Oíche Shamhna

As many of you know, Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year, a threshold time when spirits walk, the doors of Faerie open, and the dead speak to the living. This ancient pagan festival is, of course, now celebrated as Hallowe'en. Here is a gorgeous image I found on the Web that perfectly represents the true spirit of this festival and feastday. For more of the artist's amazing work go to: www.crystalwolfeblends.net and click on artwork.

Fort of the Oak Trees

Here are some pics from my week away. The beautiful landscape is directly in front of the big house at Dunderry. The sweatlodge is used at night under the stars. Everyone piles inside with hot stones steaming up a spiritual sauna. Amazing stuff; magical experiences which I am writing up for my work. Will post more pics on the Blog over the weekend. I'm also frantically preparing for my trip to Canada!

Away with the Fairies

Again. In a big country house in Co. Meath for a week doing research. It was FABULOUS. Did a course in advanced shamanism which included a sweatlodge, firewalk (bigger and longer than previous two), spirit boat, trance dance, holo-shamanic breathwork, night-stalking on Tara, and more. Pics to follow. I was transported. And - no kidding - a couple of real-life soul-shaking fairy experiences that will go directly into my work.

Elfenmond

Here's the German edition of The Hunter's Moon as presented in the Spring catalogue of Bertelsmann (Random House Germany). I love the look and sound of the title which means "Under the Fairy Moon". They use a special hardbacked soft cover in Germany, if that makes any sense. (It has a two-page spread but blogger won't upload two photos right now).

Green Earth Book Award

This just in from my publicist at Abrams: "The Light-Bearer’s Daughter by O. R. Melling has been short listed for the Green Earth Book Award in the Young Adult Fiction category. The Newton/Marasco Foundation - in partnership with Salisbury University, Maryland - created the award to promote books for young people that best raise awareness of the beauty of our natural world and the responsibility that we have to protect it. The prize will be announced December 15." Fingers and toes crossed!

More on the Post Below

As well as suggestions offered by some of my favourite bloggers - see comments on post below (thanks, guys!) - mythic fiction writer and Endicott editor, Midori Snyder, sent me the following titles: Stormwitch by Susan Vaught, Nalo Hopkinson's Brown Girl in the Ring and Midnight Robber, and Walter Mosely's 47. "All brilliant YA's with African American and Caribbean heroines and heroes and mythology." I'll send these to my reader directly in case she doesn't read my blogs; but I still hope she gets writing herself!

Important Question

I received an amazing email recently from a reader in America. Here's her question in brief: The thing I wanted to ask was how come there are never any black/african-american characters ever represented in faery tales or in stories having to do with faery? Maybe it's the setting or place, but even though I know it's more of a european thing. I really enjoy the stories, the myths, the legends, and I love faeries. I just hope one day I'll see a story where a black girl or boy can run into a silver-tongued mermaid, a fairy prince, or a ghost and is offered an seductive choice whether to walk into the unknown or not. Now, first of all, that is such a beautifully phrased and thoughtful question that I have encouraged this young woman to get writing the very kind of book she hungers for. However, she has raised an important issue. At a time when fantasy is not only the mainstream but indeed the biggest and bestselling section of children's and young adult books, why are there not books featuring main characters of black or brown skin engaging in fantastical adventures? More about this anon. I want to think upon it.