The Cup of Jamshid in “The Stonemason’s Secret”
The protagonist of every story needs to seek an object of desire. Learn about the artifact at the center of The Stonemason’s Secret, and the facts and fiction in the book.
The Stonemason’s Secret
Keeping an Idea Notebook for Fiction Books
How do I get ideas for what to write about in my books? I’ve got another blog and video about the idea behind “The Stonemason’s Secret”, but I often come across other art and history information that might be good for a future book. To keep track of them, I have a notebook just for … Read more
Meet the Main Character: Sarah Walker
I conducted an interview with the main character in The Stonemason’s Secret, Sarah Walker. During this question and answer session, she shares some of her background, how she developed an interest in art history, and why the medieval minstrel carvings in Beverley Minster are special to her. Sarah is researching her dissertation for her PhD … Read more
Medieval Minstrels and Their Music: A Brief Overview
What was a minstrel? What role did they have in medieval society? What type of music did they play? Here is a brief overview. The minstrel carvings in Beverley Minster are central to the plot in The Stonemason’s Secret. I’ve written about them before, but in this post I want to explore who the minstrels … Read more
Elements of My Life In The Stonemason’s Secret
Authors often use part of their life experiences in creating their novels. What elements from my life are woven into The Stonemason’s Secret? Quite a lot! This post is an answer to the question posed for the Open Book Blog Hop – what elements from your life are woven into your latest book? All posts … Read more
East Yorkshire Villages in The Stonemason’s Secret: Bainton, Harpham, Huggate, and Hutton Cranswick
East Yorkshire is not as well known as other parts of England, but it is home to many medieval churches and sites which feature in The Stonemason’s Secret. The book is set in Beverley, York, and several East Yorkshire villages. I previously wrote about medieval buildings and sites in Beverley, so here is more information … Read more
Medieval Sites to Visit in Beverley England
Beverley is located in East Yorkshire, England. Though overshadowed by York, 30 miles to the northwest, Beverley is home to a number of medieval buildings and sites. Beverley is also 10 miles south of where I lived in England. I visited quite often, volunteering at a charity shop, researching my thesis in the Minster and … Read more
Researching My Novel with 21st Century Technology
Research has changed in the 21st century. With the internet and an ever-expanding collection of online resources, the ability to learn about events, people, and places has never been easier. These changes were obvious when I began research for my novel, The Stonemason’s Secret. With degrees in history and art history, I want to be … Read more
Writing the First Draft During NaNoWriMo
Thinking of participating in NaNoWriMo? Below I share my experience of doing it for the first draft of The Stonemason’s Secret. What Is NaNoWriMo? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is for participants to write 50,000 words on their novel during the 30 days of November. That averages out to 1667 words … Read more
Medieval Minstrel Carvings in Beverley Minster
The medieval carvings of musicians in Beverley Minster feature in my novel The Stonemason’s Secret. Learn more about these unique figures. The book follows the adventures of art historian Sarah Walker. While researching her dissertation, she discovers mysterious symbols carved on several of the minstrel figures in Beverley Minster. She has to find the clues, … Read more