Polemic Litany

Back in mid-January 2006 I submitted the first chapter of The Sacred Glade by Diane Charles Linford to my crit group. These talented folks included Sandra Hicks/Lucynda Storey, Lena Austin, Lizzie T. Leaf and a few more outstanding authors. As the months quickly spun by, I added more and more chapters to my tale of one woman’s life splitting off to take two specific direction at a certain point in her history. The Sacred Glade was a study in parallel dimensions and a fascinating look at “what if…”

Since Sandra was a crit partner she asked me if she could use the novel to help launch her new Aspen Mountain Press venture in July/August of 2006. Naturally, I told her I would be flattered. Also, since Sandra was a natural editor, she pushed me to expand my ending to at least make it HFN (Happy For Now). I knew that my other publisher probably wouldn’t care for its borderline paranormal erotic romance. So, if Sandra was willing to take a chance on The Sacred Glade, I’d be thrilled to take a chance on a new publisher.

That all happened five years ago and Aspen Mountain Press has gone through many changes since then — most of them significant of companies which experience growing pains. More books, more new authors, financing, etc.

I like to think think my writing has grown or matured. I wonder if that’s true. I know I’ve met many new friends and colleagues along the way. I know Sandra has done some truly amazing things along the way:

I don’t know if you’ve heard the story about literary convention in Texas where the hotel refused to allow Laura Baumbach’s ManLove imprint the right to have a table out on the display floor; so, Sandra put Laura’s materials out on AMP’s tables giving ManLove the opportunity to allow conventioneers to see its wares that weekend. I believe that was 2007 and well before the country had even thought about turning the corner on gay pride.

Anyway, Happy Upcoming 5th Birthday Aspen Mountain Press.

Birmingham Mail, March 16, 2011

WANTED! A Merlin-type wizard to cast a spell over tourists, protect a castle and watch over a fire-breathing dragon. Benefits include a competitive wage, sword, pointy hat, passes to some of the UK’s best attractions – and a pension.

The wizards at Warwick Castle are looking for a ‘resident dragonologist’ to train all their staff in magic when their new Merlin inspired `Dragon Tower’ is launched at Easter. According to the online advert, the ideal candidate should have a working knowledge of dragon myth, legend and be a dab hand at summoning up beasts, powers and riddles.

The high flyer must have at least five years’ experience in mythology and folklore, preferably in the realm of sorcery and dragons.

Sounds like Galduric to me.

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Although I’d never run across an editor who wished to have an editing pseudonym before, my friend Seshat has asked me to review her anthology on-line. This I am more than willing to do for her. Part of the problem is she lives in a heavily Christian conservative community and does not wish to be outted as a member of The Temple of Set. TOS brings some terrible connotations to mainstream close minded folks. The book is the TOS anthology ARCANA.

All right, I’m going to use my little notepad as a starting point for reviewing her anthology. First, I really wish I knew how to get a book review up on Amazon. It’s not that I disagree with the (single) one that’s posted, it’s just that my own thoughts are totally different from that one.

First and foremost, to me the dullest portion of the anthology is the introduction by Sophia Lux (although I love her pen-name). I understand where many people need the nuts and bolts explanation of TOS and Xeper, but, as a reader, I felt it dragged out. However, this is just one person’s opinion and you can take it or leave it.

Now to the fiction: At first I didn’t quite understand Ophidian’s method of handling his character in “The Fool: Arcanum.” I felt as if he tried too hard to grind the hard-boiled and noir cliches into the early part of his “Chandler Hammett” persona/character. As I moved into the story and hit the point when it became clear to the reader, I understood. All in all, I wanted to like the story and I did.

I took to Blanche Nonken’s “An Escape Artist” right off the bat. Good choice on the editor’s part.

“Coming Home” also showed a good deal of philosophical strength on the search for self-knowledge.

“The Empress” celebrated the circle of life quite sweetly.

“The Emperor’s Sword” hid much of its meaning in the startling action of the story. I know there is a stated denouement at the end, but it’ll take a second read for me to totally find any subtle truths.

Seshat’s tale “The Hierophant” was the first story to truly deal with the seeking of self-knowledge for me. In doing so, I feel it is one of three stories in the anthology which directly touch upon the TOS spirit/experience. The other two are “The Moon: Herewith Moon” by Lady Meritanpu and “The Abyss” by Frater Nicht. I tend to think of all three of these stories as pushing TOS knowledge without beating the reader over the head with the philosophy.

“Death: Atlantis” is easily the most Lovecraftian story I’ve read in years. Good for this anthology for including it.

Michael Davis’s “The Sun Reversed” is probably what most uneducated people think of as leaning toward a dark scary word I do NOT want to use. However, it is a very blood and gore kind of story at its core with a dark visceral feeling all the way to center. Although I was not sure why it was included early on, but I’m glad she did so as I really enjoyed the complex psychological drama.

The pictures and poetry were fine. I’m not a huge fan of poetry, so it was wasted on me. However, I’m sure that a lot of people out there will love the pieces.

All in all, Seshat is to be commended for her editing work and for compiling these selections for the ARCANA anthology.

I’ve got to remember to ask her in private just how much editing was necessary for the final project.

P.S. Amazon demands that all reviews be accompanied by purchases from the site. Since I got my copy of ARCANA from the editor, I do not qualify to post a review on their website.