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What Readers Are Saying
'The Last Brass Ring' is a captivating journey to late 1980s Staten Island, where love, a restored carousel, and a long-buried family secret intertwine to create an enchanting and unforgettable tale. Get ready to be swept away in this mesmerizing novel filled with nostalgia and heartwarming revelations." — Christopher Barzak, author, Wonders of the Invisible World "I read over 100 books a year, and this one grabbed me right away." — A.P. Kober, Librarian "The Last Brass Ring is a charming exploration of restoration and rebirth. Restoration of a dilapidated carousel on Staten Island; of secret family histories and misunderstood relatives; of broken relationships, prejudices, and preconceptions. In a turbulent age complicated by racial tensions, Lilli navigates the perilous waters of forbidden friendships and budding first love. Her funny and snarky voice perfectly animates a smart, rebellious girl gradually being reborn as a much wiser woman. The writing sparkles, the story captivates and surprises, the entire book delights." — Kenn Amdahl, author, There Are No Electrons "There are no summer job blahs for Lilli in this charming, well-written story about new friendships, budding romance, and big family secrets." ~Linda Joffe Hull, author, The Royal Game (co-writing as Linda Keir) "You can smell the hot dogs, feel the humidity, and hear the music of the carousel. Hill takes the reader into the heart and soul of what it's like to be a young woman finding her place in the world, no matter the decade or the location. Lilli Rose is a character so memorable and lovable we can't help but root for her as she struggles to unravel tightly knotted secrets and to understand her past and what family means. The Last Brass Ring is a coming-of-age story with so much heart you will think about Lilli and her triumph of courage long after you close the book." --Shannon Baker, author, Kate Fox mystery series. |
Inspired by Carousels and Ancestors
The Last Brass Ring was born during a corporate leadership retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. At a closing campfire the participants were invited to summon an ancestor and ask for advice. Liz recalls clearly hearing the voice of a long-deceased relative saying: Life is about loss; but don’t let loss be your life. In other words, accept the challenges and sadness but never let them define you. Not long after that retreat Liz quit her corporate management job and began to consider Lilli’s story. What if a major loss was covered up and allowed to fester for years? How would that affect a young woman, even if she had never been told about the loss? And what might happen if she grew tired of the secrets and decided to dig for the truth? The first draft of Brass Ring was written years ago. To revise it, Liz fanned that initial spark back to life as she applied the experience and writing skills she’d built in the years between. With gratitude to her early readers and supporters, she made the decision to bring the book to readers, both young and young at heart. The novel is set in Staten Island in the 1980s with flashbacks to the 1940s. It was fun to write a book set before emails, texting, and social media. A key part of Lilli’s journey in the novel involves exploring old letters and photos to discover a missing piece of her family history. Lilli also learns about the role a carousel and its brass ring played in the story. Liz remembers riding the vintage carousel in Old Orchard Beach Maine as a kid. That was where she first saw how a brass ring dispenser worked and developed a fondness for carousels. She also has vivid memories of the South Beach Rides and Boardwalk on Staten Island, and though there was never a vintage carousel there, if this story was about re-imagining history… why not imagine a vintage carousel being restored there? Much later, she learned about the beautifully restored Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn NY. This carousel once lived in Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio’s long-closed but still-beloved amusement park. Is it a coincidence that a writer from New York lived in Youngstown for nine years and then discovered one of Youngstown's treasures had relocated to New York? Maybe. |
Staten Island is very different today than it was in the 1940s era shown in the novel. It's also changed a lot from when Liz was a kid in the 1960s. Back then it was still a place with open space, country roads, and neighborhoods of single-family houses. Liz did not set out to perfectly capture the exact details of the Island of the 1940s and '80s so much as its spirit and feeling, including that of times that are gone forever.
Almost every place she has lived the residents lamented the past and longed for return to better days. But close examination of those memories also includes some less desirable traits– including possible reluctance to embrace change or welcome those who are different. Stella’s feeling about the changes in her neighborhood are typical of how most people love to romanticize the past, and how often we fear new people and things, forgetting that we are all part of the changes. And as is the case with most young people, Lilli has very little patience with outmoded attitudes that do not make sense to her. Their story is one of finding peace by understanding the past. |