I created this #1 of 1 NFT image, The glory of La Serenissima, using AI generative art tool, Conjure.art. I used a line from my thriller novel, Stone of Fire, about Venice combined with one of my images from a research trip to the city.
I used this line from my thriller, Stone of Fire, as a prompt. “Even in the muted light from the street lamps, it was a kaleidoscope of multicolored marble. Each pillar supporting the church was a different kind of stone, sourced from around the world to demonstrate the glory of La Serenissima, the Venetian republic.”
I used one of my photos of St Mark's Basilica from a book research trip to the city and remixed it with a number of filters to produce the ultimate result.
In Stone of Fire, my characters Morgan and Jake go to Venice to investigate where Pope Pius X might have kept a powerful relic of the early church. They explore St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace by night.
As part of my book research, I've visited the city several times — with varying levels of success! In a solo episode on my Books and Travel Podcast, I talk about Myth and Reality, Beauty and Decay, based on my trips to Venice. The transcript includes more photos, including some for a magical visit to the Biennale in 2017 when we saw Damien Hirst's Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable.
You can find the NFT here on Opensea and Stone of Fire available in all the usual places.
