HNS on Facebook

Hurray! Historical Novel Society is now on Facebook. If you're also on Facebook, stop by and join the group.

The next issue of the Historical Novels Review is due out soon, and I'm stoked - three of my reviews will be included! I reviewed Territory by Emma Bull, Calligraphy of the Witch by Alicia Gaspar de Alba, and The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur by Derek Armstrong!

Fleur de Lis

Myths, symbolism, and folklore



"The holy number of three appears again in the fleur de lis, the French lily. It was first used during the twelfth century, and then as part of a larger fleur de lis pattern. Later it was used isolated as an ideogram denoting the right to rule France (and claims to it whether rightful or not)."

Learn more at symbols.com

Tetramorph

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
Tetramorph: It is a form or shape of four parts. Until the late Middle Ages, it was a collective designation for the four cherubim and for the symbol of the four Evangelists (in one shape having four faces and four or six wings). The image derives from the Book of Revelation and from Ezekiel's vision of the four winged creatures, one of whose faces resembled a human being, one a lion, one a steer, and one an eagle. Originally it probably had to do with a symbol of the spiritual omnipresence of God. (Herder)

Impressive or disturbing?

GalleyCat has an article this morning about the launch and coverage of Charles Bock's Beautiful Children. I don't know anything about this guy or his book, but this quote struck me:

"Truth is I worked on this novel for 10 years. Not ten years of watching Seinfeld at 11 PM. Ten years of a high priority in my life. When I was dating the woman who is now my wife, I would only go out with her two nights a week because I couldn't give more time to that.

Now. I'll grant that this is serious dedication. I must say, though, that I'm impressed with his wife, sticking with him through 10 years of coming in second on the priority list.

So. Is he an artist who has his priorities right? An artist who is a little screwed up in the head? Does it take that kind of single-minded determination (to the detriment of other activities in one's life) to create something brilliant, or even good? Does it really matter, as long as his wife could put up with it? Is it possible to be a great (or even good) writer and still have a well-rounded life? Am I asking all the wrong questions?

Dreams

Sometimes, in between dreams of taking a test in a class I didn't know I was supposed to attend, or flying in airplanes low over the landscape (that one happens all the time), I have very cinematic dreams that have nothing to do with me (at least overtly).

I had one of those movie-like dreams the other morning. I woke up with my mind racing, despite the fact that it was 4:30. The imagery was so complete, so saturated with color and sound - I could hear the horses' hooves pounding over the grassy hills. It was like I was presented with the basic plot for another novel.

Now I need to finish this NaNo novel, and maybe start working on the dream novel while I let the NaNo novel percolate. I'm afraid Oleanna is going to have to hold on again.

Does this ever happen to you? Do you get story ideas handed to you in your dreams?

The Word-Hoard: abecedarian, abacinate, and acalculia

This week's word-hoard feature: abecedarian, abacinate, and acalculia.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, you can add the feed to your LiveJournal Friends page.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

I am so over breast cancer

Last year, two of my friends (one 38, one 42) got breast cancer, within a couple months of each other. After surgeries, chemo, radiation, and ongoing medication, they're both doing great, but it was a hard, hard year.

I just found out a friend of a friend got it.

I'm really over breast cancer.

Are you over it too? Want to help? You can start with one of these great events:

• ACS Relay for Life


• Komen Race for the Cure


• Avon 3-Day

Booking Through Thursday Meme

Booking Through Thursday:

What’s your favorite book that nobody else has heard of? You know, not Little Women or Huckleberry Finn, not the latest best-seller . . . whether they’ve read them or not, everybody “knows” those books. I’m talking about the best book that, when you tell people that you love it, they go, “Huh? Never heard of it?”

Well, most people have heard of Camus though not everyone has heard of The Plague, but I don't know that it's terribly obscure. Everyone knows LOTR. A lot of people know the Master & Commander series when I remind them about the movie.

So I guess that leaves a couple, though again, they're not super obscure. I really enjoyed Pilgrim by Timothy Findley and the Kristin Lavransdatter series by Sigrid Undset. I understand there's a "better" translation of the latter out, so I'll need to check those out. For me, Norway + middle ages, and Jung + history and immortality = fiction gold :)

The year

"One of the alchemists' signs for year."

Learn more at symbols.com.

Congrats to Farrago's Wainscot for being named #1 fiction e-zine in the Preditors & Editors annual poll!

Archetypes

Myths, Symbols & Folklore
archetypes: "they are the primordial images which, according to the philosophy of late antiquity, exist in the unmanifest realm as prototypes or 'ideas'. Jung used the term to designate the symbolic patterns and images common to all humanity that occur in dreams as well as in myths, fairy tales, etc. Called the 'collective unconscious' or 'objective psyche', these symbols and images inform the ever-recurring fundamental structures in the development of the individual and are also manifested in imaginal form." (Herder)

The Word-Hoard: baetylus, fucated, and fifishness

This week's word-hoard feature: baetylus, fucated, and fifishness.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, you can add the feed to your LiveJournal Friends page.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Sophia

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
Sophia: A philosophical concept, associated with scholarship, mastery, skill, and devices. Complete sophia was attainable only by the gods; a human could only strive for it, aspiring to be a philosophos ("lover of wisdom") - a view that seems to originate with Pythagoras. In the later doctrines of the Gnostics, the Pistis Sophia was revered as a person and a divinity of symbolic origin; in Christianity, as divine wisdom (Hagia Sophia), human wisdom being a mere symbolic reflection of the divine. Among Christian saintly legends we find that of St. Sophia (Latin Sapientia), the mother of (the three theological virtues) Faith (Fides), Hope (Spes), and Charity (Caritas), who are said to have been martyred under the Emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138). (Biedermann)

Myths, symbolism, and folklore



"This is the most common graph for the sign of Capricorn, the Goat."

Learn more at symbols.com

Wiscon presentation!

I'm attending my first Wiscon over Memorial Day weekend, which is exciting enough in and of itself. But, even more exciting, I'll be part of a multimedia presentation. Still working out the details on when during the event, but Jenn Racek, Yolanda Joosten, Catherine Schaff-Stump, and I will be doing a group reading, which will also include original art by Catrina Horsfield and a music bed I'll be putting together. It should be very fun, and I'm so excited. Now, to figure out exactly which excerpt to read...

More details as I have them!

Lynx

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
lynx It is an animal that usually refers to the Devil in medieval symbolism. Since people ascribed to it the ability to look through walls, the lynx appears in representations of the five senses as the personification of the sense of sight. (Herder)

The Word-Hoard: oneiric, catarolysis, and dwergmal

This week's word-hoard feature: oneiric, catarolysis, and dwergmal.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, you can add the feed to your LiveJournal Friends page.

Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Administrivia

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-10579655b1438c4bf0ced77059e55dcc}

Myths, symbolism, and folklore



"This sign is a rune from the Nordic runic alphabets. It was called raido, which meant a raid, a riding, a journey."

Learn more at symbols.com

Booking Through Thursday meme

This week's meme is a good one!

1. How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?

2. Was it love at first sight? Or did the love affair evolve over a long acquaintance?

Well, let's see.

Growing up, and during school, I was all about 19c British lit (it was my minor, after all). I read Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre first when I was 12ish and read them every year until I started college. And I haven't read either of them since! So I guess I fell out of love with those books and authors. It was a childhood crush.

I love Camus' The Plague, but I wouldn't say I love Camus overall. I read The Plague for a course in undergrad and it completely blew my mind. It was so powerful: the concepts, his ability to set a scene, the humanity. It is a book that shaped a lot of the ways I think about the world and the importance of loving and taking care of people, no matter what you may believe or not believe about spirit or religion. But, I haven't read it since. I haven't fallen out of love per se, but I suppose I have moved on, and have grown, as a result of the relationship. :)

I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but frankly the other tales (Simarilion, Children of Hurin) have bored me, so I can't say Tolkien is a favorite author overall. That said, LOTR is one of my favorite series of books, though I came to them very late in the game (after the first movie in 2001). That trilogy was love at first sight, and I've reread them every year since. It's like a dear friend that I get together with once a year, and it feels so lovely and cozy - and reminds me of the bigger and better things we can all aspire to.

Finally, I came to Patrick O'Brian quite late in the game - like many people, after the Master & Commander movie in 2003. I read out of sequence - The Far Side of the World first, but I was hooked and went back and started from the beginning and read all 20 completed books in a row. It was love at first sight. He had an amazing gift for characterization, and for historical scene setting. I feel transported, truly, every time I read the books. I think I'm due for another complete read through. Right now, at least, this feels like a long-term love affair. :)

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

There's been lots of family drama 'round these parts lately ... well, since October, but particularly the last week or two. So, I was completely distracted and didn't realize that my one-year Blogoversary was on Monday. Yay!

I've been on LiveJournal since 2003, and on message boards and BBSes (OMG that dates me) since 1991 or so. BUT I'd never had a blog, so this is very exciting.

It's been a super fun year - among other things, I taught myself how to podcast (holy moley that's fun), and more importantly, I've met some really lovely people. Hurrah!

Michael archangel

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
Michael archangel: The guardian angel of the Hebrew nation, whom Christianity adopted as a saint - in the broad sense - of the Church miltant. His origins probably lie in the religion of ancient Persia whose pantheon was divided into two, light and dark, or good and evil. The gods of light, with whom Michael was associated, were in perpetual conflict with the gods of darkness...He wears a coat of mail and is armed wiht a shield, and sword or spear, or both. Like nearly all angels he has wings...ST. Michael is also represented weighing the souls of the dead (psychostasis) to measure their just deserts...St. Michael as weigher of souls often forms a central feature in the last judgment. (Hall)

Diamond

Myths, Folklore & Symbolism
diamond: "Symbolically it is usually considered to be the perfection of crystal and thus represents absolute purity, spirituality, and immutability. In India it is sometimes a symbol of immortality; Buddha's throne is of diamond. Plato describes the world axis as a diamond. European folk belief ascribes various magical properties to diamond. It is supposed to heal illnesses; make poisons harmless; drive away wild animals, witches, and ghosts; make invisible; and make one pleasing to women. In the Renaissance it was above all a symbol of courage and strength of character. (Herder)

The Word-Hoard: verbarian, etymologicon, logolatry

This week's word-hoard feature: verbarian, etymologicon, logolatry.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Myths, folklore & symbolism:

One of the signs for arsenic in alchemy. (See full explanation at symbols.com)

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
Mandrake: It is a Mediterranean herb (Mandragora officinarum) of hte nightshade family which, according to German folk belief, grew from the semen of the hanged. (Hence the root was also called Galgenmaenlein, gallows manikin). The long, tapering rootstock frequently has a forked shape reminiscent of the human form. Mandrake has been used extensively since antiquity as a healing and magical substance and as an aphrodisiac. Various peoples (e.g., the Egyptians and the Hebrews) consequently saw the mandrake as a magically effective love and fertility symbol.

In medieval folk belief the mandrake was reputed to have the power to bring good fortune, fertility, and riches; since then there have been many references to this (e.g., in colloquialisms and proverbs). (Herder)

Nymphs

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
nymphs: In ancient Greece young and beautiful female spirits who were believed to inhabit certain classes of natural objects. For instance the Nereids, daughters of Nereus, the old man of the sea, were the nymphs of the Aegean; among them were Galatea and Thetis. Naiads were the nymphs of fresh water: see Alpheus and Arethusa, and Hylas. Both Jupiter and Bacchus were nurtured in their infancy by the nymphs of mountains and grottoes (Oreads). The chaste companions of Diana are loosely called nymphs. Armed with bows, arrows, and quivers, they go hunting with their mistress, or bathe with her in secluded woodland pools. They are frequently harassed by the lecherous satyrs. As guardians of chastity the nymphs punished Cupid by breaking his weapons. The goddess Calypso was attended by nymphs. (Hall)