A Novel about the Timeless Journey of Art, Courage, and Destiny
Watch the book trailer!
The process of writing a novel is exhausting, nerve-wracking, and time-consuming… But it’s also exhilarating, rewarding, and completely satisfying.
I’m thrilled to announce that Eternally Artemisia is now published! As they say in Italian, sono molto emozionata! This novel, inspired by the extraordinary life of Artemisia Gentileschi, has been a labor of love. For months, Artemisia has been my constant companion as I meticulously crafted her story—refining the plot, shaping dialogues, proofreading, and rewriting (and rewriting some more).
As an independent author, I wear many hats—writer, designer, layout artist, illustrator, publisher, editor, proofer, and even videographer. Believe me, there’s no shortage of things to keep me up at night, both before and after publication! I worry about everything from whether the colors on the book cover will print perfectly on Amazon to whether I’ve missed a tiny comma on one of the 312 pages. Even after multiple rounds of professional editing and proofreading, the final responsibility falls on me. Did the interior margins shift when I made a last-minute tweak to a dialogue? Did I overlook something crucial? These are the thoughts that race through my mind at 2 AM.
And now that Eternally Artemisia is out in the world, I can say with confidence—she is beautiful! Like my previous two novels, this book celebrates women, art, and creativity. And, of course, the Medici family make another appearance—they just can’t seem to stay out of my stories!
Eternally Artemisia has received her first review from Dianne Hales, author of “La Bella Lingua.”
A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historic figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel, but the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating.
Watch the book trailer to learn more about “Eternally Artemisia”
Now that Eternally Artemisia has been released into the world, I have the chance to get creative all over again! I’ve just put together a short book trailer to offer readers a glimpse into this journey through Tuscany, Rome, Florence… and beyond.
I’d love for you to take a look and share it with friends! Artemisia and I thank you!
I Love All My Books… But I Have a Confession…
Perhaps because she has only just stepped onto the stage alongside my other protagonists, I feel a particular fondness for my latest novel, Eternally Artemisia. This book is especially close to my heart because it explores time travel—an idea that has always fascinated me. I love the thought that certain souls, bound by powerful, life-altering experiences, are destined to find each other again and again across time.
(I suppose it’s no surprise that I have such an affinity for the past. The voices of history—especially those calling from Italy—seem to whisper to me, always drawing me back.)
Like my protagonist Maddie in Eternally Artemisia, I have long been captivated by the seventeenth-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi and her remarkable life. Her story deserves to be told and remembered. The struggles she faced 500 years ago—fighting to establish herself in a male-dominated world—remain deeply relevant to women today. Artemisia’s courage, resilience, and determination to succeed against all odds continue to inspire.
Read the novel that was inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi!
Eternally Artemisia
They say some loves travel through time and are fated to meet over and over again. For Maddie, an art therapist, who wrestles with the “peculiar feeling” she has lived previous lives and is being called to Italy by voices that have left imprints o her soul, this idea is intriguing. Despite her best efforts, however, proof of this has always eluded her. That is, until one illuminating summer in Italy when Maddie’s previous existences start to bleed through into her current reality. When she is introduced to the Crociani family—a noble clan with ties to the seventeenth-century Medici court that boasts of ancestors with colorful pasts—she finally meets the loves of her life. One is a romantic love, and another is a special kind of passion that only women share, strong amongst those who have suffered greatly yet have triumphed despite it. As Maddie’s relationship develops with Artemisia Gentileschi—an artist who in a time when it was unheard of to denounce a man for the crime of rape, did just that—Maddie discovers a kindred spirit and a role model, and just what women are capable of when united together. In a journey that arcs back to biblical days and moves forward in time, Maddie encounters artists, dukes, designers, and movie stars as well as baser and ignoble men. With Artemisia never far from her side, she proves that when we dare to take control of our lives and find the “thing” we are most passionate about, we are limitless and can touch the stars.
