Q: Which books are referenced in the novel?
A: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”, Jonathan Swift’s tale, "Gulliver’s Travels", and The Bible.

Q: What symbols are used?
A: The apple, the rainbow, the serpent, Adam and Eve, the Passion Flower.

Q: What is the relevance of mentioning the artwork in the opening chapter?
A: The author wants to illustrate Virginia's feelings via the the fall of man through an Adam and Eve painting; her longing for true love, and sacrifice.

Q: Why does Virginia Vancouver feel that her daughter Nettie is God’s punishment to her?
A: Since Nettie was born mentally challenged, Virginia feels that it’s God’s reminder and her punishment because of her earthly obsessions.

Q: What does Clayton Farquhar mean when he says Rusty looks like a “lady killer”? Virginia also makes a similar reference when she says: “He’s most likely to throw me to the dogs…he got what he deserved.”
A: A veiled reference to Jezebel, The Phoenician Queen in the Bible, II Kings, 9:30. She is killed when several eunuchs, at Jehu’s command, throw her out a window. She is devoured by dogs.

Q: Where does the author make a veiled reference to the calamities of life on earth?
A: Chapter One: “It sounded like an explosion. Like a big bang at the epicenter of the universe. As if the beginning of something dreadful.”

Q: What is the leading premise of the story?
A: That life on Earth is uncertain, and that the rewards of spiritual life after death is beautiful. Hence, the title.

Q: What inspired the title “A Death For Beauty”?
A: Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I Died For Beauty, But was Scarce.” Dickinson's poetry, graces the chapter beginnings as well.

Q: What does the depiction of Sioux Indians mean to the story?
A: The author wants to emphasis the struggle of humankind on Earth and suggest its triumph in the midst of adversity by showing their means of survival and procreation against all odds.

Q: What is the meaning of Virginia's three encounters at the end of the story?
A: By the end of the story, Virginia is unsure about everything in her life, and she can no longer distinguish between reality and fantasy. She confronts different entities that foreshadow her future, and the ending of the story.

Q: What underlying themes does the author explore?
A: Lovelessness, spiritual weakness, forgiveness, betrayal, promises, life after death, re-birth.

Q: Who scored the music on the Homepage?
A: The Score is titled "Living Sorrow", by Erik Haddad, which aptly captures the feeling of loss and tragedy. The MP3 version is available on SoundDogs.com.

Q: Doesn't the phrase "...it tolls for thee." come from the KJV Bible?
A: Because of its archaic sound, it is usually mistaken for a quote attributed to Jesus Christ, however, this phrase cannot be found in the Bible, as often assumed, but was penned by the 16th Century poet, John Donne. It has been shortened for brevity and edited to conform to both genders.

More to Come...