Art In Fiction

Join novelist and host Carol M. Cram for Season 2 of The Art In Fiction Podcast, launching March 25 and featuring conversations with a fascinating array of authors who have written novels inspired by the arts—from Film to Photography to Literature to Visual Arts to Theater and more. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Art In Fiction Podcast so you don’t miss a single episode.

Kicking off Season 2 will be Carol's conversation with Charlie Lovett, bestselling author of Escaping Dreamland, First Impressions, The Lost Book of the Grail, and The Bookman’s Tale.
 
You’ll also meet other top authors, including Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist, Alex George, author of The Paris Hours, and B. A. Shapiro, author of The Collector's Apprentice.

Come celebrate authors, novels, and the arts on The Art In Fiction Podcast.

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Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast!

In this episode, I've compiled advice from nine of the authors interviewed in Season 1 of the podcast.  You'll learn five smart tips from Syrie James, Barbara Linn Probst, Maggie Humm, Stephanie Storey, Jeanne Mackin, Stephanie Cowell, Helaine Mario, Barbara Quick, and Patricia Morrisroe.

Highlights:

Tip #1: Write what you love to read. 

Tip #2: Find a mentor.

Tip #3: Trust your gut.

Tip #4: Develop a thick skin and a sense of humor.

Tip #5: Write for the love of it.

Be sure to explore www.artinfiction.com to find novels by our featured authors.

Syrie James:                     https://www.syriejames.com
Barbara Linn Probst:  https://www.barbaralinnprobst.com/     
Maggie Humm:               http://www.maggiehumm.net/
Stephanie Storey:        https://stephaniestorey.com/         
Jeanne Mackin:              https://www.jeannemackin.com/     
Stephanie Cowell:       http://www.stephaniecowell.com/         
Helaine Mario:                https://helainemario.com/     
Barbara Quick:               https://www.barbaraquick.com/     
Patricia Morrisroe:      https://patriciamorrisroe.com/        

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Music Credits
Intro music: Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle
Ad music: The Feverfrom the album Full Moon.
Composer: Gregg Simpson, performed by Lunar Adventures. 

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.  

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

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Welcome to EPISODE 20 of the Art In Fiction Podcast.


Paris between the wars is the exciting setting for Jeanne Mackin's novels The Last Collection and The Beautiful American.

In this episode, find out about wacky surrealist lobsters, why pencils and paper were not allowed at fashion shows, and a lot more!

Highlights:

• The Beautiful American and the art and life of photographer Lee Miller, famed surrealist Man Ray, and the indomitable Picasso
• Fact and fiction in The Beautiful American
• How Mackin structured The Beautiful American
• Surrealism, violence, lobsters, and more
• The surprising role played by Picasso in The Beautiful American
• The Last Collection and the world of haute couture in 1930s Paris
• The rivalry between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli: yes, they hated each other in real life
• Fact and fiction in The Last Collection
• Common themes in Jeanne Mackin's novels
• Can the creative spirit save the world?
• Advice for authors

Press Play right now and be sure to check out The Beautiful American listed in the Photography category and The Last Collection listed in the Textile Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Jeanne Mackin's website: https://www.jeannemackin.com/

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Music Credits
The intro music is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Feverfrom the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.  

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

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Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast.

The three novelists you'll meet in this episode are each inspired by a different classical composer. They discuss their inspiration and research processes, and touch on a topic rarely discussed in author circles-: money!

Barbara Quick is the author of Vivaldi’s Virgins, Stephanie Cowell is the author of Marrying Mozart, and Patricia Morrisroe is the author of The Woman in the Moonlight about Beethoven's inspiration for his Moonlight Sonata.

Highlights:

• Barbara Quick: inspiration to write Vivaldi's Virgins after discovering that the 18th-century composer had been the resident priest and composer in an all-girls foundling home in Venice. She also discusses the integral role that Venice plays in the novel.
• Stephanie Cowell: inspiration for Marrying Mozart, a novel about Mozart's relationship with the four Weber sisters, one of whom he married.
• Patricia Morrisroe: how she came to write her debut novel, The Woman in the Moonlight, after a career in journalism
• Barbara: how she learned Italian to help her research Vivaldi's Virgins and the help she received from Vivaldi experts
• A reading from Vivaldi's Virgins
• Stephanie: the challenges of choosing which stories to include in the novel and what to leave out
• A reading from Marrying Mozart
• Patricia: the importance of fact-checking and extensive research
• A reading from The Woman in the Moonlight
• Writing and money (or its lack!).

Press Play right now and be sure to check out Vivaldi's Virgins, Marrying Mozart and The Woman in the Moonlight listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction.

Barbara Quick's website: https://www.barbaraquick.com/
Stephanie Cowell's website: http://www.stephaniecowell.com/
Patricia Morrisroe's website: https://patriciamorrisroe.com/

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Music Credits
The intro music is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.  

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

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Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast.

Barbara Linn Probst's debut novel inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe is a must-read for fans of the artist and of compelling stories. 

In this lively episode, I chat with Barbara about her novel Queen of the Owls, the art of Georgia O'Keeffe, and a lot more.

Highlights:

• Queen of the Owls and its relationship to the art and life of Georgia O'Keeffe
• Feminism and Georgia O'Keeffe
• What did Georgia O'Keeffe say to feminist icon Gloria Steinem when she came to visit? 
• O'Keeffe's work in Hawaii and its relationship to Queen of the Owls
• Does a work of art benefit from interpretation by others? Do artists always know, or can they analyze, their influences and intentions? 
• Complexities of relationships as portrayed in Queen of the Owls
• What does the title Queen of the Owls mean?
• Ghost Ranch and the celebrations honoring Georgia O'Keeffe's birthday on November 15 - see www.ghostranch.org for details regarding Barbara's virtual presentation about O'Keeffe's influence on her and the protagonist in Queen of the Owls 
• Reading from Queen of the Owls 
• Barbara's background in social work and qualitative research and its relationship to her novel-writing
• Barbara is an amateur pianist. How has her love of music inspired her second novel?
• The obsessive nature of novel-writing
• Advice for new authors

Press Play right now and be sure to check out Queen of the Owls listed in the Photography category on Art In Fiction.

Barbara Linn Probst's website: https://www.barbaralinnprobst.com/
Ghost Ranch: https://www.ghostranch.org/

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Music Credits
The intro music is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Feverfrom the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks. 

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.  

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

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Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast!

Do you love reading novels set in locations you hope to visit? Then you have to explore TripFiction (www.tripfiction.com). 

In this episode, I interview Tina Hartas who developed TripFiction to provide readers with an easy way to find novels set in specific locations around the world.  We talk about technology and marketing and our mutual love of books. And as you'll discover in this episode, TripFiction was the inspiration for Art In Fiction.

Highlights:

• The genesis of TripFiction: how trips to Vienna and Bangkok led to a great idea
• What is TripFiction?
• TripFiction's Sense of Place Creative Writing Competition
• Using social media to promote a book-lovers website
• Developing TripFiction: from 0 books to 14,000!
• Are people reading more in the age of COVID-19?
• The most difficult aspect of launching a website
• What has contributed to the success of TripFiction?
• Tina's favorite places to read about
• Tina's favorite genres 
• TripFiction reviews on YouTube
• Book giveaways on TripFiction
• The role of passion in creating a book website that readers love

Press Play right now and be sure to check out TripFiction at www.tripfiction.com

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Music Credits
The intro music on the Art In Fiction Podcast is from Symbolist Waltzfrom the album Alive in Seattle ,and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. 

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast.

Courtney Maum is the author of three novels as well as a fabulous writing guidebook for authors.

In this episode, I chat with Courtney about her two novels listed on Art In Fiction, Costalegre and I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and her new book for authors:  Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book.

Highlights:

• Costalegre and its relationship to Peggy Guggenheim and her daughter Pegeen
• Role of Surrealist artists and visual art in Costalegre
• Coming-of-age theme in Costalegre
• Overview of I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You
• Role of installation and contemporary art in the novel
• Use of satire in the novel
• Writing from the point of view of a different gender
• Role of Paris in I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You
• Genesis of Before and After the Book Deal : A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book
• Valuable information for published authors 
• Financial matters related to publishing 
• The role that marketing plays in an author's life
• "The Cabins", an artists' retreat founded by Courtney Maum

Press Play right now and be sure to check out Courtney Maum's novels Costalegre and I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, both found in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Courtney Maum's website: http://www.courtneymaum.com
The Cabins: https://www.thecabinsretreat.com/

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Photo Credit:  Colin Lane

Music Credits
The intro music on the Art In Fiction Podcast is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. 

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast.

Fans of Virginia Woolf and art will love Talland House by Maggie Humm. Learn about her inspiration for the novel, which is listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction; enjoy a reading from Talland House; and discover her advice for new authors.

Highlights:

• Talland House and its relationship to Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse
• Character of Lily Briscoe from To The Lighthouse as the main character of Talland House
• Relationship of Lily Briscoe to Mrs. Ramsay in To The Lighthouse and Talland House
• Maggie's academic background as a Woolf scholar and the writing of Talland House
• The challenges of writing about art
• Visiting St. Ives, the location for much of Talland House
• Role of Canadian artist Emily Carr in Talland House
• Challenges of switching from academic writing to fiction
• A reading from Talland House
• Advice for authors: research and the writing process
• Mentorship programs and creative writing courses
• Maggie's next novel, Rodin's Mistress, about artist Gwen John and her torrid relationship with Auguste Rodin.

Press Play right now and be sure to check out Maggie Humm's novel Talland House listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Maggie Humm's website: http://www.maggiehumm.net/

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Music Credits
The intro music is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. 

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast.

In this episode, I chat about thrillers with an arts twist with Helaine Mario, author of The Lost Concerto and Dark Rhapsody, two page-turners listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction which also incorporate Visual Arts, Theater, and more.

This quote about Dark Rhapsody says it all: "As much about art as music, Dark Rhapsody reveals the transformative power of both." 

Highlights:

• Background prior to becoming a thriller writer: volunteering, working for Al and Tipper Gore, and more
• Inspiration for The Lost Concerto
• What Helaine loves: music and the arts
• Character of Maggie O'Shea, the concert pianist at the heart of the two novels
• Exploring the depth of characters within the thriller genre
• Other characters in the series, including Shiloh the dog and the characterization of Dane, the villain, as a lover of Shakespeare
• Use of character quirks to add depth
• Plotting advice: to outline or not to outline?
• Writing sequels
• A reading from Dark Rhapsody
• Wordsmithing in the editing process
• The business of writing and marketing
• Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
• Advice for writers

Helaine Mario brings to her writing a long career working for non-profit boards and giving back to numerous charities, particularly through the Helaine and Ronald Mario Fund. All the royalties from her book sales go to programs that support reading programs and the well-being of children and families.

When it comes to writing, Helaine wants, more than anything, to tell a good story, create characters with depth, and paint pictures with words. She wants to be a storyteller forever.

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Press Play right now and don't forget to check out Helaine Mario's novels The Lost Concerto and Dark Rhapsody, both listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction.

Helaine Mario's Website: https://helainemario.com/

Music Credits
The intro music is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. 

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Art In Fiction Podcast!

Do you love Renaissance art? Then you won't want to miss my conversation with author Stephanie Storey about her two marvelous novels: Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome, both listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Learn about Stephanie's love of the creative process and her fascination with Michelangelo, Raphael and da Vinci, listen to her read from Raphael, Painter in Rome, and get advice about publishing and marketing. 

Highlights:

• Summary of Raphael, Painter in Rome
• Writing the personalities of Raphael and Michelangelo
• Raphael as the "ideal courtier" and his likeability
• Raphael's dedication to the pursuit of beauty
• What makes a genius?
• Visiting the Vatican to find inspiration
• Virtual tours and the research process
• Rivalries between Michelangelo and da Vinci, and Michelangelo and Raphael
• Links to masterpieces mentioned in Raphael, Painter in Rome: see Stephanie Storey's website at https://stephaniestorey.com/
• What fascinates Stephanie about the Renaissance
• Seeing Michelangelo's David for the first time
• A reading from Raphael, Painter in Rome
• Writing historical fiction to spark interest in specific eras and artists
• Stephanie's new novel: a change of era and country; for hints, check her social media @sgstorey
• Outlining a novel
• The challenges of success
• Stephanie's publishing story
• Writing advice for authors
• Marketing advice for authors

Stephanie Storey's debut novel Oil and Marble was hailed as "tremendously entertaining" by The New York Times, has been translated into six languages, and is in development as a feature film by Pioneer Pictures. Stephanie's latest novel, Raphael, Painter in Rome, was released in April,2020, in conjunction with the 500th anniversary of Raphael's death. 

Stephanie Storey has a degree in Fine Arts from Vanderbilt University and attended a PhD program in Art History before leaving to earn an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She has also been a television producer for nearly 20 years in Los Angeles.

Press Play right now and be sure to check out Stephanie Storey's novels Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome, both listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Stephanie Storey's website: https://stephaniestorey.com/

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Music Credits
The intro music on the Art In Fiction Podcast is from Symbolist Waltz from the album Alive in Seattle and the ad music is from The Fever from the album Full Moon. Both pieces are composed by Gregg Simpson and performed by Lunar Adventures. Follow the links to download the full tracks.

This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. 

Support the show

Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists.  Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.

Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2500+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.

Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany, A Woman of Note, The Muse of Fire, and The Choir. Check out her website...