Myth and Magic in Romance

Flossie here - wishing you Happy May! The month of May frolics onto the green stage, dressed in purples and pinks—and all the colors of spring. She is nothing if not decked out! Her fragrance uplifts the spirits. When I open my back door, hypnotic jasmine permeates the air. Out front, the sweet scent of phlox takes me back to childhood. With May comes the full intensity of spring.

Greeks and Romans celebrated May as a time of spring and rebirth in honor of Maia, a mountain nymph remembered today as one of the Pleiades. Her father was Atlas, who carried the earth on his shoulders. Her son with Zeus was fleet-footed Hermes, known to the Romans as Mercury. May was also of high importance to the ancient Celts and northern Europeans. On the Wheel of the Year, May 1st marked the halfway point between spring equinox and summer solstice. Heralding back to the Celts as a pastoral people whose survival depended on cattle, April 30 (Walpurgis Night) and May 1st (Beltane) were celebrated with bonfires and other rituals to protect the herds.

Such old stories as these are what drive my need to populate my fantasy romances with goddesses, ghosts, guardians, nymphs, fairies, angels, demons, and other magical beings. I don't necessarily use the exact name or attributes of a mythological being. Oftentimes I tweak and switch things around. The connections can be loose, fun, and modern. In the Wytchfae world all pantheons thrive in dimensions parallel to earth. Humans with fae blood and other sensitives can often communicate with otherworldly inhabitants and even travel to magical realms and forgotten times.

I want to share with you a few of the ways the Wytchfae Series delves into mythology. These short descriptions are not meant to sound as spiffy as blurbs. They are meant to give an idea of the various mythologies and beings that fired me up during the writing of the stories.

Wytchfae Runes - The hero, a Viking ghost, and heroine, a Wytchfae (fae blood, witch training) travel back to the Viking age and the Underworld to undo a curse. They play hardball with Helle (based on the Norse goddess, Hel) and a sorceress, Skada (based on the giantess Skadi).

Guardian of the Deep – A succubus and undersea guardian, Samael, (name has angelic ties) go on the run from Lilith (based on a Sumerian demon).

Mind Your Goddess – Epona (based on the Celtic goddess) loves dark guardian Eshigel (name linked to Sumerian myth). The hero encounters a dangerous, lovesick Lamia (Greek myth - half woman, half snake).

Time Singer – A Wytchfae travels back to ancient Ireland, falls for a warrior, and encounters numerous fae, including a cat sith (woman/cat shifter). Most of the characters are based on Irish legends and myths of the Firbolg people and the Tuatha Dé Danann (the original fairies), including King Nuada (the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann).

Lord of Fire – An otherworldly guardian banished to the earth realm (name Gabriel has angelic ties) gets all shook up by a Wytchfae and fights a reptilian demon (Sumerian) who has transported the heroine to medieval times.

Demoness Dreams – We are back to Norse mythology with this one. Goddess of the Underworld, Helle, sends an assassin to deal with the potentially lethal heroine. Another rendezvous is with the sorceress Skada. Along the way we meet some entertainingly fierce ice demons.

Soul Weaver (to be published) – The heroine, Resa, little sis of the Three Fates (Greek mythology) and the hero, Rhade, a Sumerian war god, fall in love while fighting off ancient warriors who have regressed into ghouls.

Silver’s Angel (to be published) -  This is the love story of a cat sith/shifter (Celtic mythology) and a rock star (American mythology LOL).

Suggestions for May: Go outside. Get some sunshine. Plant your garden if you haven’t already. Water and nurture it. Smell the flowers! Oh, and also—find time to relax and read the books you enjoy. We Pen Dames are doing our best to write the stories we hope you’ll love. We have another cool contest coming up, too. Stay tuned for that.

Heart, Humor, & Happily Ever After!

Flossie Benton Rogers

Character Interview: Garnet McAnna from Lord of Fire

 

I'm with the Interstellar Post, and today I'm pleased to interview Garnet McAnna from the paranormal fantasy romance, Lord of Fire, Wytchfae #5.

Ms. McAnna, thank you for meeting with me. Your work in saving innocent fae familiars has been well documented. If you don't mind, today we'll speak on a lighter note. Are you happy with the setting of your story in Lord of Fire?

Call me Garnet. As for the question, are you serious? The Florida locale was fun, but my author wields a sadistic quill where I’m concerned. Not only did she plonk me into a risqué club called Slice to be sold to the highest bidder, but before I could get in a good lip-lock with my hunky guy Gabriel, she stuck me in the Middle Ages during witch-burning times! When I asked her about it, I admit I was a little on the grumpy side. Her reply? “We must give the reader an interesting story.” Then she had the gall to suggest it was Gabriel, me, and the demons who kept on waltzing into trouble. “I’m only a conduit.” Some nerve on that book-broad!

Are you upset your name is not in the title?

Not at all. I love nothing more than to pay tribute to the Lord of Fire, my Gabriel. *breathless pant* However, I will admit that my mind played around with some cute alternative titles. Any of those would have worked if my author hadn’t been secretly gone on my man. Things like Garnet McAnna: Demon Hunter or maybe Garnet Stokes the Fire. *chuckles*

Who was your favorite supporting character?

Anyone but the alligator. Okay, I'll be sincere. Fern is my best friend, of course, and Estelle helped save my life. I must say I enjoyed getting to know Angel, as well. She’s a little madcap, but who wouldn’t be, with a hot rock star boyfriend like Lucien Silver?

Were you happy with your wardrobe?

Meh. I loathed that red slinky dress they put me in at Slice. It was slit from here to Timbuktu in both front and back. Later I got a thrill to see it draped over a chair in ruined tatters. I did love it when my author put me in Gabriel’s blue shirt though. It smelled delicious, just like him. *secret smile*

Is your love interest the way you pictured him? Or would you have preferred another type, say with different hair or eye color?

Never in a million years did I imagine meeting an irresistible dark guardian in the forest at midnight while on my way to hunt down a demon. As for hair, Gabriel has luxurious hair—long, silky in my hands, and black enough to show blue streaks. And his eyes! Gold no less! Other men pale in comparison, let me tell you. Oops, thanks so much for your interest. Gotta go—Gabriel’s texting me to come over and go horseback riding. 

No problem. Thank you for your time. Would you ask the Lord of Fire if he'll grant an interview later on?

Will do. See ya! *pants and smiles*

For Garnet and Gabriel's story, please consider Lord of Fire. That's it for now, readers. Stay tuned for more star interviews from the Interstellar Post.

Cheers from the Pen Dames--Heart, Humor, and Happily Ever After!

Posted by Flossie Benton Rogers