Mata Hari Anniversary

If you are not a historian of the Great War, then you may be unaware today is the one-hundredth anniversary of the execution of Mata Hari. She was born August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Her father, mother, step-mother, and son all died before her execution. Her daughter Louise Jeanne outlived her by two years. After separating from her husband, she moved to Paris in 1903. Her early jobs in the City of Lights included a circus horse rider and artist model. Two years later, she was a well-known exotic dancer.

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Although she maintained her innocence, she stood before a French firing squad with her eyes unobstructed by a blindfold. She was 41 at the time of her death. Her story is told from many perspectives, but history doesn’t write itself.

Ariel, one of the main characters in my forthcoming book, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure, dresses as Mata Hari for a Halloween party in 1940. She even lets herself get captured by a troop of walnut farm workers dressed as French soldiers. In the dark of night, she returns as Lady Godiva. Originally, this Halloween treat was not part of my manuscript. I only mentioned “Ariel’s incredible trick” at first. My critique group wanted to know what this trick was. So I add a fun Halloween scene where all the women at the pleasure house dress up for the holiday and pass out candy to the local kids. It was a fun chapter to write, and I hope you enjoy it.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. Currently, I’m reading Mourner’s Bench by Sanderia Faye. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.