Elisabeth was inspired to write her first novel, The Wedding Shroud, after finding a photo of a C6th BC sarcophagus of a husband and wife that she later located in the Louvre. The casket was unusual because, in this period of history, women were rarely commemorated in funerary art let alone a couple depicted in such a pose of affection. The image of the lovers remained with her. What kind of culture exalted marital fidelity while showing such an openly sensuous connection? What ancient society revered women as much as men? Discovering the answer led her to the decadent and mystical Etruscan civilisation and the little known story of the war between Rome and Veii.