never meet but share a fascination for all things Gone With the Wind. Click www.kathywitt.com for details. The author was invited to appear at the “Re-Premiere” by the hosting venue, the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square.

“Kathy’s book is a page turner,” says Chris Sullivan, the Akron, Ohio, authority on GWTW who owns the memorabilia collection housed at the museum in Marietta. Sullivan read an early draft of the manuscript to check facts related to various collection pieces and to the 1939 three-day Atlanta premiere of Gone With the Wind, the setting for much of the novel. “Kathy wrote a book that is at once a romance, a mystery, a recounting of history, and an adventure – all wrapped up with a big glorious bow of old Hollywood glamour!”

Authors, actors and costume ball
The two-day gala in November, billed as “70 Years of Gone With the Wind: A Re-Premiere,” will include author book signings, autograph sessions with the stars, a lavish costume ball and a Big Screen showing of the 1939 classic, with pre-show activities hosted by Robert Osborne, film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies.

Witt will be one of several authors signing books and participating in Q&A sessions during the “Re-Premiere.” Also appearing will be Herb Bridges, preeminent GWTW authority whose books include Gone With the Wind: The Definitive Illustrated History of the Book, the Movie and the Legend; Molly Haskell, Frankly, My Dear: Gone With the Wind Revisited; Sally Tippett Rains, The Making of a Classic: The True Story Behind Margaret Mitchell and Gone With the Wind; and Robert Osborne, 80 Years of the Oscar. Cammie King Conlon will also join the authors, signing her recently released book, Bonnie Blue Butler: A Gone With the Wind Memoir.

Headlining the “Re-Premiere” will be GWTW cast members Ann Rutherford (“Carreen O’Hara”), Mary Anderson (“Maybelle Merriweather”), Mickey Kuhn (“Young Beau Wilkes”), Cammie King Conlon, Greg Giese (“Bonnie Blue” and “Beau” at infancy) and Patrick Curtis (“Baby Beau”), all of whom will sign autographs and participate in Q&A sessions.

Rounding out “Re-Premiere” festivities will be a “Belles and Beaus” costume ball; VIP and cocktail receptions; dinner and dancing; a showing of Gone With the Wind—still one of the most beloved movies of all time; a red carpet Parade of Stars including both actors and authors; and tours of the extraordinary collection housed at the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square, which will be conducted by Sullivan.

Variation of a theme
As a novel – and one written for the middle grade reader – The Secret of the Belles represents a fresh approach to books written on the topic of or relating to Gone With the Wind.

“Some books rehash things that have been published many times before, although there are some new books about the history of GWTW that actually capture new information, and present it in a new way,” notes Sullivan. “Kathy’s book is unique and must be looked at in a different light.

“If I had never ever read Gone With the Wind, and if I had never seen the movie, and if someone gave me a copy of The Secret Of the Belles to read, I still would have loved it. It is a book that stands on its own merits. It is clever and full of plot twists. You can still appreciate it even if you are unfamiliar with GWTW.”

Characters come to life
The book’s two main characters, Lanie Sullivan, who lives in Marietta, Ga., in 1939, and Belle Blakely, who lives in Lanie's childhood home over sixty years later, have been brought to life by doll maker Mary Ellen Lucas of Lexington, Ky. Lucas is known for her historical programs on topics ranging from “My Kentucky Heritage” to “The Presidents and Their First Ladies” to “The Men and Women of History,” that feature her collection of 158 historically costumed dolls. Lucas costumed the Lanie and Belle dolls in period, as well, with each wearing an ensemble from their story. Like the novel, the dolls make their official debut at the “Re-Premiere” in November in Marietta.

Lucas, featured in Witt’s first nonfiction book about dolls, Contemporary Doll Artists & Their Dolls (Collector Books, 2005), made the Lanie and Belle dolls as a gift for the author. Following the “Re-Premiere,” Witt plans to loan the dolls to the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum-Scarlett on the Square for exhibit.