Bank Square Books presents an author talk with Lenore Skomal in conversation with Nico Raineau for the book Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter: The Remarkable True Story Of American Heroine Ida Lewis
About the Book
The amazing story of a heroic woman--the keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode IslandThe Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter is the absorbing, painstakingly researched story of Ida Lewis and the fearless rescues she made at Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island. Born in 1842, Ida began tending the light at age fifteen after her father, the keeper of the light, was disabled by a stroke. When her father died in 1872, Ida's mother assumed the role of lighthouse keeper but Ida continued to do the work. Then when her mother died in 1879, Ida was officially appointed to the job, where she remained until her death in 1911. Ida is credited with saving at least eighteen lives during her nearly forty years on the tiny island in Newport Harbor. She became famous nationwide in the late 1860s after one of her daring rescues, and the town of Newport celebrated her on Independence Day 1869. In 1924, the Rhode Island legislature officially changed the name of Lime Rock Lighthouse to Ida Lewis Lighthouse. In 1928, all but a portion of Lime Rock used for the light tower was sold to yachtsmen who preserved the historic house and established the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. In 1995, a Coast Guard buoy tender was named for her.
About Lenore Skomal
Lenore Skomal is a career author, playwright, theatre and film producer. Author of 12 books, including her first published nonfiction The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter: The Remarkable True Story of American Heroine Ida Lewis (Rowman & Littlefield) which was honored with the New York Public Library’s Best Book Award of 2003 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in continuous publication this year. As a New York City-based Off-Broadway theatre producer, she is also the founder and director of Broadway Bound Theatre Festival--which produces and presents 20 new plays annually. An experienced playwright in her own right, her comedy THE EXES premiered Off-Broadway in 2019 to critical acclaim and is currently licensed in regional and community theatres. Her work has garnered the prestigious Eric Hoffer Award, finalist in the Eugene O'Neill Festival, The International Book Awards for Literary Fiction, Writer's Digest 75th Writer's Award first place winner, numerous Society of Professional Journalism Award and winner of the New York Summer Festival's best play of the season.
About Nico Raineau
Nico Raineau is an award winning filmmaker originally from Mystic, Connecticut. His most recent theatrical film, HOOKING UP, is a romantic comedy starring Sam Richardson and Brittany Snow. It was released globally by Universal Pictures and Saban Films, and is currently available on Hulu. Raineau’s numerous short films have screened at over fifty film festivals and earned over twenty awards, including those specifically for his directing and focus on feminist storytelling.
His career began as the assistant to actor/director Ben Affleck on the film THE TOWN, before transitioning into creative development for Robert Downey Jr. and multiple Academy Award winning producers. He has since directed episodic television for shows currently available on Netflix and Paramount+.
The feature length screenplay that he's written based on Lenore Skomal's biography of famed lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis has been endorsed by both the US Coast Guard and the American Lighthouse Foundation. It was a second round finalist at the Austin Film Festival in addition to being well reviewed by the ScreenCraft script competition. It’s currently on submission to producers for production as a major motion picture.
The amazing story of a heroic woman-the keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island.