Easing into Ebooks, Part 2, by Shawna Williams

Before I discuss the top three questions about ebooks, let me address this all encompassing question.

Is an ebook even a book?

According to Dictionary.com a book is:1) a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers. From the same source, an ebook is: "a book in digital form." So, I guess the best way to put it is that an ebook is a book, (a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction) in digital form.

What does this mean for the "usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers" part? Well, that brings me to the first question in our top three.

What does the proliferation of ebooks mean for print?

This question seems to raise a lot of fears amongst booklovers. I've read a full gamut of comments blaming ebooks for everything from the demise of brick and mortar stores, to being responsible for the rampant forest fires in California. (Go figure?) What it all boils down to is fear of change; specifically, that ebooks will be the end to the tried and true, comfy paper book.

Rest assured, they will not.

The paper book has tangible qualities that go beyond the content of its pages. How many of us hold a book to our heart, or stare lovingly at its cover when we feel a connection to the story inside. The story may be the object of our affection, but the physical book enhances those feelings by giving us a memento to remind us of our experience.

For this reason, we're always going to want paper books.

So here's a question: do you want this representation for every book you read?
I don't. As a Matter-of-fact, my paper books are more cherished than ever because they have been carefully selected as stories that have truly touched my heart. That doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed the hoards of ebooks on my Kindle, only that like print books, they have spanned a wide range in appeal. There have been those that made me roll my eyes, and those that failed to hold my interest. Ones I thought were good. Some I thought were great; and on occasion, I've found a book that is uniquely special – leaving me a changed person inside. And because of the ease and economy of ebooks, I've had more opportunity to find those rare gems, and they're resting in a place of honor upon my bookshelf.

So, ebooks may have an impact on the number of books going into print production, but they will not replace them.

Next question: What happens if my computer or reading device breaks? Do I lose all of my books?

Nope! When you buy an ebook you are purchasing the content, not a one-time download. Amazon, Fictionwise, Books on Board, Reader Store at Borders, even publisher storefronts, keep what's known as a virtual bookshelf for every customer. Your ebooks are stored there, and if by chance you lose them through mechanical mishap, or delete a book, and later decide you want it back, all you have to do is log into your account, go to your shelf and download it at no extra charge. You can also have the same book on multiple devices. About a third of what's on my Kindle is also on my computer through Kindle for PC. This is a big bonus since my twelve year old is entranced by a fantasy series and has been hogging my Kindle for over a month now.

And this brings me to the last question on the top three. It's a doozy. Are ebooks inferior to print books? By this, I'm referring to story, editing, and cover -- not the format.

The answer to this is, some are and some aren't. And likewise, some print books are inferior to some ebooks.

This depends on the publisher's standards. I've come across my fair share of print books -- put out by traditional publishers – with weak or implausible storylines, spelling errors, continuity errors, bad research, and characters who fall into the whole array of writing pitfalls – flat, cliché, Mary Sue, inconsistent, or just plain stupid. Some print books are fraught with corny analogies. I've seen some covers where the models' expressions seem to indicate they might be concealing a bad case of constipation. And to detract from this, the artist conveniently sprinkled the page with colorful clipart.

You can find every one of these things in ebooks put out by publishers with low quality standards too. Bad books have been, and always will be part of the industry.
But there are a number of epublishers with high standards for story, editing and cover art. These publishers, as a whole, are more inclined to take a risk on an experimental genre or new author, but that doesn't mean they've compromised they're standards. Only that a door has been opened for a talented person to share their work, and an opportunity has been given to a curious reader to enjoy it.
Now, if you're wondering where you might be able to investigate ebooks at no expense, check back next week for the third installment of this article, and I'll tell you.

Happy reading!

The Reviews are in! White Tiger by Vijaya Schartz

THE BLURB:

On the frozen planet of Kassouk, where a few aliens rule as dieties on a medieval Human world, Tora -- a Human warrior trained by tigers -- seeks her father's murderer. But what she finds at the point of her sword confuses her. How dare Dragomir, the handsome Mutant, question her bloodline and her loyalties? And could a new enemy control the savage hordes of the fringe?

Dragomir offers to help, but Humans and Mutants are forbidden to fraternize under penalty of death... Should Tora trust her mind, her instincts, or her heart?

In the vortex of war, treason and intrique... among blizzards, avalanches and ambushes... will Tora solve the myster of her father's death and unveil the secret of her birth? Can she and Dragomir escape persecutions long enough to save their planet from the invaders and fulfill their destiny?

********

The Reviews:

"...kept me enthralled from the first page... a thrilling science fiction romance"

Marlene Breakfield, Paranormal Romance Reviews

"...an exceptional tale that belongs in a place of honor on keeper shelves everywhere."

Johnna Flores - Coffee Time Romance - 5-cups rating

****

WHITE TIGER is avail at the Desert Breeze Website and at the Amazon Kindle Store. WHITE TIGER's sequel, RED LEOPARD will be avail by Desert Breeze on 1 APR 2010!

The Reviews are in for Knight of Glory by Nicole Zoltack

THE BLURB:
Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.

Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey's feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia's secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna

Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?

*****
Coffee Time Romance, Anya
4 CUPS

"From dwarves to kings to mages, this book has almost every fantasy character available. Betrayers, liars, and spies round out the list of characters. The battles are interesting and the search for power is fascinating. The dialogue is good, and the lead up to the next book in the series is well done."

****

Shawna Williams, Author of "No Other" (DB Release, May 2010)
5 STARS (posted on Amazon)
"I loved this book!... Sir Geoffry is the noble night with a vulnerable heart. Jenanna is tough, yet feminine; independent, but lonely. And Celestia turned out to be a complete surprise as to what I had expected. Nope, I'm not gonna give anything more away on that... Thanks Nicole! Can't wait for the next."


Knight of Glory is available on the Desert Breeze Website: http://www.desertbreezepublising.com and on Amazon.com at the Kindle Store.

Easing into Ebooks, Part 1 by Shawna Williams

It seems to be human nature to greet something new with a certain amount of skeptism, and I can't claim to be totally immune. When I first became aware of ebooks, I turned up my nose, thinking they were a passing fad in which I had no interest. But when an author I like published a book in ebook format, I decided I would give it a try. Reading on my computer wasn't my preferred choice, as I like to recline on the sofa and get cozy, but since the book was interesting, it was worth snuggling up with my laptop instead.

Of course, now with the influx of ereaders and ereading apps there are plenty of options that make reading ebooks a more enjoyable experience. There's also a lot of misconceptions, and today I'd like to address the top three as they pertain to ereaders.

Anytime I see an article on ebooks/ereaders I always scroll down to the comments section, and it never fails, someone has made this statement. "I don't want an ereader because reading off a screen hurts my eyes." Sometimes the complainant ventures further. "In ten years, when all of today's youth are blind from staring at screens for countless hours, then what are we gonna do!" Occasionally, they're downright belligerent. "Ereaders! No thanks! If I wanted to fry my eyeballs I'd stare directly at the sun!" (You may think I'm joking, but I'm not.)

Let me explain the technology behind today's ereader. It's called e-ink, and it actually is ink. The particles are rearranged with every turn of the page through an electronic charge. It looks like paper, with non-reflective surface and a contrast that is pleasant to the eyes -- no blurring or smudging of words either. The font is also adjustable. In short, there is less eye strain than what you will encounter with a traditional book.

For more on e-ink: http://www.biblio-tech.com/BTR901/January_2001/e-ink_for_e-books__.html

Probably the second most common complaint is that the cold ereader can never match the comfort of holding a "real" book. Now, before I fully address this, I want to tell readers to please reconsider before saying this aloud, or typing it in a comment. It is offensive to authors, who have put countless hours into writing, researching and editing a book; then to have gone through the submissions process, being rejected numerous times, most likely; finally being accepted (brief celebration) more edits, formatting, promotion and so forth, to be told that theirs isn't a "real" book.

There. Since that's off my chest, I'll continue. For some people, this is true. Reading from an ereader is a slightly different experience than reading from a print book. But "different" isn't the same as not being cozy or comfortable. I have a Kindle. I keep it in a book-like cover made especially for Kindles. When you open it, you can either hold it like a book, or fold the cover behind the Kindle so that the soft felt surface rests in your hands.

I'm prone to muscle cramps and stiff fingers, so for me, holding a book causes discomfort over time, since constant tension is needed to keep it open. I also like the fact that if I read at night, I'm not continually having pages get caught on a book light and having to readjust it. So while reading from an ereader is different than reading from print, I wouldn't go so far as to say the experience is any less satisfying.

The last most common objection I want to address, though not the last I've heard, is this: "What if the power goes out. Then my ereader is useless." Thanks to e-ink, and the minimal amount of power it requires, your ereader's battery should last from two to four weeks, if you remember to turn off the wireless feature. This is a reasonable amount of time for your power to be restored. http://ireaderreview.com/2010/01/14/the-opposite-approach-making-ereader-batteries-better/

These are just a few of the concerns consumers have, and often voice. But not all concerns are related to ereader. Some are related to ebooks, and in my next post I talk about the top three of these.

The Mansions of Newport, Rhode Island - Rosecliff by Stephanie Burkhart

The Back of Rosecliff


Ah, America's Gilded Age! It was a time of substantial growth in America, not only population, but in wealth. It reigned from between 1865-1901. America's rich upper class only got richer and one of the status symbols was to build an extravagant mansion.


The upper class settled in Newport, Rhode Island on the seacoast and several mansions were built. One of my favorites was Rosecliff, built between 1898-1902.
I discovered the mansions of Newport when I was 16 years old and a student in my high school "American Studies" class. American studies was for honor level students and it took an indepth look at not only America's history, but American literature. In April 1985, our teachers took us to see the mansions of Newport. It's a visit that still resonates with me today. For me, seeing the mansions is like having history coming alive and I'm a self-professed history nut.

Me, in the back of Rosecliff, 1985. Blurry, huh?


ROSECLIFF HISTORY

Rosecliff was built by Theresa Fair Oelrichs, a silver heiress from Nevada. Her father, James Graham Fair was one of the four partner in the Comstock Lode. She married Hermann Oelrichs, American agent for Norddeutscher Lloyd steamship line. She and her husband, together with her sister, Virginia Fair, bought the land in 1891 from the estate of George Bancroft, and commissioned the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White to design a summer home suitable for entertaining on a grand scale.

The principal architect, Stanford White, modeled the mansion after the Grand Trianon of Versailles, but smaller and reduced to a basic "H" shape, while keeping Mansart's scheme of a glazed arcade of arched windows and paired Ionic pilasters.
Rosecliff stayed in the Oelrichs family until 1941, then went through several changes of ownership before being bought by Mr & Mrs J. Edgar Monroe of New Orleans in 1947.

The Front of Rosecliff


Mr. Monroe, a southern gentleman who had made his fortune in the ship building industry, came to Newport with his wife Louise every summer to escape the summer heat of the Deep South. The two became well known for the large parties they threw at Rosecliff; many of which had mardi gras theme, the Monroes loved dressing up in fancy costumes for these parties.

Unlike Mrs. Oelrichs' parties, which were stiff and formal, the Monroes' parties were laid back and easy going. Because Hermann Oelrichs Jr had sold off all the furnishings in 1941, nearly all the furnishings visitors see at Rosecliff today are from the Monroe period of occupation.

In 1971, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe donated the entire estate with its contents and a $2 million operating endowment to the Preservation Society of Newport County, who opened it to the public for tours. Mr. Monroe often would come back to the estate for charity events up until his death in 1991.




AMERICAN STUDIES

During this time, we were reading "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the literature teacher, Mrs. Hussey, wanted to take us to see Rosecliff. The ballroom scenes of the 1974 film, The Great Gatsby were filmed there. Other movies filmed at Rosecliff include "True Lies," and "Amistad."

I remember it was a cold day, the wind was blowing, and it was overcast. Still, Rosecliff looked regal, standing in quiet testament next to the sea. It was majestic. Incurable romantic I was even back then, I remember closing my eyes while I stood on the back patio overlooking the sea, smelling the salt, imagining a gay party at the turn of the century. The scene played out vividly in my head – so vividly, I can still remember it today.

Me & my friend, Idgy, circa 1992.


If you ever get a chance to go to New England, Rhode Island specifically, I highly recommend a visit to the mansions. While the Gilded Age has past, the mansions echo with history and gala from the turn of the 20th Century.

Information from this article was taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosecliff

An Interview with PI Barrington's muse, Jinx!

Hi everyone - today we have PI Barrington's muse, Jinx, visiting at the Desert Breeze blog. Patti's book, "Crucifying Angel," has gotten fantastic reviews. I just started reading it now, and I love how it moves, fast, effortlessly, and the characters are intriguing. The crime? Death by crucification - at least that's how it appears. It takes place in the not so distant future in Las Vegas, NV, sin city capital of the world. Kudos to Patti & Jinx on a great story! Now, onto the questions....

****

STEPH; Jinx, tell me what you look like - are you a pixie muse? A blonde bombshell? Curly brown hair?

JINX: I'm definitely the mini-blonde bombshell pixie type. Not like Patti at all! But definitely not Tinker Bell either.

STEPH: How long have you worked with Patti?

JINX: Her entire life; she just didn't know it. She just now is giving me the recognition I deserve! I've always been hovering around, whispering in her ear (well, okay screaming at times), pointing out ideas or causing her to look up at just the right moment to see or hear or smell something that leads to an idea. Scents can do it too.

STEPH: Is Patti an easy or hard writer to inspire - or somewhere in between?

JINX: Easy, way easy! She can be walking around a store and I can find something to trigger an idea; a paisley design will bring back a memory to build upon; something visual will trigger it: a poster, a skyline, someone dressed unusually or very chic or in a uniform; a nature vista can do it too.


STEPH: What tricks of the trade did you use to help Patti with Crucifying Angel?

I dredged up a few old tricks I've used in the distant past that fit nicely into this novel. For instance I reminded her to pay attention to something tiny but pivotal about a person or a place or a thing that could create the concept of the story. Tiny things about people or places or things that might go unnoticed by everyone else can be an unbelievable ignition for characterization, setting, even plot. For Crucifying Angel, Las Vegas became the setting for several reasons: the first being that the desert landscape appears already strangely and seemingly destroyed although there is a huge living eco structure there; also she and I know that area fairly well and it was easily described as a setting; and last the visuals of the city, the casino lights on the Strip at night and the oddly drab of the casinos in the daylight were familiar too. I also forced her to actually do a little research on the ecology of the place, things that in reality are threatening the environment of the area which happened to be from extreme mining. It all kind of tied the story details and location together coherently and gave Crucifying Angel the correct atmosphere for the novel.



STEPH: Where do you go on vacation?

JINX: Las Vegas of course, lol! It's a four hour drive away, you don’t stay forever, and I love the moonscape look of the desert in the day. It's easy to picture an alien planetscape there. Also the beach, anywhere with nature, though I have been known to traipse through big cities on occasion! There's also a secret place that Patti and I share and we've sworn a pact never to reveal it!


STEPH: Do you plan on reading the Desert Breeze Anthology, Be Mused, about muses?

JINX: Planning? I'm so excited I'm hopping up and down! It's about time we got some recognition and appreciation! Muses are people too!


STEPH: Tell us about the latest project you and Patti have been working on.

JINX: Miraculous Deception, Book Two of the Future Imperfect series, in fact was just completed and will be released in June! I gave Patti several of the ideas and twists for that one, but its part of a series that we both love, so working on Future Imperfect is and has been a joy for us! Upcoming next is the Borealis novelette for a DBP anthology our Editor Gail R. Delaney conceived and is assembling right now. That's the current WIP. The concept is great and writing it is fun as well!

STEPH: Tell us a little known fact about Patti.

JINX: Deep down she's a pathetically incurable romantic. If a man gave her a hand-picked bouquet of flowers, she'd swoon. No joke. Oh, yeah today's her birthday hence the name Patti!

STEPH: What were the most satisfying projects you've worked on? Why?

JINX: So far, Future Imperfect. Each book is more fun to write and a little more intricate than the one before it. I've given her the opening for Book Three, untitled as of now as well as the ending scene I developed during Crucifying Angel! Hopefully people will enjoy it!

***
Thanks for popping in today, Jinx! Good luck on books 2 & 3 of the Future Imperfect series.

Smiles
Steph

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The Myth of the Leprechaun

When we think of the Leprechaun what's the first thing that comes to mind? For me – it's the Lucky Charms cereal leprechaun. He embodies everything I think a leprechaun should be – happy go lucky and always trying to find that pot at the end of the rainbow.

But how did the myth of the Leprechaun get started? The earliest reference to them was in a medieval story called "The Adventure of Furgus son of Leti." In the story, King Ulster falls asleep only to be dragged into the sea by three leprechauns. When he awakens, he turns the tide on the leprechauns and captures them. They grant the king three wishes for their release.

Of course, the most well known myth is that a leprechaun hides their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The trick? A rainbow is an optical illusion and will always move farther away as one walks towards it, so finding the end of the rainbow isn't as easy as it seems.

The poet, Yeats has an interesting description of leprechauns. They are "solitary fairies, wear red jackets, whereas the "trooping fairies" wear green.

Leprechauns are solitary nature, unfriendly, and they are said to live in remote places. They like to pass the time making shoes. They're generally quiet, but if you listen close, you might hear them hammering as they make their shoes. Leprechauns are tricky fellows to catch, but if you do catch one, perhaps you can persuade him to reveal the location of his pot of gold. Don't look away though; if you take your eyes off a leprechaun, he will vanish in an instant.
Fun Facts: The National Leprechaun Museum open in Dublin, Ireland this month.

The "unsellable" novel by Deb Kinnard

Deb Kinnard, author of the upcoming novel, "Damages" (releasing 1 APR 2010) pops into the blog today. Enjoy! Steph. And now, here's Deb

****
Markets can be fickle brats (so can Muses, but that's another post). I seem to have become very good at writing Books That Won't Sell. I've written a spousal abuse book, a time travel romance, and a love story set in 973 Wales.

Why can't I just get with the program and write bonnet books? I don't really know for sure...

A couple of years ago, when I came to agreement with my wonderful agent, Tamela Murray, we talked about what finished projects I had and where they might be pitched. I mentioned a book dear to my heart, called DAMAGES. "Oh," said she, "I don't think that's gonna fly."




"Why not?"

"It centers around an ungodly marriage."

Now granted that the Christian fiction market has its own quirks. We talked about the core of the book and I explained that the story tells how Brian and Cassidy change their marriage into everything that's right and beautiful and God-honoring.

Let's just say Tamela still wasn't feeling the love. With regret I shelved the book. It was only a couple of years later that I floated the idea again. Hey, maybe the market had changed a little?

"Tell you what. Let's check if Desert Breeze might be interested," she said.

And lo! The book the market didn't want has found a home. I'm tickled to pieces.

Read more about Brian and Cassidy's journey from a very strange agreement to a lovely marriage in DAMAGES, releasing April 1.

Do I still write out of the box? Probably. Will I ever get with the Christian fiction mainstream program? Probably not.

*****

Thanks, Deb for stopping by.

An interview with Lilly & Sam, from Beyond Africia

We're here today with Lilly and 3 year old Sam from Beyond Africa . (Author Carie Lawson is in "character") Welcome Lilly and Sam.

STEPH - Lilly, where did you train to a missionary?

LILLY: At my Mom's knee. This mission is home--it's where I grew up, I say grew up, but really I lived here from the time I was two until I was eight. It's a place I felt very loved. The best memories of my childhood were right here. It's kind of funny comparing those childhood memories with the reality of today. You know everyone talks about things seeming smaller when they return to a place they remember as a child. I'm finding that things here are more worn than I remember.


STEPH - Lilly, what inspired you to become a missionary? I understand you grew up with a Aunt.

LILLY: After my parent's died, all I ever wanted was to come back here. The best way to do that was to get a nursing degree. I completed my degree about eighteen months ago and started looking for a way to get back to the mission. God worked more than one miracle to help me get back.


STEPH - Sam, what about Lilly do you like?

LILLY: Her hair is shiny like the sun. And she smiles a lot. I'm not scared anymore when she's near me.


STEPH - Lilly, how has Sam's presence in your life, changed you?

LILLY: He's given me a family again. I know what it's like to be alone and so does he. I guess that makes it very easy for us to stay together.


STEPH - Lilly, I hear there's a pilot who likes to help out, Case? What's he like?

LILLY: Hmm, well. I'm not sure that he really likes helping out. But he's been very kind when we've asked him. We might have overstepped by asking for his help this last time. It's just that there are these children here, a family looking for their mother. They got separated from her during a round of fighting not too far away. Nick, another missionary, suggested asking Case to help us look for their mother, because he's a pilot. Of course, I had to ask him because I met him first and we've become friends...kind of. He agreed to help, but wants me to go with him. It makes me a little nervous. He's so handsome and has been kind, but I don't really know that much about him. I mean, why would an American pilot chose to stay in the DRC? I don't think it's for the money. Still, if it can help those children, I'll go. It'll be fine.


STEPH: - Lilly, what do you love about the Congo ? Sam, what do you love about your home?

LILLY: I like helping people who need it. The other missionaries, Bill and Sarah, remember my parents so it's kind of like being with family.

Sam: I like Lilly and Nick. I get to sleep on a pile of blankets in Lilly's room and Nick gives me cake sometimes. He smiles a lot.

Lilly: I think Nick might be the real Santa Claus. He's great with the kids here.


STEPH: - Lilly, do you have TV? The Internet.

LILLY: Oh, no. We have one phone here. It has a cord. But I wasn't expecting things to have those things.


STEPH: - Sam, are you an Elmo fan?

SAM: Lilly, who's Elmo? Oh, no, but there's a dog that I like to play with sometimes. I think monsters are scary.

Thanks for popping in today Lilly & Sam.
*smiles*
Steph

Carie's book is available at the Desert Breeze Site or on Amazon for the Kindle

The Mansions of Newport, RI - Marble House by Regina Andrews

My life isn't a fairy tale, and I'm no princess, but sometimes I enjoy pretending that I live in a palace. After all, I am a romance writer. Lucky for me, Newport, Rhode Island is in my own backyard and I have my choice of castles to visit. Today, I'd like to talk about my very favorite - Marble House.

Marble House is located on Bellevue Avenue in Newport. This is the main residential boulevard in the seaside resort town which is about 30 minutes south of my home in Providence.

I am in love with the French influence in Newport. "Bellevue" is French for "beautiful view", and this street along the Atlantic Ocean sure gives me a great view. It's lined with ten magnificent mansions, breathtaking private residences and lots of beautiful trees. I never get tired of it.




Beauty Inside and Out

I find it hard to know what to look at first when I visit Marble House. The cobblestone approach is so grand that it always takes my breath away. (Sometimes I think it looks like the White House). Then I go through the front door into the huge and elegant foyer, gleaming with cool, smooth marble, and gilded with gold and opulent antiques everywhere I look. But what I love the most are the vast windows that open to the beautiful vista outside. The ocean, the cliffs, the gardens call to me. In fact, Marble House was the inspiration for the mansion which is the setting of my newest book, Destiny's Designs.

History of Marble House




The magnificent "summer cottage" of Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Marble House was completed in 1892. It was styled after the Petit Trianon at Versailles – more French influence. What I find amazing is that it's made of 500,000 cubic feet of marble. That must have helped keep the mansion cool in the heat of the summer. The Vanderbilt's divorced three years after Marble House was finished. Alva Vanderbilt came back to Marble House many years later, and built a Chinese Tea House on sprawling back lawn overlooking the cliffs. She sold Marble House in 1932.
Marble House is now run by the Preservation Society of Newport County. It is a vital part of the cultural landscape of American history, and hosts weddings, charity galas and festivals year-round. I can tell you from my heart it is beautiful every season of the year.

Interesting Note
Filming for the 1974 movie The Great Gatsby starring Mia Farrow and Robert Redford took place at Marble House.
Information for this blog entry was taken from:http://meetings.newportmansions.org/pdfs/SS_MarbleHouse.pdf and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_House