The last week truly passed in a whirlwind of work and
(unfortunately) sinusitis. Although I did not get much studying or writing
done, I did do some worldbuilding and told myself that watching Thor was a good way to look at the way
in which Norse myths are changed to fit a specific story. I couldn’t think of a
productive reason for watching all the other films, though…
A story and an
interview
But, back to interesting stuff – one of the members of the
Anomalous Sandbox (the writing group I am part of) had a story published in
December and his interview is now available at the site as well. Read his story
“Deprescience” over here and the interview over here.
Making Mediocrity
Acceptable and other musings
I’ve also started to slowly but surely post over at Storylane. I am planning to do more non-fiction and opinion pieces over there. The
first piece is quite close to my heart, and is titled “Making MediocrityAcceptable”.
*If you’re new to the blog – my dissertation is about the
use of Norse mythology in Afrikaans and Dutch literature.
There is something to be said of the allure of a blank page
– or even a blank book. It is not always a page waiting for a writer’s blood to
be poured on it, but it is definitely calling to be filled. Filled with
shopping lists, diary secrets, love letters, doodles, artwork or literature.
I have amassed a collection of notebooks – collecting them
probably since I was able to write. Diaries with locks, plain school notebooks,
soft covers, hard covers, spiral bound, saddle stitched and one custom made
(refillable) in blue leather with one of my favourite quotes in silver
lettering on it.
I usually use more than one notebook at a time – one for
studies, one for “other writing” and one for Airthai stories and worldbuilding.
I feel naked when I go out without having a notebook on me. I usually end up
using my phone’s notebook in such cases anyway!
While rummaging around the internet one day, I came across a
wonderful notebook blog – Notebook Stories - which made me feel less alone in my love of
notebooks! Not only do they show some of the best and most beautiful
notebooks/journals available, but they also showcase a specific addict – I mean
collector – every Friday. Take some time to browse through their blogroll as
well – there are some very yummy books contained in those pages!
One of their posts highlighted the company “paperbacknote” –
which uses old paperback covers to make custom notebooks. Paperbacknote truly
gives new life to these paperbacks – and you can see the love that went into
their making. If you want, you can get the original book shipped to you when
you order one of the notebooks.
In their own
words:
“Every paperbacknote notebook is made with an original cover
from a used paper back novel in its found condition. Each notebook is
hand-assembled and contains stitch-bound blank pages allowing the book to open
flat, as well as rounded corners and an embossed logo on the back cover. The
size is approximately 11cm x 17cm x 1.2cm with 30-60 pages (depending on the
thickness of the original book). The cover is original from used books culled
from thrift shops, garage sales, and boxes in basements and attics. At first
glance, these notebooks appear as though they are real paper back novels. Only
when you open them up do you discover the true secret inside. They are blank!
At least until you fill them with your own thoughts, stories, pictures, and
words. A perfect gift for an aspiring writer, note taker, list maker, journal
writer, or anyone who wants to keep their notes under cover.”
Do you still use paper notebooks? Or do you find digital notes are better? I would love to hear from you!
Last week I wrote of one of the legends of the Midlands of Airthai – Whythe Tellerassar’s cry is so sorrowful. This week I’m continuing the story with
a second legend – that of Alaila’s Daughters.
Just as some believe that Alaila died on the fateful day Ikaira and his
followers became the Tellerassar, so many believe that she was spared; even
though she would never be able to return to her people. It is told among the
people of the Midlands that, even as Alaila fell pierced by an arrow of King
Markus’s soldiers, she did not change back into a mortal woman, but became the
first of the water women. Able to breathe under water as easily as in the open
air, she was able to escape from the soldiers into the deep waters of the
river.
Frightened and hurt, Alaila hid in the dark waters of the gorge for many
days. The soldiers left the gorge and retreated back to their lands south of
the Great River. But Alaila still hid, until she heard a single cry sounding
above the water. In the mournful song she recognised her name and went towards
it with all haste. An eagle swooped down, changing into the form of Ikaira. He
walked along the bank of the river, ever calling her name with the hope that
she had not perished.
But even when she went to him, she could not leave the water entirely.
So they would still be apart except when the moon was full, for, on that night,
Alaila was able to leave the river and walk again on the green banks of the
river. Ikaira returned to her as often as he could and the road towards the
river was safe for travel. In time Alaila bore a child – a daughter who could
live in water like her mother and was also bound to the river.
Rumours of the water women filtered to the people living close to the
river and soon other tales were told of other women becoming water women
themselves when pity was taken on them by Alaila and her daughter. Soon the
water women were all called “Alaila’s Daughters”. But not all lived in the deep
waters of the gorge and some took to living in the deep waters where the Great
River flowed slowly. And it was through one of these women that evil came to
the water women.
Dalath was one of the Vídolf, servants of the Lewjan who held dark
magical powers. She sought out one of the pools where a water woman had been
spotted and searched for her on the night of the full moon. She dressed herself
in mourning clothes and wore a mourning veil to hide her face as the Ciph did.
In this manner she walked along the bank of the river and wailed about the
awful lot which had befallen her. One of the water women went to her and, after
hearing her story, gave to her the gift of being able to breathe under water.
As soon as Dalath had entered the water, however, she murdered the one who had
taken pity on her. One by one she made five of her sister Vídolf water women,
but, instead of being benevolent towards others like the other water women,
they lured men and children to their deaths in the water.
Rumours of these happenings reached the Keepers of Théotriewe and, from
there, Ikaira who hastened to Alaila. For a whole day and a whole night he
waited on the bank of the river, calling her name. But she did not answer and
she did not come to him. At last, when the day was dawning once more, he gave
up hope of finding her and wept where he sat.
Welcome to
the first Worldbuilding Wednesday of 2013. This legend from the world of
Airthai is about the race of shape-shifters called the Tellerassar. To read
more about the Tellerassar, the kingdom of Guldargan, and king Markus, follow
the links at the bottom of the post.
It all
happened on the day on which Ikaira, fleeing the Kingdom of Guldargan with his
people, was trapped in a gorge near the Great River, which flows across the
breadth of the Midlands of Airthai. A clear river flowed from crevices at the
far end of the gorge, the water cutting deep into the light coloured rock as it
rushed towards the Great River. Ikaira realized that there was no way for his
followers to escape and that they would all surely perish at the hand of King
Markus’ soldiers who were by this time driven mad with bloodlust for their
hunted quarry. He called out to the Creator, begging him to save his people
from Markus’ wrath.
They
watched with horror as the soldiers approached, and some of Ikaira’s followers
tried to climb up the steep sides of the gorge, but all slid on smooth boulders
or loose rocks and fell to the bottom with horrible cries. Again Ikaira prayed
and begged, joined by his people, for they saw their deaths approach.
Even as
they pushed the women and children to the back of the group a mist began to
form around them. The strange mist rose from the deep waters, becoming thicker
and thicker as it rose until the group was hidden from sight. Each of Ikaira’s
followers felt a strangeness overcome them as their bodies changed and moulded
to the forms of eagles.
Ikaira and
his followers beat their wings and soared into the sky. But the archers among
the soldiers of Markus nocked their barbed arrows and shot a volley towards the
mist and, when the eagles rose above the mist, another volley was ordered.
Only six of
Ikaira’s followers were hit, but among them was Alaila – the young woman Ikaira
dearly loved and to whom he was engaged. With a shriek she fell from the sky,
turning back into her human form. Ikaira saw her blue-clothed form disappear
into the fog above the river.
Driven back
from the river by the soldier’s arrows, Ikaira’s followers headed north at the
command of his call – the language that they all could now understand. But
Ikaira stayed behind, landing on a tree on the edge of the cliff, his heart
broken in countless pieces and unable to understand why he had been saved and
Alaila had not. When his breast could contain the grief no longer, he threw his
head back and shouted her name to the heavens even as his voice was wrecked
with sobs. This mournful call became the cry of all Tellerassar.
And to this
day the Tellerassar’s cry as it flies above rivers and lakes haunts all those
who hear it. It is even said by some that Ikaira still lives on in a ghostly
form, always returning to the gorge and the river where Alaila perished, still
seeker his love. Only when he at last finds her would his soul finally be at
rest.
A real fish
eagle Tellerassar...
In the next Worldbuilding Wednesday: The
Daughters of Alaila
Welkom by die eerste inskrywing vir 2013! Soos ander jare het die feesseisoen te vining verby gevlieg en is die Nuwe Jaar goed opdreef. Die eerste paar dae voel in elk geval vreeslik vreemd – mens eet nog kerskoekies, daar is byna niemand by die kantoor nie en mens skryf of tik aanhoudend die datum verkeerd.
Nadat 2012 so ’n tuimeltrein jaar was – met meeste van die “af” dinge wat gebeur het goed was wat ek nooit so raai oor my pad sou kom nie – het ek besluit om nie ’n Groot Plan vir die jaar saam te stel nie. Jon Acuff se idees oor nuwejaarsvoorneme blyk ’n baie beter manier te wees om die volgende twaalf maande aan te pak.
Die bloginskrywings wat ek sover vir die jaar beplan het bevat nogal heelwat verrassings en ook meer “ander goed” en oordenkinge. Ek gaan steeds twee keer per week ’n inskrywings plaas – dalk meer gedurende sommige weke. Maar, voordat ek begin gorrel, laat ek eerder net sê – hoop jy het die nuwe Josh Groban liedjie geniet! Mag jou jaar gevul wees met seëninge, wonderlike leesstof, lekker musiek en baie koffie!
But, back to interesting stuff – one of the members of the
Anomalous Sandbox (the writing group I am part of) had a story published in
December and his interview is now available at the site as well. Read his story
“Deprescience” over here and the interview over here. 
