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Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Showing posts with label Nymphs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nymphs. Show all posts

Monday, August 17, 2015

Monday Musings: Retelling the Greek myth of Callisto

There are a couple of different versions of the Greek myth about Callisto, the nymph who betrayed Artemis, but ancient writers seemed to agree on some facts: Zeus seduced Callisto, she was changed into a bear and bore a son named Arcas, was hunted down as a beast and then placed among the stars as the constellation Ursa Major. In some stories she is the daughter of King Lycaon while in other, older versions she is simply another incarnation of Artemis as the bear.

I came into this with an open mind, using what I knew from the various myths and what I discovered from other sources on Greek mythology and history. Since I was writing a series set in Arcadia, Artemis’s realm, Callisto’s story had to be part of that series, but I had to figure out how to make this myth into my own story. I focused on the one common thread of the myth—Callisto betrayed Artemis whether she meant to or not. Who can say that when you fall in love you can fight those feelings? I wanted to make Callisto flawed like a human with real problems—even though she was a nymph, like the rest of us she wasn’t perfect.

The next thing I decided was that my nymphs were not going to be innocent and vulnerable. I did discover that the Oreades, the mountain nymphs, were known as great huntresses, they were tall and fierce. So my nymphs were going to be dangerous and quite capable of defending their goddess’s forest. I created The Guardians, an elite group of nymphs who could fight as good as any male warrior.

I also created an honored station among the nymphs, the Bear Goddess, who would act in Artemis’s stead when she wasn’t present and keep the barriers around the goddess’s forest strong. Only the Bear Goddess could take the form of a bear and the other nymphs could take the shape of other forest animals.

I actually ended up changing quite a bit. Zeus doesn’t seduce Callisto, but one of his followers does—a centaur who can take human shape. I had this idea of a forbidden love theme since the original versions hint at this. In my version she is the daughter of Lycaon and the nymph Maia. While my story may differ from the original myths, it stays true to the main theme—betrayal. And despite Callisto’s flaws, she possesses bravery and conviction, two traits I admire and hopefully readers will too.

****************
Short excerpt from The Bear Goddess:
Kasin stared at the line of nymphs, a formidable wall of gold and black leather-clad Guardians flanked by brown-clad nymphs and satyrs. Artemis’s powerful symbol of a full moon and crossed arrows taunted him from the unyielding line of small round shields his opponents held in steady grips.
He waited for the nymphs to make the first move. He would give them a chance to negotiate his terms and, if fortune favored him, avoid a battle.
Davona stepped into place next to him. “That is their merciless leader, Maia, the one who called for my death. She is also Callisto’s mother.”
Kasin looked closer at the nymph at the head of their army. She had dark red hair that almost looked black, an unusual color among the brown and fair hair of the other nymphs, and she had been among those that captured him.
“Callisto’s mother is a fire nymph. They are a particularly nasty kind of nymph.” He felt a twinge of sympathy for Callisto for it seemed her mother was as difficult as was his armor-hearted father.
“If she will allow her own daughter to die…” Davona stared fiercely at the leader of the nymphs. “She will not be easy to negotiate with.” 

 Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed


Monday, June 08, 2015

Monday Musings: Bears in mythology and in relation to Artemis

Due to their strength and dominance, bears are the rulers of the forest. Fast, big and powerful hunters, they are one of the most feared and respected of the woodland animals.

In mythology, since bears hibernate in caves, and caves are associated with the goddess’s womb, they appear to die in winter and are reborn in spring. Because of their association with death and rebirth, they are believed to have the ability to communicate and travel to other worlds, the dream and spirit realms.

In her aspect as Bear Goddess, Artemis is fierce—queen of the forest—protector and destroyer, nurturer and hunter. Of all the animals in the forest, she-bears are fiercely protective of their young. Just like the bear, Artemis is a protector of mothers, children and those giving birth—human and animal. She rules her forest, defending what is hers and destroying any threats. She is mother, hunter, and guardian.

In The Bear Goddess, one nymph is chosen for the honored position of Bear Goddess. She safeguards the barriers surrounding Artemis’s forest, can travel in the dream realms and acts in the goddess’s stead when she is away. All nymphs can take the shape of forest animals, but only the Bear Goddess can take the shape of a bear. Just like in the original myth of Callisto, a bear plays an important part in my story.

Bears are awesome, magical creatures. It’s no wonder Artemis has a close relationship with them.
**********************************************************************

Excerpt from The Bear Goddess:
The bear roared, this time an enraged growl, and paced from side to side.
Kasin’s grip tightened around the end of the spear, his body coiled, ready for the bear to charge.
The bear remained in the same place, growling at him in an unusual way. He must be going mad because he was certain the bear was yelling at him.
And then he remembered: Callisto had told him only the Bear Goddess could change into a bear.
“Callisto?”
The bear stopped growling for a moment and stared hard at him.
He lowered his spear. Using caution, he took one step forward, keeping his gaze on the bear, prepared to throw his spear if necessary.
The bear calmly watched him.
Taking a deep breath, he took another step forward. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, calling on his faith, hoping it was Callisto standing before him and not a hungry she-bear. He also prepared himself for a deathblow to his head from a swipe with one of her huge sharp-clawed paws.
He looked the bear straight in the eyes. There was no emotion or other sign in its beastly gaze indicating the bear was Callisto. He had to believe it to be true or he knew he would die. I am either a fool or I have a death wish. He dropped his spear.
He could feel the heat of the bear’s breath, and he could hear the animal’s ragged breathing. Closing his eyes again, he imagined Callisto, her quiet beauty, her compassion. Slowly, he reached out to stroke her head. He waited for the pain of the deathblow. The pain never came. His fingers touched soft hair, not animal fur.
He opened his eyes. “It is you.” His voice came out sounding rough with emotion.
Her sorrowful eyes glistened. “I almost killed you. If you had not said my name…”
He pulled her against him. “You are quite frightening as a bear.”

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        



Monday, May 25, 2015

Monday Musings: Not ordinary nymphs

What do you picture when you hear the word nymph? I’m guessing most people think of a flighty, beautiful woman with flowers in her hair that serves Artemis and romps with satyrs in the forest. In my Arcadia series, this is partly what nymphs might be like. But since I grew up watching Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my nymphs had to be like hunters and warriors.

There are different types of nymphs and some are more serene than others. I decided to give the mountain nymphs that serve Artemis a little more substance and structure. The descriptions I’ve read about them depict them as ferocious hunters. Some of the nymphs that serve Artemis have a gentler nature. I thought about what these nymphs might be like and used the four elements to create different types of nymphs. In my story there are earth, air, fire and water nymphs. Each of these groups of nymphs can control their element. In some stories, the Oreades, or mountain nymphs, were born from the union between five dactyls and five original nymphs. So what was I going to do since I only have four elements? Well, in alchemy there is a fifth element—the aether, the air that fills heaven. The fifth nymph is the aether, but she was banished for betraying the nymphs.

I created Guardian nymphs, the elite warriors that protect Artemis’s forest. They dress in gold and black deerskin to distinguish them from the other nymphs.

I had a lot of fun creating the nymphs for this series. What can be better than a kick-ass nymph?

The first book in this series, The Bear Goddess, is available now on Amazon.

Forbidden love… Broken vows… Betrayal…

A nymph. A centaur. Enemies in love.

On the run, danger and betrayal follow Callisto and Kasin. To survive they must evade those who want to keep them apart and no place is safe.

TheBearGoddess_TRRCoverad

Kindle Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P74X0WY

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Goddess-Book-Arcadia/dp/1502982684/ref=asap_B002BMOQ3C_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415503605&sr=1-7

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday, December 01, 2014

Monday Musings: Excerpt 2 from The Bear Goddess, New release by Kelley Heckart

TheBearGoddescover_small_final
Book Title: The Bear Goddess
Author: Kelley Heckart
Genre: Greek myths/fantasy/shapeshifters/romance
Page Count: 284
ISBN-10: 1502982684
ISBN-13: 978-1502982681
ASIN: B00P74X0WY




Blurb:
Forbidden love… Broken vows… Betrayal…
Callisto, daughter of the great Arcadian King Lycaon and the nymph Maia, has studied all her life to attain the high position of Bear Goddess among the nymphs of Artemis, taking a sacred vow of purity. But when she meets a mysterious man, her life changes forever.
Kasin is a prince among the fierce centaurs and one of few who can take human shape. A follower of Zeus, he is mystified to save a nymph’s life and even worse, to fall in love with an enemy of the centaurs. He is torn between his duty to his people and his love for Callisto.
When the nymphs capture Kasin for their next sacrifice, Callisto cannot allow him to die, but before she can help him escape, they are caught together and their secret connection exposed. Surrounded by armed guards, they manage a daring escape. On the run from the nymphs, danger and betrayal follow Kasin and Callisto. To survive, they must evade a god obsessed with having Callisto for himself as well as others who also want to keep them apart. Will their love for each other be enough to save them?
Excerpt (PG-13):
He should have killed her, but his bronze dagger was powerless against such a being. Only silver could kill a nymph. As soon as he distracted the boar, the giant beast would go after her. That boar with its silver-tipped tusks had been created to kill a nymph.
She opened her eyes and stared outside the opening.
A sudden realization about nymphs came to him. “Why am I being used as bait when you can change into a bird and fly to your spear?”
Her lips tightened. Had she thought he was so stupid he couldn’t tell she was a nymph?
“Not that it is any of your business, but in this instance I cannot use magic.”
He raised one eyebrow. “Why even have such magic when you cannot use it when you need it most?”
She sent him a disapproving look. “You do not have to distract the boar if it frightens you.”
He bristled. “It does not frighten me in the least. In fact, I find it quite a thrill.” Bending, he grabbed a couple of fist-sized rocks, straightened, and looked to Callisto for the signal, unable to believe he was taking orders from a nymph.
She unsheathed her dagger, her eyes taking on a serious, determined look that oddly excited him. “I am ready.”
They exchanged quick, encouraging smiles, like the ones shared between him and his companions before a dangerous hunt or battle. In that moment, he sensed an unexpected bond between them, slight though it was.
He stepped through the opening, hoping the gods smiled upon him, and made a silent promise to give them a generous offering later.
Moving at a deliberate pace, he waited for the boar to see him. Gods, the creature was huge, about the size of a bear. He made sure to walk toward the forest, away from the cave.
The boar looked at him and lowered its head, snorting, a stance Kasin was familiar with. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. To make sure the boar would chase him, he threw the rocks in a quick succession, hitting the beast.
Letting out a ferocious snort, the boar charged.
****
Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets,” including Godzilla the desert iguana. Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic and romance. When not writing, she works as an editor/proofreader and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/
To sign up for my newsletter and receive special notices like new book releases and giveaways only for my subscribers: http://kelleyheckart.com/Contact_Kelley_Page.html
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday, November 17, 2014

Monday Musings! New Book Release! The Bear Goddess available now in Print and Kindle on amazon.com

TheBearGoddescover_small_final
Book Title: The Bear Goddess
Author: Kelley Heckart
Genre: Greek myths/fantasy/shapeshifters/romance
Page Count: 284
ISBN-10: 1502982684
ISBN-13: 978-1502982681
ASIN: B00P74X0WY




Blurb:
Forbidden love… Broken vows… Betrayal…
Callisto, daughter of the great Arcadian King Lycaon and the nymph Maia, has studied all her life to attain the high position of Bear Goddess among the nymphs of Artemis, taking a sacred vow of purity. But when she meets a mysterious man, her life changes forever.
Kasin is a prince among the fierce centaurs and one of few who can take human shape. A follower of Zeus, he is mystified to save a nymph’s life and even worse, to fall in love with an enemy of the centaurs. He is torn between his duty to his people and his love for Callisto.
When the nymphs capture Kasin for their next sacrifice, Callisto cannot allow him to die, but before she can help him escape, they are caught together and their secret connection exposed. Surrounded by armed guards, they manage a daring escape. On the run from the nymphs, danger and betrayal follow Kasin and Callisto. To survive, they must evade a god obsessed with having Callisto for himself as well as others who also want to keep them apart. Will their love for each other be enough to save them?
Excerpt:
In a flashing blur of altering limbs, Kasin stood before her, naked from the waist down in his human shape. He pulled on the rest of his clothes.
She held out her bound hands so he could free them.
He studied the chain for a moment, searching for the clasp. “Hmm.” He unbound her hands, inspecting the silver chain. “I have never seen anything like it.”
She frowned. “I am grateful for that,” she said, watching him in wide-eyed wonder.
Raising one eyebrow, he asked, “Why are you giving me that questioning look?”
She raised both of her eyebrows. “When were you going to tell me you are a centaur?”
He crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Never.”
Tightening the blanket around her shoulders, she gave him a hard look. “I do not think I heard you correctly because it sounded like you said you were not planning to tell me your true nature.”
“I knew you would be displeased. You speak so harshly of my people,” he said in a defensive tone.
“And I have good reason to speak thus of your people.” Even if he was different, there were too many stories about the savagery of the centaurs for them all not to be true.
He unfolded his arms. Looking weary, he grasped her shoulders. “I do not want to have a battle with you now. We should rest. Tomorrow we must start before daybreak.”
“Where are we going to go? I have no clothes.” She looked down at the blanket covering her naked body. All she had was her moonstone choker, the only item that remained on her when she shapechanged into animals.
“Yes.” He rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. “I cannot bring you unclothed into a village full of lusty centaurs.”
She glared at him for his arrogant assumption that she would want to go to a centaur village, but she held her tongue, realizing he was only trying to save her life. And she had no desire to start another argument. The events of the night began to weigh on her. She suppressed a yawn.
He pulled off his tunic and then took the blanket from her shoulders. Gently, he dressed her in his tunic.
His baggy tunic hung just below her knees. The short sleeves of his tunic reached to her forearms. Accustomed to her clothing that hugged and flattered her female curves, she wrinkled her brow in disapproval. She stared at him, at his taller, more muscular body that made her seem small even though she was considered tall for a female. “It looks like a lumpy grain sack.”
Tearing a long strip from the blanket, he said, “I am not finished, love.” He fastened the belt around her waist.
His expression of affection left her with a tender sensation beneath her breast. She watched him, her lips forming a pensive smile, enjoying the feel of his hands lightly brushing her as he dressed her and, at the same time, troubled about their dangerous situation. She couldn’t fully comprehend what had happened yet or the consequences of being discovered breaking her vow and then running off with a centaur. This night seemed like a strange dream to her. She wanted to pinch herself to see if she would wake up.
****
Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog and a number of backyard “pets,” including Godzilla the desert iguana. Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic and romance. When not writing, she works as an editor/proofreader and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/
To sign up for my newsletter and receive special notices like new book releases and giveaways only for my subscribers: http://kelleyheckart.com/Contact_Kelley_Page.html

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604