bbryan

One of the significant locations in my novel, Painter of Dreams, is the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans, which is where Brandon and Captain Henderson stayed. The hotel figures into my fourth novel as well. In 1851, a fire destroyed the original hotel. It was rebuilt in 1852.  The large illustration above is of the … Read more

I collect old illustrations, paintings, and other ephemera pertaining to New Orleans, Liverpool, and ships of old as such things make me feel closer to my story, to my characters. One of my favorites is the 1845 painting above of New Orleans and the Belle Creole. The painting gives one a sense of the busy riverside … Read more

In Painter of Dreams, the North Star Ship, Margaret, burns while it’s in the Mersey in Liverpool. In book four, this tragedy holds extra significance, but I can’t tell you more about it at this time. This portrait represents Desiree’s painting of the ill-fated vessel.

    Words are like flowers–some are very beautiful. Here are some of my favorite words. What are some of yours?   Ailurophile: A cat-lover. Assemblage: A gathering. Becoming: Attractive. Beleaguer: To exhaust with attacks. Brood: To think alone. Bucolic: In a lovely rural setting. Bungalow: A small, cozy cottage. Chatoyant: Like a cat’s eye. … Read more