Colonnade in the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Egypt

I am currently working on the first draft of my third novel, propelled recklessly forward by the tides of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.

The Title: Lady Libertie’

The Pitch: It is the mid-19th century, and Frédéric Bartholdi is a wealthy, young Parisian sculptor who longs to create a monumental work to rival the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. He falls in love with his model, Jeanne Emelie, and she with him, but they sabotage their love and he leaves for his planned trip to Egypt, where he will photograph and draw the monuments and perhaps convince the khedive to grant him a commission to build a statue at the entrance to the proposed Suez Canal.

Will he create the immortal work of his ambitions? Will she pursue her love of painting and her dreams of travel? And will they ever meet again and rekindle their love?

Anyway, I am deep into researching Egypt and it is fascinating. Bartholdi’s trip takes him by small sailing craft up the Nile River from Cairo to Abu Simbel and back, exploring tombs and temples, carousing with three other artist companions, and sketching, painting and photographing everything.

I haven’t forgotten my first love, Hatfield 1677, but my goodness it is a time travel and cultural shock to move so swiftly from 17th century Puritan Massachusetts Bay to the 2000 to 6000 year old civilizations of Persia, Egypt, and Rome.

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