art of love Archives - Melissa Rea

More of Casanova’s Secrets

May 18, 2017 By Melissa Rea 10 Comments

Few of history’s men are more fascinating than eighteenth century libertine, Giacomo Casanova. Though he was a soldier, a gambler, a factory owner, French lottery official, and even a spy; it is his romantic exploits that enthrall us. He would have admitted that the pursuit of love was his life’s work. In his memoir Histoire de Ma Vie, Casanova details his amorous activities in all the vivid detail the eighteenth century would allow. He writes not to brag but to share his life’s rich experiences. In his words he tells of loving well over a hundred women by the age of forty-nine. There is indeed a reason to call someone a Casanova is to deem him a womanizer.

Not considered handsome, he had little trouble conquering the objects of his affection. How exactly did he do this? Casanova used words as cupids arrows. When he found a woman beautiful, he told her. Modern men could use this technique to their advantage. If your lady love is gorgeous, make sure you voice this to her…often.

Womankind, for all our strengths can be so fragile and insecure about our looks. Why are their so many industries that exist to only help us improve our appearance? So tell us you find us lovely, beautiful, and sexy. I am not a fan of the term hot describing a person, but if your lady likes it, go for it. It doesn’t matter if you said it yesterday and feel it should be so obvious to this gorgeous creature. Tell her again and again. You need to be honest or we will see through you, but tell her.

In my novel Conjuring Casanova I use quotes from his memoir to portray a Casanova brought from 1774 to modern time. ER doc Elizabeth Hilman cannot resist his descriptions of why he and anyone should love her. “The stuff of angels wings,” is how he describes the soft but jiggly flesh of her Lizzy’s inner arms. Now that’s a good line and I confess I made that one up. Who could resist this? It worked because he meant it, so no fatuous pick up lines please. Just tell us honestly how wonderful we are.

The perfect beach read...frothy yet satisfying like a good ice cream soda — The perfect beach read…frothy yet satisfying like a good ice cream soda

All You Need Is Love

May 3, 2017 By Melissa Rea 7 Comments

I’m sorry to steal from oldies music but The Beatles were so right. There are few things more important to us as human beings that love. Our first emotion is most likely the love for the mother who nurtures us. We grow to love others and always seek to get others to love us. All of this other-centered love sadly misses the point. The most important love of all is to love ones self. Without self love, other loves are pointless.

Giacomo Casanova spent his adult life in search of love. Perhaps, because as a child he got very little. His mother was a beautiful actress that left him with his grandmother when he was just a baby. His grandmother sent him off to school at nine. Senore Casanova spent his life searching for the love he never received. To him love was very specifically the physical love he found in the arms of a woman. Never experiencing much love as a child, I think he was entitled to define love anyway he chose. We modern lovers have many definitions of the word. There is the romantic love, platonic love of friendship, love of one’s family, and even love of ice cream. I propose that just maybe, we need to place more value on self love. How can we love another if we don’t love ourselves?

I have read Casanova’s memoir, Histoire de Ma Vie, many times and am always struck by the sadness of the man through his words. I think because his family thought so little of him, he never learned to love himself and so searched eternally. This search made him immortal. After all, when you call someone a Casanova, everyone know what you mean.

Let’s stop our searching in vain, look in the mirror and love ourselves just a little more. We are thin enough, rich enough, smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough to deserve our own love. Let’s give it a try.

Passionate Pursuits

August 13, 2016 By Melissa Rea 1 Comment

Melissa Rea Author Book Signing at Copperfield's — Signing at Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol, CA

What do these three pictures have in common? It is passion. The two gentleman in the picture, Prince and Giacomo Casanova were lucky enough to learn their great passions early in life. The lady, me, was not as fortunate. Prince performed and wrote great music before he was twenty. Casanova discovered his life’s purpose, the pursuit of love, at a very early age as well. I am the only living member of the pictured trio and am a slow learner.

Moving from one hobby to the next creative hobby in some attempt to find the passion inside me, I struggled. Photography, gardening, painting, none done very well, held my attention for a few years at a time. Way down inside me a little voice would say, “Write, Stupid.” It took a while, but I finally listened. My passion finally bloomed in some wonderfully inspiring continuing education courses at the community college.

Always before, as I went about my pursuits, at a certain point the disappointment would set in. Some of my photos were pretty good. I learned to grow orchids and cover my yard with blooms. I would occasionally paint a decent water color, but I always moved on. When I wrote stories, the quality didn’t really matter to me. I just had to write. There is certainly disappointment with the quality of my writing once in a while. This is not enough to put out the fire of passion thank goodness. The difference is I couldn’t stop writing now if I wanted to. I have found the doorway into the passion in my soul. Do you dare to find yours?

Wouldn’t it be fun to read about an ER doc’s lessons in passion from and 18th century libertine?

You Are Your Dreams

July 2, 2016 By Melissa Rea 2 Comments

It ain’t always fun and it ain’t always easy, but you can’t give up on your dreams. Wiser folks than me have said this in much better ways. I just want to take a little time, this holiday weekend to remind you of something you probably already know. Our dreams are the best of us after all. Sometimes, our dreams become impossible for many reasons. What to do? Reach right up and grab another one. Is there anything more exciting than a new dream? ER doc Elizabeth Hillman dreams of the perfect lover in Conjuring Casanova. If you know me at all, you know I dream up stories and want to share them. I would love to hear about your dreams. Tell me what is the dream that feeds your soul?

Beach Read Season Is Here!

May 30, 2016 By Melissa Rea Leave a Comment

Summer is here! The cold dark days are gone for a few sweet months and let’s celebrate. It’s time to sit on the beach, on your deck, or in any sunny spot and take advantage of the long days to read fun books. Why not dig your toes into the sand with ER doc Lizzy Hillman as she conjures Giacomo Casanova from 1774 to 2016. Travel to romantic Paris and breathtaking Venice from the comfort of your very own beach chair, even if it’s in your living room. Why not slather on the sunscreen and get to know an 18th century libertine in Conjuring Casanova.

“This is the perfect beach read! A likeable heroine, witty banter, romance and sex. In addition to well-researched historical background about the real Cassanova. Frothy yet satisfying, like a good ice cream soda.” Amazon Customer

The Inspiration of Undies

May 11, 2016 By Melissa Rea Leave a Comment

I know readers are curious souls and I thought you might want to share the thoughts that went through my head and led me to write Conjuring Casanova. I was writing a three-book romance series which someday may see the light of publishing. It takes place in 1760 and if one is going to have romance in the eighteenth century, some understanding of the women’s underwear of that time is a must.

I worked the internet and found, “No better recordings of the ins an outs of daily life in the eighteenth century can be found than in the pages of Giacomo Casanova’s memoir, Histoire de Ma Vie.” I ordered one volume; there are twelve. In the pages I discovered this crazy-for-life, hilariously honest and gifted writer sharing forty-nine years of his everyday life. The other eleven volumes quickly filled my shelves.

I knew nothing about the man. His rep was certainly not attractive. He knew plenty about ladies undies back in the day. He was the quintessential womanizer. How could I like him so much through his words? Yet every time I read his words I felt like “my friend” was talking to me. A friend who just happened to be an eighteenth-century libertine.

One day as I held my friend’s book on my lap, devouring his words, I asked myself a simple question: What would I think of him if he was here today? Et voilà, Conjuring Casanova was born. The picture, a not-so-subtle reference to a man who spent his life in the unending pursuit of the flower of womanhood. As it happens, “Melissa” means honey bee, so how could I resist this pretty picture?

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