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Asmat art and artifacts in Dutch Museums: Inspirations for Rituals of the Dead

Asmat art and artifacts in Dutch Museums: Inspirations for Rituals of the Dead

The art and carved objects created by the Asmat of Papua inspired my artifact mystery, Rituals of the Dead. Here are some photographs of the Missie (Mission) Museum Steyl’s Papua New Guinea collection, as well as that of the Tropenmuseum – in particular their fantastic bis poles. Missie Museum Steyl is a fascinating museum located in Southern tip of the Netherlands. You can read more about Museum Steyl, their Asmat collection, the colonial origins of many ethnographic museums the locations described in…

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Exploring the Locations used in Rituals of the Dead

Exploring the Locations used in Rituals of the Dead

My latest art-related mystery, Rituals of the Dead, is set in Papua and the Netherlands – two nations on opposite sides of the globe yet connected by a colonial past.   Dutch New Guinea Dutch New Guinea – as the Papua Province of Indonesia was known until 1963 – was considered to be one of the last truly wild frontiers. The seemingly impenetrable interior and extreme weather, combined with rumors of headhunting and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, enticed many explorers wishing…

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What is a Bis Pole and Why Were They Desired by Collectors?

What is a Bis Pole and Why Were They Desired by Collectors?

The exhibition central to my latest novel, Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery, is based on an actual exhibition of Asmat art entitled Bis Poles: Sculptures from the Rain Forest. I can imagine most readers are now thinking – what the heck is a bis pole?     Ancestor Objects Carved to Honor the Dead These ancestor objects – akin to Native American totem poles – are created to honor the recently departed during a ‘bis’ ceremony. A bis…

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Bis Poles in Rotterdam – excerpt from Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery

Bis Poles in Rotterdam – excerpt from Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery

In this excerpt of my new novel, Rituals of the Dead, Zelda sees a bis pole for the first time. She’s not as impressed as you might think. Find out why: Chapter Three Once the pole rested on the gurney, the assistants slid the canvas strips out from under it and stepped back, allowing the room to view it in all its glory. Zelda couldn’t help but wonder if it was the ugliest thing she’d ever seen. She’d grown up…

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Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery out on April 6, 2018

Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery out on April 6, 2018

I am thrilled to announce my third mystery will be released on April 6, 2018! Rituals of the Dead: An Artifact Mystery has been a joy to write. It combines my love for anthropology, history, artifacts and Amsterdam into one novel. 🙂  Beta readers are also excited about it, one wrote back: ‘Excellent story, interesting twists. I really love The Lover’s Portrait but Rituals of the Dead is a step up.’ Be sure and read The Lover’s Portrait and Down and…

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