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Taking inspiration from the music of nature

When I am staying at my home in France, I love to take long walks by the sea and hear the rhythmic sound of the water lapping, or sometimes crashing, on the sand. I sit in my garden and listen to the chorus of the cicadas and the drone of the bees attracted to my lavender. In Ireland, I go for walks in the woodland near my home, to the sound of the leaves stirred by the breeze and the birds singing high up in the trees and the merry tinkling of a little stream.

‘The End’ of the story, but never of love

‘True love stories never have endings.’ So wrote American author Richard Bach.

Taking inspiration from a muse

In Ancient Greek mythology, there were nine goddesses for the arts and sciences: Calliope for epic poetry, Clio for history, Erato for love poetry, Euterpe for music and songs and lyric poetry, Melpomene for tragedy, Polyhymnia for hymns, Terpsichore for dance, Thalia for comedy and Urania for astronomy. These muses, as they were known, inspired mortals in their creations.

Favourite romantic artworks

One of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon is to visit an art gallery. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to visit some of the biggest art galleries and museums in the world, like the Louvre in Paris and the Tate galleries in London, but I love to visit small galleries too; one of my favourites is the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice, near my home in France, which has a beautiful Rodin sculpture.

Print books favoured over ebooks

On Monday, I posted an article celebrating eight years of blogging here. Over those years, I have revisited certain themes in my articles, and one of those is the ‘print versus ebook’ debate.

Celebrating eight years of blogging: my favourite posts on books

This month marks eight years since I began writing this blog. Over those years, I have enjoyed writing about a range of subjects relating to my fiction, from culture to mythology, romance to philosophy, publishing to writing.

The magnificent villas of Lake Como

When I decided upon Italy as the setting for my new novel, Concerto, I knew at once where I would set the story: beautiful, timeless Lake Como. More specifically, I knew the story would unfold in a villa, since the area is famous for these grand, belle époque residences with magnificent gardens of rare trees, exotic flowers and broad lawns, and narrow pink or mellow yellow stone staircases leading down to the edge of the lake.

The enduring idea of soulmates

‘[H]e’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.’ So said Cathy of Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights.

Healing with music: The Mozart effect

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) was, without doubt, one of the greatest composers to have ever lived. In his short life he composed more than 600 works, many of which continue to be performed by musicians today. His music is popular the world over, and in the most recent poll for Classic FM’s Hall of Fame (2019), three of his pieces featured in the top-twenty list. Here is his most popular work on the list, the Clarinet Concerto in A Major.

The view from the water: setting the scene in my romance novels

My home in the south of France overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, and for a few days each summer, to quote William Wordsworth, ‘With ships the sea [is] sprinkled far and nigh’. The event is called Les Voiles de St Tropez, and it is a sailing regatta that takes place in the gulf of St Tropez (you can learn more about it in my article ‘The romance – and sensuality – of sailing’). I love to sit on my terrace and watch the white sails moving across the ocean, like a kaleidoscope of white butterflies in the bluest of skies.

On writing ‘drunk’ and editing sober

There is a very simple reason I am a writer: I love writing. I love the experience of taking ideas in my imagination and realising them on the page; I love the sense of magic that unfolds as the muse guides the pen; I love to be immersed in a fictional world and to create.

The innocent heroine in love

At the start of my latest novel Concerto, the heroine, Catriona, is balancing on the line between girl and woman. She is eighteen, and in some ways she has an adult perspective. For example, she has been career-minded for some time.

On sudden inspiration, and ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’

‘Inspiration strikes’ is a common term, and as a writer, I understand why. Once you let writing into your life, your imagination is always active, always open, and sometimes out of nowhere an idea comes to you, like a bolt from the blue. Invariably, this happens when you are doing something completely unrelated to writing – cooking, bathing, walking.

A man in the shadows: Light and darkness in Concerto

Umberto, hero of my new novel Concerto, is a man who is comfortable in the spotlight. He has grown up the son of a celebrated opera diva, and has honed his own musical talent to become a pianist composer, a rising star in the world of classical music. When my heroine, Catriona, goes to see Umberto perform in concert at the Nice opera house, she is absolutely mesmerised by his playing – and by the charismatic man himself:

Making books accessible with ebook versions

When I wrote my first novel, Burning Embers, there was no such thing as an ebook. My dream was simply to see the book in print; to hold the novel in my hands. By the time I came to publish Burning Embers, however, the digital revolution was in full swing. My publisher informed me that the novel would be simultaneously published in print and ebook formats.

Writing the book you want to read: Inspiration from the late Toni Morrison

‘If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’

A trip to Comacina Island, Lake Como

My new novel, Concerto, is set on Lake Como. There, music therapist Catriona comes to Villa Monteverdi to work with Umberto, a pianist composer who has lost his sight, and his will to compose.

Books as treasure: valuable first editions

‘I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure.’ So wrote Virginia Woolf, and how right she was, in more ways than one. Of course, libraries are full of amazing books to inform and entertain and inspire – but they can also contain treasures of real monetary value.

‘Ich grolle nicht’: Singing from the heart in my novel Concerto

At the heart of my new novel Concerto is music – beautiful, poignant and cathartic.

Originality in writing: an impossible ideal?

Back in Shakespeare’s day, a writer was expected to copy a classical work; ‘unnecessary invention’ was frowned upon. According to Jack Lynch, in his article ‘The Perfectly Acceptable Practice of Literary Theft: Plagiarism, Copyright, and the Eighteenth Century’, it was only in the 18th century that originality became an ideal. But is this an impossible ideal?

On writing strong, independent heroines

Do you remember the first time you experienced Romeo and Juliet? For me, it was in my early teens, sitting in the audience of a playhouse and watching actors interpret Shakespeare’s classic lines. I found the romance between Romeo and Juliet so beautiful, especially the balcony scene.

‘We must be treated as equals’: Louis Braille’s genius invention and my novel Concerto

In my latest novel, Concerto, music therapist Catriona travels to Lake Como, Italy, to work with a new client. Umberto was once a celebrated pianist composer, but since he went blind he has lost all interest in composing. He is embittered, recalcitrant and depressed, and Catriona has her work cut out trying to guide him back to the piano.

La Traviata, Madam Butterfly and Carmen: operatic inspirations for my writing

Opera is a key theme in my novel Concerto. The heroine, Catriona, is a young woman who dreams of becoming an opera singer. She has the passion, and the talent: she attends the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice, and has made the final in a competition to earn a place at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris, which would launch her career in the world of opera. Then she meets composer Umberto Rolando Monteverdi, and her life takes an entirely unexpected twist.

Making your local library your haven

Last week, libraries were in the news in Britain: firstly, because Essex County Council reversed its decision to close 25 of its 74 libraries after extensive pressure from the public (and, helpfully, some celebrities); and secondly, because The Bookseller reported that book loans at libraries in the UK have ‘plummeted

‘Soul-stirring’ views from the water

Each summer, from my garden in France, I watch a sailing regatta called Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. There is something so romantic about the sight of all those sailboats sweeping across the ocean. But given a choice, I would always be aboard a boat rather than watching it from the

A view to inspire: Castle Hill, Nice

In my new book, Concerto, the story begins in Nice, on the French Riviera. My heroine, Catriona, is an aspiring opera singer who lives with her mother in Vieux Nice, the old town, at the foot of Castle Hill. I chose this setting for the opening of the book with

Audiobooks: The power of oral storytelling

One of my earliest memories is of a castle. Turrets so tall they touched the clouds, beautiful gardens and a princess running across the lawn, her long train sweeping behind her. Why was she running? Well, she was away to do battle with a dragon (my princesses ran toward danger,

Finding freedom and serenity on horseback in Concerto

The hero of my new novel, Concerto, is a man in pain, struggling in the darkness, both emotional and physical, brought on by going blind. When music therapist Catriona meets Umberto, she can see that there is much work to do if he is to live with passion and humour

How to write a romance novel, the Hannah Fielding way

Whenever I release a new book, interviewers commonly ask me about my writing habits – what are my sources of inspiration; do I plan or write off-the-cuff; where do I write? Here’s a little guide to writing a romance novel, the Hannah Fielding way. I’m sure all sorts of other

Scent: the powerful, and lasting, ingredient in attraction

‘Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume’. — French writer Jean de Boufflers In my new book, Concerto, when the hero and heroine first meet they are in the flush of youth, Umberto in his mid-twenties and Catriona eighteen. At once, a powerful attraction springs up between

The Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

In Song of the Nile, Phares and Aida explore a famous and historic part of Cairo: the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and souk.

The ancient Egyptian signs of the Zodiac

For the ancient Egyptians, there was great meaning in the heavens above. The planets and stars could help you understand who you were and what would happen in the future.

Guiding the dead: Ancient Egyptian funerary texts

How would a pharaoh’s spirit navigate to the glorious afterlife? For ancient Egyptians, the answer was simple: follow the funerary texts, a kind of ‘afterlife guidebook’.

Karnak Temple, Luxor, ‘the greatest monument ever made’

The largest temple complex ever built with a construction history spanning 2,000 years, Karnak is one of the most important ancient sites in Egypt.

Favourite Egyptian proverbs

Every country has its proverbs, little sayings passed down from generation to generation that impart wisdom and tell truths, and Egypt is no exception.

Aida: an opera of love and tragedy

The heroine of my novel Song of the Nile is named Aida for the opera – a passionate, dramatic story of love and tragedy.

The royal women of ancient Egypt

What did it mean to be both royal and female in ancient times? How much autonomy and power did royal women hold? Was it as glamorous as a Cleopatra movie?

The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade, Cairo

Saturday was a very big day for the people of Egypt: with great fanfare, eighteen of their ancient kings and four of their queens were transported through Cairo to their new resting place.

The Mosque of Muhammed Ali, Cairo

One of the great landmarks of the city, visible from all over, the so-called Alabaster Mosque is a place of great beauty and reverence, a ‘must see’ if you visit Cairo.

A taste of Egypt: Basbousa recipe

I love to cook, and I explore cuisines from all over the world in my kitchen. Writing a new novel is the perfect reason to try out recipes from a new country! For Song of the Nile, I returned to dishes from my childhood, growing up in Egypt – in particular, my favourite sweet treat, basbousa.

Deciphering the Rosetta Stone: Jean-François Champollion

How is it we can understand the hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptians today? Two amazing breakthroughs made this possible: the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the work of French scholar Jean-François Champollion.

Gezireh Island, Cairo

Gezireh Island is my favourite part of Cairo, for I lived here for many happy years with my husband and children. It’s a beautiful, multicultural place, and is home to several places of historical and cultural interest. Let me take you on a little tour…

Amelia Edwards: Egyptologist and inspiration

Traveller, writer, Egyptologist – Amelia Edwards was a legend of the 19th century, and she continues to be an inspiration to this day.

Chic and elegant: Post-war fashion

After the hardships of World War II, it was such a luxury for a young woman to purchase new, fashionable clothes. So it is for Aida in Song of the Nile, when she returns home to Egypt and explores the fashion scene of Cairo.

1940s Cairo – a colourful, cosmopolitan city

‘Englishwomen in morning cottons, French and Italian girls in summer dresses, young Egyptian women with black abbas wrapped around their heads, men in tweeds or long white kaftans, a majestic sheikh in richly embroidered silks’ – welcome to the melting pot of 1940s Cairo.

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