“You can’t just stand there like a statue.” Elvis’ response to accusations of vulgarity when he was just launching his career.

Earlier this week I found out that NPR chose The Orphanmaster as one of the six best historical fiction titles of 2012.

Yes! In the same league with Hilary Mantel, incredible.

“Jean Zimmerman’s The Orphanmaster is a rip-roaring read, packed with action and dark suspense,” went the review.  “I was captivated by Zimmerman’s unforgettable evocation of New Amsterdam.”

Now, “rip-roaring,” that’s not standing there like a statue.