Sunday, July 19, 2020

Blog has moved!

All future blog posts can now be found here, on my website:

http://www.elynnhwriting.com/elynnh-1

Sunday, June 7, 2020

But ... is it Real?


Authenticating art, and I include manuscripts in this, is not a straightforward and simple process. You can’t just look at a painting and say, “Yea, that’s a real Van Gogh. Go ahead, it’s perfectly safe to pay a few million for it. Open your wallet, all is well.”

There is the analysis of brushstrokes, the chemical analysis of the paints used, paintings are X-rayed and carefully examined under a variety of microscopes and using advanced analytical equipment. And, in recent years, authentication specialists have added another tool to their authentication repertoire. Though according to this New York Times article on carbon dating materials used after the atomic bomb testing and the bombs dropped in Japan during WWII to determine if the artwork was created before the additional nuclear material in the environment or after, it might be a fleeting tool.

It’s rarely just one person who determines the authenticity of a painting. There is also the provenance to consider. Just because the person selling you the painting tells you they got it legally from, for example, an enthusiastic yard sale purchaser who had it hanging in the dining room for forty years, and took it to an antique roadshow type of event where the dealer purchased it for a fair price, doesn’t mean it was theirs to sell. The most obvious example of art that wasn’t a dealer’s to sell are the Nazi looted paintings.

This is why it’s equally important to dive deep into the history of a piece and in essence track its life story. Where did it originate, who had it next, etc. The more information about a piece’s history can be verified through documentation, receipts, journal entries, etc., the more valuable the piece becomes. Assuming of course that paper trail is authentic. There are examples of well-crafted forgeries with stellar provenances, including perfectly forged receipts. But it just takes one forgery in that chain to be pegged as false to unravel the scheme.

But what about books and ancient manuscripts? How can you tell if the piece is authentic and what makes it authentic? In the case of the Archimedes Palimpsest – read about it in the book The Archimedes Codex - the actual prayer book it was found in was authentic in and of itself. However, the pages of the prayer book were created from reused parchment. And the original text of most of the pages, not all, in the prayer book contained notes and mathematical formulas that were from Archimedes teachings. The prayer book had therefore been made from much older scholarly material.
It was a very common practice in ancient times to reuse parchment. It wasn’t cheap to get brand new parchment and if you could afford it, did you get the superior calf’s parchment or settle for lesser quality sheep parchment?

Most of the educational texts centuries ago were written on the lesser quality sheep’s parchment and were commonly reused for new texts. There are different parchments that have survived with recipes on it for how best to remove old ink from parchment and how to prepare it to reuse it. From soaking it in either a highly acidic solution or highly alkaline solution, to adding the burnt or ground skin of a hare, which doesn’t seem like it would have an effect. Turns out everyone had their own recipe, some going back to Egypt, around AD 300. After soaking it was recommended you stretch the parchment on a frame and put something heavy on it. This means there would be small holes around the edges of the paper, which can give an authenticator or conservator a clue that the parchment had been reused and the text on it was most likely not the original.

After all that soaking and stretching and flattening, the user was advised to scrape the parchment to remove roughness and any surface ink that might remain. To do that it was recommended one use either pumice stone or chalk. Each of these leave unique microscopic traces in the form of scratches or whitening of the parchment. An authenticator, as well as a conservator, can see those and identify them under a microscope or can even take tiny samples to analyze the composition of the material used in that last process of clearing the parchment of old ink.

There are not many examples of whole manuscripts being forged, though individual pages, especially illuminated ones (those with beautiful painted designs and illustrations on them) do come up as forgeries from time to time. More on that next time.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Finding My Way Back to the Arts



Once upon a time I was ready to dive into the art world with my freshly minted Arts Management degree, only to be knocked sideways and off course by a series of events that led me down a few different winding paths.
Each of these paths, thankfully, included writing in some form or another, which helped me hone my skills and craft, until finally, I found the yellow brick road. Okay, maybe not quite that fabled path, but certainly a way back to what I loved. Through a series of serendipitous connections and posts spotted on LinkedIn, I found out about the Art Newspaper. After reading the 3 permitted free articles online, I was hungry for more. I felt revived, like a parched plant was finally given water.
But, let me go to the beginning, before I got that proverbial water. It all started with a new book idea. While working on the first draft, I realized I might need a little research to make sure I got the details right. A ‘simple’ story about forged manuscripts, art auctions, theft and an international chase, complete with a reluctant heroine, an art restorer, ruthless collectors, and a full cast of colorful supporting characters.
By chapter two I realized I definitely needed more information. This led me on many online searches, new connections and fascinating phone calls with people in the field of manuscript conservation, art authentication and art crime law. From Interpol and the FBI, to conservators at major museums and libraries across the world, to lawyers specialized in art crimes, to scientists using cutting edge technology to detect and uncover possible forgeries.
It also had me scouring used book sites to find obscure titles as well as more recent books on the subject. In addition, online documentation and reports shared with me by new connections really opened up the story and fueled more ideas.
It’s mind-boggling to learn the kind of fraud, forgery and theft – and clever money laundering schemes - that goes on in the international art world – I included manuscripts in that. For some time I was getting lost in the many different directions I could go with the book I’d started writing.
Notebooks, random pieces of paper, napkins, envelopes; everything I could scribble a quick idea on is used. I’m still very much in the input phase of learning. But I have narrowed it down and am back on the path I’d originally chosen for the story. The only difference is that now I have loads more detail to populate the story with, and a notebook with ideas for sequels.
As interesting as the wide world of art crime is, that’s not what I want this blog series to be about, I want to keep the focus a little narrower. With all this information I’ve been gathering, I will soon have enough material for a non-fiction book. So, as I puzzle out the chapters for this non-fiction book, I will chronicle my research and planning in blog posts that offer a short dip into different element of book and manuscript forgery, authentication, conservation, restoration, crime, etc.
Please feel free to provide feedback, or ask questions, as that will only make the book better and give me an idea of what a lay-reader without any or little art/manuscript background would like to know more about.
You can also learn more about my writing to date at: www.elynnhwriting.com


Saturday, August 31, 2019

3 Things I Love About Ghostwriting and 1 Thing Not So Much



Ghostwriting is the art of taking someone else’s story and writing it up so that it reads like they are talking and engaging with the reader. And though it may seem most often that a ghostwritten book is nonfiction, as in a business book detailing a CEO’s inspirational way of taking a company from zero to fortune 500, or a biography of someone who has had a fascinatingly unique life, would it surprise you to learn there are also a fair number of fiction books that have been written with the help of a ghostwriter?
Much of my current day job requires me to ghostwrite articles for others, often on technical solutions to real-world problems industries face. I always learn something new and get to indulge my inner geek as I do extra research into the theories and the history of the technologies I write about.
Recently, it got me thinking about the nature of ghostwriting and why I enjoy it. 

11.   I love hearing other people’s stories

I’ve written about this in the past. For some reason people want to tell me their stories. Their experiences, their secrets, their hopes and dreams they don’t normally tell others, they are comfortable telling me. For me, it highlights that interconnectedness of us all because I see so many similarities in the histories of individual people as well as their dreams for the future, no matter where on my travels I find these stories. Such as the time I took a train from Northern Italy to Strasbourg, France, and I shared a compartment with an elderly Italian gentleman who was traveling outside of Italy for the first time in his life to visit his banker son in England. They were going to see a soccer match, he told me with great enthusiasm. Though my Italian was very limited and his English was almost non-existent, we spent hours talking. He showed me pictures of his family and using simple words we were able to share stories.

22.   I get to share those stories with others

By writing the stories I collect into fiction or articles or a non-fiction book, I get to share what I’ve learned with others. It may sound a tad simple and maybe sentimental even, but sharing stories is in our DNA. And so many of these stories resonate with readers. Not just the biographies of war survivors, or people who’ve overcome tremendous odds to succeed, though those matter, don’t misunderstand, but I’m talking about the smaller stories of every day heroics or struggles. The, at the same time, unique yet ordinary lives. Or a simple technology solution for an industry that ordinarily wouldn’t consider using that.

33.  I get paid to write

That might seem trivial, but I assure you it isn’t. Getting paid for doing something I love validates the work I do and encourages me to do more. It encourages me to continue to hone my craft, but also allows me to share my skills and help others grow as they pursue their dreams of writing. Whether it’s guiding an intern to write blogs, or helping a new writer figure out how best to structure his book on architecture, guiding a coworker on the most impactful way to arrange information for a presentation, or writing a speech for a CEO using his notes and ideas.

The one thing I’m less fond of in ghostwriting is that sometimes you don’t get to tell the story that would appeal to readers; the one you really want to tell. Like the time a wily octogenarian hired me to write “a book, no a screenplay, no maybe it should be a book, oh let’s make it a screenplay it’ll be a thrill for the kids and grandkids to see my name in lights.” 

His story idea was decent enough, if a bit old Hollywood of the Cary Grant – Rosalind Russell era, but he tried to stuff it with too many subplots that he insisted should be in there because he was paying for me to put them in there and he felt Hollywood had gotten away from good stories. It was a losing battle. All the while, though, he was also telling me about his life which would have made for a real page-turner … I tried very hard to convince him to let me write that story, but he refused. He didn’t want his kids to know all that about him. So, I filed it under “secrets”. Between you and me, it would have saved his kids hours of therapy had they known, but sometimes you just have to let it be. Chalk it up to learning.

I look forward to the next ghostwriting project as each one brings something new.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Autism Picture Book Author Interview


Hi Sue, Welcome to my blog, Im happy meet you and introduce you to my readers. Your picture book looks to fill an interesting niche and I am curious to learn more about what inspired it. Lets get started.

Title, genre, format (ebook, paperback):
Just Elliot
Children’s illustrated story book
Hardcover, ebook, ibook

Tell me about your book/story:
Jump into the head of six-year-old Elliot, a boy with autism, and see what it’s like to navigate life on the spectrum.
This beautifully illustrated, lively story will give insight to neuro-typical children and the people who love them, into the challenges their friends may be facing. We hope this book will encourage understanding and acceptance of children who may act a little differently.
The book includes resource materials and discussion questions.


What is the one thing youd like people to know about the book or the story:
Just Elliot is based upon the experiences of a real boy with autism, with a special foreword by Temple Grandin.


What has the reaction been to the book, is it making a difference in the conversation about autism:
To date, we have addressed about 1800 school children, grades K-5, with a discussion of autism, bullying and acceptance. We read the book and entertain questions and are continually amazed by the awareness of autism by young children. There has been a very enthusiastic response by students, teachers, librarians and parents who have attended the presentations.
Last April we were interviewed on Colorado Public Radio about the book during Autism Acceptance Month (previously known as Autism Awareness Month) and received rave reviews!


Where can people find your book:
Amazon
Book stores
From the publisher: bearpawprint@gmail.com

Any links and/or pictures you want to share:
Ibook: http://itunes.apple. com/us/book/id1356991834

Thank you! 

Monday, December 24, 2018

Holiday Book Boost Number 30


Hi Nicola, Welcome to my blog, I’m happy meet you and introduce you to my readers. Let’s get started.


Title, genre, format (ebook, paperback):
Out in the Dark.
It’s a YA thriller. Available in both paperback and ebook.

Tell me about your book/story:
Jake’s father is one of a group of psychic warriors from a CIA/Stanford University project designed to train people in “remote viewing,” but he's been taken by a rogue unit with more sinister plans for his skills. Now, seventeen-year-old Jake must set out on a journey to rescue his father. Jake doesn't know where his father is, and his only clues are the flashes of images he gets in his mind. Taking his father's vintage 1966 Pontiac GTO, Jake sets out across the Cascades from Washington, to Nevada. Along the way he picks up Shelley, a girl scarred by poverty and who has had to do some pretty unpleasant things to get together enough money to go to college. He was only going to give her a lift to Nevada, but soon they're both running for their lives.

What is the one thing you’d like people to know about you (or, what is your secret superpower):
I can find and create order out of chaos.

And just a few fun questions:
Pen or Computer:
Both. I find when I’m stuck on a piece of writing, switching to writing with a pen on paper can help.

Best writing snacks:
Surf Sweets Gummy Bears – I tell myself the Vit. C in them makes them totally healthy.
Also, green tea or good strong, black coffee.  

Craziest thing you’ve done for story research:
Learned Remote Viewing and more recently, to understand the nature of energy from a different side, learned Reiki healing.

Where can people find your book/story:
All the usual places.
Including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks but also directly from the publisher, Untreed Reads (where it's on sale right now!)
If enough of you ask maybe my editor will agree to a sequel!

Any links you want to share:
Twitter: @Nicky_Adams_Pen

Thank you!



Sunday, December 23, 2018

Holiday Book Boost Number 29




Hi Andrew, Welcome to my blog, I’m happy meet you and introduce you to my readers. Let’s get started.

Title, genre, format (ebook, paperback):
Epic Space Adventure: Europa Excursion
Kid’s picture book, hardcover



Tell me about your book/story:
Europa Excursion is the third book in the Epic Space Adventure series, picking with our team of animal explorers after Mars Rover Rescue. The series presents science in a way that's easy to understand, combined with an exciting story line. In Europa Excursion, the team receives a distress call from Europa! Captain Chips and his crew are trapped under the ice of Jupiter’s moon. Our animal explorer team need to grab their gear, head for Europa, and find a way to melt its ice to descend into its subsurface ocean. Searching the depths, who knows what amazing things they'll discover?

What is the one thing you’d like people to know about you (or, what is your secret superpower):
I love trivia, especially geography, history, and science.



And just a few fun questions:
Pen or Computer:
Computer, although I sometimes jot ideas on paper.

Best writing snacks:
Popcorn and fizzy water. Sometimes dark chocolate.

Craziest thing you’ve done for story research:
Brainstorm rhyming ideas.

Where can people find your book/story:
You can order autographed copies on www.andrew-rader.com

Thank you!