4. How did you respond to Gabi’s growing attraction to Rodolfo Greco—and her confusion? Could you understand it? What would you have done in that situation?
5. From the beginning of Waterfall to the end of Torrent, significant changes happen in the Betarrini family dynamics. In the beginning, the girls feel very separate from their parents. Then they feel the loss of their dad, connect with their mom, and in the end, really become one again. Has your family suffered through a time of disunity and come out better for it? Are you in the midst of it now? What made or would make it better?
6. Tomas has a unique perspective on God, given his time and place. He’s serving as a priest, even when he’s no longer representing the Church. What’s your thought on how we should share our beliefs with others?
7. Once again, Gabi has to do things she never thought possible—jumping to another building, cauterizing a wound, risking her life, etc.—what’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do (even if it wasn’t life threatening!)? How’d you feel afterward?
8. In one passage, the book titles for the series are somewhat explained: “My eyes shifted to the trickling river. Come spring, it would be ten times as wide and just as deep. On and on it went, rushing toward the distant horizon. Like time. Like life. Sometimes gently falling from one pool into the other, other times fast and cascading, and still other times narrowing into a funnel, a torrent of knots and waves.” Have you experienced life like that? Identify three times in your life that feel like a Waterfall, a Cascade, and a Torrent. Which one describes your life right now?
Historical Notes
The events desscribed herein are entirely fictional. While the story is representative of the volatility of medieval Tuscany, it is merely that…representative. A couple of details in regard to Torrent:
The town of Sansicino is based on a Rick Steves show I saw once. In it, he described a hilltop town named Civita di Bagnoregio, which could only be accessed by a bridge. It was founded by the Etruscans and survived two world wars. Today it has a population of ten most of the year and one hundred in the summer. And, yeah, I totally want to visit it someday. How could you not?
We stopped by San Galgano while touring Tuscany—truly one of my favorite excursions of all time (you can read about it on our travel blog, www.TheWorldIsCalling.com), but it was off-season and we could do little more than tour the ghostly, roofless abbey. Up on the hill is the chapel that houses the sword in the stone, but it was closed the day we were there. It’s still on my Must-See list. The potential birthplace of the whole Arthurian legend? C’mon! How could you resist? And I took some liberties with the frescoes described within, because they’ve found alternative drawings beneath the frescoes you can see now. Like the artist changed his mind and just went with what he saw fit for the final version, regardless of what the “rough draft” might’ve been. As an author, I think that’s really wonderful, especially when you can’t change it again with but an easy draft from a computer. It was truly a gamble with frescoes.
I didn’t do a ton of research into medieval Rome, but there really was a barbershop underneath one of the triumphal arches of the Forum—half buried by this time period. Pretty amazing to think about. The Vatican really was in Avignon at the time—and the Romans did have such a command of their plumbing that they could create elaborate bathhouses with radiant heat, saunas, cold pools, and their versions of hot tubs. When I get to Rome this fall, I look forward to touring Caracalla’s public bathhouse (which was closed, last time I went).
Ahh, history. Such rich fodder for a novelist!
—LTB
Dear Torrent Tribe,
Wow, I’ve loved this ride with you—and Gabi and Lia—in medieval Italy. Thank you for so enthusiastically embracing their story and making it your own. From your comments and emails, I know you’ve gathered what I’d hoped you’d get out of it. Not only enjoying the entertainment factor, but also investing in the passion, drive, enthusiasm, interest, power, sacrifice, and Great Questions of life that make life, life. That’s how, for me, this became more of a River of Life series than a River of Time. Regardless of when you’re born, I believe you experience life at a whole different level if you break out of “survival” mode and invest in the plowing/seeding/weeding process, as Gabi and Lia found themselves doing. Then, whether your crop is failing or flourishing, you’re in it…living.
I’ve already heard from many of you, wondering if there will be more River of Time books. I’d truly love to come back and hang out with the Betarrini clan and write Lia and Luca’s love story, but we have to see how these first three books do. In the meantime, I’m writing a series called The Grand Tour, about a group of well-to-do young people in 1914, traveling from England to France to Switzerland, and…wait for it…Italy! (You’re totally shocked, right?) Somehow, Italia has captured my heart like few other places, and I’ll be eager to return—in my imagination, or in person. The Grand Tour books are titled From This Day Forward, To Have and To Hold, and As Long as We Both Shall Live. Look for them to be released June 2012–January 2013 (again, in a short time span, thanks to David C Cook—they know readers agonize as they wait).
I’m heading to Rome soon with my second daughter, off to do research for As Long as We Both Shall Live. But I’ll be holding River of Time close in my heart as I go. Please don’t lose touch with me—find me on Facebook (“River of Time Series” and “Lisa Tawn Bergren”) and on Twitter (@LisaTBergren) and on my own site (www.LisaBergren.com) if you want to follow along with my travels, writing, contests, and such.
I’m so happy you’re one of my readers…which I see is an investment in me and, truly, makes you one of my friends. Contact me at any time via Facebook, Twitter, or email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Every good thing,
Join other readers and Lisa on the “River of Time Series” Facebook page. There, you’ll find information about the books, discussion with other fans, and contest and prize information.
https://www.facebook.com/riveroftimeseries
RIVER OF TIME SERIES
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
David C Cook Distribution Canada
55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5
David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England
The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.
This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.
WATERFALL
LCCN 2010940549
ISBN 978-1-4347-6433-1
© 2011 Lisa T. Bergren
Cover Design: Gearbox Studios, David Carlson
Cover Image: Photoshoot and iStockphoto, royalty-free
CASCADE
LCCN 2011923883
ISBN 978-1-4347-6431-7
© 2011 Lisa T. Bergren
Cover Design: Gearbox Studios
Cover Images: 4495136, 123RF, royalty free
PHP3075584, Veer Images, royalty free
LCCN 2011932486
ISBN 978-1-4347-6429-4
© 2011 Lisa T. Bergren
Cover Design: Gearbox Studios
The author is represented by Steve Laube.
The Team: Don Pape, Traci DePree, Amy Kiechlin Konynkyk, Sarah Schultz, Caitlyn York, Karen Athen
Series Cover Design: Nick Lee
First Edition 2014
River of Time Series eISBN 978-1-4347-0809-0
Lisa T. Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty books that have sold more than two million copies. A former publishing executive, she now splits her time writing, editing, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy while parenting her three children with her husband, Tim. They live in Colorado Springs.
Visit DCCeBooks.com for more great reads.
Read Book 4, the next installment of the River of Time, Bourne & Tributary, available for your device.
Get it here: lisatawnbergren.com/books/bourne-tributary
Praise for …
Waterfall
“I love stories about strong, capable young women—and I love stories set in other countries. Mix in a little time travel and some colorful characters, and Lisa Bergren has stirred up an exciting and memorable tale that teen readers should thoroughly enjoy!”
Melody Carlson, author of the Diary of a Teenage Girl and TrueColors series
“As the mother of two teens and two preteens, I found Waterfall to be a gutsy but clean foray into the young adult genre for Lisa T. Bergren, who handles it with a grace and style all her own. Gabriella Betarrini yanked me out of my time and into a harrowing adventure as she battled knights—and love! I heartily enjoyed Gabriella’s travel back into time, and I heartily look forward to Cascade, River of Time #2!”
Ronie Kendig, author of Nightshade
Praise for …
Cascade
“A romantic tale that twists and turns with every page, Cascade is the ideal sequel to Waterfall. A riveting tale to the very end, this adventure follows Gabi back into the arms of the dashing Marcello as the events of history unfold around them in the present. Lisa T. Bergren leaves us with only one question: Can their love transcend time? Read this book—you won’t regret it. I could hardly put it down!”
Shannon Primicerio, author of The Divine Dance, God Called a Girl, and the TrueLife Bible study series
The River of Time Series Page 94
