“Artifacts Book Review: A Supremely Intelligent Art World Novel”
Review of Artifacts by Natalie Lemle. Lit Society™ by Bond & Grace, September 16, 2026.
Creative and Scholarly Writing
Fiction
The debut- will it be realism or speculative fiction?
Catherine is querying two complete manuscripts and actively seeking representation for publication.
The first, RACHEL AND RILEY, follows two childhood best friends with opposing politics from 2016 to 2026. We follow their journeys through their 20s and 30s, as their lives take increasingly divergent paths. Set primarily in Wisconsin and partially narrated by the girls' mothers and lovers, the novel explores how our morals and convictions are shaped by where we live and who we love. The book captures the complexity of love and loyalty in a close female friendship unfolding in our charged political era.
(Upmarket fiction; 78,000 words)
The second, MUSEUM OF THE BLIND, is a sophisticated art mystery that imagines a future in which the Parthenon Marbles, currently (and controversially) scattered across seven European museums, are reunited in Athens. A sweeping saga with a rich cast of characters--including archaeologists, curators, hit men, and nuns--the novel tackles serious themes (repatriation, imperialism, nationalism, and more) gently, inviting readers with a range of views to enjoy the ride.
(Literary mystery; 107,000 words)
Both manuscripts are available to literary agents, editors, and publishers upon request.
Reviewing
Lit Society
Catherine is a reviewer for Lit Society™ by Bond & Grace — the literary membership of salons, lectures, and curated reading from the women-owned publisher of the Art Novel™, where books and art are taken equally seriously.
published works
Selected scholarly writing
Two essays, both available here
“Exploring the Legacy of Imperialist Logic: New Theoretical Approaches to the Historiography of Cypriot Sculpture”
In Empire and Excavation: Critical Perspectives on Archaeology in British-Period Cyprus, 1878–1960, edited by Thomas Kiely, Anna Reeve, and Lindy Crewe. Leiden: Sidestone Press, 2025.
The volume is peer-reviewed, and available Open Access (free) online from the publisher.
“The Cypriot Fragment at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Late 19th Century”
In Ancient Cyprus Today: Museum Collections and New Research, edited by Giorgos Bourogiannis and Christian Mühlenbock, 31–42. Uppsala: Åströms förlag, 2016.
“Between Classicism and Orientalism: The Reception of Ancient Cypriot Sculpture, 1860–1900”
PhD dissertation, Northwestern University, 2018.
The study behind both essays — and behind her 2021 conference lecture for CAARI and the British Museum.