Savannah J. Goins's Blog, page 3

Griffins: Myth or Legend?

The King of Beasts and the King of the Sky combined. They’re pretty awesome. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought they were just mythological creatures. Believe it or not, there is evidence indicating they may have really existed!As I was studying these creatures, I stumbled across an old, super boring-looking paper postulating that griffins may have been real. Yes, I am a child at heart who wants the fantastical flying beasts to be real things. It’s true. But bear with me.Adrienne Mayor, a classical folklorist and historian of ancient science, stated in said boring-looking paper: “The griffin is not an obvious hybrid like the half-human, half-animal Centaur, the Minotaur…the Sphinx, or Pegasus…. In fact, the griffin does not play a role in any surviving texts of Greek myths. Unlike other ancient monsters, the griffin does not interact with mythical heroes; instead it is encountered by real people of a distant land….The dissimilarity between the griffin and other mythical creatures, the consistency of the image over centuries, and the rather mundane details about nests and gold added by later writers, suggest that the griffin may have been based on something observed and verified over time by many people in a specific landscape.”Woah! So all those times griffins were mentioned in ancient texts, people were talking about having seen them or hearing of other people seeing them. They were only mentioned in the recounting of events that actually happened. Not in mythological stories! Anyone else been assuming they were just a part of mythology all this time?With a little more digging, I found that they are said to have pulled the Greek god Apollo’s chariot, and that he also sometimes rode one. But the myths also say much more frequently that his chariot was pulled by four horses. And, according to Mayor, no griffin was ever mentioned by name or played any significant part in a mythology. So what if the legends are true?Could they have been real? Many authorities on the subject have different ideas. Some think that it could have been Tibetan mastiffs that people were seeing, and not what we imagine griffins to be at all. If you compare the sagging shape of the mouth of a Tibetan mastiff to the mouths of many of the griffin art pieces, there could be something there. And many artistic renderings of griffins display the tongue sticking out.Tibetan mastiffs are huge, and have thick fur that could possibly have been mistaken for feathers at a distance. They come in black, white, and red, the three colors used to describe the griffin's plumage. But what about the wings? The beak? Plus, do necks get any more different than the two examples above? And I’ve heard of certain types of birds hoarding shiny things, but not dogs. Also, many accounts mention the griffins' eggs, and dogs don't lay eggs! So I'm going with a no on that theory.Others have postulated that they could have been what we now call protoceritops. This is an animal that is mostly presumed to have been a dinosaur, but is four-legged and does have a beak. Also some descriptions of griffins include a protrusion on the head, and protoceritops has such a protrusion. Take a look at this skeleton. Imagine it with fur or feathers instead of the reptilian scales. And this fresco from a Grecian building depicts a cranial projection of the same shape as the protoceritops' coming from the head of the griffin (behind the curly frills).But what about the wings?According to Mayor: “Around the time of Pliny, the sage Apollonious of Tyana was said to have traveled in Far Asia, and he added important new details. As for wings, he claimed that they were not true bird-wings but only webbed membranes that helped griffins make short hops when they fought.”So my guess is, if the protoceritops skeletons are actually griffin skeletons, maybe their wings were supported by some kind of cartilage instead of bone—contributing to the uselessness of the wings for actual flying—and their evidence eroded over time and now only the bones are left, making it appear that there weren’t wings. What do you think? Am I totally crazy?Also the word griffin comes from the Greek word grypes, meaning "hooked," like claws or a beak. Interesting that it was named for its claws or beak and not for its wings, which one might assume would be their most noteworthy trait. Maybe Apollonious was right about the puny membranes after all, if the people who named them thought their claws and beaks were more important than their wings.Here are a few ancient passages that talk about the griffin's most commonly noted features.Ctesias, a Greek physician and historian, wrote: "There is also gold, not found in rivers and washed, as in the river Paktolos, but in many large mountains which are inhabited by Grypes. These are four-footed birds as large as a wolf, their legs and claws resembling those of a lion; their breast feathers are red, those of the rest of the body black. Although there is abundance of gold in the mountains, it is difficult to get it because of these birds."Here’s one from a Greek historian called Herodotus. “But in the north of Europe there is by far the most gold. In this matter again I cannot say with assurance how the gold is produced, but it is said that one-eyed men (Arimaspians) steal it from Grypes.”Lets take a look at the other recorded characteristics we have for them. Instead of boring you with tons more ancient literature, I’ll summarize for you.A griffin is consistently described as a giant four-legged beast like a lion with wings and a beak like a large bird of prey. They lived in the wilderness or desert and defended gold mines from horseback-riding humans called Sythians and one-eyed men called Arimaspians. They were diurnal, so they could only be approached on a moonless night. Their young could be caught, but the adults were too fierce. The griffin has been said to symbolize vigilance, swiftness, the sun, the sky, Christian marriage, Christ, guardianship, generosity, Apollo, Zeus, royalty, loyalty, death, and the difficulty of mining gold.So could they have been real? Part of me really hopes so! But the paper that I found most of the information in was littered with typos, which makes me a little skeptical. Though most of what it said I could back up with other sources, it did make the claim that griffins were NEVER mentioned in Greek mythology, when in fact they are said to have drawn Apollo’s carriage. Though Mayor does seem to be correct about them never being named or playing significant parts in surviving mythological stories. But what about the one-eyed Arimaspians? If the stories about griffins are true, then the Cyclopes must have really existed, as they are mentioned in many griffin accounts. It is possible, but we just don't really know.I'll admit though that I am partial to the idea that protoceritops skeletons could really be griffin skeletons. Could there still be some alive today?What do you think? Do you know something about griffins that I missed? Please share!In Recent MediaMy first thought of a griffin is the one in the Chronicles of Narnia, then the one from the Spiderwick Chronicles, then the one on the cover of Rick Riordan's Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy. My personal favorite griffin is the one from the Chronicles of Narnia. I think he was the first griffin I’d ever seen/heard of when I saw the movie as a kid. He’s pretty cool! What is your favorite book or movie with a griffin character?Creative CornerSo how might you use some of these interesting facts in your own story?Start with the general information we have and build on it. Griffins lived in ancient Europe with a lot of sand and some mountains. They fought off one-eyed people and also dealt with the Scythians on horseback. They protected their young. The adults were too big to catch, but the young could be captured. They were fearsome by day, but could be snuck past at night.I have about a thousand ideas for a book now. You?What if a young cyclopes stumbles upon a baby griffin, is attacked by its parents and some Scythians, manages to get away with it, and they end up the best of friends?Or what if someone goes on an expedition for gold. To make his fortune and support his family or something. They all laugh about the legends of the griffins on the way, but then find that they are true. How will they find out that griffins really exist? Will they all survive the encounter? Will they still try to get some gold? What will happen next?Someone go write this book, please! I want to read it now!Comment your favorite modern griffin and what you think about the possibility that they could have been real!

Neverland and New Years

“Lost Boy”by Ruth BerheThere was a time when I was alone Nowhere to go and no place to call home My only friend was the man in the moon And even sometimes he would go away, tooThen one night, as I closed my eyes I saw a shadow flying high He came to me with the sweetest smile Told me he wanted to talk for awhile He said, "Peter Pan, that's what they call me I promise that you'll never be lonely," and ever since that day…Anyone heard the song Lost Boy by Ruth Berhe? It was a big hit a couple years ago, but I haven’t heard it in a very long time. I thought of it out of the blue the other day, looked it up on YouTube and paid attention to the lyrics. And I realized that it was basically the song of fantasy. Or at least, the song of the hearts of fantasy nerds. So many things about this song are things that a lover of fantasy can relate to.It begins with the singer alone and friendless. Ever feel like that sometimes? Okay, yes, we readers and writers want to be alone most of the time so that we can enjoy our other worlds without distraction. But most of us would still like to have the option to be around people, if we wanted to, to have someone missing us when we can’t make it to an event because of a deadline. Knowing that you're totally alone, that no one is missing you, that no one wants you around, is not the kind of alone that we like. And that’s how a lot of people discover fantasy, by searching for an escape from the negative and painful things in the real world. And that is where this singer begins.In the second verse, Peter Pan and his shadow show up and tell her about an amazing other place she could go where she will never be alone. Yes, that could be taken creepily. But bear with me for a second.Who can say they’ve never wished someone from another world would show up and whisk them off to some better place? Somewhere where there would be other people like them, people who would understand them when no one in our world could. Some place where they would never feel lonely.So Peter shows up and promises her she will never be alone again. And she becomes one of the lost boys.I am a lost boy from Neverland Usually hanging out with Peter Pan And when we're bored we play in the woods Always on the run from Captain HookWouldn’t it be nice for life to be as simple as it was when you were a little kid? You could hang out with Peter Pan and the lost boys. If you got bored, you could play in the woods (which is the coolest place to play! So many possibilities) There’s always that Captain Hook to be on the lookout for, but you have your friends to help you take him, if you need to. Just you in a way cooler world doing fun stuff with your kind of people.Neverland is home to lost boys like me And lost boys like me are freeHave you ever felt weighed down and tired and just the total opposite of free? Wouldn’t it be nice to be a free lost boy? To be free of school or responsibilities or money problems or the guilt of unmet goals or whatever else is going on in your life? That’s something we like about reading in general, and especially reading fantasy. It transports the reader to another place where they can be free and safe while still enjoying the adventure.As we soared above the town that never loved me I realized I finally had a family Soon enough we reached Neverland Peacefully my feet hit the sandThis song is also about new beginnings and getting rid of negative things. As the new year approaches, you’re probably thinking a lot about goals. And a fresh new January First is a great time to start those new things. But you know what will help you accomplish those good things? Getting rid of the negative things that are clogging up your life.So how exactly am I getting all that from this song?As we soared above the town that never loved me…This line is chock full of meaning to me. I see a girl flying over a past she was stuck in, recognizing that it is now gone and feeling like she won't miss it all that much. She looks toward the second star to the right and keeps flying to that new and wonderful thing.So maybe something that would help you meet those New Year’s Resolutions is getting rid of negative things or even people in your life. Or at lest decreasing the amount of time they have to drag you down. That town that never loved her could be someone making fun of your dreams, criticizing your writing in an unconstructive way or getting onto you for reading too much when you should be doing something that they think would be a more constructive use of your time. Maybe you need to find a new way to deal with those situations.What in your life needs to change? Maybe you need to cut back on the amount of TV you watch so that you'll have a little extra time to read and make your Goodreads goal. Or maybe you need to read a little less to get those words on a page and spend time querying agents or researching editors if your own book is ever going to see the world. Maybe you need to change some spending habits to make room in your budget to meet your favorite author and get a book signed, or to save up to pay for an editor and cover designer.Sometimes things need to be changed if you're going to keep them from ruining your accomplishments. Don’t let anyone stomp around on your dreams in 2018, and don’t let unnecessary things steal your accomplishing time away. And while you’re out to protect your dreams, help them graduate from the dream phase to the reality phase. It may take time to show the doubters that your dreams were always more than just nice ideas, but you can only make them a reality a little at a time, and what better time to start than now?He sprinkled me in pixie dust and told me to believe Believe in him and believe in me Together we will fly away in a cloud of green To your beautiful destinyStart flying away to your own “beautiful destiny!”Here are a few things you can start doing to make your dreams happen in 2018, and the best part is, you can start them right now! Don’t put it off any longer, or you will keep being in danger of putting it off forever. Start now. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, just some little step toward the beautiful destiny you want to reach for.Write your 2018 goals down, and write down some eclipse goals (long term) too, if you have them!Make a breakdown by month or quarter so that you can even out the work and avoid reaching September with nothing done and wondering where all the time wentPlan what you will carve out of your schedule to make room for these things that are more important to you, even though they're harder to do. You have to make the time for this to happen, otherwise it is too easy to be lazy and fall into old habits, and you can't make dreams happen that wayGet an accountability partner! (Not the jerk making fun of you!) whether or not you have a constructive accountability partner already in mind, comment some goals below and feel free to email me to share your goals and get some more accountability and encouragement! I would love to hear from and encourage you and hear about your success in the coming year!I wish you all the best of luck!Check out the full song lyrics and listen here. I definitely recommend listening to this! Its a really beautiful song.If you would like to learn more about the fantasy genre and/or find some great fantasy books to read, check out my Elements of Fantasy Guide!

What Fantasy World would You Visit?

Who loves a good fantasy world? *raises hand* I sure do! And I would bet money each of you has either checked the mail for your Hogwarts letter or had a look in all the closets for a door into Narnia at least once. We’ve all wished we could be more successful in our searches for those things! But what if you could go to one fantasy world? Where would you go? If you’re like me and there are like a gazillion worlds you’d want to visit, maybe this is a hard decision. So I’ll narrow it down a bit. What if it was in the middle of the story’s timeline? Whatever is happening in the middle of the book or the middle of the series is what you would fall into if you found a way in. Let’s have a look at what’s going on in the world in the middle of some of our favorite fantasy stories. WARNING: Spoilers for Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings and Eragon! But You’ve probably read them all already, so we should be all good ;)Hogwarts Alright, admit it. The truth is, we’re all still waiting for that Hogwarts letter. There is no age where you have to give up on it! It might still come! At least that’s what I say to quiet my inner child…anyone else? The middle of this series would be the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire. Wizards and witches from other magical schools are about to visit and the Triwizard Tournament is about to take place for the first time in many years! Would you want to enter? Which of the four champions would you be rooting for? What would be your favorite class? Your least favorite? What would your wand have in the middle? Phoenix tail feather, unicorn hair or dragon heartstring? You might have to be a bit worried about Voldermort, though! And we all know how The Goblet of Fire ends! Would you be so terrified that you’d want to come back to your normal life? Or would you want to stick it out and help defeat him, even if it meant risking your life?Narnia The middle of the Chronicles of Narnia is also a fourth book! Prince Caspian. While the third and fifth books are my favorite, I do love the whole series. Wouldn’t it be nice to be on your way to somewhere you don’t really want to go and—surprise!—end up in Narnia? Now if you had been there before, it would be a bummer to get there and see how much time had passed since your last visit. Also, finding out that your beloved country was invaded would be disappointing as well. But would you go if you could? You’d get to meet some of the grouchiest dwarves of all time, and a really cool badger (talking animal!) named Trufflehunter. They live in a tree trunk. It is a cramped space and they are hiding there because of the invading king’s agenda to kill all Narnians, but come on. It’s a pretty big tree trunk. Can I visit, please? There are some animals that don’t talk any longer though. Many of them have been treated like dumb beasts for so long that they have reverted to their old selves as they were before Aslan sang intellect into their ancestors at the beginning of the world. These are the ones you want to look out for. They will kill you for no reason and there won’t be any chance for deals to get you out of it. There is a war coming between King Miraz and the Narnians. Even now Aslan’s people are coming out of hiding to band together and prepare to take their home back. Would you want to be in the thick of that? Helping plan the strikes? Riding a griffin into battle? Alegaesia Talking dragons, guys! Talking dragons! Nothing beats this! But as seriously cool as this story is, who wants to go to a place crawling with Urgals and Kull and dark magicians in the gazillionth year of the reign of an evil witch-king? Anyone? No? The middle of this series would be around the end of Eldest, the second book, and the beginning of Brisingr. Eragon is no longer having seizures, thanks to the Elves’ magic. But he is on his way to fight a battle between the Empire and the Varden. With cruddy odds to say the least. Hrothgar, the king of the dwarves, is killed by—oh yeah—a dragon rider on the enemy’s side! And dwarves take forever to choose a new king. And Eragon is expected to be present while they decide, since he is an adopted brother of the dwarves. And you know, he doesn’t have anything else going on at the time anyway so it’s fine. And Roran and his village-turned-crew are about to cross the most dangerous whirlpool in existance. Oh, and they have three Empire ships gaining on them. And if they make it through the whirlpool, they will be greeted by a battle in which the new enemy dragon rider has just killed the dwarf king. Sounds like fun, right? So would you want to fly into this story in the middle of all that? Do you wish you were Eragon or Roran? If you couldn’t be a main character, would you want to be on the ship with Roran and Carvahall or on the battlefield with Eragon and Saphira and a suspiciously friendly group of Kull? Plus there is the good old King Galbatorix, who somehow has managed to live an abnormally long life and ruin everything for everyone. And he has the biggest dragon in existence. Would you be willing to risk facing him and his dragon for the chance to fly on your own? What do you think about the dragon-rider bond and how they can speak with their minds to each other? It could be really convenient sometimes, but there would be no privacy! Middle Earth My first thought is that there is no part of this series I would really like to visit. Except maybe the Shire. In a time of peace not associated with this story. It is a fantastic story and I totally love reading it! But to go there in the middle of the story? In the middle of the second book, The Two Towers, Gimli and Legolas are looking for Merry and Pippin, who have been taken by Orcs for being Hobbits and thus possible ring bearers. Once they have been reunited with Gandalf, a palantir (seeing stone) comes into the mix and when Pippin looks into it, boom! Sauron knows where they are now! Yay! Frodo and Sam are stuck with Gollum crawling through stinky, sketchy places on their way to Mordor. A really fun place. Oh yeah, and while they are doing that, they are pursued by Nazgul (dark riders of dragons) and they will soon be running through a cave maze from a giant spider. Who wants to join in on all that? So, while fantasy is awesome and very entertaining to read and delightful to write, it would be pretty dangerous to really visit. But would you want to anyway? Would you visit one of these worlds in their most perilous of times? Which one would you go to once everything dangerous settled down? Is there another fantasy world not mentioned here that you really wish you could go to? Tell me what you think in the comments! I’ll be writing several blog posts on various fantasy creatures in the near future! What fantasy creature would you like to learn more about? Are you a reader or writer of fantasy? Or new to fantasy and wanting to know more about it? Get my free Elements of Fantasy guide! Just subscribe to my blog for future posts about fantasy-related topics and it’s all yours!

Why are We Drawn to Fantasy?

Holly Davis works as an outpatient physical therapist in Chicago. She is engaged to a great guy (wedding date TBD) and is a fur mom to a pitty and two kitties. She began her writing adventures as a young child and has grown from writing fanfiction for Kingdom Hearts to writing stories of characters and worlds all her own. Her first novel, Ranokori Realm, is a stand-alone YA fantasy that she is currently querying to literary agents. When her brain isn’t coming up with multiple series ideas, she loves to read, watch anime, and pretend to stay healthy and fit (though we all know she eats peanut butter and chocolate every day). Why Are We Drawn to Fantasy? By Holly Davis Most book lovers can say that they’ve been reading since a very young age. We had more time and ease to crack open a book and dive into a new world. We could read about and believe in fantastical worlds and characters because we played make-believe and had imaginary friends. Even though we’re older now, that child-like imagination hasn’t disappeared. We still long to escape from reality and lose ourselves inside a book. We enjoy spending time with fictional characters in fresh and new fantasy worlds. One of the earliest ways in which man told stories was through fables. And they knew with those stories, they weren’t true. But, there was a moral to each fable which made these stories real for people, so they listened and learned. It’s still true to this day. Fantasy is the perfect outlet to place characters in situations that change us, that make us better people by learning from their trials and triumphs. So why do you read fantasy novels? Here are some reasons:Escapism - Escape to a world where anything is possible - When you relate to a character, you step into their shoes and experience things you cannot do yourselfMagical elements - The different takes authors make on mystical mechanics - Magic doesn’t have to be explained - Fills the desire for exploration and surprisePrevents boredom - Fantasy is as broad as the imagination - Fantasy begins where science ends - Expands our ability to think and wonder - Explores greater themes All three of these elements make up the appeal of the fantasy genre. You can keep the comforts of your childhood imagination despite having to follow the rules of reality when you close the book and return to real life.  The psychology behind fantasy Turns out, people have a predisposed temperament that may be genetically based which draws them to read science fiction and fantasy (SFF). According to Paul Allen, a clinical psychologist, those who score as an Intuitive Thinker (N) aka Rational on the Myers-Briggs personality test go for SFF books because of their ability to conceptualize and theorize, conceive and extrapolate beyond what the writer has written. When they read, they have the ability to expand the world they’ve been presented. The genre also draws in people who are introverts, who don’t follow the mainstream, or who feel alienated. As an outsider, SFF gives them a space to belong. Most SFF stories involve characters who wish for a brighter future and must solve conflicts. These stories draw out the emotions of its readers through the character’s struggles and triumphs. So that brings up an important point. Why do we respond to fictional characters in fantasy? It all comes down to empathy, which comes from the right supramarginal gyrus of the brain. Abby Norman reveals that ‘in studies where this part of the brain was disrupted, participants reported finding it increasingly difficult to not project their own emotional states onto others.’ We empathize with our own family and friends during tragedy or unforeseen circumstances, trying to understand their situation, though we can’t completely know what they are experiencing. When we read fantasy, we can get inside the characters’ heads far easier because we already know the hidden details of their lives, which allows us to empathize with them. Interestingly enough, neurobiology research has shown that when we read about a scent, the olfactory center of our brain activates. When applied to all five senses, a story can be enhanced and readers become fully immersed in the experience. If a writer’s prose contains many senses, we are right alongside the characters on their journey. Our brains light up as if we were really experiencing those things in real life. The philosopher, Kendall Walton, likens this to the emotions we feel when watching a movie or reading a book, termed quasi-emotions. It’s why people read books about people even though they know the characters will die in the end, or knowing they will be scared, yet read it anyways. That is why people read books more than once. The experience isn’t cheapened by knowing what’s going to happen. The story gives us the same emotional punch because we are not in control of our emotions. When we subconsciously take on a character’s traits and behaviors, this is known as ‘experience-taking.’ This occurs when the readers suppress their own identity and find themselves walking alongside that character in a fantasy book. When we favor escapism, putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes, this is ‘perspective-taking’. This happens on an unconscious level and can lead readers to “increased confidence, motivation and a greater level of comfort.” Lastly, the Philosopher Tamar Gendler claims that we have two competing levels of consciousness—belief and alief. Belief allows us to differentiate fiction from fact. Alief is when our brains shut off the knowledge that fiction is not real. This allows us to read books, knowing that it’s fiction, but still enjoying the story anyways. It’s how people join fandoms and ship characters, because they are able to escape into those worlds where those characters are real. No wonder we’re drawn to reading books in general! The research behind this is truly fascinating, and I hope you found it enjoyable. I will leave you with a few quotes I found that truly encompass our pull to reading fantasy.Quotes:“The more rational the world gets, the more we demand the irrational in our fiction”-Mark Chadbourn “Humans are inclined to see narratives where there are none because it can afford meaning to our lives, a form of existential problem-solving.”-Cody C. Delistraty “Stories can also inform people’s emotional lives. Storytelling, especially in novels, allows people to peek into someone’s conscience to see how other people think. This can affirm our own beliefs and perceptions, but more often, it challenges them.”-Cody C. Delistraty “In these modern times, where most of us sit at computers or face a bland commute, fantasy books offer a chance to break out of mundane moments.”-Mark Newton Let us know in the comments below. Why are you drawn to fantasy? Is there anything new you learned about yourself after reading this?Join Holly on her writing journey! Website: http://www.hollydavisbooks.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/writehollydavis Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writehollydavis Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writehollydavis Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/akiramay References: https://www.themarysue.com/the-psycho...

Eclipse Goals

     Where do you want your life to be in seven years?     We all recently donned our eclipse glasses and ran outside to see the crescent shadows and the 90-something percent completion (depending on where you live). And it was pretty cool! And while the last one happened forty something years ago, we don’t have to wait as long for the next one!     Only seven years till April 8, 2024.     In a way, that is a long wait. But at the same time, it’s also not very long at all.    Either way, it’s a manageable amount of time to set some goals! There is only so much you can expect yourself to accomplish in one year. And ten years is kind of hard to wrap your mind around, so how about seven?    What would you like to see in your past when you are seven years older?    Yes, I’m talking writing goals. But as important as that is, there is more to life than that. So what are some things you would like to see yourself accomplish by then? Writing-wise and otherwise?     Let’s start with those literary-related.    As for me, I’d like to publish several books. I think I should be able to finish the rest of my current series in about two years, three tops. That leaves at least four years, during which I will be a much more experienced writer and hopefully better and faster at it. So maybe four more books—a book a year—and I'd like to try getting a traditional publishing deal!    I’d also like to start an AuthorTube channel, massively grow my blog and following, do a lot of guest posting and hosting, and stretch myself to some manner of speaking event, maybe in high schools to encourage your writers to pursue their dreams (even though public speaking is THE WORST!).    Besides being a writer, I am also an exotic animal veterinary technician. I have my RVT license, but there is an exotic vet tech specialty that takes five years, a lot of case studies, and one whopper of a test to achieve. That would be a great accomplishment that I would be very proud of if I could manage it.    And I'd like to get better at art, and I should probably landscape my front yard…and try not to get any more out of shape than I already am…    But now I’m rambling! So tell me, what are your 2024 eclipse goals? The big ones and the little ones? You never know, sharing your goals could give someone else the inspiration to accomplish theirs!     Share your goals in the comments!     How do you keep track of goals? Do you have a goal keeping master plan? Some kind of written out accomplishment schedule? I'd love to hear about it!The Gwythienian, my debut YA fantasy novel, just became available for pre-order! But you can enter to win a free hardcover here! Entry ends October 13! If eBooks are more your style, check it out onAmazon,Barnes and Noble, or Kobo. Apple iBooks coming soon!Do you have a book release coming up? Tell me about it!

Dragon: Friend or Foe?

           Any dragon enthusiasts out there? Anyone wish they could fly with a dragon, turn into a dragon, or have a secret dragon friend?          I knew there were more weirdos out there like me! :)           So what happens when you google dragons?          The first thing that pops up on the page is this Wikipedia definition:“A dragon is a legendary creature, typically scaled or fire-spewing and with serpentine, reptilian or avian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures around world.”          And I’m over here like, “Legendary creatures are awesome. Reptiles are awesome. Myths and other cultures are awesome. So basically, dragons are pure awesomeness!”          Which would lead to clicking on the Wikipedia page to see what other information about said awesomeness the internet has to offer.          At the top of that page is a little definition of each of the two most well-known types of dragons—culturally speaking:          “The European dragon, derived from European folk traditions. Most are depicted as reptilian creatures with animal-level intelligence, and are uniquely six-limbed (four legs and a separate set of wings). The Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan, Korea and other East Asian and South Asian countries. Most are depicted as serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence, and are quadrupeds (four legs and wingless).”          Is it an image of one of these, or a totally different version, that comes to mind when you hear the word, dragon?          Maybe you’re like me, and you immediately know which one is THE EPICALLY AWESOME DRAGON in your mind. Or maybe you have never even thought about the difference. Unsure of your answer? Let’s look at some examples of these amazing mythical beasts and see if that helps you decide.          First, let’s look at the Chinese dragon.          My first thought? Mushu, from the Disney movie Mulan.          Sorry, Mushu, but you do look a little more lizardish than dragonesque to me!           What do you guys think?          In China, dragons are symbols of good things such as luck, prosperity, power, and control over water and rain (such as to bring rain during a drought). They are a huge part of Chinese culture. They stand guard on buildings, adorn clothes and walls with color and regality, and dance through ancient Chinese songs and stories. There is even a legend that implies all Chinese are descendants of a great dragon (which makes me wish I was Chinese! I want to be related to a dragon! How cool would that be?).          When I look at a Chinese dragon, I see a snake-like body, a lizard-like head and claws, and a fish-like tail. But did you know that it is actually composed of parts of nine different animals?          “The body of a snake, scales of a carp, tail of a whale, antlers of a stag, face of a camel, talons of eagles, ears of a bull, feet of a tiger, and the eyes of a lobster.”  Though some versions say, “the eyes of a demon.”          Did you see that many animals in this? Anyone else think the head is not really very camelish? Well anyway, yay for whoever’s imagination dreamed up this cool combo!          Now to the European dragon.           This giant lizard-like winged reptile is the image that comes to mind for me when I think dragon. But historically speaking, these horned, scaly, fire-breathing, bat-winged monsters are dark symbols of evil and bringers of death and destruction instead of colorful heralds of all things good. Especially in older literature. They are usually depicted as guards of valuable things, often hoarders of gold and treasure.          Think of Smaug, the mighty fire drake from the north who kicked the dwarves out of the Lonely Mountain and took a two-century-long nap in their piles of gold, as an example of this.          But do all dragons of the European type have to be as evil as Smaug, or the infamous, unnamed dragon in the ancient story of Beowulf?          What about the dragon that Eustace Scrub turned into? In the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis, Eustace—a major jerk—stumbled upon an old dragon horde full of gold and jewelry. He was enamored with the wealth and wanted it for himself. His greed turned him into a dragon (which in this story wasn’t cool) and it was only with the help of Aslan that he was able to eventually escape eternal imprisonment in that form.          As a dragon, he learned how good it felt to be appreciated for doing something nice for someone. He discovered that being a kind person actually did pay off. But without living as a dragon for a while, he would have continued to be a jerk for the rest of his life.          Of course, this doesn’t exactly count as an example of a dragon being on the good side, because Eustace was still himself, just in a different form. He wasn’t truly a dragon at his core. But I think his story still says good things for dragonkind.            Now to one of my favorite dragons, Saphira. The blue dragon bonded to the Rider, Eragon. She is really something! In Alagaesia, there are both good and evil dragons. Dragons aren’t automatically evil, like they are in so many other stories. And it is arguable whether the evil ones really were evil.          Here’s a good question: Do you think Shruikan and Thorn were evil? They did horrible things for the bad guys, killing many good guys. But it was the evil Galbatorix who corrupted his dragon’s mind and that of Murtagh’s dragon. They didn’t really have a choice in the matter, did they? Do you think that excuses them? Or are their actions all that matter, despite the facts behind them?          So since the European version of dragons can fly—I’m really jealous of this ability!—and since most of the ones I’ve read about have human-level or higher intelligence, I have to say they are my favorite. These are my kind of dragons. And whether a European-style dragon is with the good guys or the bad guys, they are the most majestic creatures to ever walk the earth. That is, to ever fly through the imaginations of us crazy creative types. I mean, what fantastical creature could be more beautiful and terrifying at the same time? There are no words!          Alright! Now for dragonish discussion!          What do you think of dragons? Friends or foes? Or does it matter? Do you think the Asian snake-like dragons are the best, or do you prefer the European type? Or another kind? Do you have a favorite dragon character in a book or movie? Tell me about it in the comments!          Is there another dragonish topic you would like to hear more about? Let me know!          Are you a big fan of books about dragons? Here’s a giveaway for one right now!          If you want to know how I am a real-life dragon wrangler, check out my interviewwith the lovely Erika Rose!          Want to see more gorgeous dragons? Here's a Pinterest board of beautiful dragon art!

Never Fear those Mountains

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distanceNever settle for the path of least resistance…     Wow, are there some mountains in the distance, or what! You guys know what I mean. Writing is hard. Editing is hard. Accepting critique is hard. So many mountains stretching out on the horizon.     Depending on what stage your writing hobby/career/not-sure-what-it-is-yet is at right now, you may not yet have reached some of those points. Or you may have scaled each of those cliffs many times. Either way, you’ve got more mountains looming in the distance.     Sometimes, those mountains feel like more than I can handle. Sometimes I feel like trying to write was a giant mistake. I wonder how I could have ever thought that I could do this, or how I’ll ever reach even the smallest goal. If you’re feeling discouraged in your climb, take a listen to Lee Ann Womack’s song, I Hope You Dance.     Why? Because it’s the most inspirational song about taking chances and persevering that I have ever heard (and it applies to all life situations, not just writing).     Yeah, whatever mountains you have ahead of you are kinda scary. Maybe even very scary—like pee your pants and run away screaming kind of scary. Even if you’ve grown familiar to those cliffs, certain aspects will always be different each time around and sometimes you can’t be prepared for everything.     But you can handle them!     Imagine how much you will grow as a writer and as a person for getting past those hurtles! Take one at a time and celebrate each little victory, no matter how small. And then when you look back at how far you’ve come in an hour, or a week, or six months…wow. Just wow. Think how proud you’ll be of what you’ve accomplished!     Some of those mountains may look a bit riskier than others. Take those! What’s life without a few risks? Some risks will go badly, that’s just part of it. But one of those risks just might be the best decision you’ve ever made. And no matter how many risks go south, you never lose. You know why? Because you learn more from mistakes than from success. With every failure, you learn how to get better.     Whatever you do, don’t settle for the easiest way. Editors are expensive and critique is no fun to hear, but without those things your novel will never live up to its full potential.     So do the hard things! Cut out fast food or—dare I say it, Netflix!—for a time, sell something that you don’t really need, and pick up a few extra hours at work to save up for that editor. Make yourself vulnerable to a few people you can trust to give you good advice and humble yourself to accept their critique.      If it feels like the farthest thing from the path of least resistance, you’re on the right trail!     To all my fellow writers and mountain climbers, keep up the good work and never give up!     As some of you know, I'm about to reach the top of one of my mountains! My debut novel, The Gwythienian, releases November 3 and if you click here you can enter to win a free signed hardcover copy! Thanks for your interest! :)