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| Louisa Treger |
Please welcome today's guest blogger, Louisa Treger. Louisa was a classical violinist until she
turned to literature and earned a doctorate in English. Her debut novel, The Lodger, was widely acclaimed, and she followed it up with The Dragon Lady, released in paperback in the US this month. Based on the life of Lady Virginia (Ginie) Courtland, the book’s title comes from a nickname referencing the snake tattoo that wound up one of Ginie's legs. The Times wrote that the novel was "Fascinating...a spirited account of a flamboyant life."
Taking a real life that is little known and turning it
into a convincing novel is a challenging undertaking. Louisa builds an intriguing mystery, and at the same time
has revealed an interesting and complex character. Together, they make it a memorable historical mystery.
Louisa has more to tell us about Ginie. And about what tattoos may mean to writers...
Louisa has more to tell us about Ginie. And about what tattoos may mean to writers...
Under My Skin - Writers Getting Inked
I decided to get a tattoo to commemorate the publication
of The Dragon Lady, and to celebrate its protagonist, Lady Virginia
Courtauld. She was a woman who refused to live by the rules. In her late teens
she had a savage black snake tattooed down her right leg from ankle to thigh.
‘She was bewitching,’ said her niece, Margaret Bernard, following her death in
1972. ‘She had enormous charm, and she was full of character and life. She
didn’t care what she said to anyone, or what she did.’
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| Lady Virginia Courtland |
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| Eltham Palace |
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| The famous snake tattoo |
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| La Rochelle |
Virginia was an inspiring
woman, then, and is truly worthy of being celebrated today. She was passionate
and loyal, and she had the courage to stand up for what she believed was right.
The permanence of my tattoo – a small snake above my right ankle – is an
enduring memorial to her.
While planning this
article, I discovered that tattoos are a trend among women authors of my age.
Elizabeth Gilbert had COURAGE and COMPASSION written into her forearms before
she went travelling for Eat, Pray, Love.
Elizabeth
Day, the award-winning author and journalist, got a tattoo after she published How To Fail: Everything I've Ever
Learned From Things Going Wrong, in April 2019.
‘The book went straight into the Sunday Times bestseller list,’ she told
me. ‘It was a first for me. A lot of amazing things happened afterwards, which
made me feel truly seen as an author. I wanted to remind myself that if the
book had connected meaningfully with even one reader, that it was worth it. I
also wanted a reminder of this time in my life, when it felt as though many of
the failures in my past had served some purpose. So I got E. M. Forster's
dictum, 'Only Connect' tattooed on my left wrist. Forster was writing about
connecting internally – bringing together the prose and the passion; the beast
and the monk – and I loved that sentiment, but I also see it as connecting to
others. Everything I do is guided by the desire to connect with other people
and that's what I wanted my tattoo to remind me of.’
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| Julie Cohen's tattoo |
Best-selling
novelist, Julie Cohen, had the tattoo of a wild rose inscribed on her writing
arm: ‘A couple of years ago, my publisher wanted me to change the ending to one
of my books. But I felt that changing it would change the story beyond
recognition,’ she said. ‘I faced a
decision: I could make the change, stick with my publisher, and play it safe;
or I could pull the book and look for a new publisher. I agonised over the
decision for months. I felt that my entire career was at stake. In the end, I
decided to pull the book.
‘Eventually, I found a new publisher. That book, Together, was selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club. It was reviewed in every major publication in the UK and was on the Sunday Times bestseller list. But even if my book hadn’t been successful, I would still have believed that I did the right thing. I got my tattoo on my writing arm to remind myself that I should trust my instincts and artistic integrity.’
‘Eventually, I found a new publisher. That book, Together, was selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club. It was reviewed in every major publication in the UK and was on the Sunday Times bestseller list. But even if my book hadn’t been successful, I would still have believed that I did the right thing. I got my tattoo on my writing arm to remind myself that I should trust my instincts and artistic integrity.’
These
tattoos, including my own, mark something profound. They are mementos of key
moments in our lives; they are about trusting ourselves and being true to
ourselves, both personally and creatively; and about connecting outwards to
others. And what better way for a writer to celebrate a milestone than by
getting permanently inked? I love my snake tattoo and have never regretted
getting it done. It is very much in the spirit of Virginia Courtauld and I think
she would approve! The only question in my mind is whether to get a tattoo for
every book I publish…
Louisa on social media:
Twitter: @louisatreger
Website: http://louisatreger.com/
Posts
Thanks, Louisa!
ReplyDeleteWhen is your new book due out?