Beneath a Scarlet Sky discussion

I'm Pino's oldest son, Michael. I've collaborated with Mark Sullivan in the writing of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY since 2006, I do not have the talent he had to put my father's story into the printed word, but I am perhaps most intimately familiar with my father and his story, other than Mark himself. Since there's been such a world-wide interest, I just thought I'd throw it out there, on this "New Discussion Topic" format, that if anyone has any particular questions, and Mark doesn't have the time to answer, I'm here and available.

I loved the book. Your father lived quite a heroic life. Does he know whether the German officer really did know his code name or was that added by the author?

That question has come up from time to time, and I think that is one question Mark Sullivan could answer best. My father couldn't remember the General's name, let alone whether he knew if his code name was known by him.

Really glad you liked the book Marcia!

Love this book and the AMAZING stories - so many!!!

This is one of few books that has pulled out my emotions. Found myself tearing up a few times and gripping the arm rest in suspense. Quite a life to have lived and very well written.

Glad you liked it.
Today they officially announced the movie and actor tom Holland of Spider-Man fame, to play my father.
Let's hope they do the movie as good or better than the book.

I'm so happy to hear a movie will be made. I didn't know that. I loved the book. I loved it so much, I went to visit Milan (just got back last night). I've lived in Europe for a few years now; but, I wasn't wildly interested in visiting there until I read this book. When I went to see the Alps, all I could think about was your Dad and the hero that he was.

Geez Noelle. That's so kind of you. Did you actually travel to Madesimo? Motta and Casa Alpina? You should have contacted me and I would have set you up with a meeting with my dad.
I've done that with a selected few (after some screening), and they have considered that the highlight of their trip. A real pleasure for my dad as well.

WOW. I didn't know that! I didn't go to the specific places this time since it's the peak of tourist season still; so, it was a bit difficult to easily get around still. If I would be able to meet your Dad, I would be so honored and touched. I could easily go back next month or anytime up until July if possible. I would rent a car next time to be able to get around more. That would be one of the greatest moments of my life, I'm sure. I'm in the USAF stationed here in Europe.

His story really moved me. Even the book, the review I left talked about how the war in Italy was noted as 'The Forgotten War'. I was so happy that his story was shared with the world.

I saw your email on your profile; I will send you an email. I look forward to speaking with you, Michael.

Michael wrote: "Glad you liked it.
Today they officially announced the movie and actor tom Holland of Spider-Man fame, to play my father.
Let's hope they do the movie as good or better than the book."
Hope so too!

Hi Michael: I am wondering what happened between the time the general was delivered to the Americans and the time he was put on trial. I am curious as to who found him and prosecuted him.
The fact that he ended up being freed along with select other war criminals is pretty sad.
Terri

wow, that is so interesting to meet such person here

Dear Michael, Thank you so much for the time & effort you & Mark Sullivan put into this book. I am recommending it to my whole family. There are so few these days, it seems, that are willing to put thier lives on the line for others. Reading about Pino's progression of involvment and his motives would help other people facing these challenges, I believe. At least, that is what I hope to see happen in my grandchildren. Lisa

I have recommended this book to som many people as it is about a real person but has been written as historical fiction. So glad to see it made the New York Times top ten.

I want to thank all of you who helped get this story out. Please tell your father that I appreciated learning about his unbelievable life during the war and I admire his courage in telling it. I am taking away many things from this book and it will stay with me for a long time.

We never know what will happen next, what we will see, and what important person will come into our life, or what important person we will lose. Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is drama, if not tragedy.

Thank you, Pino, for helping me to find strength. Thank you, thank you!

Lisa wrote: "Dear Michael, Thank you so much for the time & effort you & Mark Sullivan put into this book. I am recommending it to my whole family. There are so few these days, it seems, that are willing to put..."

Lisa wrote: "Dear Michael, Thank you so much for the time & effort you & Mark Sullivan put into this book. I am recommending it to my whole family. There are so few these days, it seems, that are willing to put..."

Lisa.
So sorry for not getting back with you sooner. I still don't understand the format and how to respond in a timely manner...
I'm honored to be included in the same sentence with author Mark Sullivan. The book is entirely his creation and I'm glad to have been part of it. Naturally, it is life-changing for me as I represent my father. I have known all my life that his story would eventually find it's way into the hands of a brilliant writer, and now we are enjoying in the honor of sharing it world-wide.

Diane wrote: "I want to thank all of you who helped get this story out. Please tell your father that I appreciated learning about his unbelievable life during the war and I admire his courage in telling it. I am..."

Mark Sullivan of course, deserves most of the credit for getting the story out. At a time when he was "down-and-out", both financially and emotionally, he took the chance, flew to Italy and began investigating the tale that became the story. I've known about it my whole life, but did not have the writing talent or the determination to put it into words the way Mark did.

The way I see it, I'm fortunate to assist Mark in spreading the story, which in the end, is my father's legacy (and Dad has never been one interested in talking about what he experienced). Mark and I do that now...and it has become our goal to get the story out there.... with pleasure, I might add. You welcome!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book! Like many WWII vets, they have a hard time talking about the war. My Dad was one of those people. Pino was a hero and I'm glad his story has been told. I have recommended this book to many and especially to history teachers. This book should be required reading in high school. I'm glad Mark wrote the book. Michael, please thank your Dad for his service.

I will do that Elaine. Thanks for recommending the book.
I'm making an effort to get the story told in high schools now.

Michael, I just stumbled upon this discussion. I was so impressed with your father's story and Sullivan's delivery. It was my favorite read in 2017. I do hope that all this acclaim and recognition has assisted your father in resolving the pain he's kept within him all of these years.

Gentile Signore Michael,

Recentemente ho letto la storia di il tuo padre. Sono sopraffatto dagli eventi e dagli ostacoli che è riuscito a superare. Voglio dargli un grande abbraccio per essere un uomo piu coraggioso. Dopo tutto quello che ha passato, avrebbe potuto essere pieno di dubbi, volendo gettare la spugna, ma invece, ha conservato e rimasto pieno di fede e grato per tutti i giorni. Questa è una lezione di vita che molti non afferrano. Lo ammiro per questo.

Per favore digli di grazie mille per aver spartire suo cuore con il mondo.

~Un abbracio

(Mi dispiace si non srivo piu brava, ancora sono imparando il Italiano e ora mi piace questa lingua ancora di piu!).

Wow Jessica.

Your Italian is better than mine!
Grazie for the comment and I will five him for your gratitude for sharing his heart with the world.

Dobbiamo anche ingraziare il scrittore Mark Sullivan che ha fatto piu di dieci anni di ricerca per scoprire la storia!

Thank you for the compliment!

Also, wow, I knew Mr. Sullivan did a lot of research but I didn't realize he invested in a decade of research! That's a lot of dedication! I am going to write to him as well!

Spero che nel futoro, queste libro sara tradotto in italiano perche cosi, anche il mio ragazzo puo leggerlo, anche in molti lingua per tutti!

Saluti e un abbracio~

Yes Jessica.

Mark started the project in 2006 and did three different drafts before he settled with Beneath A Scarlet Sky. I helped him along.

E` gia statto tradotto in Italiano e vera` uscito in questo mese. Hanno gia fatto contratti per tradurlo in 30 lingue!

Da vero? Ti auguro! Next time that I am in Italy I will grab two copies!

Grazie mille per respondere, so che sai molti cosas di facer con tutto quello di il libro e anche il film. Ti lo apprezo moltissimo! Grazie mille Michael! 💖

Jessica...
The pleasure to respond is mine!!
E avro sempre tempo per rispondere con te...
Prego!

Hi Michael,
I wrote to Mark after I read this book I have recommended it to everyone it was an amazing story you must me soo proud of his courage. In Ireland we learnt so much of the war from the british french side so it was an eduction to say the least.What an amazing man Pino was it is great that his story is being told.
Well done ,
Best wishes ,
Sharon

Wow. Thank you Sharon for sharing your sentiments. My mother was of Irish descent and I've never been there...one of the countries on my bucket list to visit. As you have read in the book, I was raised in Milan before returning to California where I live now. Mark deserves the credit for getting my father's story out there and I'm glad you told him so in a letter. I thank you for recommending the book to others as it is my goal in life now to share the story to as many people as possible. I did have a lot of input in the story, and Mark, who owns the Rights, has given me a "Carte Blanche" to help spread it. I do book presentations and maybe someday I could visit Ireland and speak to you and your friends. The "Well Done"...goes to Sullivan though. Thanks again Sharon.

Lory wrote: "Michael, I just stumbled upon this discussion. I was so impressed with your father's story and Sullivan's delivery. It was my favorite read in 2017. I do hope that all this acclaim and recognition ..."

Hi Lori!
The acclaim and recognition doesn't appear to have any impact on my father. With the on-set of mild dementia and almost 92, he has good days and bad days. Unfortunately, the bad days are becoming more frequent and he gets moody, to the point where he cannot engage in a conversation. When he's having a good day, he is himself, gregarious, positive, friendly and always looking for the best in people, laughing and really enjoying life. What Sullivan delivered will be my father's legacy. We don't yet know if it's a good thing or not...time will tell.

Michael, it is such a pleasure to know that Pino has a son such as yourself. I only have a page or two to go before finishing it and have already promised my copy to a couple of friends who I know would love the story. As someone else said here, we have no way of knowing how the story will come out; only that it will. We have no means for knowing who we will meet or the impact we will have not only on their life, but on the lives of many. Pino is proof of what one man with a good heart can accomplish. Please give him my love and undying thanks - not only for his sacrifice, but for sharing the story so that we can carry with him. Thank you both. Much love, Bobbie

Thank you Bobbie for your thoughts. They always have a way of touching my heart...Michael Lella

Michael wrote: "Hi Lori!
The acclaim and recognition doesn't appear to have any impact on my father. With the on-set of mild dementia and almost 92, he has good days and bad days. Unfortunately, the bad days are b..."

Sorry to hear about the dementia. My Mom is in the same situation. I am so glad Mark took the chance to go and meet your Dad and give us this beautiful story.
I was reading the book in a local cafe when a man approached me and asked what I was reading. When I described it to him, he said his Dad was stationed in Italy right after the war ended. We kept talking and his Dad was at the gas station when they hung Mussolini up for display. He was there with your Dad.
Please give our love and gratitude to your Dad from another fan.
I had the privilege to meet Mark on tour and have breakfast with him and the stories he shared of Pino that did not make it to the book were just as amazing.

Not sure if this is Lori or not...
Wow. Very interesting to hear about that man who approached you about the book, then discover that his father was in Piazzale Loretto at the same time during the War. He might have been with Major Frank Knebel's group, of whom were the very first American's into Milan !! Yes, there were many more stories about my father, pretty much unrelated to the book that were amazing. Mark always said that it would "have been too unbelievable" to include those, and that's why they were left out. Growing up, I was witness to many of those events that did not make the book....In the long run, who he knew and what he did after the War was not relevant to the story. Thanks for the comment, it was one of the more interesting ones, now in the thousands....Michael Lella

This is the most involving story I have ever read. I read the book last year and am now reading it for the second time. Although I read a lot of books and as result forget quite a lot of books, this story has never left me. My parents were born in France but both had Italian parents and so my affinity with Italy is very strong. My mother spent her early childhood in the mountains of Piedmonte and later as a family we lived in Nice where I was born. The mountains have always played an important part of our life, being so close to the Alps. So this story has a real fascination for me as every step Pino takes on those perilous treks high up on the Groppera has me holding my breath every time. I am there, doing the hike with him and I am very scared...I have seen and experienced some of those goats trails but they haven't come even close to the terrifying climbs Pino was prepared to negotiate to save the lives of others....what an amazing story and an amazing man. This story will never leave me and when we travel to Lake Como next month I will try and push a bit further towards Madesimo and look up at the Groppera and it will really mean something special. From Claudia

Wow Claudia.

Thank you for that touching review.
A friend of mine is visiting the Lake Como area as well and I recommended that he take the drive up to Motta. There, you can see Casa Alpina and the Madonna where Father Luigi Re is buried. In addition, you'll see the Groppera from up close.
It's less than an hour and a half drive from Como.

MaryF wrote: "Claude Nicholas wrote: "This is the most involving story I have ever read. I read the book last year and am now reading it for the second time. Although I read a lot of books and as result forget q..."

Michael wrote: "Wow Claudia.

Thank you for that touching review.
A friend of mine is visiting the Lake Como area as well and I recommended that he take the drive up to Motta. There, you can see Casa Alpina and th..."

Michael wrote: "Wow Claudia.

Thank you for that touching review.
A friend of mine is visiting the Lake Como area as well and I recommended that he take the drive up to Motta. There, you can see Casa Alpina and th..."

Thank you very much for this advice Michael. I look forward to going as far as Motta after visiting Bellagio . I will make a point of looking up Casa Alpina and the resting place of Father Re at La Madonna. The Groppera sounds awsome in the story so it will be thrilling to see it close and real. Thank you very much for taking the trouble to point me in the right direction. It will be a meaningful trip.

Hi, Michael, I love this book and all the research you have done to create it. Thank you.

MaryF wrote: "Karen wrote: "Hi, Michael, I love this book and all the research you have done to create it. Thank you."
I'd be very interested to hear (read) anything Mike has to say about research he did toward..."

Read through all of the posts above and you will find some very interesting information.

Your comment comes across as quite harsh and accusatory. Did you mean for it to be that way?

Your response proved my point.

Hi Michael! We are in Bellagio today, hoping to rent a car tomorrow and drive to Motta, Casa Alpina and Madesimo tomorrow. We came here specifically because my husband was so moved by your dad and his story! You'd mentioned earlier in the thread that sometimes (with careful screening) you could set up a meeting with your dad, which would mean the world to my husband -- even if just to meet for a quick coffee, our treat of course! :) I am new to goodreads and I'm not sure how to communicate my email address, but maybe you can see it? We are a nice couple from Hermosa Beach, CA and we have a beautiful bambino who is nearly six years old. Sorry so last minute but we never dared to dream that we might actually meet your amazing, heroic father. Grazie mille for your kindness to all the ppl who love your dad and the book!

Thank you so much Mary F! You are the opposite of an unhelpful meanie, a most helpful nicey. :) Your kindness is sincerely appreciated.

Michael - Thank you so much for starting this discussion and for helping with the book. I read the book myself over Christmas and just read it aloud to my ten-year old and husband (I skipped a few paragraphs and changed a few words in the reading). It prompted great discussions about the importance of doing good things and about the heroism of everyday people.

My family and I have been having some discussions about what was real and what was fiction. I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leyers’ driver or did he just deliver him at the end? Was Pino actually at meetings with Mussolini? And finally, was he actually at Anna’s it execution? Any other insight you could provide on what was fiction Vs fact would be appreciated.

Either way, we all loved the book. I believe that by reading books like this and by keeping WWII alive, we can prevent it from happening again. Reading this had a real impact on my son and helped facilitate discussions about right and wrong and how sometimes it is hard to do the right thing and life is not always fair.

Wow, such an eye opening read. I currently live in Spain and after reading this I can't wait to plan a trip to Italy to visit some of the historical places mentioned. Pino is a true hero.

MaryF wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leye..."

>MaryF wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leye..."

MaryF wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leye..."

MaryF wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leye..."

MaryF wrote: "Julie wrote: "I am hoping you can help us solve some of our debating! Did Pino really meet Anna 14 months before he met her again or was this added for the purpose of the story? Was he General Leye..."

Julie wrote: "Michael - Thank you so much for starting this discussion and for helping with the book. I read the book myself over Christmas and just read it aloud to my ten-year old and husband (I skipped a few ..."

Julie wrote: "Michael - Thank you so much for starting this discussion and for helping with the book. I read the book myself over Christmas and just read it aloud to my ten-year old and husband (I skipped a few ..."

MaryF claims to be the expert on my father's story without ever having interviewing him, Mark Sullivan or myself. Mr. Sullivan, a Pulitzer Prize nominee for Investigative Reporting spent ten years of his life researching and interviewing my father in preparation for the writing of this book. As Pino's son, it is true that I am biased, but it is also true that I lived to know many of the protagonists and hear the accounts first hand, rarely from my father, but from people like my Uncle Mimmo, Carletto Beltramini, my great Uncle Albert and Aunt Greta, my Grandparents and others, not mentioned in the book who were witnesses and gave testimony to the accounts and exploits of my father. The dialogue and some minor embellishments were created to fill gaps that Mark assumed. Other than that, the story is true, starting with my father's role risking his life guiding Jews over the Alps while at Casa Alpina to single-handedly arresting the General, and the eventual delivering him to the Americans waiting on the Austrian border over the Brenner Pass. Dolly, Anna, Mario Atlante were just a few names of innocent people who were murdered by fanatic Partisans in Milan after the uprising of April 25th 1945. MaryF, I'd like to know what your qualifications are that make you presume to be the "all mighty authority" on BENEATH A SCARLET SKY. It is obvious that you have some vested interest, and I for one would like to know what that is....besides informing passionate readers your version of my father's history.

Alright MaryF.
You keep on going with your criticism. I should have known better than to respond. It just so happens that it makes you look like a fool when someone like Julie is personally asking me questions on this format and you are the one to respond to her. And it is with a "tone of authority on the subject" as if you were an expert when you have never spoken with Mark Sullivan, me or my father. We know nothing about you except that you are the one and only vehement critic of the book (and for the like of me, I cannot understand why someone like you would have an interest in going out-of-your-way doing this). It can only be for a vested financial reason or jealousy....