When I am working on a novel, I have no time for recreational reading. Since I write historical fiction, I burn up many hours poring through source materials: newspaper archives, biographies, letters, memoirs, military records, insurance policies, genealogy charts, maps, history books, etc. My mornings and afternoons are consumed doing research and crafting prose, and … Continue reading The Legacy Continues
Alexandre Dumas
Life and Legacy
What is a legacy? If you look to the dictionary for an answer, the first definition that pops up is money or property left to someone in a will. The second definition is somewhat abstract, but it is the more interesting one. A legacy is something we inherit from a predecessor. In this second scenario, … Continue reading Life and Legacy
The Tacky Tie
The medical receptionist at the other end of the phone did not want to schedule an appointment for me. She insisted that I needed to see a specialist. “But it was the specialist who referred me to Dr. X,” I pointed out. “Yes, sweetie, I know that. But you need to see the specialist.” This … Continue reading The Tacky Tie
Blooming and Bearing
All of the roses in my garden have been in full bloom for at least a couple of weeks, but it was just this morning that I noticed there were several red and white blossoms on the guava tree. The olive tree is loaded with tiny off-white buds, and one of my pomegranates has several … Continue reading Blooming and Bearing
Memories and Montmartre
Last Saturday, a photo service emailed me a “memory.” It was a picture I took of tombstones in a Paris cemetery. The caption, “Bring your memories to life,” made me laugh. Six years ago, I had finished writing the draft of A Moon Garden and was becoming frustrated at my lack of success in finding … Continue reading Memories and Montmartre
The Approach of Winter
In late autumn, my garden requires a lot of care. Grape vines, roses, and pomegranates need drastic pruning, and the dense mat of fallen fig leaves cannot be ignored. Yet amidst all of these signs of degradation, there is a sparse crop of guavas and a bounty of lemons. The kumquats are still ripening on … Continue reading The Approach of Winter
Roxane Gilbert 