The Legend of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis

I learned something last night.

Well, I probably already knew it, but over the years, too many stories and myths get muddled up in my brain and this struck me. I was doing some research for an upcoming novella, that revolves around Greek mythological characters. In particular, I was looking at Hermes, best known as the messenger of the gods.However, Hermes was also a fertility god, and and in a sense, he was the male equivalent of Aphrodite. In fact, they got together and made some whoopee, which resulted in a son so beautiful and perfect...so much like his parents, he was named for them: Hermaphroditus. 

Hermaphroditus lived a normal young godly life until the age of 15, when he ventured out to see the world. At some point, he found a clear pool of water protected by a naiad named Salmacis. The moment she saw young Hermaphroditus, Salmacis fell desperately in love. She attempted to seduce him, and when that failed, she distinguished herself as one of the only known naiads to attempt a rape. As she wrestled with the boy, she prayed to never be parted from him. In classic…’be careful what you wish for’ fashion, Salmacis and Hermaphroditus were melded into one person, who was both male and female. Stunned and ashamed, Hermaphroditus cursed Salmacis' pool, so any man who bathed there took female traits. (Ranma 1/2, anyone?) He then became the god of effeminate men. 

As I did a Google search for images, I was stunned at some of the beautiful artwork depicting Hermaphroditus, particularly the sculptures.He was portrayed as beautiful, yet strong and powerful. Exactly as I envisioned my Valorans.

Why this hit me is because in all the research I did for the Valorans of the Coalition Universe, particularly Afton Teris in The Bacchi, I never thought about looking into Greek mythology. I looked at historical accounts, science, documentaries, and even drew on my friendship with an intersexed girl when I was growing up.  But I never looked into the origin of the word, which would have undoubtedly led to further development in the species. 

So maybe in future Coalition books, I might have to look a little closer at the legend of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis, and perhaps integrate it into the origin myths of the Valoran. Of course, that means another Uncommon book...or maybe another Belle Starr...

Summer Stuff

Here it is, August in Northern California. Whew...we seem to have survived an extended heat wave without too much suffering. It's hot, make no mistake...but the swamp coolers are doing their job fairly well this year.

One of the victims of our hot spring and summer were our wild blackberry vines. There's a big patch in the middle of my dog yard, and another by the creek that borders our property. This year, they didn't do so well. The berries that grew were puny and dry and extra difficult to harvest. Last year we had milder weather and the harvest was amazing! It had been quite awhile since they were so lovely.

While I was coming home from a dog show a few weeks ago, I stopped by Pedrick's Produce Stand (Just to the west of Davis, CA) and to my delight, they had some locally farmed berries. They were huge, luscious and perfectly ripe. I bought a half-flat and rushed them hope, tossing them in the freezer till I have time to make jam. Of course, we enjoyed a few handfuls, marveling at how perfectly sweet they were.

Of course, I'm never one to leave good enough alone, so I decided I'd put on my jeans and boots and check out what the creek vines were doing. After wading through knee-high stickers and overgrown berry brambles (bad me for letting it get out of control!) I discovered that there were a few really nice berries, but the effort to pick them was just not worth it.

Well, it wasn't until I popped one in my mouth.
Wow.

The lovely farmed berries just don't hold a candle to the wild berries that struggle though barren soil, blazing heat and limited water. They were tart but sweet, and the flavor was intense. I gathered all I could, little more than a cup or two, but I had to make the effort. Because who needs tame when there's wild?

When I finally finish my current project, I'll bring all the berries out of the freezer and I'll make my berry jam for the year. Yes, the farmed berries are a little dignified and mellow, but you know, a handful of wild will shake up their flavor just enough.

All winter, we'll use the jam I make and once again, I'll remember that doing it the easy way just doesn't pay the same rewards in the end. I might get hot and sweaty, scratched up and full of stickers, but that little bit of wild will remind me that a bit of extra effort makes a whole lot of difference. :)

Same as in writing. Same as in life. 

Alien 101: Lefi The Somian

(Note: the article was first published at Rosanna Leo's blog)

I knew  someday it would happen.

What, you ask? Well, the green alien. I knew I’d write one someday, but it took me by surprise when it actually happened.

Lefi Dhrahn is the title character of “The Bacchi” and he owes his existence to the lovely green dancing girl from Star Trek. I used to watch her and she always made me laugh with her heavy makeup and sexy costume. Of course, she was nothing more than a sexual being…a hottie for Captain Kirk to go all manly over.

Well, Lefi is that woman. He’s a Somian, which is a species from my Coalition universe. They are a twin species, always born in pairs. They are colorful, sensual and sunny natured. Some think they aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer, but in truth, they are brilliant. And they’re happy. When I started developing Lefi, I ran through all the colors I could paint him with, but he kept coming up green…long, emerald green hair, a flush of green over his cheeks and lips. Even his nipples are green! His eyes are purple as amethysts. He’s painfully lovely and revels in his career as a Bacchi: a high class prostitute.

When I went about picking his perfect lover, I knew that man or woman must be the sort who would set him off to advantage. Someone as beautiful as he, but completely the opposite. When I first put Afton’s name to paper, I knew he’d be one of the Valoran, a species that are cerebral, humorless and direct. They are also hermaphrodites. Imagine what the Bacchi thinks of that… ;)

 Afton thinks that Lefi is amoral and frivolous, but is secretly fascinated by the Somian. And Lefi… he can’t wait to strip Afton naked and find out just what’s under that stiff black uniform. It’s not going to be easy seducing a man like Afton, but Lefi has some special goodies up his sleeve. 

 

BLURB:

The Bacchi Lefi Dhrahn lives a life of luxury and decadence, but is tortured by memories of a lost love. He survives the pain by surrounding himself with sex, beauty and all forms of self-indulgence. When he meets the alluring Inspector Afton Teris, Lefi believes the detective will make a very nice addition to his string of conquests.

He doesn’t count on falling in love.

Afton Teris is a Valoran hermaphrodite and like all members of his species, is stern, cerebral and disapproves of the frivolous prostitute. Afton orients as a male, but the beautiful Lefi Dhrahn stirs him sexually, making him question everything he knows about himself. To further confuse his emotions, Afton finds himself tempted by the forbidden pleasures surrounding the Bacchi.

When a kidnapping ring strikes close to home, the two go undercover on a brothel barge to investigate a slavery operation. There, Lefi is confronted by painful memories from his past, while Afton is faced with a horror that threatens his future, and perhaps his very life. 

Their survival lies with one another, but only if Lefi can set aside his pain and listen to his heart.

The Bacchi releases July 31^st at Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/the-bacchi/