Margaret Ann Philbrick
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick
Author of House of Honor - The Heist of Caravaggio's Nativity
Two Italian sons, linked by a masterpiece painting, are put to a test of loyalty and honor.
At the heart of this gripping tale is Orazio Bordoni, the wayward son of a construction magnate, forever in the shadow of his older brother Vincenzo. Orazio seeks a reckless life like that of his artistic hero Caravaggio when he finds himself befriended by Nicolo Giotto, the devoted son of a powerful Sicilian mafia family.
As the dark underbelly of the art world and the Vatican expose their true character, Orazio finds himself in a world where his loyalty is tested, honor is at stake, and the boundaries between life and art blur. He and Nicolo discover just how far they're willing to push those boundaries, even if it means sacrificing everything.
House of Honor is a pivotal story of love and art that weaves the threads of history, the ruthless allure of the mafia, the enigmatic power of the Vatican, and the timeless brilliance of Caravaggio into one timeless portrait.
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick
Author I draw inspiration from:
I'm drawn to the Victorian and Modernist camps: Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, D.H. Lawrence, Oscar Wilde for their sweeping landscapes of the human condition. Frankenstein was the best book I read last year with My Name is Asher Lev by Chiam Potok a close second. Forever, Jane Eyre is my favorite novel. Not even All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr could knock her off that pedestal although it came close. On the more contemporary side I hit the poets pretty hard, T.S. Eliot, my eternal rock star and in 2024, Billy Collins. His collection, Sailing Alone Around the Room has deeply informed my thinking about the significance of the past and memory.
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
In a forest under flickering sunlight while leaning against a huge chunk of limestone. I often read poetry walking the streets of whatever city I'm inhabiting. On Ash Wednesday I stood in front of T.S. Eliot's home in St. Louis and read his poem by the same name aloud to the birds.They loved it.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Of all the questions this one caused me to stop and think the longest. I even found myself asking other people the question before formulating my answer, but I've settled on Lennie Small from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The quality of true innocence is so difficult to capture in an adult character and Lennie is innocent to the core. First, I'd give him a hug and tell him how much he is loved an valued by so many people (readers) and God himself. Then I'd ask him a million questions about his favorite animals, his hopes and dreams for the farm he and George will create, what he remembers about his own childhood. I'm drawn to the Lennie's of this world. Innocence never gets old.
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
When my mother said to me, "Let's create a book about that!" It was 2008 and we experienced a simultaneous epiphany that the story we'd just encountered was so compelling it called out to become a book. She was a gifted oil painter so we created the book together, Back to the Manger - A Treasure Hunt for the Nativity. She painted all the illustrations which took her about a year. Yep, another nativity book. I guess I'm obsessed with the mystery of the Incarnation. This effort, my first book has been my best-selling book as well. Christmas books take on a life of their own.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardback: Love it. The heft, the power and smell of the pages, the feel of a deckled edge, the opportunity for creativity within the form. Paperback: Reminds me of my numerous college novel courses so a bit tainted by that, but unavoidable and easy to pack. ebook: Don't read these because so much of my working time is spent on a screen. However, as an author I have a huge respect for their portability and flexibility. My first novel, A Minor - A Novel of Love, Music and Memory, came with recorded music embedded in the music titles found in the text, thanks to the distributor, Ingram. This was an amazing, living book experience for many readers who loved it. Audiobook: Just starting to get excited about these given how much I'm on the road these days.
The last book I read:
Rules of Estrangement by Dr. Joshua Coleman. Reading and writing fiction is a luxury in our information obsessed age. Occasionally I read non-fiction to spend time on an issue that interests me that I know little about. Books like this are a bit brittle so I balance it with poetry while reading non-fiction. The imagery and depth of Billy Collins helped me get the most from Dr. Coleman's book.
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
The only pen and paper I write on is my journal. I'm in love with my Apple Macbook Pro which has served me faithfully for over a decade. It's incredibly easy to use and versatile for writers and artists of all kinds.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Didn't need to think about this one: Jo from Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott. I once had a friend like Jo who I met while studying at Cambridge in England. Sadly, I've lost touch with her, but she was my Jo. Wandering streets talking about the books we're reading, our latest writing projects, drinking coffee and reminiscing about our loves, the nature and evolution of love, God, the wonder and quarks of the universe, a single poetic line we can't get out of heads, the deconstruction and reconstruction of women authors. I could literally (ha!) go on and on.
Author Interview - Margaret Ann Philbrick | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Dream Career: ballet dancer with a New York City Company. I've been captivated by ballet and the silky movement of swans across water since I was a young child.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Such a fun question, I wonder how male authors answer this one! I feel like almost everyone is going to say the Roaring Twenties so I can't say that. The Go-Go 80's when everything was big and not minimized or neutral. Big hair, big shoulder pads, bold colors, "a short skirt and a long jacket"* -- that's my jam. If I walk into one more all gray house with gray pvc flooring I'm going to puke gray, apologies to all gray lovers out there. *Musical Credit: the band "Cake"
Place I’d most like to travel:
The Wicklow Trail in Ireland. I'm Irish and I think about Ireland and hiking this trail with my adorable husband almost every day. Green is my favorite color and you get a lotta green out there.
My signature drink:
Signature drink is a Christmas cocktail I invented and often serve to guests during the holidays. It's Cherry Bounce mixed with champagne and a touch of rosemary syrup, garnished by a floating Montmorency Cherry and a sprig of candied rosemary. I'm still working to perfect the proportions. Cherry Bounce is a liquor that we make every summer and it sits in the basement until we bring it out for the holiday season. Non-alcoholic is any kind of fresh pressed juice with turmeric.
Favorite artist:
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Number one on my bucket list:
Throughout writing House of Honor I grew more and more infatuated with Sicily. Going there to experience their food, culture, ruins, La Kalsa, art (Caravaggio's stolen painting), multiculturalism, the generosity of the people, it's reigning at the top right now.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Ashley, Thank you for these thought provoking questions and your commitment to elevating women authors!
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/seasonedpoetess/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@seasonedpoetess
https://www.pinterest.com/margaretphilbri/
https://www.facebook.com/margaret.philbrick.9/
Also, a new Instagram account that is coming specifically for House of Honor - the Heist of Caravaggio's Nativity.
About Margaret Ann Philbrick:
Margaret Ann Philbrick is an author, gardener and teacher who desires to plant seeds in hearts. Her first novel, A Minor - A Novel of Love, Music and Memory (2014) released to critical acclaim and her first picture book, Back the the Manger (2009) is now a Christmas classic. She is the contributing editor of Everbloom (2017), a poetry and essay collection designed to help women find their unique voice. House of Honor - The Heist of Caravaggio's Nativity is her second novel. Margaret is a frequent contributor to a wide variety of magazines and her poetry has been published in numerous anthologies. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and a Masters (M.A.T.) from National Louis University. She is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and the Door County Published Author Collective. You can find Margaret digging in the dirt or wandering in a forest or you can connect with her via her website, www.margaretphilbrick.com.
Her poetry and photographs are available on Instagram and TikTok @seasonedpoetess. She welcomes your thoughts and comments.
