Claudia Merrill

November so far ✨

One book I’ve been getting back into is Wild by Amy Jeffs. She retells early medieval folk stories, bringing them to life again. At the end of each short story, she gives more background into the story, with historical background and details on the primary sources.

I also made it to the and started some watercolor paintings. Instead of buying cards this year I’m painting them, it’s one of the only things that really calms me.

Are you reading anything good lately? My TBR is so long but I’m always looking to add more to my Goodreads list 😅📚

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My 2024 in pictures ✨

This year was a big one for me. I was thinking so much about the future. What do I want to be in the next 10 years? Where do I want to spend my time? Since I was 19 I had this little feeling inside of me to become an author, but since then I had so much to do like learn how to make a living in a foreign country. 🙈🇦🇹 It felt like I never had the time to become an author.

In 2023 when I published the first part of my novel I had this rush of believing I could do it. So in 2024 I left my full time job and since then I’ve been writing, doing an editing course, and figuring out how to make my author life happen. I also published my first poetry book this year with some other talented creatives. 🫧📘

And now I’m looking into 2025 👀 and seeing those possibilities. It’s so exciting and terrifying at the same time😅

Are you doing something next year that terrifies you?

When I started writing The Last Oracle, I didn’t find many books for adults that centred around friendship ✨

🕯️The friendship that forms between my two female protagonists becomes the very thing that keeps them on the path to becoming their greatest selves.

So often in life, friendship really does keep us on the path. Without their bond, both protagonists would fall into the darkness. Why do we always focus on romantic relationships? Why not the power of friendship?

I’m on the editing path right now and I’m excited (and scared 😅) to start getting the manuscript formed. I’m so happy with how the first part turned out in this short book, but stay tuned for the complete version. ✨🫶🏻

Have you read this one already? What did you think of it? 😊 I have it added on too if you want to leave a review. Link is in my bio!

cozy medieval moments in 🏰🕯️🍂
my favourite room in this castle was this medieval bedroom. I would spend all day writing in here ✍️

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All about Portrait of a Woman ✨🍂🕯️

4 years ago when I was researching the Dutch Golden Age, I came across a salacious story. I couldn’t believe I had never heard of it before! So I got my mind into the state of Hendrickje Stoffels, the 20 year old maid that came to work for Rembrandt in 1647, and followed her paper trail of history.

What I found was a young girl caught between the famous Rembrandt, and his existing mistress that was 20 years her senior. Through my research, it became clear that motives were ambiguous—did Rembrandt agree to marry his former mistress before a new young lady entered the household? Was Geertje (his former mistress) the victim? Or was she a jealous older woman who wouldn’t let go of her fling with the famous painter?

I left these questions open in this book. I left it up to you to decide who is in the wrong, and who is following their heart.

Rembrandt at the ✨🍂

I released a new short story through .one.world this autumn about the chaotic love triangle between Rembrandt x his old servant Geertje x and the new maid Hendrickje.

I found out about this messy love triangle a few years ago when I started researching into Rembrandt‘s life. To see all his artwork at the exhibit in a new light made me realize that Rembrandt is a man of many layers.

He was unconventional in his art style and love life. No wonder his life was so full of scandal. 🔥

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This week ✨ autumn strolls and museums ☕️

My parents are visiting me in Vienna from Australia! It’s been nice to have them here and show them around my new home.

For those of you that are new here 🍃 I’m originally from Sydney, Australia and I moved to Vienna, Austria almost 5 years ago now 😳 I see my family once a year which isn’t that much but better than nothing.

Today we went to the 📍Hermes Villa in the Laizner Tiergarten just outside of Vienna and it’s honestly my favourite place for autumn landscapes 🍂

What have you been doing so far this autumn?

💭 Moments from Bruges ✨

I spent a few days in Bruges in May this year wandering the streets in one of the most beautiful medieval towns I’ve ever seen. 😍

I love that in Europe everything is so close (compared to Australia 😅) so I took advantage of the time I had in spring to see more of the lowlands. I’d never been to Belgium 🇧🇪 before this and I’d definitely go again!

Peak medieval core places to visit:

Saint Sylvester’s Cathedral
Sashuis
Smedenpoort
Spiegelrei
Belfry of Bruges
Saint John’s Hospital
Gruuthusemuseum

And of course for cozy coffee ☕️ The Novel cafe!