Sofia's Tune
An Ellis Island Novel book 3
by Cindy Thomson
In Sofia's Tune, we meet Sofia Falcone, a young woman who has been living in New York only a short time when she is stunned to discover a family secret, one that soon sends her beloved mother into a mental institution. Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past.
During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia's mother's sanity, Antonio's career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.
During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia's mother's sanity, Antonio's career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.
Read the first chapter of Sofia's Tune for free
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Interview with Cindy Thomson about her latest book
Sofia's Tune
Sofia’s Tune follows the first two books in the series, Grace’s Pictures and Annie’s Stories. But this one features an Italian character. Why did you decide to make your main character Italian and not Irish like the first two?
At the time of this story, 1903, the Italians were the largest immigrant group to come through Ellis Island. I felt strongly that they must be included, and that there was a story to tell. The other characters reappear in this story, especially Annie.
At the time of this story, 1903, the Italians were the largest immigrant group to come through Ellis Island. I felt strongly that they must be included, and that there was a story to tell. The other characters reappear in this story, especially Annie.
Sofia’s Tune has a musical theme. What can you tell us about the meaning of “tune” in this story?
Antonio is a vaudeville pianist who dreams of becoming an accomplished concert musician. His dog resembles Nipper of the “His Master’s Voice” advertisement for gramophones. There is plenty of music in this story, but the title refers to changing your tune, finding a different path for your life, as both Sofia and Antonio must do.
Antonio is a vaudeville pianist who dreams of becoming an accomplished concert musician. His dog resembles Nipper of the “His Master’s Voice” advertisement for gramophones. There is plenty of music in this story, but the title refers to changing your tune, finding a different path for your life, as both Sofia and Antonio must do.
Tell us about the dog on the cover.
Luigi is Antonio’s faithful companion who keeps reminding people of the dog listening to his master’s voice on the recording, as I mentioned. He’s well trained and a good judge of character. I really enjoyed adding a canine character to the story. Dogs are such an important part of many people’s lives. He is Antonio’s dog, but he really likes Sofia, as you can see on the cover!
Luigi is Antonio’s faithful companion who keeps reminding people of the dog listening to his master’s voice on the recording, as I mentioned. He’s well trained and a good judge of character. I really enjoyed adding a canine character to the story. Dogs are such an important part of many people’s lives. He is Antonio’s dog, but he really likes Sofia, as you can see on the cover!
In Sofia’s Tune, family is an important theme. Why were Italian families such an important part of the immigrants’ lives, and what happens to Sofia when she loses hers?
The Italians, unlike the Irish and other groups, tended to stick together in family groups. It was a part of their culture that they brought over. The Italians would rarely, if ever, send their daughters to live in other people’s homes to work as domestic servants, as the Irish did. Whole tenement buildings were occupied by immigrants from the same Italian village. They did not see all of Italy as their homeland, just their particular village, so customs, dialects, and marriages tended to be confined to a small circle. Family was their support system, which often was a wonderful thing, so to have that taken away, as it was for Sofia, was devastating. Eventually Sofia must redefine her definition of family.
The Italians, unlike the Irish and other groups, tended to stick together in family groups. It was a part of their culture that they brought over. The Italians would rarely, if ever, send their daughters to live in other people’s homes to work as domestic servants, as the Irish did. Whole tenement buildings were occupied by immigrants from the same Italian village. They did not see all of Italy as their homeland, just their particular village, so customs, dialects, and marriages tended to be confined to a small circle. Family was their support system, which often was a wonderful thing, so to have that taken away, as it was for Sofia, was devastating. Eventually Sofia must redefine her definition of family.
Are there any historical figures in Sofia’s Tune?
Yes, two. A famous pianist takes an interest in Antonio. Not many people today have heard of him, but Ignacy Jan Paderewski (who would later become Prime Minister of Poland) was world famous at the time and did in fact mentor younger, aspiring musicians. Another historical figure in the story is better known, and best known by his pen name, O. Henry. I discovered that he was indeed in New York City at the time of my story. He lived in the area where Antonio went to look for work, and legend has it that he wrote The Gift of the Magi in a booth at an establishment he often visited close to his apartment, Healy’s Café (now known as Pete’s Tavern.) Antonio meets him there, and as they talk O. Henry wants to help him. In the end he hopes Antonio won’t make the same mistake he did, the one that cost him time with his wife. I hope readers will be compelled to look up O. Henry and discover his connection to the place I live, Central Ohio.
Yes, two. A famous pianist takes an interest in Antonio. Not many people today have heard of him, but Ignacy Jan Paderewski (who would later become Prime Minister of Poland) was world famous at the time and did in fact mentor younger, aspiring musicians. Another historical figure in the story is better known, and best known by his pen name, O. Henry. I discovered that he was indeed in New York City at the time of my story. He lived in the area where Antonio went to look for work, and legend has it that he wrote The Gift of the Magi in a booth at an establishment he often visited close to his apartment, Healy’s Café (now known as Pete’s Tavern.) Antonio meets him there, and as they talk O. Henry wants to help him. In the end he hopes Antonio won’t make the same mistake he did, the one that cost him time with his wife. I hope readers will be compelled to look up O. Henry and discover his connection to the place I live, Central Ohio.
Will there be any more books in the Ellis Island series? What’s next?
Sofia’s Tune is the final novel in the series. However, I am planning on a novella, a sort of prequel, which will tell Mrs. Hawkins’s story. If you’ve read the series you know that Mrs. Hawkins runs a boarding house for immigrant girls. Her story is told very briefly in Annie’s Stories so I wanted to return to that and explore why the woman was so compelled to rescue young girls. This novella will be free exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. (You can sign up on my web site.)
This summer I will be releasing the sequel to my first novel, Brigid of Ireland. The stories are set in 5th century Ireland, and weave in a bit of fantasy and adventure. They are somewhat different from the Ellis Island series, but are still representative of our ancestors’ stories that should be passed down for us to carry on their legacy of endurance, faithfulness, and wisdom.
And speaking of wisdom, Sofia’s name means wisdom, and I hope readers will be inspired by the music in the book trailer, written by my friend from Northern Ireland, singer/songwriter Andy Rogers.
Sofia’s Tune is the final novel in the series. However, I am planning on a novella, a sort of prequel, which will tell Mrs. Hawkins’s story. If you’ve read the series you know that Mrs. Hawkins runs a boarding house for immigrant girls. Her story is told very briefly in Annie’s Stories so I wanted to return to that and explore why the woman was so compelled to rescue young girls. This novella will be free exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. (You can sign up on my web site.)
This summer I will be releasing the sequel to my first novel, Brigid of Ireland. The stories are set in 5th century Ireland, and weave in a bit of fantasy and adventure. They are somewhat different from the Ellis Island series, but are still representative of our ancestors’ stories that should be passed down for us to carry on their legacy of endurance, faithfulness, and wisdom.
And speaking of wisdom, Sofia’s name means wisdom, and I hope readers will be inspired by the music in the book trailer, written by my friend from Northern Ireland, singer/songwriter Andy Rogers.
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Cindy Thomson
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For as long as she can remember Cindy has made up stories. When she was a teacher she thought about writing books for children. However, when she finally began writing a novel, she turned to her genealogy research and wrote a fictionalized story of her ancestors. That novel is still unpublished, but her interest in her roots, which go back to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, sparked an interest in Irish history.
Cindy's first novel, BRIGID OF IRELAND, was published by Monarch Books in 2006. Historical fiction is Cindy's main writing interest. She also writes magazine articles, mostly on the topic of genealogy, and is a past mentor in the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, which closed in 2015, and she mentors other writers when the opportunity arises. Cindy writes from her loft office in her home in Central Ohio. Cindy's biggest fan and supporter is her husband Tom. They have three grown sons: Dan, Jeff, and Kyle, and daughter-in-law, Kelsey. |
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