A work in progress. New Adult Epic Fantasy
One of the things you discover as an author is that, on occasion, you can say ever so much more when you say it in a story. To quote Philip Pullman, “Once upon a time lasts forever.” This is why I have chosen to explore the world of fiction, of storytelling by the campfire. I’d like to introduce you to a rather intrepid and sometimes snarky young woman who embarks on a journey of discovery.
First you must know that I am haunted by the heritage of my Romani grandmother. Consequently, I seek the healer, the herb maker, and the keeper of legends in whatever culture or faith tradition they may be found. Through the eyes of these practitioners, I explore the fuzzy-sharp edge between legend and life, between ritual and spirituality.
As noted elsewhere on this site, I also have a deep love of anthropology, archaeology, and history which helps me tell stories that challenge our preconceptions of the world. I am a firm believer that in our rush to explore and develop the world, we have drowned out the wisdom of our ancestors. I’ve spent a lot of time learning pieces of that wisdom and believe that the herbal practices of the past can often support the best modern science has to offer in the medical fields. If only for a moment, I hope to open a window into the what-might-be.
Here then is Choices. A tale about the forks in our road and the decisions we must make along the way. The first of what is hoped to be tales of The Seeker.
In the high mountain valleys survival demands cooperation. Generations in the past, leaders of the clans within a day’s journey pooled their resources, shared their specialties, and formed a common market. As architects of the alliance, the Pamaci are still the “first among equals.” Their community is situated on the shores of a wide river fed by glaciers and monsoon rains. Life is peaceful and abundant. However, in the last half century, a rebellion against the norm has been simmering. There are those that believe the risks taken by the clan are no longer acceptable, that the balance of power needs to change, and the old customs should be abandoned.
Dolma, raised in a loving home, learned the tribal legends at her mother’s knee, never realizing the part her ancestors played in the tales. Which is why she never understood why people in the village taunted her and told her there was evil in her home. Knowing this wasn’t true, she put aside the clan’s animistic beliefs and vowed to learn how nature worked. She sought to become a herder, not common for a woman, but not out of reach. This was a life that would grant her solitude, and summers in the high mountain valleys away from people she did not understand or trust.
Disillusioned with her people’s rituals, Dolma focuses on achieving that goal. Just as the dream is within her grasp, she is sent to her aunt’s workshop to study herbal lore and craft. She works to resolve her inner conflict against ritualistic magic until she discovers there is real power behind the sparkling fires and the dancing shaman. Maturing into a new role as a healer, she discovers that her ancestry is a crucial element in resolving the conflict she has sensed since her childhood. Once she earns her place in the resistance, she is summoned by the seer who reveals the roots of rebellion.
For your consideration: a piece of haiku inspired by Dolma’s tale and a Sitka spruce known as the Tree of Life in Kalaloch, Washington. The tree is thought to be over 800 years old and known as a symbol of endurance, clinging to the dunes and supported by its exposed roots. Sadly, the washed-out cavern below the tree has grown deeper and wider from Pacific coastal waves. It has finally started to collapse. Perhaps the candle Dolma lights well survive somewhat longer. Photo credit is, well, me.
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