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Jean Marie Ward ([personal profile] jmward14) wrote2008-05-18 09:52 pm
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You Can't Make This Stuff Up

I'm in over my head in research mode for My Big Fat Olympian Wedding From Hell, the working title of my Persephone story.  In my version, Sephie is a doctoral candidate in anthropology at Olympic University, which I decided to model on Columbia.  Making the story work entails a lot of research into Columbia and Morningside Heights, and the stuff I'm digging up proves, once again, synchronicity defines my world.  
My current favorite is a description of St. John the Divine, the world's largest cathdral, as a key center of "episcopalian paganism".  Well, duh, Olympic was founded by Olympians...  ;-)
Another funny: My story moves from Manhattan to Laguna Beach to wind up in Iowa.  So I probably shouldn't have been surprised that the Stoneyard on the grounds of St. John the Divine provided cut stone for the restoration of the Iowa State Capitol.
Plus, so many of the local hang-outs are Greek-owned.  And I never knew this existed, but now that I do, I absolutely, positively have to write it in
Sometimes I really love my job.
Cheers and grins,

[identity profile] quietselkie.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Did you know Madeleine L'Engle used to be the writer-in-residence at St. John the Divine in NYC?

Iowa, huh. Hell, without doubt.

Have fun! I liked Persephone a lot in Highway. Also, in some recent reading, I discovered that pomegranate has a contraceptive effect, which is interesting given Persephone's story and Demeter, her mother...

[identity profile] jmward14.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
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

[identity profile] quietselkie.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Demeter meets Kellogg...film at 11...

[identity profile] jmward14.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
With Hermes on the ground, you can bet on it. He's the president of Olympic Media, after all, and this is the biggest story of the year...at least until the next one comes along.
He's a total scamp. I have to keep his scenes to a minimum or he'll run away with the book. The only way to keep him happy was to distract him with Hecate, who quite sensibly, doesn't want anything to do with him.
Hugs and grins,
Jean Marie

[identity profile] quietselkie.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Gotta love those strong secondary characters who have minds of their own.

[identity profile] jmward14.livejournal.com 2008-05-19 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely! Hugs and grins, Jean Marie