This is the last section, Part 4, of my Pic&Quote series, from 16 to 22. The quotes are from The Boy in Two Minds and the pictures are mainly photographs taken as research.
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Posted on social media on
July 09 2024
Pic&Quote 16
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 31.
My #AncientOlympicBoy is now doing his regular running training in the mountains near Olympia in 432 BCE.
< The rider turned in his saddle when he saw Themis. His right hand reached back and the thong of a whip flew out, lashing Themis’ left arm to his waist. He was jerked towards the edge of the cliff as the horse turned and backed.
‘Where’s the other boy?’ shouted the man through his mask. >
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Posted on social media on
July 12 2024
Pic&Quote 17
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 32.
At Olympia, 432 BCE. My #AncientOlympicBoy is sitting alone on a bench close to the temple of Zeus. He was talking to his Uncle Phidias who has just had to hurry away.
< Themis felt a shiver down his back and turned to see if he was being watched. There was no one behind him, but, high in the pediment of the temple, Apollo’s still face shone above the battling stone bodies around him. He seemed to be looking down on Themis with his calm, painted eyes. >
Research photo ©Julia M Newsome. Close-up of the head of the marble statue of Apollo, which stood in the middle of the West pediment of the Temple of Zeus from around 460 BCE, now in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
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Posted on social media on
July 16 2024
Pic&Quote 18
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 32, Book 1 of "The Connection Trilogy: Time travel to Ancient Greece". And this time it’s about Suzanne who is gradually recovering from her head injury.
The #AncientOlympicBoy 'borrowed' her consciousness to survive, and it’s his life that she lives when she’s unconscious or deeply asleep. She is still in hospital and her school friends visit her regularly, even though she’s usually unresponsive or incomprehensible if she does speak.
Her best friend, Bernie, keeps a diary.
< April 3rd, 2010, Easter Saturday
Suzanne’s asleep as usual. So we’re sitting by her bed chatting, when her voice suddenly says, ‘School trip. Akropolis all fucked up.’
Total shock!
But Laila smiles. ‘Ruined, yes. We spent a morning up there hearing all about it. Remember?’
‘Remember …’ Suzanne says, like she’s not sure what that means. >
Research photo ©Julia M Newsome. The ruins on the Akropolis of Athens in 2024, from the Pnyx.
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Posted on social media on
July 19 2024
Pic&Quote 19
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 33.
And this time, my #AncientOlympicBoy is inside the Temple of Zeus at Olympia in 432 BCE ...
< Flinging up his arms towards the statue, Phidias cried out, ‘I give you Zeus, the Immortal Father, my greatest achievement. It will outlive us all by hundreds of years, a wonder beyond imagining.’
The god’s eyes flickered. >
The photo is, for once, from Wikipedia's public domain: "Olympian Zeus in the sculptured antique art of Quatremère de Quincy(1815)".
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Posted on social media on
July 24 2024
Pic&Quote 20
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 36.
Outside the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, 432 BCE.
< Turning to the Hill of Chronos, Phidias raised his voice. ‘Most beloved and feared of Fathers, are you happy with your new gift? Will you give us a sign?’
His voice died away. The wind pulled at tunics and cloaks, bent branches and grasses, swished and groaned in the trees. Clouds boiled and shredded above. Time passed. No one moved … >
Research photo ©Brian Donnelly. The north side of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia in 2016, with the Hill of Chronos to the left.
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Posted on social media on
July 29 2024
Pic&Quote 21
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 37.
With the Olympics in Paris now underway (and the sun coming out there, too, after all that rain!), here is my Pic&Quote 21 from The Boy in Two Minds, Book 1 of "The Connection Trilogy: time travel to Ancient Greece".
Themis and his friend/slave, Frog, have just watched a man die.
< ‘What killed him?’ murmured Themis, staring at the distorted body.
‘I often saw him take a little piece of food from a dish. He would rearrange things so you would never know’ said Frog in a whisper. ‘Do you think that’s what he could have done here? Taken a bit, started eating it and choked, or … ’
‘That dish was meant for me!’ said Themis suddenly. >
Photo by Bibi Saint-Pol, own work, 2007-06-06 Fish plate Louvre K588, room 44, sourced from Wikipedia
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Posted on social media on
July 30 2024
Pic&Quote 22 - the last one of this series
#AncientOlympicBoy #Paris2024 #TheConnectionTrilogy
From The Boy in Two Minds 432 BCE, Chapter 50.
It’s autumn, 432 BCE, and Themistokles son of Kallistos is now on his way home with his uncle Phidias and others after all their adventures building the statue, and facing danger at the Games. But have they solved the complex and dangerous family mystery, and have they learned what caused the connection between him and Suzanne Short of 2010? They are returning to Athens on Phidias’ ship, The Dolphin.
< The Dolphin moved slowly away from the quay as the sailors pulled in the plank and pushed her back. The sail caught the breeze and filled. As she freed herself from the land, the oars came out on both sides and the Row Master’s mallet began its rhythm. >
Research photo ©Julia M Newsome, Monemvasia.
Phidias’ boat would also have been a magnificent private yacht like this (neither a small commercial boat nor a war trireme as on the vases), and would also have sailed past Monemvasia on the way back to Athens from Olympia.
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So, in these last four blog posts, you have 22 quotes and 22 relevant photos from The Boy in Two Minds. I wanted to show some of the research and to exemplify using real places and artefacts in historical fiction. Also to offer you some intriguing moments in the story!
But I have been careful not to include spoilers, so if you are interested and decide to read the whole book, I hope I haven't lessened your pleasure in learning the outcome of Themistokles' endeavours and the unravelling of the mysteries he finds himself involved in.
And, if you ever decide to follow his and Suzanne's stories in Books 2 and 3, you will discover that some of those mysteries can take years to untangle ...
Thank you for reading, and please leave any constructive thoughts you may have in the Comments.
Original artwork by Fliss Watts: flisswtts1.wordpress.com. Instagram: @flisswatts
All photographs ©Julia M Newsome unless otherwise credited.
Birkby Books
The Connection Trilogy by J M Newsome:
1. The Boy in Two Minds 9781838413606
(first edition was The Boy with Two Heads, 2012, Trifolium Books, now out of print)
2. The Girl in Two Worlds 9781838413620
3. An Ancient Connection 9781838413644
