The summer of 1816 was unlike any other.  The eruption in Mount Tambora in April 1815 has caused a global effect, where unusually cold and wet weather conditions were present across Europe and North America...

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After settling themselves in Geneva, Switzerland, Mary Shelley and her companions found a villa that was soon to be the setting of the well-known writing competition. Their first month was spent mostly outdoors, however, they were all forced to stay inside when the weather suddenly became cold and foggy in June.

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The bad weather forced the writers inside the house for nights, it was then that Lord Byron proposed a writing competition. In the spirit of the ghastly weather he proposed a "ghost writing competition" where the companions each tried to muster up their scariest stories.

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Little did they know that they were making history in the world of literature: it was this night that Mary Shelley invented a new genre, scientific fiction, with her novel Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. Inspired from events in her own life and scientific explorations happening at the time.

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In this immersive experience, you will not only be able to dive into a reimagined Villa Diodati here in Winston Salem, you will also be able to engage artistically by exploring the grounds and possibly producing a piece of work - a short story, poem, drawing, etc - and stand a chance to be featured in our local monthly newsletter.