The World Of Sylvie Steeple

I am taking the first steps to set up a new blog which I hope will contain all things Sylvie Steeple. Sylvie is the protagonist in my new short stories series. The series is predominantly set in 1920s Sydney. The initial plan was to write 12 short stories, each chronicling a month in the life of Sylvie. She helps people, solves unique cases and treats people (she is a trained nurse). To date, six of these short stories have been completed. Perhaps comparisons might be made to Phrine Fisher from "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries," but really Sylvie is very different to Phrine as are the 'cases' that she takes on. Sylvie's father was an occultist so in a way she is continuing on with his work but taking on cases of a supernatural nature. Also, Sylvie is not rich and does not dress elegantly or in a fashion-forward way. She is a nurse, practical and pragmatic. She has just returned to Australia after spending several years in Europe (both as a war-time nurse and after), but she is Australian at heart.

I love to research Sydney during this time and have used some great resources to help me.

Online resources have predominantly been The Dictionary of Sydney and photos from The Powerhouse Museum.

Sometimes, though, I find the Internet a bit of a rabbit-warren for accurate and specific information so will resort to books. At the very beginning of the year we had the good luck to stop in at a Lifeline bookfair where I found these little gems:

They have been so useful and the sketches in the top book are amazing. As my character Sylvie lives in Paddington, you can imagine what a treasure trove this little book has been!

These ones, albeit old, are still handy in planning and getting a decent overview of the situation in Australia one hundred years ago. 

I've also used these old books to get a good overview of some of the views contemporary from fifty or sixty years ago. It's a nice study in historiography. The text ("Our Sunburnt Country", 1964) is surprisingly forward in some (but not all) of its views on Indigenous history and British occupation post 1780. The novel ("The Spell of the Inland") however is very typical of the time (1934) in its portrayal of Indigenous people and white Australian farmers in the Outback. The imagery throughout is very vivid and does not attempt to sugarcoat the realities of living the harsh Australian inland.

This book has been invaluable for providing information and inspiration for the lives of Italian migrants in Australia. The stories are fascinating and diverse. I've had this for many years and actually stumbled across it in the library of the first high school I worked when I moved here to Canberra. The school has since shut down, and many of the library's books were donated or dumped in the process. I'm so glad I kept this one though!

I am really pleased that I have been able to set up a new blog for Sylvie Steeple. It is still very much a baby and not worth visiting now, but I hope to have some new posts up in the next week or two. 

reading it up, writing it down

via

A Book by Edgar Guest

“Now” - said a good book unto me -
“Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine,
Gold and silver in every line,
And you may claim them if you but will
Open my pages and take your fill.

“Open my pages and run them o’er,
Take what you choose of my golden store.
Be you greedy, I shall not care -
All that you seize I shall gladly spare;
There is never a lock on my treasure doors,
Come - here are my jewels, make them yours!

“I am just a book on your mantel shelf,
But I can be part of your living self;
If only you’ll travel my pages through,
Then I will travel the world with you.
As two wines blended make better wine,
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.

“I’ll make you fitter to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen,
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek,
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak -
This place on your shelf is a prison cell,
Let me come into your mind to dwell!”

The weather seems to be making its way rather rapidly toward autumn here in the 'berra, which means lots of rain and time spent indoors. What a perfect time to pick a book!! (Although for some of us a waking moment is a perfect time to pick up a book :)

I am still ploughing through Homer's Odyssey but I've also acquired a few new books which I'm making my way through at the moment. They are Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Naphtali, a beautiful book which is helping me deal with my anger and frustration in regards to the kids. I wish I was a gentle parent and this book is helping me get there :) I love it's very practical suggestions and Napthali's words speak right to my heart.

Patriarchs of Time by Samuel L. Macey is a book that I got for Christmas. I am only up to the third chapter but it has already impacted on Orpheus and every page I read continues to inspire and delight me. I also love his research, especially into the 16th and 17th century emblematic depictions of Father Time. In other research I have also been browsing through some Petrarch, the Bible (as much as one can browse through the Bible) and Orpheus' Hymns.

Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have a wonderful app of Sherlock Holmes stories on my iphone so that no matter where I am I can tap into this amazing character and share his magnificent adventures. (And as an aside, as a Holmes fan I am also appreciative of the new tv show Elementary. I like the new take on an old classic :) It's good when I need to sit in with the kids as they go to sleep because being on my phone I don't need a lamp on to read.

And with the impending release (well, US Autumn/Fall 2013) of Diana Gabaldon's new book Written in My Own Heart's Blood I am seriously considering going back to re-read An Echo in the Bone. The one I had autographed :) I've only read it the once so I think it's time I went back over it again. 

What are you reading? Share below - I'm always on the look out for something good.

The Twisted Path of the Historian at Dawn

Well, it's not dawn. In fact, it's almost noon. But the "dawn" in the title of this post is symbolic, metaphorical if you will. It refers to the inception of a new novel, or new direction of research. It also, in this very coincidental twist of fate, refers to one of the books that I have recently read.


I said a few posts ago that I would like to do a post to the women writers who have inspired me. This isn't it. This is, however (and in another coincidental twist of fate) a quick look at some of the books that I have recently read - all Historical Fiction - that have moved me, or inspired me but they are certainly not the definitive list.


The first one is "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova.







Now this book came out in 2005, so I'm a bit behind the times. Not that this is a review, there are plenty of those online. What I'd like to say about this book is more of a note, or two. Kostova writes in a very academic, and not always reader friendly way. At times it seems like a labour of love to work through it - especially toward the end, when it, unfortunately does seem to drag on. But the amount of historical research that goes into this book (and I hear from a reliable source that it is all accurate) is impressive. The story is based around the idea that Count Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler, is still alive. But this is written is such an intense and historically rich manner that it is so much more than simply another vampire story.

The second book that I want to mention is called "The Twisted Heart" by Rebecca Gowers.

Unlike "The Historian" this book came out only this year. Yea for me! It's hard to say what I thought of this book. It was interesting and certainly VERY different to most books that I have read but there was something about the characters that got to me - and if this was Gowers intent then brava to her. Anyway, Gowers was very clever in combining an historical "literary mystery" with a "modern day love story." In fact I really liked this idea and I must admit it was the inspiration for the second novel that I started writing. In Orpheus Olivia travels back in time but I think (and yes I have gone back to this original idea :) ) that this is a niche market. People need to connect with things that are real. And as all good historians know, history is not just about facts and dates, but also how its effects linger in our souls and more importantly in the collective memory of a society.

Anyway, back to "The Twisted Heart," if you're interested in Dickens and some of the more grisly aspects of Victorian England (think viciously murdered prostitutes) then this is the book for you.

Last but not least, is a book called "Death at Dawn" by Caro Peacock.

Apparently this is the first in a line of books based on the character, a Victorian heroine-cum-detective, Liberty Lane. This book is set in Victorian England, during the early days actually of "Little Vicky's" reign. The historical details aren't quite as rich as Kostova's "Historian" but that in a sense makes it a much more readable book. This is not a love story, it's a murder mystery and I found it very entertaining and really appreciated the way Peacock wove in the historical significant details (like the dandy writer Disraeli at the banquet) in a subtle yet confident manner.

It's a hard thing when writing historical fiction, especially if you want to include an actual figure from history. But Peacock did it well, and I enjoyed reading it. Not sure if I'll delve into the following Liberty Lane books, but as it's such an easy and delightful read, I may as well :)

So, in case you are still reading and you're wondering about KV's own novels here's the latest. I have started re-writing the beginning of Finding Orpheus, changing the character of Olivia slightly, but have decided to stick with the time travel for the time being. What can I say? I'm a sucker for that kind of thing.

It seems only fitting then that the next book on my reading list should be "The Time Traveller's Wife". I'll let you know how that one goes (hopefully before the movie comes out later this year).

And as for the second novel, well it's been put on the shelf for the moment but the ideas and the plan are there. It's too confusing for me to write two at once and I'm finding that I'm just not writing either and avoiding the whole thing altogether! So, I'm getting back on track with Orpheus and the second one will just have to wait.

Oh, and before I go there is one other lady I'd like to recognise. Miss Snark. Now, as some dedicated writers out there may know, Miss Snark is sadly no longer with us in blog land (and even more sadly I found her site about three years too late!) But the good thing is she has left her blog online, perfectly preserved like a 21st century version of Tutankhamun's mummy. So, who is she? Well Miss Snark is/was a literary agent who offered advise, FOR FREE, to aspiring writers. Now, there are still heaps of benefits for a young writer, such as myself, to go to her site. She has advise on synopses (and honestly if you don't know the plural of synopsis should you even be a writer???), cover letters, first pages etc. Just check down her side column bar under Crapometer. It's great, a very entertaining read, but also very useful if you take it seriously.

So, for her contributions to the world of writing I have added her here and also to my own list of writer's resources. Enjoy reading her - she's a hoot!!

Ciao for now... xx

It's hard, you know, to be a dedicated writer. When there is so little time in the day (BT's naps are now down to about 1 -1 1/2 hours) and especially in winter when it's freezing cold inside but nice and sunny outside. I know, I know, I'm just complaining and really I should just get my be-hind into action and actually do some work!

But KV-ettes, if it's any consolation, even my poor old story hasn't been getting much of a look in lately. I've been on re-decorating mode, which means more painting, some attempts at sewing and online sessions on ebay and other blogs for similar ideas. And believe you me, there is so much stuff out there!

BUT - and there is always a but! - I have agreed to go back to work part time next February which means I now have a deadline for when Orpheus needs to be finished. So what have I done about this?
Not a lot, to tell you the truth!!!

I've spent this evening online researching a fascinating book called 'The Papacy and the Levant' by Kenneth M. Setton (you can read it online at Google books here)



and I've been using this information to help map out a chapter list. What this is for me, is what I imagine a plan is for other people. I have a fairly good picture in my head where I want my story to go, but because I am so forgetful and muddled these days (can I still use the baby brain excuse if BT is 18 months old??!!) I have put it down in a chapter list. It's a word document so I can easily amend it if the story ends up taking a different turn; I'm very flexible about it really.
Fingers crossed!!
Kirsty x

BTW

For those of you who are interested in the Italian Renaissance there was a very interesting discussion on it at the Historum website. The link is http://www.historum.com/showthread.php?t=5026

Off to a bbq with my wonderful Dad now.

Ciao xx

Delving into the wonderful world of online forums

Not that I'm not totally grateful to my sister, (see her blog at http://summer-at-home.blogspot.com) but I thought it might be time to open up my blog to a broader, more numerous audience. Or at least, someone who may be interested in what I have to say (and not just in a loving, sibling way!)
So, I joined some online forums. I'm very excited about this, because there really are a LOT of forums out there, groups where people can talk about absolutely everything and anything. I found one that suited me to a tea called historical fiction online (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com) where people who are (obviously) fans of historical fiction can go and chat about what they have read, would like to read, recommend reading. I haven't actually posted anything yet but it's been very beneficial reading some of the comments and getting a feel for what people like to read about. There is a huge selection of topics from author, country/continent, historical romance, fantasy etc. There is also a thread for new members to post an introduction, which I fully intend to do as soon as my log in is activated.
Another site that I looked at is called Historum (http://www.historum.com) This is a site similar to the other one with lots of different topics to search and groups for discussion. I've introduced myself on there (probably sounded like a total loser too!) and I even contributed to a discussion about the knights templar. I feel so good! It's great to finally be online with people who are interested in the same things I am and I have to wonder why it took me so long to do this. Hmm...self-consciousness I s'pose.
The next task I have set for myself (once I've finished writing the next chapter of Orpheus) is to find a forum for creative writers who can post things that they have written. I'm a bit scared to do that, and I still have those quandries about copyright, but I want to look around anyway.
Anyhoo, the wonderful thing about online forums is that you can stay anonymous if you like but still get to meet some great people and have some interesting discussions. Do, however, try and avoid getting addicted or you may never get any writing done on that novel again!!

Bacci xx

Muse, Mews, or Reviews....

Vittoria and Giovanni? Matteo and his woman? Pffttt...whatever, they are like so last year. Hello, wonderful world of bloggers. I'm back online and certainly back with a vengeance. My book, titled Finding Orpheus (working title) has undergone some rather serious cosmetic surgery since that March post: I'm talking rhinoplasty, liposuction, the works...And now it's 108,127 words long...Not that I'm bragging, I mean they could 108,127 words of boring drivel. But I like to think that it's pretty good. The story is moving around the place, currently we're in Ferrara, Italy, then we'll be moving onto to Venice (only staying in Ferrara for a couple of days), then it's on a boat and off to the glorious island of Rhodes. Very exciting really.
Anyway some of the biggest changes I've made include the scrapping of Vittoria. The main character is now Olivia, a 20th century gal who finds herself transported through time to meet the dashing hero Giovanni. She becomes embroiled in his life; but what about her fiance Paolo waiting for her in 1992? Hmm, it's a quandry: handsome stranger in the Renaissance or dependable guy in the future...I'll let you ponder over what decision Olivia makes.







I've been having a lot of fun with the book, and in particular the research. My latest purchase from Amazon is

"Inside the Renaissance House" by Elizabeth Currie. It offers great info on the structure, decoration, function etc of rooms within a Renaissance house. And it's in easy, lay terms so it
would also be good for children's school projects.

So, this post is also a bit of a review. But then, if I'm reviewing books that I have used in the research of my novel, there are so many that I want to add that I'm not quite sure if I should start. If you are interested in the Renaissance and the history of Italy you can't beat Christopher Hibbert. I think he must be the smartest man in the world, and if I wasn't already happily married then I think I'd like to marry this man!!
I have of his:
"The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall" - an absolutely BRILLIANT account of the Medici family, an absolute must for anyone interested in the Medici family or Medici Florence.
"The English: A Social History 1066-1945" - excellent and incredibly thorough overview of English history.
"Venice: A biography of a city" - as its name suggests!! Very interesting history of one of my favourite places in Italy. I absolutely LOVE Venice!! You should totally get there if you ever have the chance. I remember a trip I had there once with a group of friends; we had lovely red wine, hot chocolate, delicious antipasto and sweets. Winter is a divine time to go because it's not too crowded and the water isn't as smelly as it can be in summer.ANYHOO......!

Christopher Hibbert has also written plenty of books on English history, Italian, French and more. Check him out if European history is your thing. (And no, I'm not collecting any royalties for the sale of his books, I just love him!!)

I was antique shopping with my mum a lttle while ago in Kogarah, Sydney and I found a real gem. This book is called "The Medici in Florence: The exercise and language of power" by Alison Brown. I absolutely love this book because it still had pages uncut and I had to cut them with a knife! I felt like I was in the Renaissance myself and was opening a precious copy of a book that had freshly been printed in Giorgio Verlucci's printing factory! It is a university text from the University of Western Australia and it offers some really unique and interesting views on the use of language and power in the reign of the Medici. Not so suitable for children's projects this one, unless they're teaching Latin in primary school since I was last there!! But, a worthwhile book if you can get your hands on it.Another must have in the study of the Renaissance is Lauro Martines. I only have of his, "Fire in the City: Savonarola and the Struggle for the Soul of Renaissance Florence,"but I know he has written quite extensively on the topic and also published a novel set in the Renaissance too. (Hmm, praising the competition, maybe not such a smart idea KV!)

Well, I got a bit off the topic here, but I hope if you're looking to research the Renaissance in Italy and Florence some of the books I've listed here will be beneficial.

And hopefully I'll get my sweet little butt back online more often to post here and actually gain some sort of following (a bit hello to you Summer - I hope you'll still read this!!

Bacci xxx KV