Book 3 ? origin of the faeries series #loveoffaerie #faerieliterature

Book 3 ? origin of the faeries series...

I have been taking a break from writing book 3 in the origin of the faerie series. I have begun it but rewritten the first 3 chapters at least 7 times. I have some wonderful ideas of where I would like this all to go, but I seem to be unsatisfied with myself. Something to push beyond later this year.

Also, it is more of a necessity right now due to several changes happening in my life. I will be relocating and the packing to move has just about put me over the edge. Sifting through items, as my daughter refers to it as minimizing, is a huge issue. I am not sure why I attach such sentiments onto things. I've found the more we do that we seem to replenish those items with new items. The cycle goes on and on. I'm one who enjoys to re-purpose turning old junk into something new. 

I sometimes think of the mounds in Ireland and Scotland and wonder what those in the distant future will think of our huge mounds of garbage we have created. They won't be mystical and filled with wonderful tales. They will be filled with plastics that will take a millennium to disintegrate, if at all. We truly need to do something to save our precious planet.         

Real life characters #pixiesandfaeries #loveoffaeries

Real life characters...

Many people change the names of an actual person they know, but include their characteristics as a character within their story. I can say that I have used names of people because I liked the name. In the "Mystic North" Aodhan and Caelina have a child which I named Willow. 

A classmate of mine adopted a beautiful little girl whose name was Willow. I had not seen my classmate in years but I saw her picture on Facebook I fell in love with her little pixie daughter. My friend passed away suddenly and when writing my story I wanted to honor my friend so I chose the name Willow for Aodhan and Caelina's baby.

Not knowing Willow however I gave the newborn in my story characteristics more like my own daughter. Who in her own right was a charming little pixie born with intelligence beyond her years. The picture is of my daughter.

  

Queen Aine #myfaeriequeen #faeriebooks

Queen Aine..
The most well known of the faerie characters which were born within the hearth fire, is Queen Aine. I had debated as to focus my main faerie character as a male Aileel or female Aine. It seemed natural that I should choose someone to be Aodhan's queen of the faeries. I found a few images which suited my character and thought this one fit.

It presents Aine as more of an ethereal creature yet a more royal appearance. She is almost angelic.I had ideas in minds eye and with research it sometimes helps to find a visual to assist in writing.
The Mystic North reveals many truths about the faeries and you will discover what happens with the bond between Aodhan and the faeries created in the hearth fire.    

Faerie baby Evvie #faeriebooks #faeriemagic

Faerie baby Evvie...

Before leaving for Tir Na Nog, the enchanted isle of the Faeries, Queen Caelina gives birth to a faerie baby. The name Evvie literally means life. In the "Mystic North" Aodhan received a message from the faeries that Queen Caelina was with child. One of the faeries hint to Aodhan of when the baby will come. Was this a premonition? Or a wee bit of faerie magic?

    

Behind the character Ahearn #faeriebooks #loveoffaeries

Behind the character Ahearn...
When I began thinking of children born to Abracham's second wife Eilis again I researched names and came up with a girl and boys name. Maeva which meant intoxicating and Ahearn which meant the lord of the horse. Eilis dies after giving birth to Ahearn and he and his sister were raised by Dairine, first wife of Abracham.
Ahearn idolized his older brother Aodhan and frequently followed him without Aodhan's knowledge. Ahearn witnesses the birth of the faeries at the old mystic's hearth fire. Unknown to them Ahearn has indirectly obtained magic from the hearth fire, but it would effected him differently than Aodhan.
Ahearn makes the discovery of a wild horse heard. Never encountering an animal of this type before Ahearn succeeds in taming the stallion which he names Fleet. 

This is all part of the beginning of Ahearn's adventure in learning the gifts he was given from the old mystic's hearth fire. More gifts emerge in the second book "Mystic North". 

Faerie images #myownfaeries #faerieartinspiration

Faerie images..

In "Isle of the Faeries" I tried to tie in my own idea of what a faerie would look like with possibly what early people may have viewed them like. Growing up with the version of a more Disney type of "fairy" it was a bit challenging.

I ran across many pictures that I loved but all seemed to have a more modern day "fairy". I needed to visualize a more realistic faerie or person with fae like qualities. I rediscovered the artist Brian Froud whose tiny little characters opened up my mind into a world of faerie.

His art has covered both books and movie posters. In the 1986 movie The Labryinth, his goblins came to life from his mind and the creative Jim Henson. When I began to reflect on some of Mr. Froud's drawings my own faeries were born. From the mystic's hearth they were born from elements of fire, earth, and other elements derived from nature. 

Interest?

Interest?
Today the blog's focus in to gather interest in the blog itself. I am new to blogging and need some feedback if the previous blogs have spurred your interest in Isle of the Faeries or the Mystic North? please feel free to comment. Many thanks!

Faerie dwellings #settingmysceneforfaeries #ancientfaerielore

Faerie dwellings..

When I was young living on a farm my favorite place to play was a grove of trees out in the cow pasture. I built a fort there it was my place to escape the drudgery of farm chores. When researching for my books I came across a picture which was called a faerie fort. The photograph pulled me in and took me back to my early days on the farm at my own Faerie Fort.

Many of the faerie forts depict a mound and the faeries living underground. Remembering the fort of my youth I chose to have the faerie dwellings high within a sacred Rowan tree. In folklore the tree was known for protection. Down to the five pointed star the pentagram on each berry opposite it's stalk and the virtue of it's white flowers.  

Northmen arrive #magicalfaeriefolk #myownfaeriefolk

Northmen arrive..
Midway in "Mystic North" I introduce a new set of people, called simply the people of the North. I wanted to tie together the idea established early in "Isle of the Faeries" how the nomadic people became separated. How some may have survived. 
I found the name Cael. The name which is an angel of the zodiac Cancer, but also a warrior in Irish mythology. It was a good strong name to use for a leader of the people of the North. His oldest son I refer to as Mac. Mac meaning son of so formerly he would be known as MacCael. I needed a female version of Cael which became Caelina. In research I had found Caelina was another name used for the Faerie Queen. I found the picture below and the Faerie Queen's namesake was born.

In the "Mystic North" when Aodhan meets the Northmen, who land on his green Isle, he is taken aback by Caelina's looks and the knowledge that the Faeries were known by these mysterious people. 

Giants Causeway #magicalinspiration #faerielore

Giants Causeway..

Probably one of Ireland's greatest marvels are the basalt structures located in northern Ireland known as Giant's Causeway. The myths and lore tell of a tale of two giants fighting one another one in northern Ireland and one in Scotland. What better place for Aodhan to make a new home. 

When I began to research the area I learned that within the basalt structure of Giants Causeway was a special rock formation known as the wishing chair. I interwove the mysterious rock formation into my story. It became a spot of power, stones which emitted magic. Aodhan stumbles upon the rock accidentally and gets knocked backward from the magnitude of power which the rock emits. 

  

Faerie Realm #faerierealm #enterifyoudare #wherefaerieslive

Faerie Realm..

In the "Mystic North" Aodhan enters into the realm of faerie. An enchanted place hidden from view but within our own dimension. To enter Aodhan must be invited. To me the only choice was Aileel, the first born faerie man, to invite Adohan into the kingdom. 

Previously in my first book "Isle of the Faeries" the Faeries have joined Aodhan when he summoned them. Several times I changed my ideas of how he should enter the sacred realm.

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In Faerie lore the saying goes..When you see these trees together, Hawthorn, Oak and Ash, you will find the entrance to Faerie. Aodhan enters the faerie realm by way of a Hawthorn Arch. His experience is magical and ethereal in nature.
Here is a quote from the Mystic North describing what he saw when he entered the faerie realm. "The sky is azure blue and rainbow prisms of sunlit rays dance across the mossy ground. Flowers of bluebells ring out, calling the faeries, as they joyously dance to and fro upon a mid-summer breeze. Every breath taken in is joy and every exhale is peace."

Fantasy and Folklore #faeriefolklore #myfaeriefolklore

Fantasy and Folklore..
Ireland and Scotland rich in folklore was the perfect setting for my stories. From Faeries to Brownies to Hobgoblins the culture runs deep to explain things we don't understand. Places where our imagination thrives.
Deep within volume 2 "Mystic North" the tale of the Faerie Niamh and Oisin is revealed. I had read many variations of the folk tale. Each variant depicted somewhat different in time periods. The basic story however remains the same, a Faerie falls in love with the human Oisin and carries him back to the enchanted land of Tir Na Nog. Lonesome for his people he returns to his land, but Niamh puts him under a magic spell if he was to get off his horse he would grow old and die. 

Taking my story back into the time of the mystics was a bit tricky as it had to be interwoven with Aodhan's birth of the Faeries at the mystic's hearth. The integration of a mysterious new people from the north was the answer.    

Hearth Fire #whereitbegins #faeriesbornoffire

Hearth Fire..

It was important within the stories "Isle of the Faeries" and "Mystic North" to designate an area for the social gathering for the clan. A place where they shared meals, songs and stories.

Sad but true, the family meal is becoming a thing of the past in American culture. It makes me happy when I learn that some families still share in at least one daily family meal together.

Within my stories I establish the hearth fire as the main hub for social order.

In "Isle of the Faeries" without question the Faeries should be born within the hearth fire. The hearth even in the time of the ancient mystic was sacred. Bronnagh's final act in to preserve the essence of an ancient mystic race was  that he step into the hearth fire. Fire to consume as well as to purify and transform.      

Intelligence of early people #faeriebooks #reachsearchingfaeries

Intelligence of early people..

Before I put pen to paper, hours of research was logged on early people. In northern Ireland the 1970 discovery of Mountsandel, and the photos I found, provided insight to how the lives of those early people.

The advancing of intelligence between Paleolithic and Mesolithic is unexplained. I found an article from the British Academy written by Steven Mithen on social behavior. He surmises that the basic difference in advancement was in their art. Separating us from primates.

Within "Isle of the Faeries" I subtly suggested, within a generation, advancement of thought a progression of intelligence. The expression of art is hugely broadened in the "Mystic North" by Aodhan's younger brother Ahearn.

During my research though I ran across another article which stated that the early man's intelligence capacity was nearly the same as people of today. That concept blew me away so I began to increase the main character's intelligence.

Symbolism in "Isle of the Faeries" and also into "Mystic North" I hint more of the importance of the old mystic's hearth fire. The hearth fire itself represent rebirth and purification by fire. The hearth is the spot where ancient beliefs, which I referred to as magic, lay dormant until the conditions were perfect. The magic chose Aodhan and found him worthy. He was the embodiment of intelligence and purity of heart.   

   

Naming the Faeries #namemyfaeries #faerienames

Naming the Faeries..
I began first by choosing the word Faerie, which is old French. Faerie is the being within the sphere or realm of enchantment, magic or dream, associate with the world of Fae. Faerie is the proper spelling of the modern English version which many only know to be Fairy. Once this difference is understood, the word Faerie embodies something more ancient and old as the mystics themselves.
In volume 1 "Isle of the Faeries" the character Aodhan stumbles across the ancient mystic's hearth little does he know that an enchantment has been placed upon it. From this hearth fire the Faerie's are born. Tying into western European culture, the Faeries were the good folk. Thus I chose my Faeries essence to be of goodness embodied in laws of nature.
Once again I consulted my now well worn dictionary of Celtic names. Many of which are taxing to pronounce!
Symbolic, and tying into my religious upbringing, the first born Faerie from the hearth fire was a man, Aileel. The name Aileel means tiny or small man. Next born we have our radiant Aine, Queen of the Faeries. I begin the Faerie story as my version of Adam and Eve.
Due to my love of birds,I found four names befitting a more bird like character. Enna meaning little bird, Colm means the dove, Lohan means little blackbird and Daithi means swift of wing. Other Faerie names included attributes of warrior-Donal, peace-Aeryn, and goodness/purity-Deaglan.

      

Character names #celticnamesofcharacters #ancientnamesinfaerie

Character names..

Volume 1 "Isle of the Faeries" had so many characters I made the decision to include a list of characters at the front of the book. Volume 2 "Mystic North" followed suit with the addition of a few new characters.

When choosing a name for each character I consulted a Celtic name dictionary. Not only did I obtain the correct spellings, but I found a name dictionary which included a description of the name.

Early cultures often named the children after the father, which can complicate things. I really didn't want to confuse myself or the reader. Thinking about this I decided instead to give names to clans to distinguish the characters more. The clans names and characteristics of the clan all have something in common. Black hair or blonde, wavy or straight, tall or short, each clan became cohesive units. I furthered the clan units by giving each qualities such as healers, thinkers, etc.    

The first name I chose in "Isle of the Faeries" was Bronnagh, the name means sorrow. I had needed a name which sounded old, more ancient. When I read the description I knew it was a perfect fit! After finding the name for my ancient mystic the next major name to conquer was Abracham, in Hebrew the name would be Abraham.

In volume 2 "Mystic North" when I introduced a new group of people. I needed to establish this new group but also tie them back to an old clan. I chose to have them be a clan which had broken apart much like I did for the clans in volume 1.

Next I will continue with character names but concentrate upon my favorite, the faeries!!

     

   

Frozen tundra #researchideasforbooks #worldofice

Choosing the location..

The location for early clans seemed relatively easy because of the history found inside the caves in Lascaux, France. A jumping point for me, but broadening the idea. My thoughts were to make the people more nomadic, due to basal survival as the clans grew, or challenges they may have faced in their society.

Researching again I unveiled a map which depicted the route most likely taken across a land bridge which existed coming from northern France.

At this point in my story, volume 1 "Isle of the Faeries", a small band of one clan is forced to move forward into this unknown territory. In my next blog we will take a step back and discuss the characters and how I envisioned people evolving.  

    

How it all began #researchforfaeriebooks

How it all began..

I have always had an interest in writing but a few short years ago I found out I had cancer. Faced with my own mortality, as an escape from the horrors of radiation and chemotherapy, I began to scan the internet. I was researching all of the places on my bucket list. First stop on my bucket list was Ireland.

I ran across an article which spoke of the prehistory of Ireland at the end of the last ice age 7,000 BC.The Mesolithic hunter gatherer people. More research revealed of a site found in 1970 in Mountsandel, Coleraine in northern Ireland.

This discovery lead me to develop a story of where these people would have originated and how they would have gotten to Ireland. I recall when studying European history that early peoples had migrated to new areas by following herds of animals. I began to jot down ideas and references. My story had begun. Whenever I had a new idea on how the story should progress I would spend hours on researching. Researching became as much of a fascination for me as much as the story itself.

Welcome #faeriebooks #loveoffaeries

Welcome to my newest adventure! I have officially joined this century and have become a blogger. The name blogging alone has definitely held me back from accomplishing the task. Did you know there is some trivia about how the name "blog"actually started? The truth is only with the help of a very patient and good friend was I able to accomplish the task. Kudos to her for convincing me that I can do this!
Within the pages of this blog I will welcome any comments. I will discuss in more detail some of the research I have done in writing my books. Any readers which have a specific question pertaining to my books I will be happy to address them.So my friends let the blogging begin!