new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: bath, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 12 of 12
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: bath in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
I write romantic mysteries for a niche market, my stories deal with art, travel, a bit of mayhem and romance. I might preface that with-I love art and I love to travel-and have been fortunate to be able to do so. The old adage write what you know and love is true.
When I started writing, I knew my novel would be set in Paris. In my youth, I lived there for a year, and have since gone back a few times. It stood to reason that my first romance should be set there. I’m familiar with the city, and over the years from my perspective, little has changed in the City of Light. The Louvre now has Pei’s Pyramid at the entrance, a few buildings have been added, but the age old charm, the cobblestones, the meandering streets, the essence and soul are still very much there.
The first time I visited Bath, England, many years ago, I said I must come back, and I did. My second book is set there. My third hotel book, is set in magical and mysterious Venice. All three cities are unique and romantic places.
My heroine is an artist, and through her eyes, I introduce my readers to my favorite artists, allow her to live in exciting places, give her mysteries to solve, and someone to love. The best of all worlds.
For me it is essential to visit the place I write about, get a sense of the culture, the everyday, mundane activities that make up our lives. The magical moment of sitting in a cafe, sipping an espresso, and watching people go by. An image is created that will allow a glimpse of that perfect intimate moment. A sculpture in a garden described so well that the reader can almost reach out and touch a sinew, that is the wonder of the written word.
Rodin has always set my pulse racing, his work is strong, exuberant, poignant to the point of agony, and sometimes even mischievous. I tried to bring that sense of joy and discovery to my hero in A Hotel in Paris, and hopefully to my readers. I find solace in art, for me it’s therapeutic. You don’t have to be an art scholar to enjoy it, it’s everywhere we turn, it surrounds us, all we have to do is take note.
Imagine tea at the Pump Room in Bath, and that first sip of the heavily scented Earl Grey tea, you take a deep whiff to savor the smell of the bergamot oil, take a bite of that a fresh scone still warm, loaded with clotted cream and strawberry preserves-except that I skip the cream and go directly for the jam, lots of jam. Those are all real memories that will enrich a story.
Visit a restaurant that has been in business since the early 1600s, watch out as you step down on the crooked stairs and touch the warped wall, coated with gobs of thick paint as you continue your descent that doesn’t seem to end, and then you gingerly sit down in a rickety old chair and hope you won’t be sitting on the ancient brick floor instead.
From the Rodin Museum in Paris, to the Pump Room in Bath, to the dark and narrow canals in Venice, where the water mysteriously shimmers in the moonlit night. It’s all there. Familiarity with a location makes it easier to write about, it makes it come alive.
Even though I write contemporary romance mysteries, I love history and art, and that is what I write about. It goes back to the beginning, write what you know and love.
Cheers,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
A Fire Within
Blood Art
www.mjustes.com
By: Viviane Schwarz,
on 6/18/2015
Blog:
Letters From Schwarzville
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
events,
birds,
cats,
workshops,
charity,
event,
auction,
bath,
fingerprints,
art materials,
the cats,
henry finch,
red chair,
Add a tag
I just sent off my artwork to be auctioned off for
this excellent fundraiser in aid of Bath Festivals:
This is your chance to own a unique piece of original art by one of the UK’s best and most popular illustrators. Come along on the night to bid on one of several framed pieces of art – each depicting the famous Bath Children’s Literature Red Chair.
Amazing artists including including Chris Riddell (Goth Girl), Ben Cort(Aliens love Underpants), Nick Sharratt (The Story of Tracey Beaker), Korky Paul (Winnie the Witch), Alison Jay (Welcome to the Zoo), Michael Foreman (War Game) and Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo) have all donated pieces featuring their own, entertaining interpretation of the Festivals’ iconic red storytelling chair.
Help secure the future of the Bath Festivals internationally renowned programme of popular Festivals and be in with a chance of acquiring a piece of artwork to treasure for your family, school or business.
An Online Auction of many more Artworks will be launched on the night.
My picture is painted using all materials I have picked for the art lessons and workshops I'll be giving soon via
The Kraken Studio - all cheap stuff but really nice.
Go and admire the rest, there are some Mighty Fine Red Chairs to be had.
I write romantic mysteries for a niche market, my stories deal with art, travel, a bit of mayhem and romance. I might preface that with-I love art and I love to travel-and have been fortunate to be able to do so. The old adage write what you know and love is true.
When I started writing, I knew my novel would be set in Paris. In my youth, I lived there for a year, and have since gone back a few times. It stood to reason that my first romance should be set there.
New architectural structures reflect a modern appeal, but the old is appreciated and treasured. The Louvre now has Pei’s Pyramid at the entrance, a few buildings have been added, but the age old charm, the cobblestones, the meandering streets, the essence and soul are still very much there.
The first time I visited Bath, England, I told myself I must come back, and I did. My second book is set there. My third hotel book, my current WIP is set in magical and mysterious Venice. All three cities are mystical and romantic places. Venice has captured my heart perhaps as no other city-there is a constant pull to go back and see what I have missed.
My heroine is an artist, and through her eyes, I introduce my readers to my favorite artists, allow her to live in exciting places, give her mysteries to solve, and someone to love. The best of all worlds.
For me it is essential to visit the place I write about, get a sense of the culture, the everyday, mundane activities that make up our lives. The magical moment of sitting in a cafe, sipping an espresso, and watching people go by. An image is created that will allow a glimpse of that perfect intimate moment. A sculpture in a garden described so well that the reader can almost reach out and touch a sinew, that is the wonder of the written word.
Rodin has always set my pulse racing, his work is strong, exuberant, poignant to the point of agony, and sometimes even mischievous. I tried to bring that sense of joy and discovery to my hero in A Hotel in Paris, and hopefully to my readers. I find solace in art, for me it’s therapeutic. You don’t have to be an art scholar to enjoy it, it’s everywhere we turn, it surrounds us, all we have to do is take note.
Imagine tea at the Pump Room in Bath, and that first sip of the heavily scented Earl Grey tea, you take a deep whiff to savor the smell of the bergamot oil, take a bite of that a fresh scone still warm, loaded with clotted cream and strawberry preserves-except that I skip the cream and go directly for the jam, lots of jam. Those are all real memories that will enrich a story.
Visit a restaurant that has been in business since the early 1600s, in Bath and watch out as you step down on the crooked stairs and touch the warped wall, coated with gobs of thick paint as you continue your descent that doesn’t seem to end, and then you gingerly sit down in a rickety old chair and hope you won’t be sitting on the ancient brick floor instead.
Stand on top of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, look down at the Grand Canal, and the mesmerizing traffic below, boats gliding on water expertly and avoid contact. Sip an espresso in a cafe and listen to a gondolier serenade you from afar.
From the Rodin Museum in Paris, to the Pump Room in Bath, to the dark and narrow canals in Venice, where the water mysteriously shimmers in the moonlit night. It’s all there. Familiarity with a location makes it easier to write about the experience, it makes it come alive.
Even though I write contemporary romance mysteries, I love history and art, and that is what I write about. It goes back to the beginning, write what you know and love.
Cheers,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
Blood Art
Hearts & Daggers
Hot Crimes Cool Chicks
www.mjustes.com
Life seems mundane. You get up, brush your teeth, make coffee, drink coffee (a few cups to get started) and generally get ready for work. After work, you run errands, make dinner, if you have kiddies take care of their needs and the day is over. You go to bed, get up, and start all over again. It's hard work.
What does one do to relieve stress, and provide a form of necessary escape, albeit it for a brief span of time? I read and write, that is my escape.
I've raised my kiddies, delight in my grandchildren, and my work is now writing full time, but after I'm done with work, time is essentially my own. I write romance stories, that is my love, escape, and obsession if you will.
Writing allows me to escape the everyday sameness. I can kill off characters I don't like. I can fall in love with the perfect hero; he's my creation, therefore he's perfect for me.
I feel a sense of accomplishment when I've finished a story. A sense of apprehension when I start, and a sense of terror when mid-stream, there is nowhere to go and the voices are silent, and finally a sense of dread that I'm on the wrong track. I write-by the seat of my pants-I think-that is the correct cliché. I get an idea and run with it and see where it takes me.
That to me is the perfect adventure-I don't know where my characters will wind up. It's a surprise. I like that, and it works for me.
I don't quite get the same sense of nirvana when I read, but it's a very, very close second. I escape to another world, and sometimes another period in time, and I look forward to the happy ending.
I'm reasonably well read, but at this stage in my life I look to romance, mystery and humor for my escape; it is the perfect get away. There is a reason romance writing is a multi-billion dollar industry. I'm not alone.
Along with writing and reading, travel is very close to my heart. It enriches the soul, and as Mark Twain put it so succinctly. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness...”
I have included a few pictures from Bath, England, one of my favorite places, and because A Hotel in Bath is a finalist for the RONE award. Shameless self promotion, but Bath really is magnificent.
Cheers,
Margot Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
www.mjustes.com
Been a while since I updated this blog.
I do have a good excuse, and we will be seeing more of him over the years.
Yes, it's a 'dog day afternoon,' but let's approach this activity with caution. *:)
By:
Susan Humphrey,
on 7/8/2009
Blog:
Writer's Block
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
time,
bath,
twitter,
bookshop,
socialnetworking,
cockroach,
tarantula,
madagascar,
bristolzoo,
glendavidgold,
heroesofthevalley,
jonathanstroud,
toppingcompany,
blog,
writing,
jobs,
Add a tag
Topping & Co in Bath - photograph by Susan Humphreys
I guess its hardly surprising that I haven't had much time for writing lately - well not unless you count filling in application forms for jobs - I've written plenty of those! I've even written a report on social networking as part of my volunteer work and of course i'm writing all the time on Facebook and Twitter - even on here whe i can think of something to share! but as for actual fiction - nothing!
There's no excuse really though and as a former reporter I should know you just have to do it! I must try harder! Especially as this month's National Geographic magazine has Angkor on the cover.
I have however managed to find time for my quick trip to Bath where I got to hear my hero Glen David Gold read from his new book Sunnyside. He was very funny and admitted he is also very bad at writing when he should - "oh look there's a cat in the yard," was his comment. I got to have a quick chat with him after the reading and he very kindly signed my books and told me he is however working on something new (hurrah). I'm hoping it won't take him eight years as it did after finishing Carter Beats the Devil - my favourite book. I also mentioned I read his blog - which he seemed very pleasantly surprised about! Well I know how that feels - when I'm writing on here I always feel like no-one's reading it.
Topping & Company was a fanatastic bookshop - you could spend days in there and the staff were lovely. They are also open 7 days a week till 7.30pm! I couldn't resist buying the new Jonanthan Stroud book too - Heroes of the Valley especially as it was a signed copy. If you're in Bath and you love books do pop in - well linger!
I also got to pay my second visit to Bristol Zoo, it was a glorious day and I got to check out al lot of Madagascan animals again including the aye-ayes, mouse lemurs and mongoose lemurs. One of the highlights though was getting to shake hands - well legs- with Gabriella the tarantuala - which involved letting her carefully put her limbs on the palm of my hand. She was much lighter than I expected and very soft - not at all scary. I also got to hold a Madagascan Hissing Cockroach again - they were very noisy!
So, here's another bunny. This idea sort of popped into my head. I'm not sure it's fully resolved to my liking, but it's complete enough for posting. I struggled a little with the feet as I really don't know what the underside of bunny feet look like, and I didn't have any bunnies handy. It was also a lesson in rendering bubbles. Overall, I think I pulled it off.
"My Wish" available on
EtsyThis is the finished painting from my painting in progress posts on my
blog a while back. She is on a 1/4" wood panel and measures 6" x 12". She was inspired by the song
"My Wish" by
Rascal Flatts...music has a huge influence on me and therefore my art. I always listen to music when I create...it really helps me get into a creative groove. Some of my favorite artists to listen to in the studio right now are Holly Brook, Ana Nalick, Tori Amos, and Sugarland. How about you?
Another thing I think it's quite mystical or even magical..it's love.. the look of love.. the feeling of seing someone that you love..here you see a pretty girl, surronded by little ghosts of love..they give her the gift of love and are passionate about her.. it's a mystical thing..no one can see it.. kinda like cupid! hehehe
I think there's something very mystical about the whole idea of middle age..and horseman..and maia culture..or incas! I think different cultures or past cultures brings to our imagination foreign lands..and magical things..I tried to mix all of them in a pattern like design!
I used to make these as I was younger..and I really believed in what came out of them.. There something magical about them..that makes you dream and makes you want to try... This object means different things to lots of people, but for me it brings back mystical memories!
.jpg?picon=1621)
Howdy from Texas Ginger! Your work looks SUPER!- JOhn
Again, I love the way you make water look. Really nice. Great concept!
This is so cute... and the doggy has that "I'm not sure about this!" look on his face.
I love the expression on the doggy's face!
your style here is a little different isn't it?
such wise words. Great feeling and action. the characters are wonderful. great illustration.
I like the expression look on the dog's eye. Nice colors too!
aaaaw this is exactly how my dog looks when bathtime comes around.
Beautiful work, as always! You have such a body of work - so impressive!
I love the water Ginger! Really great effect! I have a feeling that it's not just the puppy who's going to be having a bath today!! ha ha!!
As always a delightful image that reminds me of the dog days of summer :) Love this!
This is adorable! The look on the dog's face is priceless! :) Well done Ginger!