Published September 2013
Description:
The Brotherhood of the Guardians has existed for thousands of years to serve a single purpose: the protection of Talents, the mortal descendants of the original nine Muses.
Twenty-one year-old Daniel Lyoncourt has trained his entire life to join the Guardians. Daniel is prepared to risk his life in order to keep his Talent safe, but when he's assigned to nineteen year-old Anna Saint-James, he discovers that his life isn't the only thing he could lose. Anna has no idea how special she is and knows nothing about her abilities. He must teach her to control her gifts, keep her safe, and hope that he can find a place in her life as something more than just her bodyguard.
All power comes at a price. Like all Talents, Anna must one day make a choice: lose all of her powers, or ascend to a higher plane, leaving behind everyone she loves.
GUEST POST
Writing New Chapters In The Big Book of Ancient Mythology
by Erin McFadden
Ancient mythology is teeming with inspiration and story ideas for the writer who is willing to invest the time and research to find them. With the success of movies such as Thor and the Percy Jackson series, mythology is also receiving a good deal more interest from the general public. So, how does one go about adapting a story that is thousands of years old, pulling it apart, and putting it back together as something that is fresh and interesting, but still recognizable? That answer is different for every writer, of course, but I can give a few basic pointers to get you started!
First, choose the culture and mythology that appeals to you personally. If you’re going to research and immerse yourself in a topic, make sure it’s one that you actually enjoy! My own novel is based off Greek mythology, but every culture has its own folklore and myths. A lot of these stories have slipped into the global consciousness, but a lot of them are still waiting to be discovered by the world at large. Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Native American, Norse, or Celtic myths are all great starting points. By all means, read collections of folklore and myth! They’re fascinating, and you might find your next burst of inspiration.
Once you’ve found your own tale, you get to make it your own! Pick out the key characteristics of your myth and how they will relate to your own story. If you remove or change the essentials, most people won’t get the connection to the myth. If it is a well-known concept, then you don’t have to provide quite as much background information. For example, some of my characters are descended from the nine Muses of Greek mythology. Most people have at least a vague understanding that a Muse is someone who inspires artistic expression. Going too far into those explanations would have been redundant for my readers. But, if I had chosen Hestia, the Greek goddess of the hearth, I’d probably have needed a lot more background information. When making changes to the myth, simply remember to be respectful of the traditions and culture that your mythology stems from, but don’t be afraid to shake it up a bit. You can fill in all those blank areas that the myths don’t touch on and even create your own elements.
Muse is the first book in my Descended from Myth series. I brought the powers of the ancient Muses into contemporary times by writing about their descendants, the Talents, and the Brotherhood of the Guardians, the order of men who have pledged their lives throughout the centuries to protect them. The Muses belong to the Greeks, but the Talents and Guardians are all my creations. I’ve really enjoyed creating their histories and abilities and expanding my own little piece of mythology.
If you’d like to check out Muse (Descended from Myth: Book One) it is available in paperback and e-book at the following retailers. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share!
Happy writing! Erin McFadden
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