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In this episode, I'm chatting with Crystal King, author of In the Garden of Monsters listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WElAb9vxuAI

• The genesis of In the Garden of Monsters and the decision to write a novel that incorporated elements of fantasy and the Gothic
• Inspired by the sacro bosco (sacred wood) at Bomarzo in Italy and its relationship to Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí in the 1950s and to the Hades and Persephone myth
• Video of Salvador Dalí in Bomarzo made in 1954 - view it on Crystal's website at https://www.crystalking.com/
• Deep dive into the life and work of Salvador Dalí and his problematical opinions - he'd be cancelled in two seconds today! But he was a brilliant artist.
• Role of pomegranates in the novel and their relationship to the retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth
• Summary of the original myth - Demeter, Hades, Persephone
• The role of food in the novel; a downloadable cookbook is available from Crystal's website
• Reading from In the Garden of Monsters
• Role played by memory (or lack of) in the novel
• Women artists and Dalí's opinions of them and his problematical relationship to women in general
• One thing Crystal learned from writing this novel
• What Crystal is working on now

Press Play now & be sure to check out In the Garden of Monsters on Art In Fiction: https://www.artinfiction.com/novels/in-the-garden-of-monsters

Crystal King's website: https://www.crystalking.com/

Music Credit
Paganology, performed by The Paul Plimley Trio; composed by Gregg Simpson

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Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany and Love Among the Recipes. Find out more on her website.