Fiona Paul, Author of Venom (2012)
An Illustrated* Guide to the World of VENOM
It has come to my attention that some of you don’t know your stays from your farthingales. Well, worry no more. I’m here to increase your VENOM reading pleasure by getting you up-to-date (or, uh, back in time) on all things Renaissance Venice!
Republic of Venice: Present-day Venice is an awesome collection of islands. In 1600 the Venetian Republic (all the red stuff on the map) encompassed those same islands as well as part of what is now Italy, Croatia, Albania, and Greece. [Note: my geography is terrible, so feel free to correct me if you’re a geo-genius and I’m wrong.]
The Rialto: the main island where the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica San Marco are; what we think of when we think of present-day Venice.
Chopines: overshoes worn to protect hemlines from the often flooded streets of Venice. Some of the tallest were over 20 inches tall!!
Stays: a plural word for a singular corset-like undergarment that laces up the back. Cass has stays lined with whalebone, but they were also constructed from wood, horn, ivory, or metal.
Farthingale: a giant hoop-like frame sometimes worn under gowns to spread skirts. (Sorry, I couldn’t find a pic of the structure without a dress over it.)
Portego: like your living room, only bigger, and amped up with sculptures and armor and stuff.
Felze: a little enclosed cabin made of leather or wood that shielded Venetian passengers from the weather. I couldn’t find a public domain picture of a felze, so if you want to see one, click here:
That’s all I got. If you’ve read VENOM and think I should add to this guide, tweet at me and let me know. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your trip back in time to Renaissance Venice. Now you’ll be all ready to read VENOM on October 30th when my little novel makes its way out into the world J
Thanks again for having me, Nikki!
*All pictures from the public domain via Wikipedia. If you see a picture here that you believe you own the rights to, please contact Fiona Paul at fionapaulbooks at gmail dot com.
Venom Blurb
Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.
When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?
Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.
Fiona Paul lives in St. Louis, MO where she's managed to persuade prestigious universities to award her degrees in psychology and nursing. Between her studies, she traveled around five continents and spent time living in Thailand and South Korea (which is probably why she finds the idea of wearing shoes in the house a little weird.)
When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?
Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.
Short Author Bio
Fiona Paul lives in St. Louis, MO where she's managed to persuade prestigious universities to award her degrees in psychology and nursing. Between her studies, she traveled around five continents and spent time living in Thailand and South Korea (which is probably why she finds the idea of wearing shoes in the house a little weird.)
In addition to writing, Fiona is somewhat obsessive about coffee, music, and adventure sports. Her future goals include swimming with great white sharks and writing a whole truckload of novels, not necessarily in that order.She also writes contemporary YA under the name Paula Stokes.
I haven't read Venom yet, but it is on my must read list. I am very thankful that Fiona gave us this picture dictionary of sorts, as well as the geography lesson! I think she did just fine with her geography, but I am not an expert either! The only thing left to say is that I am grateful I was not born way back then, because there is no way someone could get me into those clothes or those flippin shoes. UGH! They would have to hog tie me AND knock me unconscious because it wouldn't happen otherwise. Now sirree. No way, no how! Thanks Nikki, and thank you to Fiona as well!
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