It’s just a few days until Scotland. I can hardly believe it. Thank you so much for the donations; you are helping make a dream come true. One of my greatest wishes is to write a fantastic book that somehow mirrors the mind movie of my sleeping and waking dreams.
People have asked me, ‘Why Elen? Why the 18th century? Why Scotland? Why historical fiction? There are several clues to this puzzle that I have been trying to answer myself. So…I’ll let you know.
Why Scotland? My maiden name is Angus. When I was little, I found a small and fascinating book of tartans at my grandparents’ house. I would sit, squirreled away in the closet under the stairs, reading about the tartans. I was mesmerized by the brief stories of clan members and their tartans. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I became acutely aware of my Scottish heritage. My dad had begun the genealogical hunt and peck for ancestors. He became slightly obsessed with our Scottish roots and started to learn to play the bagpipes with the Jaffa Highlanders. Through his ear-splitting early years with the chanter, and our pet cats would yowl and run away screaming – literally – he eventually became quite competent and taught himself to play the bagpipes. He also sparked a significant interest in Scotland for me.
Scotland has also been part of an inner knowing that it is ‘home.’ I had a strong desire to visit the UK, and for many years, I wanted to live there. It was a bit different from being an Anglophile. The UK, and particularly Scotland, have always had a tether to my heart. I remember this from when I was very young with my earliest memories of wanting to be in the UK since I was six or seven.
Why the 18th century? I’ve always had a strong interest in this time period. I would pretend, when growing up, to swish about in long skirts. Family vacations to Williamsburg, Virginia, added to my desire to time-travel to the 18th century. My wish was so strong that I hoped to attend college at William and Mary in Williamsburg and never come home, but instead, work as a living history guide at the museum. Alas, William and Mary did not have a Library Science Program, and that dream was thwarted.
Why historical fiction? Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. When I was a teen, young adult literature had not been invented. A kind librarian led me to Anya Seton’s books, which I devoured along with poetry and nature writing. As a wannabe librarian, I reveled in her accuracy of research and her wonderful storytelling. Deep down, I hope my books will be as wonderful as hers.
Why Elen? Folklore is like mother’s milk to me. I am intrigued by the universality of folklore motifs. Elen is also linked to my beloved Green Man. In some cultures, she is a Gaia figure and a consort to him. The Reindeer woman motif represents strong, competent, and magical women. She seems to me to represent an earth-mother figure, a green witch, and someone who brings ultimate good. How could I not fall in love with the Elen figure?
As I write this, I keep thinking about how in five days, the plane will have taken off and James and I will be heading to Scotland and ‘home.’
Photo by George Hiles on Unsplash
