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2011 is the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.  Sally Tippett Rains is available for speaking engagements and she can add an element of Civil War history or Movie history to your event. Rains can speak about any aspect of Gone With the Wind, either in regular clothes or dressed in a hoop skirt to enhance your gathering.

To book rains, contact:: info@GWTWbook.com

The Making of a Masterpiece, The True Story of Margaret Mitchell's Classic Novel Gone With The Wind contains the exclusive Civil War history behind Margaret Mitchell's story. Rains had access to a scrapbook from Mitchell's family which contains pictures from the 1800's as well as stories from Mitchell's Civil War ancestors. Some of these stories are very similar to stories in Gone With The Wind.

For more information: info@GWTWbook.com

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Review for The Making Of A Masterpiece

This book is one of the best new books on Gone With the Wind. Most books just rehash old stories and information. Ms. Rains has interviewed so many people for this book and has presented never before seen information on Margaret Mitchell and her book. I have really enjoyed this book and whether you are a collector of GWTW or just an interested reader on the subject, this book is a must read.

Tim Lee- Gone With The Wind Collector

A Great Resource Of New Material On GWTW,

I had thought that after 73 years, anything and everything that could be said about GWTW the book and film had been told. I was wrong. I was delighted reading this book that has an enormous amount of new material, not just about the film, but especially about Margaret Mitchell and her "Great American Novel". I would recommend this book to any movie fan, book fan, literary scholar, or just plain old "Windie". Learned a lot about GWTW that I had not known before, and I thought I had read everything there was to know on this topic. Well written!

Dr. Christopher Sullivan, GWTW Collector with collection on display at Marietta GWTW Museum,
Scarlett On The Square

Excellent book. Very interesting!

In The Making of a Masterpiece, The True Story of Margaret Mitchell's Classic Novel, Gone With The Wind, the author, Sally Tippett Rains explores the possible people upon whom Margaret Mitchell may have based her characters. There is a lot of interesting and compelling information, but the book goes beyond that and talks about the behind the scenes happenings on the set of Gone With The Wind. It is a must read for every person who has an interest in Gone With The Wind!

Barbara D. Stokes

Mysteries uncovered

Rains's research has unearthed a most provocative story for her readers. Bringing forward perhaps one of the most intriguing discoveries in 20th century American literary history - the real stories behind Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind. A must read for anyone interested in the book/film or American history in general.

S. Corbett

Something New on Something Very Old

You would think after 70 years since the movie and book came out there would be nothing new to report on this subject. WRONG! Sally came up with some great new sources and interesting facts in the life of Margret Mitchell. Just as an example, what does a nun, Doc Holliday and the shoot-out at the OK Corral have to do with Gone with the Wind? Read the book, just one of many interesting discoveries by Sally! Way to go Ms. Rains!

Gregory P. Richter

The Other Side Of Gone With The Wind

It's hard to imagine that anyone could solve the riddle of Margaret Mitchell's mind. However, Sally Tippett Rains in The Making of a Masterpiece comes about as close as one could expect. Like a good sleuth Rains followed Margaret Mitchell's research pattern into the Civil War and post Civil War era. The old back roads and some of the farms that Margaret Mitchell saw are still there. Second generation family members retell stories they've heard over the years. Then there's the amazing old scrapbook and family photos that combine to give us a good idea about the strength and family character from the older generation.

And through the pages of The Making of a Masterpiece we are reminded of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind and how we as fans of the book and movie got hooked on the story -- very simple, it was real. You get a sense that Mitchell is taking you along and telling you how it really was. Margaret Mitchell was a brilliant writer and her narrative and dialogue prove that fact with the turn of every page of Gone With the Wind.

The novel was an immediate success, then it was put into the capable hands of film producer David O. Selznick to translate the book into a film. Sally Rains gives us a great behind the scenes look at the production of the movie. And in its own way the film was just as successful as the book. Even today Gone With the Wind remains one of Hollywood's greatest success stories.

Sally Rains was determined in her quest to put the geography and personalities of Clayton County together in order to give us a fresh look at the road map that leads to Tara.

Tom Barnes author of 'Doc Holliday's Road To Tombstone and Tungee's Gold

More Intriguing Info on GWTW

Sally Tippett Rains in her book, The Making of a Mastrepiece, The True Story of Margaret Mitchell's Classic Novel Gone With The Wind has done a masterful job of addressing some questions and myths that have puzzled "GWTW" historians for years. The book specifically entices the reader with real case scenarios that might have given Mitchell some historical background for her book as well as providing the names of some real persons who could have served as models for her characters in the famous novel. Very interesting reading and another great edition for those who love the lure and lore of Gone With the Wind.

John W. Lynch, curator, Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum, Fayetteville, Ga.