(Cross posted to FFF).
Been spending a bit of time preparing for my trip to Europe (only another 40 days!) I can’t believe how quickly it all sneaked up on me, but then again, I’ve had a busy few months, what with revisions, and getting married, and all. I want to thank everyone who gave me advice in my last post. You have no idea how helpful you all were!
So far, I have rooms booked in Rome and London, tickets for the King Tut exhibit and for the Villa Borghese, and I’m slowly winnowing down the list of what else we want to do. Rome, for the most part, will be a “wander around at will” situation, though there are a few day trips I’m dying to take (and I am taking my husband down to Pompeii for an overnight, as he’s never been). And though we both think it’s a super long shot, we might head over to that place in London where you can snag returned and unclaimed tickets last minute to see if there is any chance of catching Ian McKellan doing Lear (hey, a girl can dream!)
The irony of this whole trip is that it was originally envisioned as a research trip for Rampant, but Rampant will be almost done by the time I actually get to go. Mostly, I’m hoping that the trip will help me fill out a few scenes, jogging my memory in terms of setting. Even just researching the trip has been a major inspiration for me. As I read about the places on my “must revisit” list, I was reminded again of why I wanted to use them as settings in my story:
Cerveteri Necropolis: An ancient Etruscan burial site, mostly deserted, and the perfect hideout for creatures who don’t want to be seen.
The Basilica of San Clemente: An 18th century restoration of a medieval church, built on top of a 4th century church, built on top of a Pagan Temple to Mithras, built on top of Roman republican apartment houses. In many ways, this church is a microcosm of all of Rome, and its very existence, each layer adopting form and function from the one below it, each ancient layer becoming more and more lost to the passage of time and the piracy of the succeeding generations… it’s the heart of my story.
Villa Borghese: A large and picturesque park in the north of Rome. Home to the Galleria Borghese, one of my favorite places in all of Rome, and — wonder of wonders — I just realized TONIGHT that it has on display one of the images that jumpstarted the entire story of Rampant: Raphael’s Woman with a Unicorn:
I’ll be able to see her in person! I’m so excited. I don’t even need Lear now.
It’s a bit unusual for me to be doing a research trip this intense. True, setting and location are paramount in the Secret Society Girl series, but for the most part, I was writing about places I knew as well as I knew my own apartment. I’d lived there, on those campus streets, in those dorms and classrooms and tombs and cafes. I’ve visited Rome, but I’m no native (fortunately, neither are my characters!), and, of course, I’ve invented the Cloisters of Ctesias from near-scratch. Carrie Ryan can attest to the challenge I faced describing architecture that I was making up. (Can you believe that was a year ago, Carrie?) But in the end, it’s all worth it. I’m a firm believer that, particularly when you are writing fantasy, you have to get the audience to trust this huge thing you’re making up, so you have ot make sure that everything else is as believable as possible.
Of course, so much of Rome is so otherworldly that maybe I’ll have to tone it down some for the book!
Does the setting inspire you when you write? What kind of research do you do to make sure that it all rings true?
November 21st, 2007 at 8:43 am
First off, I get all giggly when I see you write ‘husband’! I love it!
Hope you have a fantastic trip. I’ve been meaning to ask, is Rampant meant to be a stand alone or do you hope it to be the first in a series?
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November 21st, 2007 at 9:12 am
I am taking my husband
Annie beat me to it, but that same phrase jumped right off the page at me. Congratulations again!
Will you have time to head north to Florence? I suspect there may be some unicorns pastured in the Uffizi Gallery as well.
Raphael’s unicorn looks so cute and cuddly…are you sure they’re as dangerous as you say?
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November 21st, 2007 at 10:40 am
>>Will you have time to head north to Florence? I suspect there may be some unicorns pastured in the Uffizi Gallery as well.
< <
I’d expect some in the Piazza della Signoria and even maybe at the Duomo.
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November 21st, 2007 at 10:42 am
That’s funny, Annie, and Bill!
Annie, Rampant stands alone… with potential.
Bill, we’ll only be in Rome (and Pompeii) on this trip, though I’ve spent many many hours in the Uffizi in the past. It is this painting, in particular, that is important to the story.
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November 21st, 2007 at 11:55 am
Yep, seeing the word husband brought a huge smile to my face as well.
Hope you guys have a great time.
I research everything I can from weather to special functions happening at different times of the year. I listen to music from the area, read travel books, look at maps, and anything I can find on the web. Even if the book is set in today I still research the history of the place.
Funny thing is in the beginning I so didn’t like all the research but now I love it. Each book and with every new place I begin to feel like it’s my home.
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November 21st, 2007 at 12:36 pm
You know, I’ve never written a story where the setting was anything other than ANYtown, USA. I like to think I create a clear picture of the style of the houses, the way the city is laid out, and what kind of landscape they have, but my stories don’t really depend on setting. I think it sounds really exciting though to write something where you need to take a research trip! I mean, really, Rome? Twist my arm
I love the little unicorn in the painting. I love that that sweet little package harbours gifts of terror and destruction.
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November 21st, 2007 at 9:35 pm
The basilica of San Clemente (especially what’s underneath) is one of my favourite places in Rome. You’ve just sold a copy of your book.
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November 22nd, 2007 at 12:28 am
Music from the area is a great Idea! I’ve also been doing some musical research, but it’s more for plot than for setting. I’ve been researching weaving songs and the hymns of Hildegarde von Bingen. (I know! It all ties together, I promise!)
Vicki, I”m so impressed by how much research you do! I tend to do a lot of research, and then fudge stuff to fit the story anyway…
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November 22nd, 2007 at 12:31 am
I love the little unicorn in the painting. I love that that sweet little package harbours gifts of terror and destruction.
Yep, that’s the idea exactly.
Actually, the one she’s holding is a special TYPE of unicorn…
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November 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 am
The basilica of San Clemente (especially what’s underneath) is one of my favourite places in Rome. You’ve just sold a copy of your book
Wow, thanks, Lucy! You just made my day. Actually, I”m a bit nervous now, since what I’ve done is, um, *appropriate* San Clemente for my devious literary purposes…
But it’s one of my fave places too. I always go when I visit. I even dragged my family along on my last trip though they didn’t seem excited at all — until they got there. Then they loved it!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 am
Dude, that painting is so cool and makes so much sense! Totally appropriate!!
I can’t believe it was a whole year ago! Imagine what’s happened in that past year!!!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 10:46 am
Have you considered going to Poland instead? I hear it’s far less boring.
Justine
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November 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Oh, cool your upcoming trip sounds fantastic. I haven’t been to Italy since ‘81, but would love to go again.
Pompeii was amazing to see. Only we didn’t realize you could even stay there overnight (whoever said all university students are smart?), so we trained it as a day trip from Rome.
Can you get to Herculeneum? I’ve heard it’s even better than Pompeii.
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