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Blog Posts from BernadetteCatherine de Medici, the queen of French culturePosted by McKenna Darby May 12 2012, 3:35 am in ballet, Catherine de Medici, fashion, France, high heels, McKenna Darby, Paris, perfume, queen, Tuileries  Italian-born Catherine de Medici was reviled by the French court she married into, but her innovations fundamentally reshaped French culture. Ah, Paris! The city is arguably the world’s epicenter of cuisine, culture, fashion, fragrance. But how did Paris get to be Paris? Many historians would argue that the city owes its tradition of excellence to one woman more than any other—and that woman wasn’t even French. Catherine de Medici was only 14 when she arrived from Italy in 1533 to marry Henri of Orleans, second son to King Francis I of France, but she was already worldly wise. Catherine recognized that the French court would despise her for being Italian and a descendant of merchants, not French and noble. She also realized that her short stature would make it even easier for the nobles to look down on her . . . literally. Determined to make a grand entrance, she consulted a Florentine artisan for help. Together they devised what would come to be known as the high heel, giving birth to a fashion trend that remains wildly popular today. (And yes, her shoes did create the stir she’d intended!) The Artist Date: Recharging the creative batteriesPosted by McKenna Darby Apr 12 2012, 1:51 am in Aix-en-Provence, Artist Date, Cezanne, cooking, Julia Cameron, Le Pigonnet, McKenna Darby, perfume, Provence, The Artist's Way, write, writer About a decade ago, when I was still struggling with the emotional blocks that interfered with actually writing the novels I’d spent my life dreaming about, a friend recommended Julia Cameron’s superb book “The Artist’s Way.” The book got me unblocked and introduced me to several creative practices that continue to enrich my life today. One practice that had slipped away from me, however, is something Julia calls the “Artist Date.” It’s a little time for you to spend with you, recharging the creative juices. It can be almost anything that inspires you, from a visit to an art gallery An Unromantic in ParisPosted by McKenna Darby Feb 12 2012, 2:15 pm in Louvre, McKenna Darby, Paris, romance In honor of Valentine’s Day, a romantic true story . . . Everything they say about the romance of Paris is true. The city’s magic even works on the decidedly unromantic, including my husband. Now, John is one of the best husbands a woman could ever hope to have. He’s intelligent, honest, ethical, fiercely protective, funny, sweet – my best friend for more than thirty years and counting. But romantic? Not so much. He doesn’t dance; can’t make him. The one time I received flowers with his name on the card I discovered later that his mother sent them. If Writers: The world’s most gifted artistsPosted by McKenna Darby Jan 12 2012, 4:50 am in artist, connection, experience, feelings, McKenna Darby, toolbox, write, writer Of all the world’s artists, I think God (or The Universe, if you prefer) must love writers best. Think about it: He gave color to painters, form to sculptors, motion and sound to actors, smell to perfumers, and taste to chefs. But to writers he gave words, and with just the right ones we can give our readers every color, motion, sound, aroma, taste and touch the world has ever known – and the ability to experience all of them from the comfort of a cozy armchair. This, in fact, is why people read novels. Not just to go on A Community of WritersPosted by McKenna Darby Nov 13 2011, 4:47 pm in community, introvert, McKenna Darby, RWA, SCBWI, tribe, writers, writing As emerging writers, many of us spent our early years as loners. From kindergarten to high school, we never quite fit. Our classmates rarely knew what to make of us. We lived in our own heads, thought big thoughts, said odd things, and loved the books that most of our peers loathed. In high school, we volunteered to write for the school newspaper and produce the yearbook, which brought us closer to the words we loved while further distancing us from the pack. In the process, though, many of us made an astonishing discovery: We weren’t alone. Rare, yes. But |
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