Huge congrats to Tera Lynn Childs!!
To mark the occasion, we're highlighting Greek Goddesses this week....
I'm going with Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and supposedly default Queen of the Underworld. I say default because Hades took the rap for abducting Persephone and bringing her to the Underworld, where he ruled. But, I like to think they fell in love and decided to run away together.
Demeter, Goddesss of the Harvest, was so sad when Persephone took off, that the earth ceased to be fruitful. Finally, hearing the cries of hungry mortals, Zeus made Persephone come back. But before she left Hades, Persephone ate some of a pomegrantate Hades gave her -- and so she was bound to return to him. Now, she goes underground four months every year to be with him -- scholars say this was one way the ancient Greeks explained the seasons.I always loved this idea -- going underground for a while and then emerging and bringing Spring with you! Haven't you ever felt like that? Like you are in a cocoon and then you flutter out to find a new situation, maybe even a new you?
My manuscript HAUNT ME, which won the 2006 YA Golden Heart award, starred a girl named Persephone -- she went by Perry. I chose her name because she was in that underground place, not quite who she was going to become and, because it was a ghost story, bound to the Underworld by duty.
Speaking of naming characters Persephone, if you try to track down pictures of her, you will find that way too many people name their cats Persephone. What's with that?
Anyway, I love the story of Persephone and I don't think Hades was as big of a creep as some versions of the story make him out to be. I like to think that there was a great love story there.
(Maybe it was kind of like when your friend gets a boyfriend and forgets about everyone else for a while, at least until she and the boyfriend break up?) Anyway, P. had to be one cool, strong girl to make it through the Underworld alive. She rocks.
What do you think? Have you ever gone underground like Persephone, only to emerge renewed or a totally new person?
Hugs,
Heather
Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in April 2009 (Only 11 months!!) from HarperCollins
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5 comments:
Heather, I can relate. Some years ago, I had a difficult dealing with the aftermath of a life-threatening incident involving a family member. When I resurfaced, it was with a Young Adult story to tell--which ended up being the best thing I'd ever written, and landed me an agent. I felt reborn and renewed.
I think we all go through several "resurfacings" in our lives. I like to think I have a few more in me! Great post, Heather! :)
I love your choice, Heath! This is one of my favorite myths and I agree that they fell in love and Hades is not necessarily such a bad guy.
I've always been a go-with-the-flow kind of girl, so I don't think I've ever sunk too far into a deep, dark underworld. But I do feel this kind of renewal every time it rains. It's like the world get a shower and comes out smelling fresh and new.
OMG! Congrats TLC!
I'm tried... but I keeping coming back as geeky me.
And I can never pronounce Persephone correct in my head.
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