Sometimes, when the tide is high, Mont-St-Michel is surrounded by water, but that wasn’t the case on the day we visited.

Perched on a rocky inlet, Mont-St-Michel looks like something out of a gothic fairy tale and there is definitely something very magical about the place. 

The abbey, which was built between the 11th and 16th centuries, is located in Normandy, France. The architecture is breathtaking and natural glowing light streams through the windows, contributing to Mont-St-Michel’s calm, serene atmosphere. 

UNESCO refers to the abbey as a “technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site”. 

We were lucky enough to visit recently and I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pictures.

Walking through the village leading up to the abbey.

The spectacular gothic architecture practically glows under the natural light streaming in from the windows.

I guess you would need spectacular fires to keep the abbey warm. My husband is 6’2″, to give you a sense of how big the hearth behind him is.

The courtyard at Mont-St-Michel.

A side view of Mont-St-Michel as we were leaving.

Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 23, 24, 25
Baltimore Inner Harbor

This is such a fun event for book lovers and in such a beautiful location for the end of September, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. I’ll be sitting on three panels. Check it out. Stop by and say hello!

Friday, Sept. 23 at 6pm
WRITING HEAT: IT’S GETTING STEAMY IN  HERE 

Saturday, Sept. 24 at 4pm
DO THE TIMEWALK:  HISTORICAL ROMANCE FOR THE AGES
 
Sunday, Sept. 25 at noon
HISTORICAL ROMANCE—KILT OR NO KILT OR WHY JAMIE FRASER ISN’T ALL THERE IS …

New Jersey Romance Writers
Hearts & Sparks Reader/Blogger Luncheon
Sunday, October 16
Woodbridge, New Jersey

Click HERE to join me and some of your favorite romance authors for brunch. We’ll be passing out lots of goodies! I’d love to see you there. 

I was fortunate to be able to visit Death Becomes Her at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The exhibit showcased a century of mourning attire. The gowns on display proved that even ladies in mourning could wear beautiful clothes. Here are a few of my favorites:

Mourning gown worn by Queen Victoria

US Civil War-era wedding dress in half-mourning colors in honor of the fallen

American mourning ensemble circa 1897

Mourning coat by the House of Worth circa 1907

Half-mourning gowns from 1902