Northern Lights

As my story develops, I find myself compelled almost with a mystical fascination to head up into northern lands. Many centuries have passed since the period where my story begins and the land and people have changed dramatically but I feel compelled to visit. There is a knowledge one gains upon visiting a place with history. Writing for me begins with place. Being in a place helps me create new worlds and imagine new possibilities. So I have decided to go visit Svalbard, a northern island that is now considered part of Norway. I have wanted to visit Svalbard for many years ever since I first discovered the island's location as a child reading a geography book.

On route to Svalbard, I will have to pass through the Norwegian town of Tromso.

Ana in the Water (Concept Art 1)

Here’s a striking image of ‘Ana in the Water’ — concept art. This is an illustration by Matteo Gallinelli, Angelo Germano, and Giuliano Antonio Lo Re. The trio, my Italian ‘musketeers,’ created this compelling image along with several others for my book, The Stowaway, back in 2012.

While I loved the image, I have chosen to not use it in the book currently and to keep hand-drawn sketches instead, that allow the reader to visualize themselves what the character looks like.