Koites by Kyllie Pinker

Today we will be giving away an ebook copy of this hilarious little book that pokes fun at sex and pornography! All you have to do to enter is read the entire post and leave a comment at the end about some facet of our discussion. Good luck to all!




Synopsis





A gender-bending tale about how modern day sex relationships came to
be. When Actaeon returns from the sea determined to marry his beloved Diana --
the greatest huntress and ruler-to-be of the land -- the Licentians in the
fabled land of Licentia are shocked. But Diana likes Actaeon too, so Licentians
stir up gossip, rumor, and betrayal to thwart their love. The shenanigans bring
Licentia to war, destroying, most terribly of all, the land's coupling
traditions, including the Barzexton, the Koites, and the Kunte. Written in
chronicle form, the story wanders through the voices of oeconomica specialist
Tantral, impecunious Pornog, and Jealomene who can only be a tailor, not a
huntress, because she lacks bushy armpits.




Review




If you enjoy light-hearted
stories with a touch of humor and satire, then Koites: An Ancient Myth About How Modern Day Sex Relationships Came to
Be by Kyllie Pinker will provide
you hours of entertaining fun. The author sweeps us into a fable about a place
named Licentia and a time long ago where desirable women sported bushy legs and
hairy arm pits and men shaved themselves hairless clean-shaven; where coupling
rituals were strictly controlled and women had the power to chose a mate best
suited. 




Diana is a young woman being
primed for her mating ritual. Much to everyone’s chagrin, she chooses Actaeon,
a seafarer much disliked by the town folk. The fact that he bends the rules of
the Barzexton mating ritual where the males present themselves to Diana to
choose from, causes trouble and the entire village tries to keep the couple
apart.




The author has written a highly
imaginative, comedic story about sex. It is a satire of pornography and
intimacy, poking fun at men and women alike. The book itself is not lengthy and
makes for a fast read. The prose is very rich and colorful, adding to the
elegance of this little fable. Sexy, informative, funny, and delightful, there
is much to enjoy in this tiny book that packs a big punch!




Author Interview






Today I'm so pleased to have Kyllie Pinker who has kindly offered to tell us a bit more about herself and this comedic book that kept me chuckling from start to finish. Welcome Kyllie!




so much for
having me, Mirella!




1.     
Welcome to
History and Women.  Can you tell us a
little about your novel?




I wrote Koites as a comedic backstory to Ovid’s
famous myth about Actaeon and Diana. Ovid tells how Actaeon was turned into a
stag by the goddess Diana and then Ovid explains it all happened by fate. I’ve
created a fantasy story that scolds Ovid and says, “Are you kidding me?”




The novella begins
when Actaeon returns from the sea determined to marry his beloved Diana. She
now happens to be the greatest huntress and ruler-to-be of his hometown, called
Licentia. In the end, Actaeon doesn’t “get the girl” and instead, his presence
and his strange ways bring Licentia to ruin.




In between, we learn
that women in this land are huntresses with bushy armpits, while men are
clean-shaven and relegated to a life of child-rearing and homemaking.







2.     
What
inspired you to write a novel about a woman in this period of history? 




When I was a kid, I
had a love for ancient Greek and Roman mythology. My readings made me want to
travel extensively to the ancient ruins: Ephesus, Athens, and Delphi, for
example. I also lived in Naples, Italy for three years and spent a great deal
of time roaming the ancient ruins there, including Pompeii and the Phlegraean
Fields. The grand temples of the goddesses especially inspired my imagination,
so I really wanted to write a story set in mythical ancient times.







3.     
What
hardships did women face in this particular century and what lessons can today's
woman learn from it?




Although scholars who
write about the history of ancient times show that women were kept out of
public life and forced to stay at home carrying out child-care duties, the
mythology points to a different world entirely. Goddesses were often equal to
men in strength, ruthlessness, jealousy, and compassion. Goddesses were also
very much in the public eye.




Greek and Roman myths
also centered around the notion of ‘fate.’ But I think we moderns believe less
in fate and more in choice. So I created a world in which there was a complete
role reversal of women and men and then I asked: What choices would boys make
under these circumstances? What choices would girls make if they had all the
power?




I blend the two
ideas, fate and choice, and then leave it up to women to make up their minds
about how much they impact their own roles in society today.




4.     
What
inspired you about your heroine?  Why did
you choose her?   




I chose Diana because
I’ve always admired her in mythology. She is a huntress and also an independent
female who goes against the norm of what is considered proper for women in
ancient Greece and Rome. (And maybe even what’s considered proper for women
today.)




5.     
Can you
describe a typical writing day?  




I wake up, get the
kids off to school, and sit down at my desk. I write for several hours just
like someone who works at an office. It’s a pretty reliable and boring
schedule, really.




6.  Can you tell us briefly about
your other novels and any new novels in the works? 




Shshsh. It’s a
secret. J














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