In: Catholocism| Cultural History| Historical Fiction| Sacred Hearts| Sarah Dunant| Women's Studies
28 Jul 2009Dear Anne Muirhead …… woke up to your comment in Kansas City. The aim to somehow recreate the experiences of these women so many centuries ago, both psychological and religious, made this the toughest book I had ever written, so if in some way it rang true to you then i am utterly delighted. And oh yes, I have been following the story of the Vatican’s move to curb the activities of American nuns with great interest and talk about it wherever I go. One does not write history in order to comment on the present ( it is hard enough to write to get the past right), but when it happens its as if a light bulb goes on…. please lets talk more about it. I will be at the Adelaide festival in February and then on tour. It would be great to meet, but also to start a debate on line. Or perhaps there already is one. In which case please point me at it..
as to the postulate! I will send my web master ( great terms isn”t it) a message today.
In: Uncategorized
28 Jul 2009a gerat blues track i seem to remember, but since i only get to stay a day it is more like Kansas city here I go. Two great gigs (Thank you Rainy Day books, you keep reading alive) and a lot of big sky and flat land in between. If only one got to stay anywhere longer than 36 hours…Lindsey look forward to meeting you in Atlanta and thank you for your kind words about SACRED HEARTS . Talking so much about something that took such a chunk out of one’s life and soul seems rather strange after a while, almost like faking it, but I hope something remains of the struggle and the joy. This is modern life and while in the end I believe in word of mouth as the final arbiter of quality, maybe this does reach more people. Would value your thoughts on that, everyone out there.
All tours have low points and i am very much hoping 3 hours in cars in LA with a 6. am start the next morning marks the spot. i seem to remember a Jackson Brown lyric that fits here. “the only time that seems too short is the time that we get to play” by which, of course, he meant music, and I would mean talking history, women, religion, art – all the stuff that makes life interesting, And yes, music though in this case polyphony and Palestrina.
thank you to all who have come to listen and join in the conversation. When you come to read the book do let me know what you thought. I would love to hear it. now I have an evening off in SF. life is not all bad!
In: Academia| Art History| Catholocism| Cultural History| Historical Fiction| Italy| Renaissance| Sacred Hearts| Sarah Dunant
21 Jul 2009first thing to note. It’s hot. Seattle sings in the sushine. i got here yestrday after a fantastic weekend at the Denman island Writers and Readers festival. If you don’t know about it and you live anywhere in British Columbia then check it out. The most beautiful place, the kindest most hospitable people and the most stimulating discussions – religion, spirituality ( not always the same thing) politics, 16th century nuns , writing you name it . And all around the forests and the water – the most delicate delicious light with a touch of melancholy. i cannot wait to go back.
struggling with a lost voice ( if anyone finds it send it via my website) but looking forward to finding one when I need to. This morning a tv interview with Nancy Pearl the US’s great public ( in many senses) librarian, tonight an event with the university bookshop then on tomorrow to LA. more planes than a human being ought to take – a carbon footprint that will take years to recover from. i shall have to walk to Italy for the next decade, but the conversations that come at the end of the events are worth it.
otherwise as long as i remember to eat it all goes well…..
In: Art History| Catholocism| Cultural History| Ferrara| Historical Fiction| Music| Sacred Hearts| Saints| Sarah Dunant| Uncategorized
15 Jul 2009I love this city so much. There is such a deep sense of relaxation to it. Any place where you can see mountains and water at the same timne is good for the soul. Not that I am seeing much of it. Tv am studios, books shops and the odd glimpse of a view out of car window. But I will be back for pleasure.
On Monday I did a great gig in Ben Mcnally’s books In Toronto, but in a huge itlaian restaurant, where of course people yelled and shouted, as italians love to do. I had brought a cold stowed away in my luggage from London and I had a voice that sounded deep enough to be the only y magnificent. Musica Secreta recorded all the lovelist bits of music which are in the book and ther do indeed have the voices of angels. A real soundtrack of its own. There are samples of it on podcasts and the web site and you can buy the Cd on a link from my site to theirs. Music Secreta are women who have given their lives to delve deep into history and bring alive the sounds of women ’s voices as they were 500 yars ago. They are also enormous fun to work with.
Me – I croak and swallow throat lozenges and with luck some kind of voice will return., Otherwise I’ll give the seagulls a run for their money when I hit the ferry out to Victoria island tomorrow. At Cadboro books for anyone local…..
Thanks to you all for your blogs. It makes a real difference to feel one is not alone, even when the hotel room is empty. Sarah
In: Catholocism| Cultural History| Historical Fiction| Sacred Hearts| Sarah Dunant
9 Jul 2009Hi Margot. Thank you for that. Sacred Hearts will be in your hands soon enough. Please let me know what you think.
Meanwhile I have been hurtling around Dublin on the opening of this mad international tour. Such a friendly city, coping well with a recession which is as low as the boom was high. Also reeling from revelations of abuse within the Catholic church, all now documented in a new public report. So there was much talk about religion an how each and all religions handle the high octane pressure of sexuality and how far Catholicism in particular demands too much from those who end up as priests and nuns. All of course utterly wonderful for me as these are just some of the kinds of questions – albeit 500 years ago, that I am asking in Sacred Hearts.
Anyway, the high spot of the crazy 48 hours was to find myself staying in the same hotel as Bruce Springstein Of course I didn’t see him, but just to know that he might have been in the same lift. Everyone has to have heroes don’t you think? Next stop Toronto…
In: Music| Renaissance| Sacred Hearts| Sarah Dunant| Uncategorized
7 Jul 2009Which is hardest? Writing the book or working out what the hell to pack for six weeks on the road promoting it? I am coming to see the deep attraction of a nun’s habit, although of course they don’t get to go on the road. At the South Bank concert in London last week many of audience thought the wonderful choir of singers WERE nuns. Obviously that outfit has a powerful effect on people. At the start of a tour you absolutely DO NOT WANT TO GO. Then you sit on the plane and watch London getting smaller beneath you and the adrenaline kicks in. Not knowing what comes next. It’s like living a story rather than writing it. Tomorrow Dublin, Saturday Toronto. Bring on some summer and sunshine. Hope to see some of you somewhere sometime.
In: Cultural History| Historical Fiction| Sacred Hearts| Saints| Sarah Dunant| Women's Studies
4 Jul 2009Saturday morning , written after a rather wonderful publication party for Sacred Hearts which went went on way into the night. Woke up this morning to find an article I had written in today’s Guardian newspaper: about a fabulous novel I read by Julia O’Faolain while researching SH built around a 6th century saint, whom the novelist thinks began life as a bit of a sinner. Those of you interested in women getting their heads above the parapet of history should check it out. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jul/04/fiction. Happy to talk about it more…..
Hello. You’ve reached my blog. As you can tell, I have not yet populated this place of conversation. I will, of course, be posting comments, ideas, themes very soon. However, since the larger objective here is to expand the ‘discussion’ please feel free to start commenting on my books, art history, culture, media, herbalism, travel, literature, history, etc. I came to technology a little late in the game but now I realize the importance of engaging with my audience and connecting people through dialogue.
This is the forum that continues long after the page has closed. Welcome.
... to my open forum. Although I will be posting my own ideas, thoughts, and experiences the primary aim of this blog is to broaden the discussion long after the last page has been turned. Please feel free to comment on my books, art history, culture, media, herbalism, travel, literature, history, etc. Engaging with my audience and connecting people through dialogue is important to me, so don't be shy.