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