Novel Setting & Deep Breathing

It's been a rough week here in the US

with the hearings (don't even want to say his name) for the Supreme Court nominee,

 feelings of frustration and betrayal along party lines, fear and anxiety among women,

the list goes on and on. Emotions are high. Women are trying to stand together

and at the same time, I'm seeing some very reactive behavior. 

Me included. 

Anybody else wake up in the mornings with just a tad bit of anxiety?! 

Maybe even more than usual?!

Sometimes I wake with the feeling that I just can't do what's expected on this planet. 

And I don't have what you would call a high stress life,

especially after my injury put me out of work. 

But the feeling is still there, like I'm not meant for this place and have no idea

how to navigate what must be waded through.  

It feels like it's sometimes too much for my brain to comprehend. 

Luckily, it's my writing day

so I'm retreating into my novel

where many of those above feelings are still located 

but my job is only to help my characters navigate

and try to make the language work as smoothly as I can. 

The photo above is the Prior's Table Restaurant 

(within a 12th century Cistercian abbey in the French countryside 

called Abbaye des Vaux de Cerney) 

where my love interests meet and set up their first date. 

I'm in my final read through before sending out 

to my last round of readers. 

Wishing you a good week

and hoping whatever you are navigating 

is nothing but smooth sailing. 

Be sure to take deep breaths and 

hold someone's hand if needed! 

I'm here if you need me. 

For more photos and info on the Abbaye, 

Click Here

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Baptistry Mosaics

As promised,

here are photos of the interior of 

the octagonal Baptistry in Florence from last week.

Oh to be in Florence again! 

I know of an author who rents herself an apartment 

in whichever country she happens to be setting her next novel

and then spends that month writing there. 

One of my future goals! 

And actually, that's why I'm posting photos of Florence,

because part of my novel is set there

and this way we can feel like we're there. 

I love that most of these photos and mosaics

depict angels in them. 

The scene below, of course, needs no explanation.

Can you imagine being responsible for putting all of these tiny mosaics in place?! 

I'm setting up a schedule 

to try to get my novel ready for Beta Readers this summer.

I'm NOT a puzzle person

but writing a novel feels a little like trying to place all the mosaics

in all the right places,
fitting all the correct colors with the right scenes
but without too much rigidity
and more than a splash of imagination.
There's a structured whole yet with individual chapters and scenes
which must have their own flavor and color,
textures and tapestries.

And I'm teaching myself novel writing as I go

so I especially appreciate this last mosaic

of an angel bringing information

during sleep. 

I'm working on the last little bits

of trying to make this book puzzle work

and will take all the help I can get. 

(All Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Bronze doors of the Baptistry in Florence

So while my novel put me in Florence

thought I'd share a couple of exterior photos of the Baptistry. 

The above are the North Doors

created by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

These were originally the East Doors but moved to the North side.

Ghiberti was 21 when he won the competition 

(beating out Brunelleschi!)

and began the commission of the gilded bronze doors

which took him 21 years to finish. 

The first two are the Annunciation (always my favorite)

and the Nativity. 

The doors to the Baptistry are what Michelangelo called

The Gates of Paradise. 

Dante and the members of the Medici family,

as well as most Catholic Florentines,

were baptized in the Baptistry of St. John,

--an octagonal basilica in the Piazza del Duomo 

just next to the main Florence Cathedral--

and was built between 1059 and 1128.

Buried within the quatrefoil,

Ghiberti included plants and insects known to be harmful.

In Medieval thinking,

that was a way of keeping evil away.

Next time a few photos of the 

gorgeous mosaics that make up the ceiling of the interior.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

(Info via Wiki)

Ponte Vecchio sunset

Recently I spent a week at my writing retreat on the Oregon Coast

and immersed myself in novel writing

... which put me in Italy. 

So as promised,

here is a bridge view in Florence.

My novel's love interests end up at a villa

overlooking one of my favorite cities in Italy

while they try to save civilization 

from foreign and domestic terrorism. 

Btw, I LOVE how these old bridges

still have shops ON them.

And in medieval times,

people actually lived in houses on the bridge. 

Oh, Florence!

Be still my heart.

(Here's another shot in Florence
from awhile back.)

Next week, Venice!

Ciao.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Eiffel Tower pond

Another tiny slice of Paris today

cause as always, I'm missing it.

But also because, like last time,

I'm giving you a small glimpse into my novel-in-progress.

My last post showed the Champs de Mars cave

where my protagonists (also love interests) spent some time.

And this is the view back across the duck pond 

to the base of the Eiffel Tower 

where they dance together. 

And tomorrow we'll get a little glimpse of Florence, Italy

where they end up chasing suspense.

And next week Venice. 

Til then,

A bientot.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen) 

Cave in Champs de Mars

Another quick visit 

just a snapshot or two

of the cave 

that my protagonist and 

her love interest visit

in my novel

which I'm getting ready for beta readers. 

This location is a little man-made cave

which sits on a tiny pond

just next to the base of the Eiffel Tower.

Trying to get some inspiration 

for a scene I'm trying to finish. 

Thanks for coming with me. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)