What inspired the Red Room in Clara Martelli’s bookshop?
First of all, who doesn’t love a secret chamber? (pun unintended, but it fits)
I wrote the first edition of Through the Red Door before the current book-banning hysteria (started work on it in 2017), but even then it seemed to me that a bookshop owner would want a way to keep underage readers from stumbling upon the naughty books. And what other color could the door be but shiny scarlet?
Designing my own fictional bookshop brought me so much joy! And of course it’s located next door to an indie coffee shop, because what goes together better than books and coffee? Or tea, as you wish.
Clara uses art posters to label the various sections of Book Nirvana: a spacescape for the sci-fi section, a knight on horseback for the history books, an appetizing still life of fruit and bread for the cookbooks, a Peter Max yellow submarine for the music aisle…
And above the red door, Ingres’s famous nude, La Grande Odalisque.
In the book, I describe her gaze as both an invitation and a dare. The painting was criticized when it first appeared in 1814, especially for the woman’s oddly long back. But I find her languid, serpentine, and utterly gorgeous! I wonder what she and her lover will do with that feather fan?
I’m also fascinated by antiques, especially gorgeous furniture and décor, and thus the red room was born. A worn Persian carpet in rosy hues covers the floor. Visitors turn on the antique pink-glass ceiling lamp by pulling a heavy silk tassle on a chain. There’s a rolling stepladder to give access to the upper shelves. And in the center of the room, a most unusual Victorian conversation settee, like this one, but upholstered in red velvet.
Clara’s late husband Jared, who designed the red room and curated the shop’s collection of erotic art books and spicy stories, figured this kind of seating would prevent visitors from getting carried away by the seductive reading material.
Darling reader, he was wrong about that!
I hope you’ll take a look at the first three chapters (free to everyone) of Through the Red Door on REAM. And while you’re there, do me a huge favor and give me a follow? Followers are notified whenever new material is posted. 😘
Read a free sample on REAM!
