D.M. Denton's Blog, page 28

Meet My Main Character: Donatella: Beyond A House Near Luccoli

I was kindly tagged by the fine historical fiction author, Kim Rendfeld, to participate in the ‘Meet My Main Character (of a work in progress or soon to be published novel)’ blog tour. I highly recommend Kim’s published novel, The Cross and the Dragon (my review), and encourage you to read about her soon-to-be-released second novel, The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar.

Great Hall Wroxton Abbey

I can report that the sequel to my literary historical fiction, A House Near Luccoli, is nearly finished. The story continues for its fictional protagonist with her arrival in England. Before long, she encounters the residents of Wroxton Abbey, both active in the Court of Charles II: Lord Francis North, Keeper of the Great Seal, and his younger brother, Roger, who is a member of the King’s Council. Roger North is a major player in the novel, a fascinating young man who left a wealth of written material on a wide range of subjects and offered great insight into the intellectual, cultural and political changes taking place in the England of his time. Donatella finds a quiet but not uneventful life in the pastoral setting of Wroxton.  Of course, she is haunted by past possibilities (and impossibilities), the lure of music and its masters not done with her yet. The divine Henry Purcell and a few other composers and musicians of the time make appearances, including one (or two) Donatella first encountered in the house near Luccoli.

 

Duck Pond & Cottage, Wroxton, England

 

Here are my answers to the questions that are a part of this blog tour: 

1)      What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

The central character of the novel I’m currently working on is the fictional Donatella, who first appeared in A House Near Luccoli, published by All Things That Matter Press, which imagined her friendship and collaboration with the brilliant but ill-fated 17th century Italian composer, Alessandro Stradella.

 

2)      When and where is the story set?

The timing of the novel is late Restoration England, May 1682 – June 1683. It’s predominantly set in Wroxton, a small village in Oxfordshire near Banbury (of “Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross …” nursery rhyme fame) that is rich in history:

From wroxton.org.uk:

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the village probably takes its name from “Wroces Stan” meaning buzzards’ stone.  In ancient times the village was crossed by various trackways, including the Saltway, the route from the Worcester salt works to London.

It was in the Middle Ages and the establishment of Wroxton Abbey , however, that the village began to flourish.  

In 1537 the lease was obtained by Sir Thomas Pope who held various positions at the court of Henry VIII including that of Guardian to the Princess Elizabeth.  Sir Thomas, who founded Trinity College Oxford, bestowed the estates to Trinity, although he reserved the rights for the Pope family and their descendants to remain tenants of the estate.  During the reign of James I the original Priory was razed by fire.  In 1618 Sir William Pope, Earl of Downe, built the main part of the present “Abbey”.  In 1668 upon the death of the Fourth Earl the estate was inherited by his sister, Lady Frances, who married Sir Francis North (later Lord Keeper of the Great Seal).  Sir Francis purchased the outstanding shares of the leases and was subsequently created the 1st Baron Guilford in 1683.  The Abbey remained the residence of the Norths for the next 270 years.  Perhaps the most famous Lord North was the 2 nd   Earl of Guilford who was Prime Minister during the loss of the American Colonies.

The novel also ‘visits’ a few other locations, including nearby Broughton Castle, a medieval manor house that was and still is home to the Fiennes family (yes—actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes are part of that clan) and Oxford, which is about 30 miles south of Wroxton. I might add that I lived in Wroxton from 1974 until 1990, including in the Abbey itself.

 

3)      What should we know about Donatella?

She’s a reserved spinster but at the same time imaginative and curious: a quiet rebel with covert passions and artistic sensibilities, all of which stir her to write and paint. She was born and bred in Genoa where she lived with her maternal and musical side of the family until her mid-thirties. Part of the back story to A House Near Luccoli is that Donatella’s mother had left Genoa with her father when he returned to his native England after retiring as a merchant seaman. Donatella decided to stay behind to care for her beloved grandmother who was once a fairly successful singer and, even while slowly dying, expressed her unconventionality and love of life’s intrigues and intimacies. Donatella is much more controlled and cautious than her nonna,  but, through one novel and then the next, her story is shaped by similar longings and motivations.

In reviews of A House Near Luccoli, others have described Donatella as: “restless”; “a nerdy cat lady”; “a sweet woman with the soul of an artist”; a lovely, loving woman”; “her longings war with her own simple reality”; “a timid woman with an artist’s fiery spirit inside, who has somehow managed to lose her life to her own daydreams.”

 

4)      What is Donatella’s main conflict?

It would seem her main struggle is with the 17th century constraints on a woman pursuing intellectual and creative interests, and the stigma of one who has never married. My sense in developing her character and storyline was that such external societal limitations and judgments only accentuated the internal struggles she would have had in any period of history, even present times; caught, as she was, between the practical and artistic, compliant and willful, reclusive and receptive, fearful and intrepid sides of herself.

 

5)      What is Donatella’s personal goal?

Initially, she feels that she wants to disappear again, not so much to heal from grief but to be companioned by it, not to regret the past but be defined by it. Eventually, she discovers that her passions have not died with what encouraged and excited them; and that she isn’t haunted by what might have been because she should discard her hopes for the future, but to reinvent them.

 

6)      Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

The title of the novel is To A Strange Somewhere Fled, taken from the poem/song, The Despair, by Abraham Cowley, first published in 1683:

No comfort to my wounded sight,

In the Suns busie and imperti’nent light,

Then down I lay my head;

Down on cold earth; and for a while was dead,

And my freed soul to a strange somewhere fled.

 

You can read more about To A Strange Somewhere Fled and keep updated on its progress towards publication on my blog, bardessdmdenton, website, dmdenton-author-artist.com and, also, on my Facebook pages, DM Denton and A House Near Luccoli.

 

7)      When can we expect the book to be published?

My hope is for it to be published later in the year or by early 2015.

So, if you haven’t yet read Donatella’s adventures with the inimitable Alessandro Stradella in A House Near Luccoli, there’s plenty of time to do so before the follow-up tale of how she moves on is available.

I’ve tagged five other wonderful authors. In breaking a little with the rules of this particular blog tour, they come from a variety of genres and one will be posting about their very recently released novel. They will be making their main character posts in about a week.

*Marina Julia-Neary: author of the recently released Never Be at Peace 

Marie Laval: author of The Lion’s Embrace

Maggie Tideswell: author of Dark Moon

Ina Schroder-Zeeders: author of poetry anthologies (Veritas and Amore), and many novels in Dutch. She is currently writing her first one in English.

Mary Clark: author of Tally: An Intuitive Life

*Marina Julia-Neary’s post will appear in about a week right here on my blog.

 

Thank you so much for visiting!

 

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Simply Speaking…It’s May! It’s Daisy May!

Another re-post, but hope you enjoy again or for the first time!

 

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

In forgotten places
  there are daisies
  to love
  whether I am
  or not
  call them dogged or
  ox-eyed or
  Marguerite
  by any name
  they are still
  a treat.

 

This illustration and poem is from my publication, A Friendship with Flowers, available at amazon.com and now 10% off.

Here’s a new review by Christine Moran of journeyintopoetry and perfectimperfection:

A delightful exploration of the Oxfordshire countryside in a book of exquisite flower illustrations and delicate verse

In A Friendship with Flowers by D M Denton, a very talented author, poet and artist, we are taken on a gentle meander through the Oxford countryside where she not only lived for several years but breathed, absorbed and became part of her beautiful surroundings. This gorgeous book contains the author’s own exquisite illustrations of a variety of flowers from hedgerow and garden, all accompanied by mellow poetic verses in her own inimitable style.

Here is an example – of The Honeysuckle the author writes:-
By the back door/the night comes in as sweet/as honey is to eat, like nectar/to the moths and bees/who suckle all they please;/while I can never get enough/of the scent/that can climb trees.

This is a book to treat yourself to or give to a loved one as a very special gift. It uplifts and delights at the turn of every page and is, without doubt, one to treasure.

Happy May Everyone!

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

A Pleasing terror

bardessdmdenton:

I want to pass on the word about this new publication, which is already on my kindle! You can only expect the best from Bennison Books, which specializes in quality ebooks editions of:

Contemporary Classics – Selected works by contemporary writers

Non-Fiction – Useful and interesting works of non-fiction

People’s Classics – Handpicked golden oldies by favourite and forgotten authors

Bennison Books’ motto is ‘Every good book is a blessing.’ And, so, you will be very blessed if you check out “Ghost Writings” and more by this first-class publisher.

Originally posted on Bennison Books:

New from Bennison Books…

Ghost Writings explores the contribution made by leading and lesser-known authors to the ghost story genre. It features biographical information about all the authors covered as well as additional fascinating material, including M. R. James’ essay about ghost story fiction; an entry on the mysterious ‘B’; a list of recommended short stories; and a brief overview of research into supernatural phenomena and some of the more famous first-hand accounts of ghostly encounters.

Golden age
Perhaps too often underestimated and dismissed as lightweight entertainment, it is notable that between 1820 and 1950, a period known today as the golden age of British ghost fiction, the traditional ghostly tale was adopted as a mainstream literary form by a number of the era’s leading writers; they were keen to grapple with and master the form, recognising the challenges it posed and how fiendishly difficult it is to write successful ghostly…

View original 210 more words

Easter Poem: Doubt and Belief

I’m reposting this from a couple of years ago. Hope there are a few who haven’t seen it before. For those who have, hope it still retains some freshness for you.
To all …
Blessings for Easter, Passover and the miracle of spring!

 

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

A promise

was thought unlikely

by Thomas

A cold wind

all that could be felt

at the end

A weeping

for what had been lost

in sleeping

A patience

in followers of

obeisance

 

A sign for

the power of such

endless love

A rising

not just of the sun

surprising

A new world

so great and simply

unfurled

A promise

no longer doubted

by Thomas

 

 

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

It Happened Quite by Chance

I am reposting this … today marks the birthday of the late Owain Phyfe, who this post is in memory of.
4/9/49 … the day the music was born … the music that was Owain: https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/OwainPhyfeTheNewWorldRenaissan
7/7/1994 … the day that, for me … it happened quite by chance …

It was wonderful to hear from a dear friend a few days ago. Sasha Raykov is one of the most entertaining and elusive of the very talented musicians who performed with Owain Phyfe, a unique and charismatic singer of songs who died far too soon in September of last year. The music they made together was, for me, haunting long before it actually was.

Sasha sent me a mix of a concert he had done with Owain at the Bloomington Early Music Festival (Indiana – Sasha’s son, Alex, was studying music there) in May 2002 with the permission to share.

Owain Phyfe

I invite you to treat yourself to some beautiful music.  To listen to the concert click below:
‘Once Upon A Timeless Journey’ Part I
‘Once Upon A Timeless Journey’ Part II

Review of the concert from the Bloomington Herold-Times:

Owain Phyfe … served as guide, as conductor, as driver, as magician, really as singer and guitarist and story teller. Phyfe’s “Once Upon A Timeless Journey” proved a delightful pleasure. With his inviting, craftily used light tenor, he negotiated his time capsule to show that folk traditions have remained constant, that the catchy melodies of close to 1,000 years ago – or 400 – are just as winning today, and that no matter what language they’re sung in – English or French or Welsh or Latin or German or Italian or Spanish or Hungarian or Russian or what have you – they translate musically and thematically so that they can be easily understood.

Sasha Raykov

The tenor/story teller was not alone in his performance space. He had a partner, verbally silent but very much a presence, the provider of accompaniment, a bearded bear of a man named Sasha Raykov. And, it was Raykov who had the genius to make the bass viola da gamba an interesting instrument, far from the bland, personality-less sound-maker it more normally is. He bowed. He strummed. He made those strings dance and sing and laugh and cry. His was a virtuosic exhibition, at every moment completing partner Phyfe’s front-and-center showmanship. Their unusual program, part of the Bloomington Early Music Festival, cast a different light on music of Medieval and Renaissance times. But though the expressions were old, the messages were ageless. At one point, in joyous, bouncing manner, Phyfe sang: “Winter is coming with all its unpleasantness, but here in this valley, the flowers will still bloom and the birds sing.” He called it a 21st century message. It was nice to be reminded.” Read in full and see photos from the concert.

It is strange that only last week I came upon—buried in the bottom of a cabinet whose doors ‘spontaneously’ flew opened and scattered its contents across the floor—a poem I had written and some precious photographs of Owain, Sasha, and other special friends. When I received the email from Sasha, I thought how perfect to share all in one post.

Here is the poem I wrote many many years ago (I have fought off my compulsion to revise):

Diane at Renaissance Faire

It happened quite by chance;

a flutist made the notes to dance,

and the birds to echo song after song

(they thought he was echoing theirs);

a little more of heaven came along,

her harp held close to her heart

as if caught by cupid’s dart,

music loved so constantly there;

then the fiddler with an easy air,

no matter how difficult to play

his soul’s strings must have their say.

One by one and altogether

they entertained the summer weather

(a gamba, lute, any dream joining in)

the hours passing like a sigh

with those, like me, who happened by;

a little sojourn in the past

for some, like me, had come at last.

(Nothing missing until something was)

Suddenly a voice as it was needed

in melodies of words so gladly heeded

by the hopes of mind and heart

because the two should never part;

on bended knee it found me there,

another stranger at the fair.

Cantiga at Sterling (NY) Renaissance Faire

With Cantiga and The New World Band

the past and present went hand in hand

into a future that promised so much more

of the sweetness of song that had come before,

(the memory as much a vision)

of those instruments of old,

and ageless stories to be told

by all those writers of such choice

who needed a fresh voice

to keep their gentle, thoughtful spirits alive

so beauty and reason could survive.

Thus I was complete—

I found my music in the shaded heat;

and even as I had to go

I knew that I would always know

when life was at its best for me

(with the magic of its sound)

in early music to live and dream equally.

DM Denton July 1996

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

 ©Artwork, writing, and photography, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Truth Stranger Than Fiction

I would have disappeared but for the sound of your acquaintance

that found me dressed in flowers and waiting for the wind in the trees.

 

 

I would not have imagined another encounter without the paradox of you, or found myself in a past that became my future in your absence.

 

My writing life might have been barren but for you. Even the waiting for you. And the letting go. Especially, the wanting to hold on.

 

Our story is now buried and visited by strangers. That is how it is told.

 

I “knew” Alessandro Stradella. I recognized his distinct voice, his swaying form, his infectious smile, and his wandering heart. I had witnessed the rise and fall of his talents, how his music had showered him with forgiveness if not fortune.

 

Before her was a gracious creature, especially his hands composing in mid-air and eyes shifting slowly in observation and expression. His hair was an admission of the recklessness that got him in trouble, the vagrancy of his genius making him too accessible. Without music’s influence he might not wander like a prince among his subjects, although who could think that was all there was to him?

~  From A House Near Luccoli

Happy Birthday

Alessandro Stradella

extraordinary Baroque Composer

born April 3, 1639

 

 

 

 

©Artwork, writing and photography unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Cracked Pot – Repost

Thought this one was appropriate to repost with yet another blast of snow forecasted for Western New York tonight and tomorrow; and, also, as I sink further into the sweet lunacy that seems to be unavoidable as I finish a second novel.  Apologies for my absence from your blogs – hopefully, soon I will have more free time and mind-energy! Thank you for your patience.

English Robin Copyright by DM Denton

Looking for a little relief.

The pot is cracked from the cold,

the lavender scented like summer;

spring bulbs show impatience

while knowing they must wait.

©Artwork, writing and photography unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Journeying to Ireland

Previously, I’ve shared how I went there a woman and came back a child with my eyes full of the clouds coming over the mountains.

Going through letters from England, now to myself, I found some further thoughts on my three journeys to Ireland that took me halfway home but all the way to where I needed to be.

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

♣ A spring Sunday in Dublin, Christ’s little brides happy to celebrate with a meal at McDonalds

♣ From coast to coast, covered in cowslips and folksongs

♣ Not a limerick heard, not even in its place where we stayed to hear a harp’s angel

♣ Bumping along in coaches with windows steamed and destinations , like the weather, constantly changing

♣ The mystery of alpine flowers on the Burren’s stony paradise

♣ Orchids not for picking

♣ Layers of streets, a lunch of mussels and beer, and buying old postcards in Galway

♣ Thoughts swept away by the cliffs of Moher

♣ Secluded coves with sandy beaches

♣ The mile long dream of Dingle, being Ryan’s daughter, tea with Peggy and tales of Gregory Peck

♣ Shrine at Slea head, the edge of the world

♣ A ring in Kerry that never broke its promise

♣ Starlings descending on Killarney

♣ Muckross magic in mossy woods, botanical gardens, mist shrouded mountains and mirror-clear lakes

♣ Rhododendrons and fuchsias wilder than anywhere else would allow

♣ The meeting of the waters and differing reasons for being there

♣ Miles and miles of freedom on a bicycle

♣ Airy woods of oak and ash and silver birch, feathery fern, lichen dripping and moss imagining a smaller world

♣ Fields of gorse and heather blending yellow and purple

♣ Sunshine and rain breezing in and out, taking turns to create the artist’s view

♣ Water, water everywhere, all around and in-between

♣ Sudden cascades and corners of serenity

♣ Train station benches turned for looking the other way

♣ A cottage for a week, stray cats at the door, peat burning slowly and sweetly, wild mushrooms and blackberries for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

♣ A thousand welcomes from new friends who would never be old

♣ Not a day or night without a smile and a song

♣ So much more to remember than forget

And so I return, again and again.

And as a bonus, from St. Patrick’s ‘Breastplate’ Prayer:

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit heaven,

The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea,

Around the old eternal rocks.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Diane on Dingle Beach 1983

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Repost: An Artist Revealed

To continue the celebration of my mom’s birthday, and, also, to anticipate spring on this day of two-inch per hour falling snow, fierce winds and plummeting temperatures in Western New York …

By my mom, June ©

The secrets of your heart

are stacked against the wall,

canvases for your art

of hiding what you missed.
No mistaking your style,

a freedom out of hand

that kept you all the while

believing as you wished.
A world that long was yours

before it was revealed—

imagination soars

with courage its master.
 Flowers filling a place

left bereft of your own,

a portrait in a vase

found by me, your daughter.
Landscapes take you afar,

cats and soup bring you home

to settle for who you are:

the author of this poem.

~ DM Denton

By my mom, June ©

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton . Thank you.

June in March

My mom, June, is 85 today!
We are celebrating with another blessed day together and dinner of shrimp cocktails, homemade ricotta-gnocchi and carrot cake! Mom prefers to stay home, surrounded by views of our lingering winter and the ever-pleasurable antics and unconditional love of our five kitty-boys.
Many of you know that she is a talented artist, as I have shared her paintings here before.
And, so, that is how I celebrate her 85th birthday with those of you who have wandered this way.

 

Once upon a time

I planned to be an artist

or celebrity.

A song I thought to write one day

and all the world with homage pay.

I longed to write a noble book,

but what I did–

was learn to cook.

For life with simple tasks is filled,

and I have done not what

I willed!

Written by my mom, June, in her journal, 1985

Her poem speaks to the sacrifices I know she has made, but does not do justice to the fullness, intelligence, creativity and importance of her life.

You can discover a little more about my mom through two short stories I’ve written based on her childhood memories.  She is a wealth of fascinating memories, which I’m sure will continue to inspire me, especially as I know how much it means to her when they do.  The Snow White Gift and The Library Next Door are available in Kindle editions  Remember you don’t need a Kindle device to read them – there’s an app for that!

Click here for information about The Snow White Gift and The Library Next Door.

“It take a long time to become young” -Pablo Picasso
Happy Birthday, Mom!
You are certainly 85 years young!