"In 1933, when I was twelve, my older brother, Solly, owned a 1926 Model T Roadster. I called it the Shiny Black Beast." So begins Bella Will Rally, in which the precocious narrator, Bella Krawiec, sets her sights on her brother's car, thus setting in motion the role the automobile will play as a symbol of mobility and freedom-and for Bella-a means to seek her dreams. Set amidst the economic realities of depression-era America and the optimism of post-World War II, Bella's colorful family members exemplify the strong bonds that hold a family close, as well as the stubbornness that can sever such bonds. When Bella defies her strong-willed, patriarchal father and enters into early marriage and motherhood, her dreams are displaced by the burdens of reality. But once again, the automobile emerges, this time in the form of the Stutz Bearcat-with Bella in the driver's seat. As the sole female competitor in the first United States road rally, Bella's journey to the finish line brings with it a revelation from her young passenger about what dreams are truly made of.
About the Author: AUTHOR BIO Michael Sedloff was born in 1949, a time when the postwar culture was defined by men in the workplace, earning a living; and women at home, raising a family. Bella, his mother, was such a women. When her husband moved the family to Anaheim Bella hated it but went along with her husband. Bella was lonely. She spoke up and the family moved back to Los Angeles. The move provided Michael with the opportunity to become better acquainted with his eccentric aunts and uncles. Every Sunday, the family got together to play cards, eat lox and bagels, and tell stories about growing up in Boyle Heights. Once a month, Bella took Michael to the "old folks' home" in Boyle Heights to visit Grandpa Frank. In his nineties and deaf as a doormat, Frank would gruffly bark at Bella. Frank and Bella's relationship was based upon a foundation of love and disgust. As a child, Michael clung to his mother's apron strings but soon learned to love writing and public speaking. The confidence he gained eliminated his tendency to stutter. He had also discovered a wonderful means of self-expression. Michael attended college near his home. He loved learning, he didn't care much for tests. His passion was making things happen. He created an experimental college, leveraging the university's resources to serve thousands from the surrounding community. After graduation, Michael traveled alone throughout Europe, then returned home to a job in publishing. He was unsure how he wanted to direct his future, and after a long illness, he returned to school to pursue his master's degree. Even then, he knew he had yet to discover what he wanted to do in life. Eventually, he moved to San Diego, where he met Janice, the woman who was to become his beautiful wife. She and Michael raised their two children, Brandon and Erin, while building a successful business together. A woman of the twenty-first century, Janice was confident, aggressive, and determined. Michael couldn't help but notice the contrast between his wife, who was able to make an exciting career for herself, and his mother, who suffered because the needs of those around her always outweighed her own. This observation compelled Michael to write Bella Will Rally, his first novel. In it, he imbues his fictional Bella with both his mother's spirit and her struggles. His central character's relatives are marvelously similar to his own mother's family. The events and story are entirely a product of Michael's imagination.