Newsmakers
The County Times
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
14
History and Book Lover Turns Author
By Corrin M. Howe Contributing Writer Leonardtown author Christine Trent loves to promote her books through personal book signings arranged by friends, book clubs and networking. Recently two friends from Calvert County held a party for her to talk to about a dozen women about her second book, “A Royal Likeness,” a historical fiction about an apprentice to Madame Marie Tussaud, the world famous wax maker. “I enjoy the one-on-one with readers,” Trent said. At this particular party, Trent gave a brief history about how Madame Tussaud became a wax maker and how she went from displaying royal likenesses in her home in France to taking her wax figures on exhibition in England. “You have to remember, in those days people didn’t have the internet, TV or gossip magazines like we do. So unless the king came through their town, the people didn’t know what the royals looked like,” Trent said. The author researched how Madame Tussaud would make both life and death masks of the subjects and explained the process at the book signing held in the home of Laura Allison, owner of Keep It Simple computer training. Trent’s friend, Carolyn McHugh, made a mask ahead of time using a head used in cosmetology schools. Trent used the pieces made by McHugh to demonstrate the art of making realistic wax figurines. Madame Tussaud originally started in France around the time of the French Revolution, according to Trent. Tussaud was not above trolling the cemetery pits after beheadings to get her subjects, but she would have to work fast to get accurate features because of the natural processes dead bodies
Christine Trent stands by one of her Marie Antoinette dresses and her bookcase displaying her two published books.
cycle through. In “A Royal Likeness,” Trent created her fictional character, Marguerite Ashby, who becomes an apprentice to “her old friend, Marie Tussaud, who has established a wax exhibition. When Prime Minister William Pitt commissions a wax figure of Admiral Nelson, Marguerite becomes immersed in a dangerous adventure—and earns the admiration of two very
different men. And as Britain battles to overthrow Napoleon, Marguerite will find her loyalties under fire from all sides.” This is Trent’s second published book in a year. The first was “The Queen’s Dollmaker,” about a fictional doll maker to Marie Antoinette. One of the ways she promotes her first book is by wearing one of the two dresses made in the style of Marie Antoinette. She had a third dress made which is identical to the dress on the cover of “A Royal Likeness.” “It is rare to have two books published in the same year,” Trent said. Trent loves history, particularly around the period of the French Revolution. Most of her research for her stories comes from her own personal library, now nearing 4,000 books. “I have to own them. I buy books everywhere. I haunt used book stores, eBay, people are beginning to donate books to me. I love old books sales. I can find the most unusual things,” Trent said. In fact, one of her two books currently in the works came from one of those unusual finds. According to Trent, the hardest part about promoting her two currently published books is finding the time. She spent three years writing her first book because she did not have an agent or a contract. Since her first book sold and she hired an agent, she has two books she is promoting for sales, a third book she is currently editing with a publication date looming and a fourth book under contract that she must start writing. For more information about Christine Trent go to www. christinetrent.com. info@somd.com
“Students Against Underage Drinking”
Poster Designed by: Danielle Biegner 11th grade Chopticon HS.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention funded this project under grant number EUDL-2008-1007. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State of Federal agency