Her entry begins:I’m currently in Menton in the South of France, thanks to the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship – a writing award that allows me to stay here for six months as I research a new book project. As a result I’ve been reading mainly non fiction books related to my subject: the 12th century French nun Héloïse d'Argenteuil. She and her religious philosopher lover Peter Abelard have been famous since the 15th century, after the discovery of a series of letters they wrote to each other following a passionate and scandalous love affair. The letters reveal Héloïse as a passionate, fiercely intelligent and forward-thinking woman at a time when the place (and rights) of women were under siege by a reformation in Christian thinking and politics. Her beautiful writing and her raw, pain-filled honesty have captured people’s imaginations ever since – including mine! So I plan to write a novel from her point of view … but here’s a lot of reading I need to do first!About Resurrection, from the publisher:
I have worked my way through a number of academic texts, essays and biographies, and am now re-reading the novel that first introduced me to her story: Helen Waddell’s classic 1933 novel Peter Abelard. Reading it again, after the last four months of intense research...[read on]
A futuristic novel for young adults, The Blood of the Lamb trilogy is, at its heart, political - a reflection on the way a few very powerful (mostly white) men hold theLearn more about the book and author at Mandy Hager's website and Facebook page.balance of power all around the world and maintain it through intimidation, incarceration, and fear.
When Maryam arrives back at Onewēre and tries to loosen the Apostles' religious stranglehold by sharing the miraculous remedy for Te Matee lai, she finds herself captured once again - prey to the Apostles' deadly game. The ruling elite manipulate her return by setting in motion a highly orchestrated ritual before a hysterical and brain-washed crowd. Somehow Maryam must get the islanders to listen to her plea that they start thinking for themselves - hoping to stir the independence in their hearts, even as she finds herself on the brink of death.
My Book, The Movie: Into the Wilderness.
The Page 69 Test: Into the Wilderness.
Writers Read: Mandy Hager.
--Marshal Zeringue
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