Happy Holidays

I like to take a break from social media and blogging and things like that through the holidays. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Joyous Solstice, a Happy New Year, and may any other holiday you celebrate bring you peace and joy with those you love.

I’ve been working on lots of different things, hopefully some of them will see publication in the new year. Perhaps I’ll share some of these works in progress here; I had planned one book for release next September, but my publisher seems to be defunct now, so I’ll search for a new venue in 2024.

In the meantime, please enjoy this holiday song, “Run With the Fox,” from Alan White and Chris Squire, two great musicians who have passed on. This time of year I think we all remember friends and family who shared past holidays with us, and who are no longer here. I like to focus on the good times we had together and how lucky I am to have shared such moments. Peace to everyone reading this.

Happy New Year

“It’s common in Old English to count time by ‘winters’ – to speak, for instance, of someone having lived a certain number of ‘winters in the world’ – and we’ll see that winter is a season which looms large in Anglo-Saxon poetry.” –Winters in the World, by Eleanor Parker

I’ve been reading a wonderful book, “Winters in the World,” by Eleanor Parker, in which she takes readers through the medieval Anglo-Saxon calendar. A really enjoyable read, and she is so adept at making Old English, and some pretty arcane subjects, accessible to non specialists, which is a rare gift in academic writing.

Winter for us is a time that might be rather irritating or difficult, especially if you live in an area that gets lots of snow and cold weather. To ancient peoples, it could mean death. In a modern context, George RR Martin did a wonderful job of using winter as an oppressive force to be feared. Parker takes the reader through Anglo Saxon poetry that spoke of winter and its hardships–it’s a journey well worth taking. I highly recommend this book.

I’m just up to the section on Candlemas, which was celebrated February 2, when the Christmas season came to an end. I propose we go back to having the entire month of January off and starting up work again after Candlemas. It’s the right thing to do!

Happy Solstice

I have always enjoyed the winter solstice–the idea of ancient peoples celebrating the shortest day of the year, in anticipation of longer sun-filled days to come, gives me a good feeling about my fellow-passengers to the grave, as Dickens put it. I wish everyone a peace filled, happy holiday season, and all the best for the new year.

I’ll be taking a break from posting for the duration of the holidays, as I work on some projects and get some things ready for the new year. I’m looking forward to all that the future is going to bring. My very best to you, and thanks to all who have supported my creative endeavors over the past year.

Here’s one of my very favorite seasonal songs. See everyone next year.