If you felt the earth shake this Labor Day weekend, it might have had something to do with the fact that your Bearded Scribeeditors did something we haven’t done since our days together at Alma College—sat down and worked together in the same room. An epic reunion years in the making, it included scenic tours of beautiful Atlanta, writing, lots of coffee, and my very first taste of the awesomeness that is Dragon*Con. Seeing all the fantastic steampunk costumes at Dragon*Con put me in the mood to write about steampunk. Luckily, I recently finished a great steampunk read!
As you may recall, I've been attempting to interview our esteemed Executive Editor for several posts now, and my last attempt ended with a bit of a dust-up wherein he accused me of drinking his coffee (the scoundrel!) and nearly wised up to my use of truth serum. Maybe that long-winded confession about how he ended up at the same college as me was needed, though, because after that, he became much more relaxed and more concise with his answers, and I wasn't forced to use the serum again. (Thank heavens. Interrogating my best friend felt a bit invasive, but I kept at it. I am, I admit, quite shameless.) This interview still isn't complete, but here's another part.
Elizabeth: How, if at all, does your rural New England background influence your writing?
Joshua: You could say that it had—still has—a lot to do with my writing. New England is saturated in Native American folklore and, of course, famous for its witch trials. The landscape, too, lends itself to great stories, whether they be set in the mountains, forests, swamps, or around the water—even deserts—Maine has it all. The ocean alone has its own mysticism, Maine's coastline dotted with spooky lighthouses and fog-drenched outcroppings of treacherous rock and cliff. And shipwrecks galore. The rivers and lakes even have stories of their own, swimming with life and curses both.
I'm pretty sure you've figured out by now that Joshua is one of my best friends in the world. In ten or more years, I've discovered that he has but one tragic flaw--he often leaves his coffee cup unattended. Having (finally) sweet-talked him into letting me interview him, he clammed right up as soon as I began interrogating--I mean, politely asking him questions--and refused to give me anything more than his name. And so it took months to actually get the interview. I had to wait until he left his coffee cup unattended to spike his brew with truth serum. He is useless under truth serum. (Make that two tragic flaws.) Useless, and talkative. So very talkative, we're taking two posts just to get through the first question.
When last we left our hero, he had chosen a college...simply because it began with A. It was a fateful choice, indeed, and, it turns out, and adventure in travel getting there. Here's part two of the story, straight from our blabbing-under-truth-serum Executive Editor...
I enjoy many things about my position here at The Bearded Scribe: Reading, writing, working with our fabulous Fellowship of Scribes...the list goes on. Perhaps my favorite thing, though, is that in the past year, I've discovered that Joshua absolutely cannot say no to me. No matter what harebrained scheme I come up with, he's game. Tonight's post stems from one of my early schemes—I wanted to interview the interviewer. Joshua always interviews new members of the Fellowship; I wanted to turn the tables on him. It took months for him to grant this request, but eventually he did.
In doing the interview, though, I discovered anew that Joshua is a master storyteller, and as such, could write an entire post on each of the twenty(ish) questions I sent him. And so, interviewing the interviewer evolved into a forthcoming special feature for the blog...but more on that later. For now, the first of many parts of Twenty Questions with the Executive Editor.
Elizabeth: You are a proud son of Maine, but I met you at a small college in the middle of Michigan, where you’d never set foot before our first day. How did that happen?
I remember the first time I met Mary Wendt. Sara and I had managed, although she was a year ahead of me at Alma, to land ourselves in the same Sociology 101 class. I say managed like it wasn't purposeful, but it was; our making friends with Mary, however, was purely by accident. She sat next to us the first day of class, and after that first day, we returned to the same seats, delighted to find Mary had returned to the same seat as well. Although Mary was a non-traditional student whose life experience was far greater than our own, we thought of her as no different than us, and we soon fell in love with her pleasant smile and witty charm, quick to call her friend.
Throughout my time at Alma College, Mary and I had a number of English and Composition classes together—my favorite, perhaps, being our shared poetry class with Ms. Catherine Swender, which gave us the opportunity to work with distinguished poets such as Lucille Clifton and Sonia Sanchez. Our love of literature and our shared views on life soon sealed our fates as life-long friends.
I am excited to bring you the first of two interview posts to introduce our two new Guest Scribes. The first, Alainna Sarver, is a fellow Alma College alumnus and bibliophile. The second, Hannah Lesniak, is Elizabeth's colleague and friend; her interview and introduction post, presented by Elizabeth, will follow soon.
Alainna has been a Beardie for several months now, but it was her Goodreads updates that prompted me to invite her to the blog. With every post, it seemed, was a new book she was currently reading, and so, with a quick message via Facebook, the invitation was submitted. She was hesitant at first, doubting her writing talents, but I convinced her that I would help every step of the way. Also, upon reading her bio, I have no doubt in my mind that she was downplaying her writing ability.
Hang around The Bearded Scribe long enough, and you will inevitably catch a glimpse of Scottish pride amidst its contributors. Elizabeth is a direct descendant of Clan Ross, the first named clan, designated by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in the twelfth century; Sara is also of Scottish descent, and Joshua has a bit of all the British Isles in him from his mother's side.
If genealogical reasons of pride weren't enough, Joshua, Sara, and Elizabeth met when they were all students at Alma College, home of the Scots. (The city of Alma is nicknamed Scotland USA.) The College has its own registered tartan, which both the marching band and the pipe and drum corps wear for every performance; every convocation starts with the bagpipes; the Choir can often be heard in the Chapel (or, on occasion, in secluded churches in Scotland!) singing tunes such as "Loch Lomond" and "Highland Mary;" and at the end of Spring Term, the students must vacate the dorms to make way for the Highland Festival, a huge gathering including traditional Highland music and dance, a nearly-frightening number of men in kilts, and Highland games.
It is because of this Scottish pride that The Bearded Scribe excitedly brings you its second ever Movie Spotlight on Disney/Pixar's latest film, Brave. And to top it all off, it is the first ever post to appear on the blog with two contributors! (We're sure it won't be the last!)
Plot Summary A born tomboy and expert archer, Merida is not your average girl, but, as her mother often reminds her, she’s a princess, and with that comes expectations. The clans are about to gather, bringing their suitors to compete for Merida’s hand, and of course, Merida wants nothing to do with it—especially after she sees just who these potential suitors are. She devises a way to compete herself so as not to have to get married, but it causes her worst fight yet with her mother and Merida runs away. Deep in the woods, she follows will-o’-the-wisps to a witch’s cottage. The witch gives her a spell to change her fate, but when the spell backfires, trapping her mother in the form of a bear, Merida must use all her wits and skills—princess-like and otherwise—to save both her independence and her family.
The Land One of the greatest aspects of Brave is the film's unforgettable landscape, beautifully portrayed through superb animation. The entire "world" built by the film is complete, and the landscape alone is merely one of its facets. In addition to the lush, green rolling hills, the crags and high cliffs, and the architecture of monuments and buildings, the film includes key elements to the traditional, Celtic culture. Intricate knotwork is carved on wood and stone throughout—including Merida's bow. Nary a scene exists without a man in a kilt or some display of tartan (ever wonder what the Scotsmen wear under those kilts... watch this film and you will no longer), a few of its characters adorned in woad paint (a tip of the hat to Braveheart, perhaps?), and fanciful tapestries line many a wall. Many of the Scottish traditions outlined in our intro are beautifully and respectfully reflected in Brave, one of them specifically is that of the Highland Games. According to tradition, each clan presents its most desirable suitor for the hand of the Princess, and the winner is determined through a test of her choosing. Brave’s focus is not mainly on romance; rather, in a stroke of unconventional plotting, the games serve as an impetus for the main conflict between Merida and her mother, and between Merida and the conventions of her society. Another aspect we loved about Brave is the wonderful music contained in its soundtrack. As we are both vocalists and lovers of music, this was one aspect, in our humble opinion, the film had no room to get wrong. They didn't. The composer of the film's musical score, Patrick Doyle—also the composer of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire—used traditional Scottish instruments such as the bagpipes, a solo fiddle, Celtic harps, and the bodhrán, just to name a few. Doyle was quoted as saying, "I employed many classic Scottish dance rhythms such as reels, jigs, and strathspeys, which not only serve the action but keep it authentic." The only issues we found with the world-building of the film were anachronisms. Given the film was fictionally set in 10th Century Scotland, the use of plaid (15th-16th Century), kilts (18th century); forks (16th century); Shire horse (breed developed in the mid-17th century) and fighting the Romans (1st-5th century) all fit the bill. Because we love all things Scottish, we happily forgive them.
The Legend
If there is something that must be mentioned, it is the way elements of folklore and mythology are interwoven throughout the entire film. While there is no precedence for the actual legend of the plot, other elements from Celtic lore are used ingeniously to drive home the “fairytale” aspect. From its very start, we are introduced to will-o'-the-wisps—colloquially referred to as "wisps"—which Merida is told (by her mother) are said to lead a person to their fate. The “wisps” vanish when approached, just as the actual lore states; ironically, however, in most Celtic lore a “wisp” (or ignis fatuus) is said to lead travelers away from the safety of the path (into bogs and other treacherous destinations). Continuing with the “fairytale” notes is the sacred henge in which the final showdown takes place. It represents not only the sacred rock formations that speckle the British Isles, such as Stonehenge—which are placed on sacred sites filled with the natural energies from the Earth—but also the smaller-scale formations referred to as “faerie rings.” These sites were said to be portals to the land of the Sidhe, and were to never be entered. Merida's horse, Angus, obeys this superstition by stopping suddenly at its edge, meanwhile throwing Merida into its center. The fact that the wisps appear from this site to lead Merida to witch's cottage is another allusion to the Faefolk they are meant to represent.
Another mythological element which is prevalent—if not pervasive—is that of the bear. While researching for this post, we discovered a possible connection between Queen Elinor and the Celtic Bear Goddess, Artio, often referred to as “Mother Bear.” We even uncovered an ancient statue of said goddess that appears strikingly similar to one that may or may not have made an appearance in the witch's wood-carving shop. The legends and myths that appear throughout the film and its landscape are like the tapestry in the film; they are tightly woven, never to be torn from one another. The mistakes and stories of the past—however far-fetched and magical they might seem—are there to educate generations of the future. We must take heed and not dismiss them so quickly, which echoes Queen Elinor's line in the movie:
“Legends are lessons, and they ring with truths!"
The Lessons Learned As firm believers that no woman should need a man to make her complete, we really enjoyed seeing a Disney/Pixar film wherein romance is present without being the main focus of the plot. We’re not anti-love by any means, and both agreed that the romance between the Queen Elinor and King Fergus is sweet. Love, after all, makes life sweeter, but love comes in more forms than just romance. Merida is a tenth-century girl with a twenty-first century mindset, and her independence and determination is refreshing. She knows she can do better than any of the suitors she is offered, and she’s not willing to compromise or settle—a position we totally support.
Unless you've been living under a menhir somewhere—or trapped under one—you've most likely heard the expression: “Be careful what you wish for.” The main theme of Brave is exactly this, and it is an expression Princess Merida already knows all too well. Despite this, she wishes for her mom to change, and when the Queen is transformed into a bear, Merida must deal with the consequences. Afraid for her mother's life—due to her father's understandable hatred of bears—Merida and the Queen flee the family's castle in search of the witch or the wisps that led her to her fate. While helping Merida with trying to find a way to reverse the spell, Queen Elinor gains respect for her daughter's strength and wilder side; Merida, too, finds a deeper respect for her mother when faced with the prospect of losing her forever. Also, they discover that Merida is not the first to wish for a change of fate, and by repairing the mistakes she made, she has the opportunity to correct the wrongdoings of the past.
In Conclusion Given our love affair with all things Scottish, we had high hopes for Brave, and we weren’t disappointed. Add in a strong female lead, stirring soundtrack, and beautiful scenery and animation, and our separate trips to see this film were time well spent. As a bonus, it gave us a chance to truly collaborate for the first time, a practice we hope to keep up in the future!
Many apologies for my latest gap without a post--or at least a productive one :)
I will forewarn, however, that my posts will not be every day as they were for a good stretch, but will be spaced out to maybe every two or three days. I am currently in the process of splitting my once "finished" manuscript of The Son of Drynntorm, hoping to reduce the word count as well as strengthen the plot in the process.
With that out of the way, on with the show...
I casually mentioned our newest Guest Scribe during a birthday shout-out, but--as y'all know--a casual introduction is not my style :)
Sara Cleveland and I go back many years, and like Elizabeth, she and I met my freshman year at Alma. Actually, the three of us are quite the trio, if I do say so myself. For as long as I've known Sara, I've known one thing above all else. She's a bibliophile, and just as I spent my youth with my nose in a book, she has spent most of her life with hers in one as well. As a matter of fact, whenever I would go visit her (which was daily, as her dorm room was in the adjacent "sister quad" of the unforgettable 3rd North Bruske), she would either be at her desk typing on her computer, or on her bed anxiously flipping the crisp pages of her latest literary endeavor.
Sara is not only an avid reader, but she is well-read, too. A History major with English and Secondary Education minors, Sara spent just as much time reading for class as she did for pleasure--though I am almost positive some of the class readings were just as pleasurable :)
Please stay tuned for Sara's guest posts on The Bearded Scribe, especially her Book Spotlights in the genre of--but not limited to--Paranormal Romance.
To read more about Sara, please visit her Bio page.
Yesterday I did an Author Spotlight on Court Ellyn as a way to introduce her to you all--I figured it fitting, as she will be doing the occasional guest post on The Bearded Scribe.
Today I have yet another introduction to make... Beardies: Meet Elizabeth Norton, a fellow Beardie and a great friend of mine from my time spent at Alma College.
Like Court, Elizabeth has jumped at the opportunity to be a Guest Blogger on The Bearded Scribe, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have not only one, but two great minds joining my ranks. Perhaps we'll take over the world!
Elizabeth and I have been friends since our first encounter at Alma--a voice class of only four students--and our friendship only grew as the years passed and each of our friends became mutually connected through Choir and other organizations on campus.
{On a side note: I must also add that this shy, nerdy (that's a compliment, folks, just in case you were worried) young woman has a voice that will knock your socks off!}
Elizabeth has been an avid follower of The Bearded Scribe, commenting on many-a-post (providing me with some great feedback and mind-stirring insight), but it wasn't until a certain comment that she had posted when I stupidly remembered that she was a librarian. A librarian! What better asset to a blog about books (mostly) than a librarian?!?
It was in this dumbfounded realization that I extended the same invitation to Elizabeth as I also extended to the readers of LegendFire... and, well, she accepted. Graciously, I might add.
As I did with Court, I decided to post a quick interview to introduce Elizabeth to all of you... so here it goes...
***
The Bearded Scribe: Please tell me a little more about your education, degree, and your position as a librarian and how it has influenced your love of books and writing.
Elizabeth: I hold a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. My concentration was School Library Media, but I changed to Youth and Teen Services and public libraries when I found out you had to have a teaching certificate to work in a school library. I actually chose Library Science because I love too many kinds of literature to specialize in one, and youth and teen services more specifically because youth librarians are fun and teen librarians...well, teen librarians are rock stars. I'm not a rock star, but if I stay in the field long enough, maybe I will be someday.
I've been in my current position, Teen Librarian at Commerce Township Community Library in Commerce Township, Michigan, for five years--and I love it. I buy all the books for the teen collections (grades 6-12), which gives me a lot of exposure to all areas of YA literature, movies, and music. I also do programs for grades 6-12, which means I get paid to play a lot and eat loads of pizza. It's so much fun and so rewarding. When I connect a teen to a book that suddenly makes them a lifetime reader, I know I'm doing what I was put on Earth to do. Hooking them on one of my favorites is always a bonus, too. World domination, one book at a time.
The Bearded Scribe: On what projects, if any, are you currently working?
Elizabeth: I've been reviewing teen books and professional resources for a library journal called Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) for the last year.
I actually started following your blog hoping for an impetus to go back to more creative writing, and it's worked. A notebook full of scribbles is slowly becoming a short story that I'm hoping will turn into either a collection of short stories or a novel. It doesn't have a title, because my titles always come last; and it's literally been in a desk drawer for four years, but the characters are glad to have me back. They're waking me up at all hours. Your blog is an impetus for creativity and a cause of insomnia. Are you sorry? ;)
The Bearded Scribe: Yes, very sorry for the insomnia, not for the creative spark I've incited :)
What is/are your favorite book(s)?
Elizabeth: Don't you know this question is a librarian's personal brand of cruel and unusual punishment? I'll try to keep it to three, not counting series. Here goes:
Lisa Mantchev's Theater Illuminata Trilogy (Eyes Like Stars, Perchance To Dream, and So Silver Bright) is fantasy brain candy, especially if you have a literature/theater background. It's about a girl who grew up in a magical theater where every character of every play ever written is alive behind the curtain, born to play their parts. The main character doesn't know her parents, but her surrogate family consists of a batch of Shakespeare's fairies, a pirate, and Ophelia from Hamlet, among others.
Croak by Gina Damico is a recent favorite. As a YA librarian, I've read a lot of paranormal fiction since Twilight (which I didn't like), so it takes a lot to impress me with a paranormal story. This one about a sixteen-year-old Grim Reaper named Lex was impressive for its originality and sense of humor. I cannot wait for the sequel.
Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant series is the only series I've ever paid to import from overseas, so it deserves a mention. Landy's world-building is superb, and who can resist a wise-cracking skeleton detective? If you're an audiobooks fan, check out the audio of the first book (Skulduggery Pleasant) read by Rupert Degas. It's fabulous!
And one more, because steampunk is my latest obsession and it gets ignored too often. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Trilogy is a gem. It's a steampunk alternate history that centers around the son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at the start of World War I. It's another case of superb world-building, and Westerfeld sets up his entire third book in one sentence. It's mind-blowing.
There are, of course, a million more, but I'll stop there... For now.
The Bearded Scribe:Which book sucked you into the Fantasy genre?
Elizabeth: It's hard to say. I played on the fringes of fantasy for a long time, but Harry Potter was a game-changer for me. I got sucked in anew, though, by the work of Laini Taylor. Daughter of Smoke and Bone has such beautiful descriptive language. Deep in my heart, I'm a word nerd, and descriptive writing will get me every time.
The Bearded Scribe: Is there anything else you would like to share with The Bearded Scribe readers?
Elizabeth: I am really, really honored to be here.
The Bearded Scribe: Well, Thank You, Elizabeth. I am truly honored to have you as a new addition to the blog, and I am greatly looking forward to your reviews (and other posts, should the opportunity call for it)--I can only imagine, as a librarian, how well attuned to the written word you must be.
***
When Elizabeth isn't walking the shelves at her library, you can find her sailing--one of her other passions--though, undoubtedly, with a book not too far away. :) You can check out her part-time blog (unrelated to writing but still just as cool)--The Captain's Table--a blog about cooking and sailing.
Although I have already introduced myself, I thought it would be appropriate to tell you about how I was introduced to the Fantasy genre and a little more about my writing background and education. This Introduction will serve as a prequel to my next post and my first Author Spotlight on this blog, introducing an author and an acquaintance that has influenced and mentored me over the past year.
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