Morgan and the Faerie Queens have arrived

And with them eke, O Goddesse heavenly bright,

Mirrour of grace and Majestie divine,

Great Lady of the greatest Isle, whose light

Like Phoebus lampe throughout the world doth shine,

Shed thy faire beames into my feeble eyne,

And raise my thoughts too humble and too vile,

To thinke of that true glorious type of thine,

The argument of mine afflicted stile:

The which to heare, vouchsafe, O dearest dred a-while.

(The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser)

It has been a long wait but finally The Faerie Queens, edited by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine, is on the verge of being available, with notification being received from Avalonia Books this week that pre-orders could now be taken in readiness for the book's release next week.

A Hymn to the Muse

Oh Muse, Thou dear one, sing to me,
Commence and order my song.
Cool breezes blowing from Thy groves
Inspire my breast and rouse my heart.

Calliopeia Thou wise
Principal of the Muses delightful,
Thou too, wise mystery guide,
Leto's child, Thou Delian Paean,
Be propitious and stand by me.

(Homer)

Some rather delightful news was received today that a more personal essay was accepted for an anthology that had already accepted a more scholarly article.

 

Article in The Cauldron Issue No. 149

The last 24 hours has rendered some disappointing news but also some wonderful news. 

 

Firstly, I received notification that an essay that I submitted from a proposed anthology, Crossing the River: An Anthology in Honor of Sacred Journeys had not been successful.  Its rejection was not because it was badly written, in fact the editor of the anthology personally praised my "scholarly analyst" of a lesser known Mesopotamian sacred journey.  It was rejected due to all the other submissions received being almost entirely poetic and fictional, thus causing a change in direction for the anthology.

 

The Faerie Queens - pre-orders shortly available from Avalonia Books

This lovely, sweet, and beauteous Fairy Queen,
Begins to rise, when Hesperus is seen;
For she is kin unto the God of night,
Unto Diana, and the stars so bright.
Margaret Cavendish, 17th century)

 

It has been a long time coming but today Sorita d'Este (co-editor and owner of Avalonia Books) announced that The Faerie Queens will shortly be available for pre-order from Avalonia Books.

This anthology is the first that I had submitted an essay towards and some 6,500 words later (a major effort considering I was averaging 800 words for my column with the now defunct magazine, Insight), my essay on Morgan le Fay still remains my favourite.