Don Carina Novel




   Authors Bio

   Plot

   WWII Naples

   Out-Takes

   WWII Heroines

   Mafia Films

   Peace Not War

   Artwork
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Novels, Screenplays and Other Works
From Ronald Russell

“Don Carina” (Novel)
The world enslaved her but nothing chained her more than her own choices.

Young Carina searches for freedom from the oppression forced on women by society, the church and her family in 1930s Southern Italy. Instead of freedom, her Mama forces her to marry Russo, a crime boss in Naples. During World War II, he goes mad during a bombing attack; and, to survive, Carina is forced into the all male world of the Camorra. She does everything necessary to protect her children and those close to her from the threats imposed by the Nazi Gestapo, the war, other crime organizations and her own family.


“The Deafening Silence” (Screenplay)

Fame can't replace love.

Young pianist Daniel Dieter shatters the rules of the classical concert arena with his wild flamboyant style, as Beethoven, his idol, did two centuries before. He becomes a “rock star” amongst the formal world of classical music. But his passion leads to fame, excess, and madness. Feel his passion, torment and ecstasy.

2007 Semi-Finalist—America’s Best Screenplay Competition


“The Final Beginning” (Novel in Progress)

One brother chooses a life of public service leading him to the U.S. Senate; the other is an infamous corporate takeover shark becoming one of the richest men in the world and a recluse. Ultimately, their different paths lead them into a head-to-head battle that will determine the fate of a nation.


“Silencing Hussein” (Screenplay)

He sought revenge and found hope.

During their invasion of Kuwait, the Iraqi secret police capture and torture Chad, an American oil worker. Chad escapes during Desert Storm. Enraged that Saddam remained in power, Chad enters Iraq seeking to “Silence Hussein” which leads him to an unexpected discovery and transformation.

Semi-Finalist—The Writers Foundation Awards
Semi-Finalist—America’s Best Screenplay Competition
Semi-Finalist—Austin Screenwriters Conference
Semi-Finalist—The Writer’s Network


“Beethoven: Heaven’s Voice” (Stage Play)
The only thing more dramatic than his music was his life.

This one-man historical play offers an actor and his audience tragedy, humor, love, sorrow, and agony on a grand scale. Perhaps Beethoven is the archetype of the tortured artist—the greatest composer in the history of the world who goes deaf.

“Beethoven: Heaven’s Voice”—Tormented artist. Enigmatic, eccentric genius. Revolutionary, visionary leader. Ludwig van Beethoven is the quintessential archetype. This historical one-man play draws parallels to contemporary life decisions by simultaneously examining four themes of human life experience. It also reveals the inner torment and bliss of the greatest composer the world has ever known. With the one-man performance, the play incorporates Beethoven’s music and the voice-overs of other actors.

The play chronicles Ludwig van Beethoven’s epic struggles through seemingly impossible odds—overcoming waves of adversities most humans could not withstand—to achieve his musical destiny. From this trial by fire, Beethoven composed music that holds the power to lift us up from helplessness, hopelessness, and the mundane into the realm of beauty, inner strength, power and ecstasy. Beethoven grabs us by the scruff of the neck and pulls us into the heavens not seen by mankind before his musical revelations.

Audience reactions: “A thrill of a lifetime.” “This play changed my life. It forced me to take a look at what I wanted to accomplish.” “This play must go to Broadway.” "Brad Miller (the actor playing Beethoven) was fantastic and the story was interesting, enlightening, moving and inspiring."

Critics

"Ronald Russell wove his extensive research on Beethoven into a skillful pastiche, showing Beethoven’s genius as well as his frailties...sophisticated and accessible this was a cleverly written script. Quite thrilling!" - Chris Creson, Fullerton News

Playwright Ronald Russell holds a focus that enables him to make his play relevant and moving, not just a staged biography. - Stanley H. Nemeth, CurtainUp