Tilli's Story: My Thoughts are Free

Tilli's Story: News

Acclaimed German Writer-Director Attached to Movie Project

(Dec. 22, 2010) - International award-winning German writer-director Matthias Glasner is attached to adapt “Tilli’s Story,” a memoir about a young German girl’s childhood in East Germany under Hitler and Stalin. Glasner, a winner for “The Free Will” at the Berlin International Film Festival, is also attached to direct the film.

Film rights are held by Barn 38 Pictures producer Kathryn Lekan, former post-producer for the HBO series “Hung” and “Deadwood.”

Glasner, 45, has directed both TV and theatrical movies. His harrowing 2006 tale of a rapist, “The Free Will,” won awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Trieste Film Festival, and is available on DVD. His films have appeared in festivals in Europe and the U.S.

“Matthias Glasner brings to this project the rare combination of story sensibility and captivating character development,” says Lekan. “He connects with Tilli’s life on the farm in rural east Germany, the food she eats, the changing of the seasons, the simplicity of her life.

“Because of that perspective, his story is not just about Tilli’s desire for a future in America, but her connection to family and Germany and the basics of life woven within the backdrop of war.”

Lekan says a start date for filming has not yet been determined.

The Rockford Register Star covered the movie deal in its Dec. 22, 2010 edition.

Polish Edition Now in Print

Marionetka Historii (Polish language version of "Tilli's Story")

The Polish translation of "Tilli's Story" is now available in Europe through publisher Videograf. The Polish title is: "Marionetka historii" ("Marionette of History"). Purchase information is here.

YouTube Video Now Available

In spring 2009, Tilli spoke to a Rock Valley College book club in Rockford, IL. That talk was recorded on DVD (click here if you are interested in purchasing it ). The question and answer period has been uploaded to YouTube. It is in three sections (since YouTube caps videos at 10 minutes):

Section One

Section Two

Section Three

Movie News

• The authors signed a new film rights option contract earlier this year with Hollywood producer Kathryn Lekan (co-producer of HBO series "Hung" and owner of Barn 38 Productions, an independent film company) to turn Tilli's Story into a movie. A screenplay is being written and negotations to secure financing and talent are proceeding.

Press Coverage of "Tilli's Story"

• "Tilli's Story Reaches Milestone" - Oct. 13, 2009 column by Mike Doyle in the Rockford Register Star discusses Polish edition, movie progress, and DVD availability.

• Sue Stephens, news director for Northern Public Radio (WNIJ, 89.5 FM), interviewed Tilli and Lorna on Nov. 30, 2005. Listen to the interview here.

• Rockford Register Star columnist Mike Doyle wrote about the continuing success of "Tilli's Story" in his column on Nov. 10, 2005.

• Sun City Herald reporter Kurt Begalka covered Tilli and Lorna's appearance at Sun City in Huntley, IL, in a two-page article on Nov. 2, 2005.

• The Elgin Courier-News also covered the appearance at Sun City in Huntley, IL, on Nov. 2, 2005, with an article and column by reporter/editor Debbie Moore, which appeared on Nov. 9, 2005.

• The Fort Myers News-Press wrote about Tilli on October 18, 2005. Click here to read it. Tilli and Lorna also appeared on the Tampa WB station newscast on Oct 17 at 10 p.m. and on the Fort Myers NBC and ABC affiliate newscasts on Oct 19.

• Tilli and Lorna have been doing radio interviews at a variety of stations around the U.S., beginning Sept. 30, 2005. Stations in Boston, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Gainesville, St. Louis, Denver, upstate New York, and throughout Wisconsin aired interviews. Many of these interviews are posted on the Listen To Tilli page.

• An article called "Telling Tilli's Tale," about Lorna's work on the book, appears in the fall edition of the Northern Illinois University alumni magazine, Northern Now.

• The authors spoke to fifth graders in Wauconda, Illinois, last spring. The event was covered by the Wauconda Courier.

• WREX-TV interviewed Tilli at an appearance before a Rockford, Illinois, grade school last year. Click here to watch.

• Tilli's Story was excerpted in the Rockford (Ill.) Register Star from July 4, 2004, through Aug. 22, 2004.

Awards

• "Tilli's Story" received an Independent Publisher Award in the 2006 IPPY competition.

• "Tilli's Story" was recognized in the annual Independent Book Publishers Association IPPY awards program, receiving an honorable mention in the Autobiography/Memoir category.