Christy English's Blog, page 49
September 7, 2011
Butterflies at Blackwater Falls State Park
When I look at this video, I wish I had been able to do a better job of capturing the beauty of Blackwater Falls in West Virginia. The sound of the water in the background is almost overpowering, but I hope the view of the greenery makes up for the noise. The Falls come in [...]
September 5, 2011
Serenity
Instead of writing about writing, which is, as always, my current obsession, here is a video that I took last summer in the serenity and peace of the mountains of West Virgina. A old range that made me wonder what tales this place might tell, if mountains could talk…
September 2, 2011
Writing Requires Ruthlessness
I have been batting around the idea for this blog post for the past few days as I hunker down and indulge myself in the writing of a first draft. It occurred to me that it is not enough to simply sit down and write. Time must be made for this work, time actually must [...]
August 31, 2011
Living in the Cave: Writing a First Draft
A lot of my friends online and elsewhere have asked me: what do I mean by living in the Cave? Obviously I don't actually live in the woods, or even within a hundred miles of an actual cave. So am I on a writing retreat? Have I become a hermit? The answer is yes and [...]
August 29, 2011
Shakespeare in Love: Eleanor Gives Me Time Off
I am used to asking Eleanor of Aquitaine for a day off. Sometimes even a weekend if I'm traveling. And my lady and muse is always very generous and allows me the time I need, because she knows that when I come back to the chair, I will work even harder for her. But lately, [...]
August 26, 2011
Why I Love Eleanor
Archive Week on my blog is ending, and of course, once again, I write about Eleanor of Aquitaine. This post originally ran on April 29, 2011. Vive la Reine! I love to write about Eleanor of Aquitaine because she always surprises me. Even though she is an historical figure and the events of her life [...]
August 24, 2011
Eleanor of Aquitiane and the Scandal of Raymond of Antioch
This post was first published on June 8, 2011. As Usual, I can never get enough of Eleanor. Eleanor of Aquitaine was plagued by many scandals in her lifetime. During her years in the Parisian court, she was always held up as an example of a queen who was lacking: a woman who lacked a son, [...]
August 22, 2011
Eleanor of Aquitaine: The Mother of Kings
This week is Archive Week here on my blog. Today I am running a post that first came online on March 28, 2011. As always, I can never get enough of Eleanor…. Long after my second novel, TO BE QUEEN begins, Eleanor of Aquitaine wears two crowns in her lifetime as Queen of France and later Queen of [...]
August 19, 2011
Desiree: Napoleon's First Love
When I was in high school, more years ago than I care to count, I had the pleasure of reading DESIREE by Annemarie Selinko. I loved this novel of Napoleon's first love, a woman who lived to see the end of the Revolution and the fall of Napoleon's empire. She went on to become Queen [...]
August 17, 2011
Juliet Grey and BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE
Like so many people, I am fascinated by Marie Antoinette, and have looked forward to Juliet Grey's trilogy about the life of this doomed queen. I have bought the novel, BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE. Before I dive in, I wanted to post the book trailer here. After reading MISTRESS OF THE REVOLUTION, I feel as if [...]
