Lori J. Fitzgerald's Blog, page 2
June 19, 2015
A Midsummer Night's Tea Party: Under the Stones and Sky
ParaYourNormal Blog is hosting a Blog Tea Party in honor of the Summer Solstice, and I am thrilled to be brewing my own pot of tea for it, along with some special treats at the end of this post!
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. In Celtic tradition, "midsummer" is the time to celebrate the strength and warmth of the Sun, which could banish negativity and bring abundance of blessings. Bonfires are lit and the Oak King, the King of Summer, is crowned at this time.
So it would seem fitting to have a Midsummer Night's Tea Party in a magical grove underneath an old oak tree.
Perhaps with some fairies to dance with...
“The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
But I want to take tea with you somewhere else.
I've mentioned before my memorable trip to England with my husband in 2003. On that trip we took a magical tour called "Stones and Bones" which brought us, among other places, to Avebury and Stonehenge.
The Avebury Stone Circle is the largest in the world, split in half by road and town.
One of the most powerful ley lines in Britain tracks through its entrance stone. In the center, a "male" stone aligns itself with the "female" Goddess stone. I have a great picture of my husband resting in front of the Goddess stone, facing her with his head on his backpack...you could actually have a tea party or picnic in this circle. (We opted to have a pint at the Red Lion Pub instead...the only pub in England that sits inside a megalithic henge!)
Our guide gave us dousing sticks, and sure enough, they spun around and aligned themselves to the energy path in the earth. (Unfortunately for this blog, my pictures are glued in a scrapbook. This is before we had a digital camera. So these are all from Pinterest!)
We were privileged to be inside Stonehenge at sunset with a "special access" tour. We watched the magnificent sight of the sun lowering between the stones as our guide playing a haunting tune on his fife.
Here is an excerpt from my scrapbook:"The great expanse of land and sky that is Salisbury Plain made my soul billow out like a great wind. I caught my breath when I first saw the massive stones standing alone, waiting....The area has been etched in time; as I turned and looked at the plain around us, I could see several barrow mounds sloping the land. The Heel Stone in the distance marks the processional entrance to the henge. In fact, I could still see the creases of this road, the "Avenue," in the grass as it stretched out beyond the marker. This is the way that is aligned with the midsummer sunrise. At the Altar Stone in the center of the circle is a convergence of several ley lines -- so strong that I could feel the energy rumbling under the earth, and I lost my balance momentarily there. I will never forget that mystical feeling of standing on the track, and the magic touching me, moving me."
So I invite you to take Midsummer Night's Tea with me here, under the stones and sky on Salisbury Plain, so we can watch the Sun rise together along the ancient track.
“My soul is in the sky.” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
In honor of the Summer Solstice,
The Wood & Stone Series Part Two is now up for PRE-ORDER on Amazon Kindle, and will be released on June 28th.
"He carved and sobbed and bled. He breathed stardust from the singing stone."
The stones sing to William, filling his blood with music, compelling him to bring forth the magic in their timeless depths. But an appalling betrayal leaves the apprentice mason with terrible scars on his hands and a heart as hard as the stone creatures he carves. Banished from the cathedral guild, he is sent away in disgrace to work under another Master Mason, in service to the lord of a faraway town.
But things are not quite what they seem to be, here in the town at the forest's edge...not the manor's statuary nor the ancient apple tree. And certainly not the Lord and Lady of Tylwyth Manor. What secrets do these hunters hold behind their strange eyes?
Within the stone walls of manor and town, Will's heart must be healed for him to understand and control his developing power. And when a dire threat emerges from the forest to wreak havoc on the town, can Will use that power to save all that loves from destruction?
Songs Within Stone is Part Two of Wood & Stone, a series of connecting tales of folkloric transformation, startling self-discovery, and love as timeless as a sarsen stone, told in medieval and modern settings.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE... WOOD & STONE PART ONE: LOVE LIES BLEEDING is on a KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEAL FOR $0.99!Only from June 20th until June 27th midnight, so get it while it's hot!
Praise for LOVE LIES BLEEDING, WOOD & STONE PART ONE:
"Centered on the very soul of myths and legends, the Celtic world, magical beings, life, tragedy and the final ultimate enchantment of happiness is full to overflowing with the magic of Lori J. Fitzgerald’s words." Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Love Lies Breathing vibrates with magic. This story BREATHES." Christine, Reader
"Beautiful imagery and a unique fairytale-esque world." Alyssa, Reader
Check out the other spots for tea in the Blog Party!
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. In Celtic tradition, "midsummer" is the time to celebrate the strength and warmth of the Sun, which could banish negativity and bring abundance of blessings. Bonfires are lit and the Oak King, the King of Summer, is crowned at this time.
So it would seem fitting to have a Midsummer Night's Tea Party in a magical grove underneath an old oak tree.
Perhaps with some fairies to dance with...
“The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
But I want to take tea with you somewhere else.
I've mentioned before my memorable trip to England with my husband in 2003. On that trip we took a magical tour called "Stones and Bones" which brought us, among other places, to Avebury and Stonehenge.
The Avebury Stone Circle is the largest in the world, split in half by road and town.
One of the most powerful ley lines in Britain tracks through its entrance stone. In the center, a "male" stone aligns itself with the "female" Goddess stone. I have a great picture of my husband resting in front of the Goddess stone, facing her with his head on his backpack...you could actually have a tea party or picnic in this circle. (We opted to have a pint at the Red Lion Pub instead...the only pub in England that sits inside a megalithic henge!)
Our guide gave us dousing sticks, and sure enough, they spun around and aligned themselves to the energy path in the earth. (Unfortunately for this blog, my pictures are glued in a scrapbook. This is before we had a digital camera. So these are all from Pinterest!)
We were privileged to be inside Stonehenge at sunset with a "special access" tour. We watched the magnificent sight of the sun lowering between the stones as our guide playing a haunting tune on his fife.
Here is an excerpt from my scrapbook:"The great expanse of land and sky that is Salisbury Plain made my soul billow out like a great wind. I caught my breath when I first saw the massive stones standing alone, waiting....The area has been etched in time; as I turned and looked at the plain around us, I could see several barrow mounds sloping the land. The Heel Stone in the distance marks the processional entrance to the henge. In fact, I could still see the creases of this road, the "Avenue," in the grass as it stretched out beyond the marker. This is the way that is aligned with the midsummer sunrise. At the Altar Stone in the center of the circle is a convergence of several ley lines -- so strong that I could feel the energy rumbling under the earth, and I lost my balance momentarily there. I will never forget that mystical feeling of standing on the track, and the magic touching me, moving me."
So I invite you to take Midsummer Night's Tea with me here, under the stones and sky on Salisbury Plain, so we can watch the Sun rise together along the ancient track.
“My soul is in the sky.” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
In honor of the Summer Solstice,
The Wood & Stone Series Part Two is now up for PRE-ORDER on Amazon Kindle, and will be released on June 28th.
"He carved and sobbed and bled. He breathed stardust from the singing stone."
The stones sing to William, filling his blood with music, compelling him to bring forth the magic in their timeless depths. But an appalling betrayal leaves the apprentice mason with terrible scars on his hands and a heart as hard as the stone creatures he carves. Banished from the cathedral guild, he is sent away in disgrace to work under another Master Mason, in service to the lord of a faraway town.
But things are not quite what they seem to be, here in the town at the forest's edge...not the manor's statuary nor the ancient apple tree. And certainly not the Lord and Lady of Tylwyth Manor. What secrets do these hunters hold behind their strange eyes?
Within the stone walls of manor and town, Will's heart must be healed for him to understand and control his developing power. And when a dire threat emerges from the forest to wreak havoc on the town, can Will use that power to save all that loves from destruction?
Songs Within Stone is Part Two of Wood & Stone, a series of connecting tales of folkloric transformation, startling self-discovery, and love as timeless as a sarsen stone, told in medieval and modern settings.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE... WOOD & STONE PART ONE: LOVE LIES BLEEDING is on a KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEAL FOR $0.99!Only from June 20th until June 27th midnight, so get it while it's hot!
Praise for LOVE LIES BLEEDING, WOOD & STONE PART ONE:
"Centered on the very soul of myths and legends, the Celtic world, magical beings, life, tragedy and the final ultimate enchantment of happiness is full to overflowing with the magic of Lori J. Fitzgerald’s words." Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Love Lies Breathing vibrates with magic. This story BREATHES." Christine, Reader
"Beautiful imagery and a unique fairytale-esque world." Alyssa, Reader
Check out the other spots for tea in the Blog Party!
June 1, 2015
Sacred Groves and Writing: On Ravens and Alder
My favorite story in The Mabinogion, the collection of Welsh myths that influenced medieval Arthurian literature, is the tragic tale of Branwen, daughter of Llyr and sister to King Bran the Blessed. Bran means "raven," and his sister is White Raven, with "wen/gwyn" meaning "white" or "fair." Here is a wonderful video presenting their story:
The video does not mention the one part that always broke my heart in the story: "When Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she made as if to leap after him from where she was sitting between her two brothers, but Bran seized her with one hand and his shield with the other....As each man went after his weapons Bran protected Branwen between his shield and his shoulder." I always imagined Branwen's struggle against the arms holding her, crying and desperately attempting to reach her dying son, who was probably the only light in her life. Branwen's son was named Gwern, which means "alder tree."
The raven and the sacred Alder tree are entwined in their own Celtic knot.
The Celtic God Bran and the raven are both connected to the concepts of prophecy and fate. As the video mentions, Bran's prophetic head was buried at Tower Hill, where the ravens are cared for even today. In 2003 my husband took me on the trip of my dreams to England, and I saw those majestic birds firsthand. They took my breath away. It bothered me a little to see them caged and know their wings were clipped, but I got the impression they are well-cared-for, even revered, by all. The Tower Ravens are symbols of the timeless magic of myth and belief.
In Love Lies Bleeding, a raven draws Aislin's attention towards the door in the oak, sealing her fate that she is "destined for the forest."
The Cad Goddeu (The Battle of the Trees) is a Welsh medieval poem attributed to the bard Taliesin (who, by the way, is one of the seven warriors who survive the battle and return to Wales with Branwen and Bran's head). In the poem, Gwydion the enchanter animates trees to be his army. Gwydion identifies the god Bran as a raven and gains power by also identifying him with the alder tree, thus revealing his "secret" names:
"Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur;The high springs of alder on thy shield; Bran thou are called, of the glittering branches.
Sure-hoofed is my steed in the day of battle:The high sprigs of alder are in thy hand:Bran thou are, by the branch thou bearest."
In the Ogham alphabet, alder is "Fearn," one of the peasant trees and representative of the letter "F." It likes to grow at the forest's edge and especially on riverbanks. Like Bran, who used his body as a bridge for his warriors, it was often used as material for bridges and viewed symbolically as a bridge between land and water as well as this world and the Otherworld. The alder is a tree of prophecy, like Bran's head and the raven that loves the alder's dark, damp groves, because it gives us a way to access the knowledge, tales, and energy of the Otherworld.
Alder was also the preferred wood for making shields for Celtic warriors. When cut, the alder's white inner wood turns red, thus "bleeding" and conferring magical protection upon the warrior who carries the shield. Alder is a warrior's wood, one of protection, defense, and preservation, just as Bran relied heavily on his shield to protect his sister.
The Alder Tree can protect us on our journeys and help us find the way to hidden knowledge. Follow the Raven lurking in its branches as it takes flight, for it can also lead us to the right path as we seek out life's mysteries to find who we really are. And speaking of which...
Introducing CORVUS CALLING, the new White Raven Writing Newsletter!I named my shiny new email newsletter after the bird family that includes the mystical ravens. Get a glimpse into the "Otherworld" of my stories with exclusive content and first looks before they are announced on social media channels, as well as fun offers just for fans!
Those of you who follow my Author Page on Facebook may have seen my lovely Oak Ogham pendant by TOUCHWOODCRAFTBev Halstead, the talented crafter and shop owner, has created these stunning pendants especially for White Raven Writing...
...and is generously DONATING the FLYING RAVEN PENDANT to the WINNER OF THE CORVUS CALLING INTRODUCTORY GIVEAWAY!Bev is also willing to PERSONALIZE this pendant for the winner!Check out TOUCHWOODCRAFT SHOP ON ETSY ...all her materials are made with local, sustainable sources, such as recycled Welsh oak, and she uses the old art of "Fire Writing" (pyrography). Bev is absolutely lovely to work with. And there is also an Alder Ogham Pendant for sale...unless it's been snatched up already!
TO ENTER simply SUBSCRIBE by typing your email address on the sidebar under
Corvus Calling, "Subscribe to Our Mailing List."
Flying Raven Pendant Giveaway ends June 4th, 2015.Winners to be announced in the first newsletter and contacted by email.
~ fearn ~
If you liked this post, scroll down to check out On Ogham and Oak, the first installment.
Works Referenced and Recommended:Celtic Tree Magic by Danu ForestThe Mabinogion translated by Jeffrey Gantz
All pictures are from Pinterest, except the pendants courtesy of Touchwoodcraft. If a picture is yours and you do not want it used in this blog post, please contact me and I will remove it. Thank you.
The video does not mention the one part that always broke my heart in the story: "When Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she made as if to leap after him from where she was sitting between her two brothers, but Bran seized her with one hand and his shield with the other....As each man went after his weapons Bran protected Branwen between his shield and his shoulder." I always imagined Branwen's struggle against the arms holding her, crying and desperately attempting to reach her dying son, who was probably the only light in her life. Branwen's son was named Gwern, which means "alder tree."
The raven and the sacred Alder tree are entwined in their own Celtic knot.
The Celtic God Bran and the raven are both connected to the concepts of prophecy and fate. As the video mentions, Bran's prophetic head was buried at Tower Hill, where the ravens are cared for even today. In 2003 my husband took me on the trip of my dreams to England, and I saw those majestic birds firsthand. They took my breath away. It bothered me a little to see them caged and know their wings were clipped, but I got the impression they are well-cared-for, even revered, by all. The Tower Ravens are symbols of the timeless magic of myth and belief.
In Love Lies Bleeding, a raven draws Aislin's attention towards the door in the oak, sealing her fate that she is "destined for the forest."
The Cad Goddeu (The Battle of the Trees) is a Welsh medieval poem attributed to the bard Taliesin (who, by the way, is one of the seven warriors who survive the battle and return to Wales with Branwen and Bran's head). In the poem, Gwydion the enchanter animates trees to be his army. Gwydion identifies the god Bran as a raven and gains power by also identifying him with the alder tree, thus revealing his "secret" names:
"Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur;The high springs of alder on thy shield; Bran thou are called, of the glittering branches.
Sure-hoofed is my steed in the day of battle:The high sprigs of alder are in thy hand:Bran thou are, by the branch thou bearest."
In the Ogham alphabet, alder is "Fearn," one of the peasant trees and representative of the letter "F." It likes to grow at the forest's edge and especially on riverbanks. Like Bran, who used his body as a bridge for his warriors, it was often used as material for bridges and viewed symbolically as a bridge between land and water as well as this world and the Otherworld. The alder is a tree of prophecy, like Bran's head and the raven that loves the alder's dark, damp groves, because it gives us a way to access the knowledge, tales, and energy of the Otherworld.
Alder was also the preferred wood for making shields for Celtic warriors. When cut, the alder's white inner wood turns red, thus "bleeding" and conferring magical protection upon the warrior who carries the shield. Alder is a warrior's wood, one of protection, defense, and preservation, just as Bran relied heavily on his shield to protect his sister.
The Alder Tree can protect us on our journeys and help us find the way to hidden knowledge. Follow the Raven lurking in its branches as it takes flight, for it can also lead us to the right path as we seek out life's mysteries to find who we really are. And speaking of which...
Introducing CORVUS CALLING, the new White Raven Writing Newsletter!I named my shiny new email newsletter after the bird family that includes the mystical ravens. Get a glimpse into the "Otherworld" of my stories with exclusive content and first looks before they are announced on social media channels, as well as fun offers just for fans!
Those of you who follow my Author Page on Facebook may have seen my lovely Oak Ogham pendant by TOUCHWOODCRAFTBev Halstead, the talented crafter and shop owner, has created these stunning pendants especially for White Raven Writing...
...and is generously DONATING the FLYING RAVEN PENDANT to the WINNER OF THE CORVUS CALLING INTRODUCTORY GIVEAWAY!Bev is also willing to PERSONALIZE this pendant for the winner!Check out TOUCHWOODCRAFT SHOP ON ETSY ...all her materials are made with local, sustainable sources, such as recycled Welsh oak, and she uses the old art of "Fire Writing" (pyrography). Bev is absolutely lovely to work with. And there is also an Alder Ogham Pendant for sale...unless it's been snatched up already!
TO ENTER simply SUBSCRIBE by typing your email address on the sidebar under
Corvus Calling, "Subscribe to Our Mailing List."
Flying Raven Pendant Giveaway ends June 4th, 2015.Winners to be announced in the first newsletter and contacted by email.
~ fearn ~
If you liked this post, scroll down to check out On Ogham and Oak, the first installment.
Works Referenced and Recommended:Celtic Tree Magic by Danu ForestThe Mabinogion translated by Jeffrey Gantz
All pictures are from Pinterest, except the pendants courtesy of Touchwoodcraft. If a picture is yours and you do not want it used in this blog post, please contact me and I will remove it. Thank you.
May 1, 2015
Sacred Groves and Writing: On Ogham and Oak
All the tales in my latest collection, Wood & Stone, use words as markers between sections. I've written before about the power of words, but these markers are especially magical: they are the word meanings of Celtic Ogham sigils.
Ogham is a writing system, still found on stone monoliths throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of England, used by the Druids and poets/Bards of the ancient Celts. It was a message system, a recording system of important deeds and names, a symbolic device used for learning and remembering ancient lore, and a spiritual tool. Each sigil represented a letter or sound and was linked to a tree or plant, with a corresponding "kenning"or poetic description to explain its meaning. Sacred groves were important to the ancient Celts, so it is no wonder that their writing/magical system was connected to trees. Although there are none that remain, Ogham was probably also carved on wood staves, and it is possible that its messages were transmitted secretly by hand gestures.
Ogham is the middle column.
In Love Lies Bleeding, the word marker between sections is "duir," which is the Ogham symbol for the letter/sound D and the oak tree. It carries the same root as "Druid," which means "one with the wisdom of oak." In fact, the root of "duir" actually holds three meanings: oak, door, and stag.
"Aislin, find the door in the oak."
The sacred oak, its door to the Otherworld, and the grove of trees is central to the events in Love Lies Bleeding, and we will revisit that grove again in Wood & Stone Part Three, albeit at another time period.
The oak was considered one of the primary "chieftain" trees (the other classifications were "peasants" and "shrubs") by the Druids because of its strength. It has a very large root system, which spreads through the earth to mirror its branches above. The roots of the old oak trees by my house are known to buckle sidewalks and tangle into water pipes below ground.
Some famous oaks in England include Herne's Oak in Windsor Great Park, from which the Wild Hunt is said to ride out every Samhain, Major Oak of Sherwood Forest, and the twin oaks, Gog and Magog in Glastonbury. Gog and Magog were once part of a great avenue of oaks stretching up to the Tor (Avalon), but these trees were cut down in 1906 to clear the land for farms. Only Gog and Magog remain...2,000 year old trees.
"Each oak is a guardian and a marker of the way between the worlds, and how much more so must this whole avenue have been...Now these two are all that remains, but the hold all the power of the others within them, all their memories and sacred hidden knowledge. Gog no longer puts forth leaves, and sitting with him one can feel he is more than halfway to the otherworld. Magog is still strong, however, and she scatters her acorns far and wide. A small forest grows at her feet."Excerpt from Celtic Tree Magic by Danu Forest
(See bottom of post for list of works consulted)
The oak tree is synonymous with the Oak King, King of Summer, and the Green Man, who represents sovereignty and fertility, and whose purpose is to protect and provide.
The Green Man and a Standing Stone
The Forest Lord's first appearance to Aislin in Love Lies Bleeding echoes the Green Man.
Celtic sacred groves were places where the Otherworld below, the sky above, and the earth meet, and a person could be granted access to the magical realm of the Otherworld. If the grove was a doorway between worlds, then the oaks were the guardian spirits of the soul's quest.
The stag was a symbol of fertility, and often associated with the Horned God, Cernunnos, or Herne the Hunter.
Ogham is a key to enchantment in the Wood & Stone tales, and I hope as you read Love Lies Bleeding this explanantion of "duir" and the spirit of the Oak guide you to find magic and meaning in the story.
But for now, "duir" is your key that unlocked the following excerpt! Surprise! Click and Enjoy! Happy Beltane!
Love Lies Bleeding: The Lady of the Forest YouTube Excerpt (Just so you know...I have a bit of a flair for the dramatic...I was, after all, an English teacher...)
AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON KINDLE
~duir~
Works Referenced and Recommended:
Celtic Tree Magic: Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries by Danu Forest (an informative and enlightening book!)Celtic Magic by D.J. ConwayMyths of the Sacred Tree by Moyra CaldecottGlastonbury Reception Centre and Sanctuary www.unitythroughdiversity.org
All pictures are from Pinterest. If you are the owner of a picture and would not like it to be used in this blog post, please contact me and I will take it down. Thank you.
Ogham is a writing system, still found on stone monoliths throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of England, used by the Druids and poets/Bards of the ancient Celts. It was a message system, a recording system of important deeds and names, a symbolic device used for learning and remembering ancient lore, and a spiritual tool. Each sigil represented a letter or sound and was linked to a tree or plant, with a corresponding "kenning"or poetic description to explain its meaning. Sacred groves were important to the ancient Celts, so it is no wonder that their writing/magical system was connected to trees. Although there are none that remain, Ogham was probably also carved on wood staves, and it is possible that its messages were transmitted secretly by hand gestures.
Ogham is the middle column.In Love Lies Bleeding, the word marker between sections is "duir," which is the Ogham symbol for the letter/sound D and the oak tree. It carries the same root as "Druid," which means "one with the wisdom of oak." In fact, the root of "duir" actually holds three meanings: oak, door, and stag.
"Aislin, find the door in the oak."
The sacred oak, its door to the Otherworld, and the grove of trees is central to the events in Love Lies Bleeding, and we will revisit that grove again in Wood & Stone Part Three, albeit at another time period.
The oak was considered one of the primary "chieftain" trees (the other classifications were "peasants" and "shrubs") by the Druids because of its strength. It has a very large root system, which spreads through the earth to mirror its branches above. The roots of the old oak trees by my house are known to buckle sidewalks and tangle into water pipes below ground.
Some famous oaks in England include Herne's Oak in Windsor Great Park, from which the Wild Hunt is said to ride out every Samhain, Major Oak of Sherwood Forest, and the twin oaks, Gog and Magog in Glastonbury. Gog and Magog were once part of a great avenue of oaks stretching up to the Tor (Avalon), but these trees were cut down in 1906 to clear the land for farms. Only Gog and Magog remain...2,000 year old trees.
"Each oak is a guardian and a marker of the way between the worlds, and how much more so must this whole avenue have been...Now these two are all that remains, but the hold all the power of the others within them, all their memories and sacred hidden knowledge. Gog no longer puts forth leaves, and sitting with him one can feel he is more than halfway to the otherworld. Magog is still strong, however, and she scatters her acorns far and wide. A small forest grows at her feet."Excerpt from Celtic Tree Magic by Danu Forest(See bottom of post for list of works consulted)
The oak tree is synonymous with the Oak King, King of Summer, and the Green Man, who represents sovereignty and fertility, and whose purpose is to protect and provide.
The Green Man and a Standing StoneThe Forest Lord's first appearance to Aislin in Love Lies Bleeding echoes the Green Man.
Celtic sacred groves were places where the Otherworld below, the sky above, and the earth meet, and a person could be granted access to the magical realm of the Otherworld. If the grove was a doorway between worlds, then the oaks were the guardian spirits of the soul's quest.
The stag was a symbol of fertility, and often associated with the Horned God, Cernunnos, or Herne the Hunter.
Ogham is a key to enchantment in the Wood & Stone tales, and I hope as you read Love Lies Bleeding this explanantion of "duir" and the spirit of the Oak guide you to find magic and meaning in the story.
But for now, "duir" is your key that unlocked the following excerpt! Surprise! Click and Enjoy! Happy Beltane!
Love Lies Bleeding: The Lady of the Forest YouTube Excerpt (Just so you know...I have a bit of a flair for the dramatic...I was, after all, an English teacher...)
AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON KINDLE
~duir~
Works Referenced and Recommended:
Celtic Tree Magic: Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries by Danu Forest (an informative and enlightening book!)Celtic Magic by D.J. ConwayMyths of the Sacred Tree by Moyra CaldecottGlastonbury Reception Centre and Sanctuary www.unitythroughdiversity.org
All pictures are from Pinterest. If you are the owner of a picture and would not like it to be used in this blog post, please contact me and I will take it down. Thank you.
December 10, 2014
Slaying the Dragon for the First Time: A NaNoWriMo Journey
December is here, and that means National Novel Writing Month is finished. After watching the excitement over NaNoWriMo for years on social media and in Writer's Digest articles, I decided to sign up...
Being a "Wrimo" means you write every day. Every. Day. Even if the laundry hamper is overflowing. Even if the dust in your living room is an inch thick. Or if something dire and unexpected happens that you absolutely cannot write a word (in my case a broken molar) you have to catch up in sprints. Or else you start to get the shakes. You start to feel guilty. You start to feel like something is missing.
Why?
Because NaNoWriMo makes writing a part of your daily habits, like brushing your teeth or exercising (well...for some...I count going up and down two flights of stairs with laundry as exercise). We become writers out of passion and inspiration. But we stay writers out of habit, because it becomes an intrinsic part of us as much as eating and breathing.
Dip into that creative well at least once a day and bring up some magic!
Today is December 1st, and I was looking forward to the time to clean up the house, decorate for Christmas some more, tackle some of the tasks that have been a bit neglected (or done hastily, a lick and a promise). What am I doing? Writing about NaNoWriMo. Why? Because my hands began to twitch.
I had to write SOMETHING today.
Even though my Nano first draft is finished at 30K words. (Huzzah! I'm still in shock!) It's not 50K, so I don't officially win, but honestly I feel like a winner nonetheless. I sat down to write almost every day, and I completed a first draft of a story that became more than I expected it to. I proved to myself that I can write 10,000 words in one week. I proved to myself that I can finish a draft in a shorter time than 4 months (that's how long The Dragon's Message took me). I learned that if I just keep writing (don't stop to revise, don't stop, just keep typing just keep typing, don't you look back...) the characters and story magic will take over organically. I learned to trust in my imagination a little more, and I was rewarded now and again by those plot epiphanies that flood your mind with a light that lasts throughout the day.
Most of all, NaNoWriMo helped me to give myself the permission to make my writing time part of my daily routine. I had a definitive goal, a real deadline. And for that, NaNoWriMo is one of the best things that has happened to my career as a writer. I am proud to be a Wrimo!
Pictures are from Pinterest. If an image is yours and you do not wish it to be used, please contact me.
Being a "Wrimo" means you write every day. Every. Day. Even if the laundry hamper is overflowing. Even if the dust in your living room is an inch thick. Or if something dire and unexpected happens that you absolutely cannot write a word (in my case a broken molar) you have to catch up in sprints. Or else you start to get the shakes. You start to feel guilty. You start to feel like something is missing.
Why?
Because NaNoWriMo makes writing a part of your daily habits, like brushing your teeth or exercising (well...for some...I count going up and down two flights of stairs with laundry as exercise). We become writers out of passion and inspiration. But we stay writers out of habit, because it becomes an intrinsic part of us as much as eating and breathing.
Dip into that creative well at least once a day and bring up some magic!
Today is December 1st, and I was looking forward to the time to clean up the house, decorate for Christmas some more, tackle some of the tasks that have been a bit neglected (or done hastily, a lick and a promise). What am I doing? Writing about NaNoWriMo. Why? Because my hands began to twitch.I had to write SOMETHING today.
Even though my Nano first draft is finished at 30K words. (Huzzah! I'm still in shock!) It's not 50K, so I don't officially win, but honestly I feel like a winner nonetheless. I sat down to write almost every day, and I completed a first draft of a story that became more than I expected it to. I proved to myself that I can write 10,000 words in one week. I proved to myself that I can finish a draft in a shorter time than 4 months (that's how long The Dragon's Message took me). I learned that if I just keep writing (don't stop to revise, don't stop, just keep typing just keep typing, don't you look back...) the characters and story magic will take over organically. I learned to trust in my imagination a little more, and I was rewarded now and again by those plot epiphanies that flood your mind with a light that lasts throughout the day.
Most of all, NaNoWriMo helped me to give myself the permission to make my writing time part of my daily routine. I had a definitive goal, a real deadline. And for that, NaNoWriMo is one of the best things that has happened to my career as a writer. I am proud to be a Wrimo!
Pictures are from Pinterest. If an image is yours and you do not wish it to be used, please contact me.
October 20, 2014
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
ACT I Scene I [An open place.] Thunder and lightning. Enter Three Witches. First Witch. When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Second Witch. When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. Third Witch. That will be ere the set of sun. Thus begins The Tragedy of Macbeth, my favorite Shakespearean play. And here is my burning question: Why three witches?
The three witches, or "Weird Sisters," are Shakespeare's versions of the Three Fates: Clotho, who spins the thread of your life, Lachesis, who measures it, and Atropos, who cuts it. Indeed, these witches seem to know how to pull Macbeth's strings and influence him along his tragic path. This is shown most strongly in Macbeth's first line upon entering the stage:
Macbeth. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. (I.iii.38) This directly connects to the witches' famous chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair./ Hover through the fog and filthy air." (I.i.10) Herein lies one of the thematic undercurrents of Macbeth: Things aren't always what they seem in this place. (I'd bet my bust of Shakespeare...yes, I have one in my home library...that Jim Henson was influenced by this for his movie Labyrinth!) Three has long been viewed as a "magic" number, and various mythologies have forms of a triad, or triple diety, with each aspect having certain qualities or functions.
Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone So next time you are stirring some eye of newt and toe of frog into your cauldron, make sure you say your incantation three times and think fondly of Master William Shakespeare! If you are also fond of things not always being what they seem, and you happen to be a fan of Once Upon a Time, you may want to check out my joint article with Teresa Martin in the Once Upon a Fan Origins Archives: Rumplestiltskin's Transformation in Once Upon a Time: Literary Anti-Hero to Hero Archetype. Oh look, a spinning wheel...how very Fate-like!
All images found on Pinterest. If something is yours and you do not wish it to be used, please contact me and I will remove it.
The three witches, or "Weird Sisters," are Shakespeare's versions of the Three Fates: Clotho, who spins the thread of your life, Lachesis, who measures it, and Atropos, who cuts it. Indeed, these witches seem to know how to pull Macbeth's strings and influence him along his tragic path. This is shown most strongly in Macbeth's first line upon entering the stage:
Macbeth. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. (I.iii.38) This directly connects to the witches' famous chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair./ Hover through the fog and filthy air." (I.i.10) Herein lies one of the thematic undercurrents of Macbeth: Things aren't always what they seem in this place. (I'd bet my bust of Shakespeare...yes, I have one in my home library...that Jim Henson was influenced by this for his movie Labyrinth!) Three has long been viewed as a "magic" number, and various mythologies have forms of a triad, or triple diety, with each aspect having certain qualities or functions.
Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone So next time you are stirring some eye of newt and toe of frog into your cauldron, make sure you say your incantation three times and think fondly of Master William Shakespeare! If you are also fond of things not always being what they seem, and you happen to be a fan of Once Upon a Time, you may want to check out my joint article with Teresa Martin in the Once Upon a Fan Origins Archives: Rumplestiltskin's Transformation in Once Upon a Time: Literary Anti-Hero to Hero Archetype. Oh look, a spinning wheel...how very Fate-like!
All images found on Pinterest. If something is yours and you do not wish it to be used, please contact me and I will remove it.
October 17, 2014
Fall into Fantasy Giveaway 2014
Books or candy for trick-or-treat? I'll be honest, that's an easy answer for me! Especially with the Fall Into Fantasy Giveaway starting today.
Check out fellow speculative fiction author Ash Krafton's blog for the chance to win fantasy books and goodies from more that 50 adult and YA authors!
Check out fellow speculative fiction author Ash Krafton's blog for the chance to win fantasy books and goodies from more that 50 adult and YA authors!
October 12, 2014
Lightning Strikes: Fleetwood Mac and the Power of Words
No one knows how I feelWhat I say unless you read between my lines
~"Stand Back" by Stevie Nicks
The music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks has struck chords of enchantment in my soul for decades. Imagine my joy when I saw them live in concert recently (many kisses to my husband for getting those tickets)! Needless to say, it was a powerful experience: the raw, intense guitar of Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie's magical voice, the crazy drums and yes, Christine McVie returned! It all swirled together around the theater like the pulsing colors on the video screen behind the band, coalescing and reverberating through my bones, the power of words mingling with the roar of the crowd.
Yes, the power of words, borne on the wings of music notes. That power made my soul soar when Stevie cried out:
Rock on, ancient queen
Follow those who pale in your shadow
Rulers make bad lovers
You better put your kingdom up for sale, up for sale
Well, did she make you cry,
Make you break down,
Shatter your illusions of love?
And is it over now?
Do you know how?
Pick up the pieces and go home
And my heart beat with determination with Lindsey's crooning:
Been down one timeBeen down two timesBeen down three timesNever going back again.
A musician is a writer also. Fleetwood Mac wrote their songs and then gave life to them, not on a page but embedded in music. In sharing them through an album or live in concert, they did the same thing an author does when he/she publishes a story: placing part of your soul out into the world so others can be affected by it. And let me tell you, was the crowd ever affected: we screamed and clapped thunderously. It was the same feeling of creative exhilaration experienced when a piece you are writing snaps into place, or you connect with someone over a story, or your students have a moment of brilliant perception in a literature lesson, but amplified ten-fold in the arena atmosphere. You could literally feel the creativity vibrating in the air. I left there infused with a renewed sense of awe in the magic of language. Apparently, this is a spell that Stevie has woven herself: check out this video from Oprah's Master Class in which Stevie reveals why writing is so important.
I've found this word magic in so many places. Of course, first in the books that have been my soul mates throughout life. It's amazing how a quote can pull on your heartstrings and resonate within you again and again. We all have those passages in our hearts; one of mine is from Wuthering Heights (and there are so many from that book):
Books can pull our entire minds into them, and bring us on an adventure to another world, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, that we literally have to tear ourselves away to get some sleep. And I love the chills that I get listening to my old cassette tape (yes, I am dating myself) of T.S. Eliot reading The Wasteland. To hear a poet's voice from beyond time and dust reading his own work is an enlightening experience.
I am so blessed that my passions, reading and writing, are crafted with words. I saw the gift that language is every day when I was teaching, and I see it in my own children who get so excited about the book series they are reading and want to talk about them with me. My interactions with my kids remind me of the power of words to uplift, inspire, and teach, and how important it is to choose our words wisely. Even in writing, I am more and more aware of the craft and hard work it takes to put the right words down on paper to capture a story. And as I write this, I'm drinking my pumpkin spice tea (it is October, after all) out of my old name mug that my parents found way back in their cabinets recently. It is the mug I used as a teenager, and it reminds me of the days I sat hunched over loose-leaf scribbling away with no care of passing time. It reminds me that the core of my soul is a writer. Names are words after all, and powerful ones at that, as all the stories say.
Stevie shared a story with us about her song "Gypsy." The first line comes from a San Francisco shop that she ventured into when she was a young musician. She absolutely loved the name of the shop...Velvet Underground...and the gorgeous clothes within. As she stood in this store surrounded by beautiful gypsy-like clothes, she had a premonition of her creative success. She suddenly knew who she was destined to be. And she was a true vision in the concert: black flowing skirt, boots, her shawls and scarves on her tambourine, her trademark twirling and bowing in front of the drum set.
She even wore her black top hat for one number and her gold shawl for "Gold Dust Woman," which I quote above along with "Never Going Back Again." To me, those two songs speak of finding the inner strength to overcome hardship and adversity so that you can cultivate your true self. Stevie added lines to the end of "Gold Dust Woman" which I had never heard: "You should see me now...You can't take me down...you can't take me...you can't break me down."
So in this autumn season of magic and mystery, cauldrons and incantations, and leaves that crackle like old paper, know that the creative power of words is in all of us to tap in our own unique ways. You just have to reach down inside yourself, knocking any obstacles out of your way, and own it (and maybe listen to Fleetwood Mac as a muse):
Lightning strikes,
maybe once, maybe twice,
and it all comes down to you...
*All images are from Pinterest. If something is yours and you would prefer it not to be used, please contact me and I will take it down.*
August 4, 2014
Guest Post: How to Hunt Your Dragon, Author H.L. Burke
Welcome to fellow fantasy author, dragon lover, and writer mom H. L. Burke! In today's guest post she is sharing with us some of the rules of her world from Dragon's Curse, Volume One of The Dragon and the Scholar Saga, in celebration of the release of the latest in this series, Volume Three, Dragon's Rival! Read below to find out how to hunt your own dragon and enter a giveaway.
An excerpt from: Laws and Guidelines Governing the Hunting of Dragons, a pamphlet produced by several noted scholars from the Academy of Magic and Sciences, detailing the dangers and difficulties of dragon slaying and the laws regarding such sport. Please note, this is not a how to manual, but rather a cautionary piece presenting some things an ambitious knight would be wise to consider before taking on his first dragon slaying assignment.
The Academy of Magic and Sciences acknowledges that dragon hunting is an ancient and honored tradition among kings and knights. However, the creatures are both rare and dangerous. Because of this, certain laws have been passed and are upheld by all kingdoms upon the Continent. Refusing to abide by these rules may result in prosecution, fines, or in extreme cases execution. It is your duty, as a dragon slayer, to familiarize yourself with these statutes and see that you and your companions keep to the letter of the law.
The first and foremost rule of dragon hunting is never attack a dragon’s nest.
It is difficult to observe the mating habits of dragons. They are solitary beasts and during such intimate moments, they can become exceedingly hostile to outsiders. Due to the valorous and persistent research of Henry of the Many Scars, we do know certain basic facts. For instance, when in search of a mate, dragons set fire the majority of trees around their lairs, as an invitation to other dragons and a warning to those who might be tempted to watch.
While dragons are known to mate for life, they do not nurture their young. Once the hatchlings have emerged from the eggs, they are left to their own devices, and considering they are roughly the size of young horses at birth with fiery breath and venomous fangs, they generally do quite well for themselves. Dragons often lay their eggs in community nests. The nesting period is one life stage where dragons are known to be social creatures. For most of their existence they are solitary or keep to mated pairs.
In the years following the Wars of Wild Magic, when dragons were much reviled for their choice to side with the Fey rather than the Humans, ambitious hunters took advantage of this knowledge. A large group discovered the hatching grounds and managed a successful attack, destroying hundreds of unborn dragons and several mating pairs. Within days an organized force of adult dragons rose up and burnt the home villages of the offending hunters to the ground. This swift retribution led to an assembly of representatives from several kingdoms as well as the Academy, and the First Law of Dragon Hunting was agreed upon and signed.
Those who would hunt dragons must always consider the long term repercussions. Dragons are an extremely long lived race. Their average lifespan stretches upward of three hundred years. They are also patient creatures, and just because they do not take immediate revenge for the slaying of a mate or a child does not mean they will not strike at your great-granddaughter’s christening or some other far future event.
Always be aware of the trouble your desire to slay dragons may have on those around you. Do not slay dragons for profit. Only merchants approved by an Academy review board may traffic in dragon bones, blood, venom, or scales. Bounties on problem wyrms, however, are an accepted practice. If a dragon has chosen to settle in close proximity to humans, he has taken his life into his own talons and can be exterminated as a nuisance dragon.
Thankfully the rarity of such beasts makes it less and less likely that a knight will be called upon for such dangerous duties. However, if you wish to try your hand at dragon hunting, please remember that in doing so you take your life in your hands. Do not allow your carelessness and disregard for the law to endanger others.
Dragon's Curse, book one in The Dragon and the Scholar Sagaby H. L. BurkeOn her first assignment out of the Academy, young healer and scholar, Shannon Macaulay is summoned to the struggling kingdom of Regone to see to the wounds of a young but crippled king. When the unwanted attentions of an aggressive knight and the sudden appearance of a hated dragon turn her world upside down, she decides to take matters into her own hands even if doing so proves dangerous. Finding herself strangely drawn to the company of the dragon, Gnaw, Shannon must force herself out of her safe world of books and botany to come to the aid of her unexpected ally in a strange kingdom, cursed by a fateful encounter with a dragon and the loss of a beloved prince. Can she learn to put aside her fears, and perhaps sacrifice her deepest desires, to help a friend and restore a family?
ABOUT H. L. Burke
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
H. L. Burke on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B00EYQ1HLW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
H. L. Burke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriterH. L. Burke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/typativemamacatH. L. Burke on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_BurkeH. L. Burke's Author Website: http://www.hlburkeauthor.com/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
An excerpt from: Laws and Guidelines Governing the Hunting of Dragons, a pamphlet produced by several noted scholars from the Academy of Magic and Sciences, detailing the dangers and difficulties of dragon slaying and the laws regarding such sport. Please note, this is not a how to manual, but rather a cautionary piece presenting some things an ambitious knight would be wise to consider before taking on his first dragon slaying assignment.
The Academy of Magic and Sciences acknowledges that dragon hunting is an ancient and honored tradition among kings and knights. However, the creatures are both rare and dangerous. Because of this, certain laws have been passed and are upheld by all kingdoms upon the Continent. Refusing to abide by these rules may result in prosecution, fines, or in extreme cases execution. It is your duty, as a dragon slayer, to familiarize yourself with these statutes and see that you and your companions keep to the letter of the law.
The first and foremost rule of dragon hunting is never attack a dragon’s nest.
It is difficult to observe the mating habits of dragons. They are solitary beasts and during such intimate moments, they can become exceedingly hostile to outsiders. Due to the valorous and persistent research of Henry of the Many Scars, we do know certain basic facts. For instance, when in search of a mate, dragons set fire the majority of trees around their lairs, as an invitation to other dragons and a warning to those who might be tempted to watch.
While dragons are known to mate for life, they do not nurture their young. Once the hatchlings have emerged from the eggs, they are left to their own devices, and considering they are roughly the size of young horses at birth with fiery breath and venomous fangs, they generally do quite well for themselves. Dragons often lay their eggs in community nests. The nesting period is one life stage where dragons are known to be social creatures. For most of their existence they are solitary or keep to mated pairs.
In the years following the Wars of Wild Magic, when dragons were much reviled for their choice to side with the Fey rather than the Humans, ambitious hunters took advantage of this knowledge. A large group discovered the hatching grounds and managed a successful attack, destroying hundreds of unborn dragons and several mating pairs. Within days an organized force of adult dragons rose up and burnt the home villages of the offending hunters to the ground. This swift retribution led to an assembly of representatives from several kingdoms as well as the Academy, and the First Law of Dragon Hunting was agreed upon and signed.
Those who would hunt dragons must always consider the long term repercussions. Dragons are an extremely long lived race. Their average lifespan stretches upward of three hundred years. They are also patient creatures, and just because they do not take immediate revenge for the slaying of a mate or a child does not mean they will not strike at your great-granddaughter’s christening or some other far future event.
Always be aware of the trouble your desire to slay dragons may have on those around you. Do not slay dragons for profit. Only merchants approved by an Academy review board may traffic in dragon bones, blood, venom, or scales. Bounties on problem wyrms, however, are an accepted practice. If a dragon has chosen to settle in close proximity to humans, he has taken his life into his own talons and can be exterminated as a nuisance dragon.
Thankfully the rarity of such beasts makes it less and less likely that a knight will be called upon for such dangerous duties. However, if you wish to try your hand at dragon hunting, please remember that in doing so you take your life in your hands. Do not allow your carelessness and disregard for the law to endanger others.
Dragon's Curse, book one in The Dragon and the Scholar Sagaby H. L. BurkeOn her first assignment out of the Academy, young healer and scholar, Shannon Macaulay is summoned to the struggling kingdom of Regone to see to the wounds of a young but crippled king. When the unwanted attentions of an aggressive knight and the sudden appearance of a hated dragon turn her world upside down, she decides to take matters into her own hands even if doing so proves dangerous. Finding herself strangely drawn to the company of the dragon, Gnaw, Shannon must force herself out of her safe world of books and botany to come to the aid of her unexpected ally in a strange kingdom, cursed by a fateful encounter with a dragon and the loss of a beloved prince. Can she learn to put aside her fears, and perhaps sacrifice her deepest desires, to help a friend and restore a family?
ABOUT H. L. Burke
H. L. Burke on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B00EYQ1HLW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
H. L. Burke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriterH. L. Burke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/typativemamacatH. L. Burke on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7230868.H_L_BurkeH. L. Burke's Author Website: http://www.hlburkeauthor.com/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 19, 2014
The Mythological Dragon of Author Karin Rita Gastreich
Greetings and well-met to author Karin Rita Gastreich on her Magic Appreciation Tour for the audio release of her novel Eolyn, the prequel to her latest book release High Maga. Karin writes fantasy fiction with strong female characters, but I was most intrigued with her concept of Dragon as it fits into the magical world she has created. Karin is a lovely, intelligent lady and a talented author, and I am so pleased to have her on my blog. After you read the fascinating article on Dragon below, make sure you check out the YouTube audio preview. What an enjoyable, melodious excerpt! And don't forget to enter the Giveaway!
Dragon
By Karin Rita Gastreich
When Lori Fitzgerald invited me to visit her blog during this tour, I knew at once that I wanted to write a post about Dragon. What could be a better fit, given the recent release of Lori’s romantic adventure, The Dragon’s Message?
Dragons are extraordinarily versatile, given the fact that the basic blue print of “fire-breathing flying serpent” rarely changes. We have Smaug of Tolkien fame, the epitome of the greedy, destructive beast ready to wreak havoc on the world. We find Smaug’s polar opposite in Draco from “Dragon’s Heart”, who represents all that is honorable and true in humankind. The wonderful Falcor, that fuzzy dragon from The Never Ending Story, is one of my personal favorites. Certainly, he’s the most huggable dragon on record.
The variations on the dragon theme are endless, and I hope some of you will share your favorite dragon examples in the comments. Today I want to tell you a little bit about the role Dragon plays in Eolyn’s world.
In the novel ‘Eolyn’, Dragon is not a biological or physical creature, but rather a spiritual entity.
At the beginning of time, Dragon taught the legendary figures Aithne and Caradoc the ways of High Magic. Also called “Messenger”, Dragon was sent by the gods who supported Aithne and Caradoc’s search for cures and spells that could contribute to the welfare of their people.
Many generations after appearing to Aithne and Caradoc, Dragon returned in its true form to teach the first mage warrior Caedmon how to use magic during the brutal struggle against the People of Thunder. This was a crucial turning point in the history of Eolyn’s people. Until Dragon appeared to Caedmon, it was forbidden to use magic to cause physical harm to another. But through Dragon’s intervention, Caedmon brought magic to the battlefield, turning the tide of a war that would otherwise have ended in the annihilation of all practitioners.
In his campaign against the People of Thunder, Caedmon formed an alliance with the warrior chief Vortingen. Following their victory in that long and terrible war, Dragon appeared once more and granted Vortingen the crown of the Kingdom of Moisehén. Vortingen and all his descendants were charged with protecting the mages and magas, and through them the traditions of Aithne and Caradoc.
Although Dragon has appeared in its true form only a handful of times, as a spiritual entity it can take on the shape of any living creature. As a result, Dragon has walked the earth on countless occasions. When Eolyn makes her pilgrimage into the forest to petition for a staff of High Magic, her tutor Ghemena advises her to be prepared for all possibilities when receiving a visit from Dragon. Dragon can appear as something as innocuous as an ant, or as fearsome a bear.
No matter what form it chooses, Dragon reveals to the initiate what elements are to be incorporated in his or her staff. Under the traditions of the Old Orders, it was widely taught that Dragon appeared as a male to mage initiates and as a female to maga initiates, although there were of course exceptions to this rule. If Dragon does not appear during the pilgrimage of the initiate, it is understood that the Gods for whatever reason have judged High Magic to be an inappropriate burden for the petitioner.
Dragon is often referred to in Eolyn’s world as the Silver Serpent. In its true form, Dragon’s scales are iridescent and highly reflective; they can take on a variety of colors. Nonetheless, artwork in Moisehén portrays Dragon only in silver. The sigil of the ruling House of Vortingen, for example, is a silver dragon against a purple night. Eolyn’s ally Corey of East Selen wears a clasp on his cloak in the form of a silver Dragon. At a key moment in their relationship, Prince Akmael gives Eolyn a silver bracelet with images of the many forms in which Dragon has been known to appear: winged serpent, snake, lion, butterfly, river otter, fish and many others. Each figure on the bracelet blends into the next, creating a single creature as fantastic as imagination itself.
One of the most beloved and feared entities of Eolyn’s world, Dragon is the guardian of her people and the patron of all mages and magas. It is not a wild creature that razes villages, nor is it a companion that can be flown into battle. Rarely does Dragon appear in its true form, yet it constantly intervenes in the lives of Eolyn’s people, in intimate and complex ways. Every time a spell is invoked and the power of the gods is made manifest in Eolyn’s world, Dragon is at work.
EOLYN [audio edition]Karin Rita Gastreich (author)Darla Middlebrook (narrator)
Sole heiress to a forbidden craft, Eolyn lives in a world where women of her kind are tortured and burned. When she meets Akmael, destined to assume the throne of this violent realm, she embarks upon a path of adventure, friendship, betrayal and war. Bound by magic, driven apart by destiny, Eolyn and the Mage King confront each other in an epic struggle that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic.
"Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes will satisfy fans of traditional epic fantasy, with a romantic thread." – Publishers Weekly
“Magnificently written.” –Kindle Book Review
Link to YouTube Preview: http://youtu.be/ymFTCvi8wew
Purchase Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Eolyn/dp/B00KROCQCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405799455&sr=8-1&keywords=Eolyn+audio
About the Author
KARIN RITA GASTREICH lives in Kansas City and Costa Rica. An ecologist by trade, her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. Karin's first fantasy novel, EOLYN, was released by Hadley Rille Books in 2011. The companion novel, HIGH MAGA, is also available from Hadley Rille Books. Karin’s short stories have appeared in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and A Visitor to Sandahl. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency. Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.comand at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com.
Author Web Links:
Blog for Eolyn: http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com
Blog Heroines of Fantasy: http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244
Twitter: @EolynChronicles
About the Narrator
With experience of 34+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, more than 20 years as a stage & film actor and over 20 years as a trained singer with knowledge and insight into the mechanics of the voice and speech, Darla Middlebrook brings a wealth of experience to bear to develop character voices (male, female, mature, extremely elderly, creepy, bright exotic, etc) with an impressive emotional range.
Currently, Darla is one of many voice actors who narrates podcasts for AIRS-LA (an audio internet service for individuals with visual challenges) in addition to narrating audio books. She is able to produce retail quality audio books from her home studio in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - Canada.
Narrator Web Links:
Website: http://www.darlasvoice.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiddlebrook
Twitter: @GypsyCatVoice
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Dragon
By Karin Rita Gastreich
When Lori Fitzgerald invited me to visit her blog during this tour, I knew at once that I wanted to write a post about Dragon. What could be a better fit, given the recent release of Lori’s romantic adventure, The Dragon’s Message?
Dragons are extraordinarily versatile, given the fact that the basic blue print of “fire-breathing flying serpent” rarely changes. We have Smaug of Tolkien fame, the epitome of the greedy, destructive beast ready to wreak havoc on the world. We find Smaug’s polar opposite in Draco from “Dragon’s Heart”, who represents all that is honorable and true in humankind. The wonderful Falcor, that fuzzy dragon from The Never Ending Story, is one of my personal favorites. Certainly, he’s the most huggable dragon on record.
The variations on the dragon theme are endless, and I hope some of you will share your favorite dragon examples in the comments. Today I want to tell you a little bit about the role Dragon plays in Eolyn’s world.
In the novel ‘Eolyn’, Dragon is not a biological or physical creature, but rather a spiritual entity.
At the beginning of time, Dragon taught the legendary figures Aithne and Caradoc the ways of High Magic. Also called “Messenger”, Dragon was sent by the gods who supported Aithne and Caradoc’s search for cures and spells that could contribute to the welfare of their people.
Many generations after appearing to Aithne and Caradoc, Dragon returned in its true form to teach the first mage warrior Caedmon how to use magic during the brutal struggle against the People of Thunder. This was a crucial turning point in the history of Eolyn’s people. Until Dragon appeared to Caedmon, it was forbidden to use magic to cause physical harm to another. But through Dragon’s intervention, Caedmon brought magic to the battlefield, turning the tide of a war that would otherwise have ended in the annihilation of all practitioners.
In his campaign against the People of Thunder, Caedmon formed an alliance with the warrior chief Vortingen. Following their victory in that long and terrible war, Dragon appeared once more and granted Vortingen the crown of the Kingdom of Moisehén. Vortingen and all his descendants were charged with protecting the mages and magas, and through them the traditions of Aithne and Caradoc.
Although Dragon has appeared in its true form only a handful of times, as a spiritual entity it can take on the shape of any living creature. As a result, Dragon has walked the earth on countless occasions. When Eolyn makes her pilgrimage into the forest to petition for a staff of High Magic, her tutor Ghemena advises her to be prepared for all possibilities when receiving a visit from Dragon. Dragon can appear as something as innocuous as an ant, or as fearsome a bear.
No matter what form it chooses, Dragon reveals to the initiate what elements are to be incorporated in his or her staff. Under the traditions of the Old Orders, it was widely taught that Dragon appeared as a male to mage initiates and as a female to maga initiates, although there were of course exceptions to this rule. If Dragon does not appear during the pilgrimage of the initiate, it is understood that the Gods for whatever reason have judged High Magic to be an inappropriate burden for the petitioner.
Dragon is often referred to in Eolyn’s world as the Silver Serpent. In its true form, Dragon’s scales are iridescent and highly reflective; they can take on a variety of colors. Nonetheless, artwork in Moisehén portrays Dragon only in silver. The sigil of the ruling House of Vortingen, for example, is a silver dragon against a purple night. Eolyn’s ally Corey of East Selen wears a clasp on his cloak in the form of a silver Dragon. At a key moment in their relationship, Prince Akmael gives Eolyn a silver bracelet with images of the many forms in which Dragon has been known to appear: winged serpent, snake, lion, butterfly, river otter, fish and many others. Each figure on the bracelet blends into the next, creating a single creature as fantastic as imagination itself.
One of the most beloved and feared entities of Eolyn’s world, Dragon is the guardian of her people and the patron of all mages and magas. It is not a wild creature that razes villages, nor is it a companion that can be flown into battle. Rarely does Dragon appear in its true form, yet it constantly intervenes in the lives of Eolyn’s people, in intimate and complex ways. Every time a spell is invoked and the power of the gods is made manifest in Eolyn’s world, Dragon is at work.
EOLYN [audio edition]Karin Rita Gastreich (author)Darla Middlebrook (narrator)
Sole heiress to a forbidden craft, Eolyn lives in a world where women of her kind are tortured and burned. When she meets Akmael, destined to assume the throne of this violent realm, she embarks upon a path of adventure, friendship, betrayal and war. Bound by magic, driven apart by destiny, Eolyn and the Mage King confront each other in an epic struggle that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic.
"Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes will satisfy fans of traditional epic fantasy, with a romantic thread." – Publishers Weekly
“Magnificently written.” –Kindle Book Review
Link to YouTube Preview: http://youtu.be/ymFTCvi8wew
Purchase Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Eolyn/dp/B00KROCQCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405799455&sr=8-1&keywords=Eolyn+audio
About the Author
KARIN RITA GASTREICH lives in Kansas City and Costa Rica. An ecologist by trade, her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. Karin's first fantasy novel, EOLYN, was released by Hadley Rille Books in 2011. The companion novel, HIGH MAGA, is also available from Hadley Rille Books. Karin’s short stories have appeared in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and A Visitor to Sandahl. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency. Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.comand at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com.
Author Web Links:
Blog for Eolyn: http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com
Blog Heroines of Fantasy: http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244
Twitter: @EolynChronicles
About the Narrator
With experience of 34+ years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, more than 20 years as a stage & film actor and over 20 years as a trained singer with knowledge and insight into the mechanics of the voice and speech, Darla Middlebrook brings a wealth of experience to bear to develop character voices (male, female, mature, extremely elderly, creepy, bright exotic, etc) with an impressive emotional range.
Currently, Darla is one of many voice actors who narrates podcasts for AIRS-LA (an audio internet service for individuals with visual challenges) in addition to narrating audio books. She is able to produce retail quality audio books from her home studio in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - Canada.
Narrator Web Links:
Website: http://www.darlasvoice.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damiddlebrook
Twitter: @GypsyCatVoice
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July 3, 2014
Wisdom and Whimsy in A Wizard of Dreams by Robin Chambers
Among my favorite books in my library are the tales that put a unique and often modern spin on the Arthurian legends, most notably Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series. Imagine my delight to find a new series from a fellow indie author and medievalist who crafts a tale about a special boy who is the "heir" of Merlin himself!
In Myrddin's Heir, Book 1: A Wizard of Dreams we follow the tale of the early years of Gordon, a boy with extraordinary powers and a legendary destiny, on a journey of self-discovery through several fascinating adventures that had me eagerly turning the pages. From antics in school to a (quite literally) haunting family vacation in the British countryside, to Avalon itself where he meets Merlin and Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (to name but a few journeys!), this book weaves a magical, heartfelt tale with beautiful themes and life lessons, perfect for young readers as well as older and wiser ones.
Merlin takes Arthur to the safety of his foster home.A Wizard of Dreams emphasizes the power and magic of our imaginations, as many of Gordon's adventures take place in a dream-state with his "imaginary" friend Zach. However, there is much more to Zach than meets the eye! Also, I especially appreciated the grandeur and spirit with which Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table were portrayed as they answered Merlin's summons.
In many stories, such as T.H. White's The Once and Future King, Merlin was Arthur's teacher as well. As a former teacher, I wish I had this book in my classroom years ago, for after each chapter is a list of themes, events, and metaphors to be discussed, and there is a wonderful glossary at the end with more information on each of these items. The author, Robin Chambers, a former teacher himself, infuses his book seamlessly with wisdom as well as historical and literary knowledge. I was overjoyed at the number of Shakespearean references hidden in the narrative! "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." (Hamlet) There is also a large section of plot in which Gordon faces and counteracts bullying with wit and aplomb (and "magic," of course). It is simply amazing how much whimsy and wisdom is packed into the pages of A Wizard of Dreams!
Merlin the Enchanter by Howard Pyle And yes, that is Robin himself on the cover, in costume when he performed a dramatic reading of A Wizard of Dreams for a classroom of schoolchildren. Isn't that fantastic? He has a mesmerizing voice, like a wizard himself, which you can hear at his website Myrddin's Heir. His website is the treasure trove in Mabon's cairn (read the book and you'll see!) for teachers and students as well, for there are activities based on the books and a page where students can even submit their own writing!
I am privileged to have gotten to know Robin through various email exchanges. He is truly a wise gentleman and a knowledgeable teacher and medievalist. I find his autobiography simply fascinating and inspiring, a testament to "trouthe," the medieval word for integrity and seeking one's best self:
Once upon a time –a long time ago – I was born in Bootle (Liverpool 20). There was a war on. Later, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis but instead was plunged into the maelstrom of inner city education. In the 1970s I wrote some stories for children to see if I could, and Penguin published them. I thought I would write something really good when I retired from teaching…
After fourteen years of headship in Hackney I came back up north in 1993 and met my wonderful wife Amy. We looked after my increasingly ill parents full-time until they didn’t need us to do it anymore, by which time the first of our two daughters was ready to go off to University and on to the first rung of the housing ladder. We did the sums and I went back to teaching…
In 2008 Amy and I set off for a life by the western shores of the Caribbean. It was only after I survived a murder attempt by three local thugs in November 2010 (skull crushed in two places, seventeen stitches in head wounds) that I realised how easy it is to die without accomplishing a cherished ambition.
So we came back to the UK and I set to work on “Myrddin’s Heir”: the epic story I will leave behind. It took three years to write the first four books - now in the Kindle Store at 99p each. Self-publishing means self-marketing, so here I am. Book 5 is just out…
This is a story for bright children from 10–110 years of age. It’s longer than The L of the R, longer even than HP &… To finish it I need to live another 15 years. I’d like to finish it, because I know how it ends.
I want to know how it ends too! Which is why I am so thrilled there are other books in the series available so I can continue along this magical reading adventure.
Find A Wizard of Dreams at Amazon! Robin is definitely worth following on Twitter @myrddinsheir and on Facebook.
For an extra treat, read what Robin Chambers has to say about the creation of Gordon's character in his imagination: Some ‘Inside Story’ Facts about Gordon He first came to me when he was 9½. I was daydreaming in Belize; which was quite appropriate really: because Gordon is an Aisling wizard... If you haven't read Book 1 yet, it is likely that you won't have come across the word 'aisling' or 'aislinn' before. Dreamis the nearest one-word in the language we now speak; but it falls short of all that 'aisling' means. According to Gordon's sixteen greats grandmother, "an Aisling wizard finds and tames wild things that wander through the tangled world of dreams. He travels in the wonderland of wishing. He goes wherever truth has found a cunning place to hide..." Of course, the same can be said of an Aisling witch. You meet one of those towards the end of Book 1... Early one morning in the spring of 2010, I was out walking my dogs - Bamford and Cookie - through the savannah woodland near our house at 14½ Miles Western Highway (now renamed George Price Highway) when I came across Gordon and his alter-ego Zack engaged in earnest conversation. Gordon had just asked Zack an important question: "Where did I come from?" He seemed to take it for granted that Zack would know. I got the impression that Zack knew things like that; but I was amazed when he casually let slip the fact that he'd been with Will when he wrote those astounding plays and poems around 400 years ago. Obviously he meant Shakespeare: he'd just quoted him... The dogs had gone haring off after an agouti (which is a kind of Belizean jack-rabbit), so while I waited for them to charge back and find me I tuned in to the rest of what Gordon and Zack were saying; and I realised a number of things: Zack could not be "human" in the normally accepted sense: because human beings live for a finite amount of what we casually refer to as "time". I didn't think Zack could have been around for ALL of it (common sense told me he couldn't be 13.75 (to the nearest 0.11) billion years old); but could he have been around when language was evolving among the apes we used to be? Might he in fact have had a part to play, even then, in the honing of that immensely powerful tool we casually refer to as "language"? Was he bound up in those beginnings? Was he was some sort of manifestation of genius...? He'd been with Gordon from Gordon's beginning (at any rate on this planet) - as you will know if you have read the opening chapter of this very long story; and that had to mean that Gordon was no ordinary boy. I left them talking in the woods, and turned for home with my alert, panting dogs. We were all looking forward to breakfast. It had been an intriguing, apparently chance encounter, but nothing more than that... However, that remarkable boy - whose name, I now know, is Gordon Bennett - began to turn up more and more regularly: sometimes during the day when I was out walking, or letting my senses drift for a while just after lunch. Quite often, in the middle of the night, I would wake to find him wandering through my wonderland of wishing. He was looking for truth, I suppose, which often finds a cunning place to hide... Zack was always with him: which was how I first found out that Zack could bend time. On one occasion I found myself watching Gordon's teddy doing the can-can when he was only five months old. He'd just amazed his mother with his first three words: MA-MA, DA-DA and ZACK... I wasn't completely surprised when at the age of 2½ he told his mum he wanted to be a palaeontologist. My grandson had told me the exact same thing when he was that age. He had also corrected my pronunciation of the word diplodocus: "A lot of older people say diploDOCus, Grandad, but it's pronounced dipLODocus nowadays." (He's at Imperial College London at the moment, reading Theoretical Physics, and has assured me that it won't stop him writing his first novel. But that's another story...) I am pleased that Gordon is good at dealing with bullies, because I wasn't good at dealing with them when I was at Gray Street Primary School in Bootle, or at first even at Bootle Grammar School for Boys (I got better at it after my dad took me to Boxing Club…). I admire Gordon's love of learning and the wide open windows in his mind. I thoroughly approve of his positive mental attitude. His mother told me he'd never been bored, and she was sure he never would be. But things got really serious when I heard Myrddin (English people know him as Merlin) tell Gordon that he was his heir, and that he had been born to make the world a better place. That was when I began to think that maybe I too had been chosen: to tell Gordon's story to the world. Maybe telling his story was somehow part of the overarching plan - to make the world a better place? - because if the world IS to be made a better place, it has to know how, and why. Here's a bit of good news about all the problems that stand in our way. They're all man-made. That's a sexist remark, and I stand by it. Of course: you don't make the world a better place in a week. Rome wasn't built in a day. It takes me a day, when I even it out, to write a thousand fairly careful words... The things that Gordon's already done (worth telling you about) have filled four books, and I'm only two days past his twelfth birthday. I suspect the things he has yet to do will fill a fair few more... I fear for him sometimes; but I know he is never alone...
