The Painting of Saint Ursula

A lot of people have asked about the Carpaccio painting called The Dream of Saint Ursula which was  a major inspiration for my book.  Here it is.

There is so much in the painting that attracts my attention. There is the angel of course, which made me think of Audrey in my first book. Audrey with her angel scroll. I also find it interesting that the angel is a littler smaller than the saint herself.

Each object and each detail in the room holds meaning which would have been understood by people of the period. For instance the plants in the window are associated with fidelity in marriage.

Then there is the odd perspective. The room is a little out of square. Also the point of view is a little odd, as if the painter was hoovering about seven or eight feet in the air.  Keep in mind that painters of this period knew all about perspecitve and they did not make mistakes with it.

I don't know what to make of any of this. I don't pretend to know what it means, only to have a feeling it means something. Its the kind of thing that drifts up to the top of my mind often when I sit down to write.

The Dream of Saint Ursula- chain of Inspiration

The Dream of Saint Ursula- Chain of Inspiration

A lot of the inspiration for this book came from my visits to the Virgin Islands and from all the beautiful places there.  Sharing some of these experiences was one of the primary motivations for writing the book, even though the story is completely made up.  If you’ve been there the book will probably make you want to return. If you haven’t it might make you want to plan a visit.

So, it turns out the Virgin Islands were named by Christopher Columbus for Saint Ursula and her virgins. Apparently the legend of Saint Ursula was popular in the late fifteenth century. I say this because there is also a famous series of paintings by a guy named Vittore Carpaccio that deal with different parts of the legend, all painted in the late 1490’s. 

For me, the most inspirational of Carpaccio’s paintings is called The Dream of Saint Ursula.  It shows an angle appearing at the foot of the bed in which Saint U is sleeping and so it reminded me of the series of drawings that Audrey Colebrook did which are mentioned in The Middle of the Air and in my new book, also named The Dream of Saint Ursula. Paintings play a big role in the plot of my book, another reason for borrowing the title.

In any case Carpaccio’s painting stuck in my mind and still does. It may be because of the angel, because of the detail or maybe because of the mood of mystery it leaves me with.  Then too, there is something odd about the perspective of the room.  The painters of this period did not make mistakes in perspective so I keep asking myself what it might mean. What am I missing?  I also wonder if Carpaccio and Columbus ever met.  They lives certainly overlapped in time and both were Italian.  I like to think they might have thrown back a few glasses of wine together at least once or twice.

New Book is Amost Here!

The Dream of Saint Ursula

OK, my second book is finally approaching its publication date, officially targeted as October 9, 2014.  A lot is happening.

Cover Design:  I have seen a couple iterations of the cover design. I think we are very close to the final version, needing only to add a couple of blurbs on the back cover.  I feel the cover is inviting people on a fun and warm beach vacation which is consistent with the setting and overall feeling of the story.

Kick-off Event – Valerie, owner of the Fountainhead Book Store, is organizing an event at the theater down town for October 30 at 7:00 PM.  Should be fun.  I don’t have a firm schedule after that as yet, but I’m sure there will be a lot of signings and readings and interviews to do.

New Book is Almost Here !

The Dream of Saint Ursula

OK, my second book is finally approaching its publication date, officially targeted as October 9, 2014.  A lot is happening.

Cover Design:  I have seen a couple iterations of the cover design. I think we are very close to the final version, needing only to add a couple of blurbs on the back cover.  I feel the cover is inviting people on a fun and warm beach vacation which is consistent with the setting and overall feeling of the story.

Kick-off Event – Valerie, owner of the Fountainhead Book Store, is organizing an event at the theater down town for October 30 at 7:00 PM.  Should be fun.  I don’t have a firm schedule after that as yet, but I’m sure there will be a lot of signings and readings and interviews to do.