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Elizabeth McKenna

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Elizabeth McKenna

Tag Archives: Carnival

Book Release Day!!

04 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Venice

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Authors, Carnival, Historical, Kindle, Love, Magic, Masks, New, Nook, Paperback, Romance, Steamy, Venice

I’m happy to announce the release of my latest historical romance, Venice in the Moonlight. I’d like to thank my editor Lorraine Fico-White and my graphic designer Lorie DeWorken – two ladies that were fantastic to work with. I couldn’t have done it without them! I’d also like to thank my sister who kept me writing with her demands for another chapter to read. Love you, Mary!

Venice in the Moonlight

A Story of Vengeance, Forgiveness, and Love

Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVERAfter her husband’s untimely demise, Marietta Gatti is banished from the family’s villa by her spiteful mother-in-law. She returns to her hometown of Venice and her only kin—a father she hasn’t spoken to since her forced marriage. Her hope of making amends is crushed when she learns she is too late, for he recently has died under suspicious circumstances. Grief-stricken, Marietta retraces her father’s last night only to discover someone may have wanted him dead—and she may be next. When the prime suspect turns out to be the father of the man she is falling in love with, Marietta risks her future happiness and her life to avenge the death of a man she once hated.

Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel takes you back to eighteenth century Carnival, where lovers meet discreetly, and masks make everyone equal.

Ebook: $2.99 (US) at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Paperback: $6.99 (US) at CreateSpace

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The Masks of Venice

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Venice

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Tags

Carnival, commedia dell arte, Historical, Masks, nuns and monks, Romance, Venice

Note: The following images and information were taken from the Magic of Venezia Mask Story with their permission.

Venetians wore masks to protect their identity during promiscuous or decadent activities. Day or night, gambling could be found everywhere, including convents. Women wore revealing clothing; homosexuality, though publicly condemned, was overlooked by all. Even the nuns and monks dressed and acted like everyone else. Eventually, this hedonistic behavior became commonplace and the wearing of masks in daily life was banned except from October to Lent.

The masks were made from paper-mache and decorated with fur, fabric, gems, or feathers. Below are some of the more popular styles.

story-gatto

Gatto (cat) is the mask that my heroine, Marietta, wears in Venice in the Moonlight. Cats were so scarce in Venice that they became the subject of one of the most typical masks. (Today, though, Italy seems to be overrun with cats.)

story-pierrot

Pierrot is the mask that my hero, Nico, wears. Pierrot is a stock figure in the Commedia dell’Arte. He is normally portrayed as personable, charming, and kind. He blames himself for imaginary wrongs and because of his trusting nature is easy to trick.

story-bauta

Bauta was the most popular type of mask. It was often worn with a black 3-pointed hat, a long hood made of satin and macrame, and long cape.

story-damaDama, which has many elegant variations, corresponds to the ladies of the Cinquecento (the period of Titian) who covered themselves in jewels, expensive clothing, and elaborate coifs.

story-zanniZanni is the archetype of the comic servant characters of the Commedia dell’arte. Its name comes from Giovanni (also said Zan, Zane, Zuane), a typical name of servants whose forefathers emigrated in Venice searching for work from the valleys around Bergamo.

What mask would you wear?

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The Romance of Venice

04 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Venice

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Tags

Carnival, Historical, Romance, Venice

Venice cover 11Before my husband was my husband, he worked in Italy for a year. Following the European tradition, I took a three week vacation and we traveled throughout the country. Our stop in Venice was both comical and enchanting. After the water taxi dropped us off, we spent a good hour rolling our luggage around trying to find our hotel in the confusing streets. (The next day, we saw another couple doing the same thing.) But I grew to love the canals, bridges and decaying buildings. Venice has an ancient charm that I hadn’t experienced anywhere else, and I decided it was one of the most romantic spots on earth.

When I write a story, I start with the setting, research the history of the place, and then build the plots and characters from there. My current work in progress is set in Venice in 1753 during the Carnival season. At this time, the Venetian republic was small enough that everyone knew everyone else’s business, and there was a strict pecking order in the social classes. From October to Lent, everyone wore masks all of the time (not just at balls), which led to some wild behavior. With identities hidden, everyone was equal and could act better or worse than usual. The government and the Catholic Church frowned upon Carnival, but the people loved it. Also at this time, the Venetian republic’s power was dying and tourism was becoming an important part of the economy. Venice was a popular spot on the Grand Tour where men traveled Europe having illicit fun before they settled down to married life. (They were supposed to be studying art, but spent more time in the gambling houses.)

In the coming weeks before the release of my latest novel, Venice in the Moonlight, I will share more historical facts on Venice. I hope you enjoy it!

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