Gary Inbinder was one of my fellow authors at Drollerie Press, which recently closed its doors. Since that leaves him temporarily without an Internet venue, I offered to host a guest post about his new book. After all, I’m quite fond of Victorian settings myself:
“Hi Fraser! Thanks for inviting me to post on your blog. My new novel, The Flower to the Painter, explores some big themes, including gender bias and the effect of the marketplace on culture within the context of what I believe is an engaging and compelling read, especially for those intrigued by the late Victorian period. Here’s a brief synopsis:
Marcia Brownlow, a young, unemployed American
governess in late nineteenth century Italy, masquerades as
a man to advance her career. She adopts the persona of
her dead brother Mark and becomes the protégée of Arthur
Wolcott, a famous American expatriate author who
discovers Marcia’s artistic talent. Wolcott introduces his
protégée to wealthy art patrons in Florence, Venice, Paris,
and London, including three women who, deceived as to
Marcia’s sex, fall in love with the captivating artist.
Marcia emulates her idol, the great English landscape
artist William Turner. As she develops her skills, James
Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and Sir Frederic Leighton,
the leader of the London art establishment, praise her
paintings of Florence and Venice. However, on the eve of
her greatest triumph, Marcia’s first love returns to threaten
her with exposure and scandal.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Victorians, and have read about them extensively in literature of the period, historical Fiction, and non-fiction. And I’ve found the Merchant Ivory films and BBC productions a great resource as well. Nevertheless, I had to research quite a bit, especially to get enough detail on those painters, like Sir Frederick Leighton, who are not so well known today. I also had to do a good deal of reading to get Marcia’s voice right. It’s a challenge for a man of any era to write from the perspective of a woman, and even more so from the point of view of a woman from a much different time and place.
I believe my novel will appeal to readers of historical fiction, and especially to those who like art related themes and are fans of writers like Stephanie Cowell, Susan Vreeland and Tracy Chevalier.
By the way, I’ve already received compliments and questions about the cover art. The painting is, “A Morning Walk,” by John Singer Sargent.
The Flower to the Painter is available in Trade Paperback and e-book on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble online and from other retailers. Thanks again for inviting me to your blog.”
You’re very welcome.
