Hello everyone. It seems that I haven't changed the post in two months. Chalk it up to being busy and also the author who was supposed to be on had some technical issues that were finally fixed. I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and that you haven't had to deal with any disasters as of yet. I was very excited to find out that a branch of our Stamford Library is in walking distance of my home. I haven't used a library in awhile but today I got a book for book club. Planning to read continuously, since it has a lot of pages.
My guest author for the month is Leigh Grant, who has two fiction books in a series and is also the author of many other non-fiction books and illustrator of numerous children's books as well as author and illustrator of her own book. Her bio is here:
BIO:
LEIGH GRANT has degrees in art history and fine art as well as a certificate in appraising fine and decorative art from NYU. She attended Hollins University and during college, studied and lived in Paris for a year. After graduating from Pratt Institute, she worked in London for another year. A former illustrator, with over thirty books to her credit, Grant is currently a writer and an appraiser of fine and decorative art. As a writer, she is fascinated by the Italian Renaissance and the Venetian Empire and has written two historical novels: the award-winning Mask of Dreams and its sequel,her new book, Artimon. She has two children and one grandson and lives in Norwalk, Connecticut. Website: maskofdreams.com.
Ms Grant is too humble about her writing to include these but if you go on her website you will see this very long list of books with accolades. She is the kind of author who is not always promoting herself. Yet her accomplishments are varied and significant. I have known her for years as a member of Greenwich Pen Women and she has served as a president of this group. So I was very happy when she agreed to be a guest author on this blog. I know once you learn more about her you will want to read her books. She writes Renaissance novels now. Having read both of her books I can say they are different, exciting, and educational in a way you don't realize. The research on each of them was impeccable. With this in mind here is the interview with Leigh Grant.
INTERVIEW:
Where were you born and where do you live now?
I was born in Greenwich, CT and live in Norwalk, CT today - didn't get very far.
Besides writing, what is your occupation? Do you have any hobbies?
I was a children's book illustrator until 2008 and that year, I changed professions to appraise fine and decorative art - and write. My hobbies have to do with collecting art and reading books.
Who or what influenced you to begin writing?
I read a series of books by the Scottish writer, Dorothy Dunnett. There were six in each series and I had never read anything that so thoroughly immersed the characters in the time. Often, she dealt with three languages. You knew what the places looked like, the politics of the time, the songs, the verse. The Hilary Mantell books about Cromwell would be comparable except that Dunnett’s hero was fictitious.
That's fascinating. I have never heard of either of these authors. But I think if you're writing historical fiction attention to detail about the period is essential to create the right background atmosphere of the period about which you are writing.
Please describe a typical day of writing for you.
I don't write on a fixed schedule but I usually work on something whether it’s one of several projects or researching and taking notes. You can’t write historical fiction on the Venetian Empire and the Balkans at the end of the 15th century without reading everything you can lay your hands on.
What made you decide to begin your career in London? Do you have any interesting stories about that time?
A friend was going to the Cordon Bleu cooking school and needed a housemate. In London, I fearlessly (or perhaps I should say fearfully) marched up to E. P Dutton and other English publishers with my portfolio and for some reason they gave me jobs. I loved London and England and couldn’t get enough of both. We had English friends and I’m afraid to say when I was there, to fit in, I developed a pseudo English accent. (When we got home, the first thing my mother said was “Get rid of it.”)
One day I had an appointment at HarperCollins and my friend, who went with me, noticed an old lady sitting in a wing chair. They were making something of a fuss about her, bringing her tea, etc. (didn’t bring me tea), and we realized she was the grand old dame of mysteries: Agatha Christie. I was overawed but my friend went right up and introduced herself and shook her hand. (I missed my chance. Phooey.)
Wow! I would say that was a brush with greatness. At least you got to see her. And I think it's hard to live in a place and not develop an accent. I lived in upstate New York and when I got back to New York City my friends and family told me I had an accent.
How did you start illustrating books?
When I went to apply for college, I had a talent for art and wanted to go to art school. The head of the academy where I went to school discouraged that idea as not giving me a good education. So, I made my parents promise I could go to art school afterwards. Poor souls: they did promise and kept their word.) Actually, the college was wonderful and included an entire twelve months living in Paris and traveling in Europe in the summer. I then went to Pratt Institute which was an entirely different experience – every man for himself – BUT people like Maurice Sendak came by to give talks. So, I got a BFA in two years and embarked on illustration.
I was lucky to meet Maurice Sendak at a violin concert for Midori and other musicians. I got a free copy of his last book, though it wasn't signed. But I did speak with him for a few seconds and that was awesome.
You hold a certificate in appraisal. What made you decide to do this?
I collected art and antiques. I have always liked things that are either beautiful or beautifully made and have a history. They don’t have to be American. I live in a part of Norwalk, Silvermine, that hosted an artists’ colony around 1908 and I became very interested in that.
I have read both of your books, Mask of Dreams and Artimon. How did you get the idea to write books like these?
It’s a strange story. When I was still illustrating children’s book and had written one that did pretty well, someone, I no longer remember who, sent me a Chinese tale about a thief who tried to gain the emperor’s daughter through masking and disguise. I really liked the story because it had an interesting twist but I had no wish to compete with the Chinese in a medium in which they excel. Eventually, I realized the story was a love story and children tend to attach love to their parents, animals or friends. That realization took about a year to show me I needed to change direction – so I looked for a similar philosophy being “the beauty of the soul is reflected in the beauty of the face.” I found it in the Platonists in Italy in the 15th century. So, I wrote that story and my thief became a brigand who came from the Balkans and I added some Magic Realism to deal with the mask. The ending is different but you’ll have to read the book to find out.
The second book is a sequel and deals with an on again/off again relationship and the French invasion of Italy in 1495.
Please describe the amount and kind of research you did for each of your books.
If you look around my house, even without the articles I read online or copied in the library, I have at least a thousand books. So probably about a third of those went into writing these two books. However, I do try to stay within my time period so I often read just that part.
You worked as an illustrator for many years. What made you decide to give this up?
I suffered two disasters. At the time, I was working on these popup books on Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt and the economic downturn came along and my English publisher lost not only his business but his house. And I lost my husband, Tony, very suddenly to a brain tumor. I just didn’t want to work in illustration anymore.
That is very sad. I can see why you might want a change. Sadly, we have both lost our husbands. Though this must have been a terrible shock.
Please describe the path to publication for Mask of Dreams.
Well, it was a long path in the company of a wonderful agent without any results with publishers. All my illustrated books, including those I wrote were with recognized publishers but these two were printed by Amazon. Mask, in particular, has won some awards so it isn’t all in the dark. Artimon is relatively new.
How did being a member of a professional critique group help you to write your books?
The group gave me a sounding board and I knew if anything was repeated as criticsm, I needed to work on it. But, it also provided support.
Yes, I agree. This group, to which we both belong, has critiqued both of the sequels to my novel. We always have to sift through criticism and change what several people felt was necessary. It's a great place to find objectivity for your writing.
Are you working on any new books for publication? If so, what are they?
Right now, I’m researching a possible third book in the series but haven’t written much yet. I am also writing up some family stories so that those people in my family won’t be forgotten. (I see this as family only.) Lastly, I’m working on a proposal for an exhibition of art at a Connecticut Museum.
All of this sounds very exciting. I am looking forward to seeing your third book. It's funny how writing a book sometimes triggers another one. That's why I have three books in my series. You are never really finished with some stories.
Please give our readers your website and any social media you are on.
Leigh Grant Author – Facebook
Leigh Grant's website lists all of her books that are too many to put here.
Do you have any in person or online events scheduled for your books? What are they?
I’m working with Nutmeg Lit on that. Just started. Thinking about audio. I need to be more like you, Barbara.
Right. I try not to promote too much. I just joined this group but their events are too far away for me. I think being a part of a group like this is excellent for local authors. I am thinking about doing an audio book but the cost is high.
Finally, my last question is always this. Are you a plotter or a pantser? In other words, do you outline or do you just write?
PANTSER!!!
Leigh, it has been a pleasure having you on the blog. I wish you lots of luck with your future projects. Please come back again for your third book. And as I said, your books are a treat to read. Especially, if you like historical novels with lots of action, danger, and romance.
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"Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn from the depths of his heart, and the mask is torn off."
― Titus Lucretius Carus, De Rerum Natura
In 15th century Venice, Caterina struggles against the inevitability of an arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her father. Powerless, she is consumed by dread as the process spins out of control. The betrothal fails. A letter meant to manage future suitors goes astray. Out of the violence of the Balkans comes Rade, a lawless, charismatic Slav. Having won the letter―containing a belief that the soul's beauty is reflected in the beauty of the face―in a card game, he sees it as the hand of fate.
Though scarred, Rade attempts through the artifice of a lifelike mask, to enter her world of mercantile wealth. To protect Caterina, her father negotiates a lengthy agreement. The mask, meant to be a temporary ruse, becomes, of necessity, permanent. To further complicate the situation for Caterina, a new love interest appears. From fairs to shipwrecks, bull-baiting to rescues, noble house to villa in the hills, the time arrives when Rade is hopelessly entangled in her life. Desperate, he finds he can no longer continue the deception. A choice must be made.
In late 15th century Venice, only four people are aware and accepting of the subterfuge of his undetectable mask, and Rade's true scarred face behind it. His father-in-law urges him to leave Venice and immerse himself in the French invasion of the states of Italy. Create a story. Get rid of the mask. Come back as who you really are - so the rest of the world will accept your scars. He presents Rade with an unruly cavalry horse named Artimon. A gift Rade doesn't want. Rade departs, accompanied by his manservant and friend, Alberico, along with a mule train loaded with grain to sell to the French. Things start going wrong early on. Crossing the Apennines, an accident separates Rade from Alberico and Artimon. Bereft, his young bride, Caterina, struggles to reorder her life and Rade makes the acquaintance of Maria. Thus begins a journey that culminates in the notorious Battle of Fornovo - for Rade, a struggle for survival. His marriage, strained to the breaking point, falters.
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Until the next time, this interview will be here until July 5th. If you liked this interview please leave a comment here or on the Facebook post. Comments are moderated so they won't show up right away.
My second book in the Mill Valley High series, Who Is Jennifer Taylor, is coming out as soon as we can agree on a cover. I am excited to say it will be published by Griffin Publications with Mousumi Sachdeva as the publisher. Check on Facebook for cover reveal when it happens. In the meantime, my first book, If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor is getting great reviews and kids love it.
