I didn't know about the Madeleine L'Engle connection. Kewl! St. John the Divine is one of the next stops on my research ramble. Will have to check that out too.
Of course, the story has to wind up in Iowa. Where else could Demeter cause the most damage? And provide Hermes with so much, ahem, fodder for his corny jokes? *eg*
Glad you liked Persephone. :D She's one of my favorites too. She's just so nice. In all heroic the myths, she's the one helping out. From Perseus to Odysseus to Orpheus to Psyche--if it weren't for her, they'd all be toast.
Needless to say, this generosity is NOT typical of an abused spouse. But that's the core of her story.
The funny thing about pomegranates is they are both a symbol of fertility and one of the orchard plants cultivated in the Otherworld, which would argue a poisonous or contraceptive quality to the fruit.
Ironic, too, because in my version, Sephie has been guarding her technical virginity because she's terrified she's inherited her mother's inhuman fertility. She considers Hades' apparent sterility one of his most attractive qualities. Though of course, he's got many, many more. :D
Hugs and smiles,
Jean Marie