As we go into an uncertain future on Inauguration Day 2017, I am calming myself at night by reading Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books. As girls, lots of female writers identified with Jo March of Little Women. Betsy Ray was an even greater heroine to me. Read More
Picturing a World
Girls at Coney Island, 1905
January 14, 2017
Blog alert: Parasols, sand, surf, and crazy rides in 1905—see it all in the video James Gurney has posted today at Young Ladies Visit Coney Island, 1905. The girls are much younger than my Mattie in ANONYMITY, but I count it as Research, Pure Delight Department. Read More
Bishopsgate
January 5, 2017
Blog alert: John Tallis’s book, London Street Views—as presented in the January 5, 2017, post at Spitalsfield Life—was intended to supply map aids to travelers unfamiliar with London. Its simple depiction after depiction of street façades would be a boon to any historical novelist setting a story in London in the 1830’s, but it also calls up a eerily empty city. Science fiction anyone? Or pictures to cut out for a paper-doll town. Or the project of an eccentric family of children. Or—what? Read More
Writing in Bed (2)
January 2, 2017
After the frenzy of the holidays, anybody for staying in bed and writing? Dancers, painters, sculptors, and musicians need to be up and about. Women writers may need a room of their own, but many make do with simply writing in bed before they get on with the demands of the day. Add J. K. Rowling to the list (which includes Edith Wharton and Colette). She is quoted Read More
Chocolate pottel
December 28, 2016
This year, my sister gave my husband and me matching Spode Christmas mugs in a bulbous shape with candy cane handles. Imagine my delight today when I stumbled across this 17th C image of a chocolate “pottel.” Hot chocolate tonight!
To begin exploring the Wellcome Library’s collection of recipe books, click here. Read More
To begin exploring the Wellcome Library’s collection of recipe books, click here. Read More
Annunciation to the Shepherds
December 24, 2016
At Christmas, we celebrate a story; and my favorite part has always been the shepherds. Over the centuries, it has lent itself to all sorts of narrative extensions—e.g., the medieval Second Shepherds’ Play and the recently released Certain Poor Shepherds by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas.
Stories upon stories: This year Hanukkah beings tonight and Christmas comes tomorrow. Whatever our various beliefs, may the holidays bring us all a little more into the light. Read More
Stories upon stories: This year Hanukkah beings tonight and Christmas comes tomorrow. Whatever our various beliefs, may the holidays bring us all a little more into the light. Read More
Mousehole Cat
December 23, 2016
One of my Christmas Eve Eve rituals is to read The Mousehole Cat. To my delight I have just found a YouTube video on The Making of The Mousehole Cat Book with interviews of author Antonia Barber, illustrator Nicola Bayley, Read More
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Marianne Stokes’ Madonna
December 16, 2016
A post of Marianne Stokes’ Madonna and Child at It’s About Time caught my eye partly for the serene loveliness of the composition, partly for the Crivelli-like use of gold ornamentation, and partly for the date (which is only one year off Read More
Narrative painting tips for writers?
December 14, 2016
Blog tip: The December 13th post at James Gurney’s blog—Five ways to extend a story—contains lessons to artists on secondary action that can be contained in a narrative picture. Read it and learn to see better. The question for us writers is, What analogous tips be incorporated into written stories to enrich themes or action? Read More
It's in the bag!
December 9, 2016
Emily Arnold McCully, Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor (2006)
Did shoppers have paper bags in 1908? I wondered while working on a scene set in New York City. I found out they did, and I've just discovered that flat-bottomed paper bags of the sort we're all familiar with from grocery stores were invented by a woman, Margaret E. Knight, who patented her process in 1871. Read More