Inspiration

Hi everyone! I apologize for not being around the blog much this week. I finished the first draft of Sinful a few days ago and have started my Highlander Christmas novella which is due April 1. I'll admit to having a difficult time starting it. The novella is an introduction into the Annwyn world. Howevever, it wasn't the world that was holding me back, but the time of year. Christmas means winter. Winter in the Highlands of Scotland. Brrrrrrr. I'm dying over in my corner for the world for spring. I want to feel the sunshine on my face, the wind, softly scented, blowing through an open window. I want to clean my house (before it's condemned!)I want to walk barefoot in the grass. All in all, my mind is on spring, not winter. So, I wasn't into writing the novella.

However, the time has come. It can no longer be put off. Writing is my job, not a hobby. I can't just say 'oh, I'll write that when I feel like it'. That has been the most difficult transition for me as a published author~managing deadlines. I have issues with discipline, not imagination. I really have to find a way to change that. Thankfully, though, the muse has come and saved my fanny!

So, when I looked at the calendar and realized how many days I have left till the end of the month, and did my quick word count calculation, I knew it could no longer be put off. So, I began thinking of my novella. I knew where I wanted to go, knew what had to be in there.

The hero is a prince of the Sidhe. The heroine stumbles into a forest which happens to be the entrance into the Celtic Otherworld Annwyn. So, the introduction into Annwyn is there. However, in the Annwyn Chronicles, all the heroes are shapeshifters of Celtic origins. I knew that my prince Daegan should be, too. That's when I began researching my hefty book on Celtic Mythology and Folklore and came across a wonderful creature who would look mystical and regal in the snow, not to mention the wilds of Scotland.

That animal is the White Hart. Really, a hart is a deer, or stag. He's pure white. Very rare. He's been revered since pagan times as a the king of the forest. He presents to humans as a sign the Otherworld is near, or when there has been a great trespass against Otherworld inhabitants by humans. The great hart also figured into Aruthurian tales, and medieval beliefs. The Christians incorporated the White Hart as a means of drawing pagans into their religion. In early Christianity, the White Hart represented Christ. The whiteness meaning pure, and the rareity of the animal parralleling the uniqueness of Jesus.

This year, in the New Forest in England, a white hart has been spotted. The locals have named him snowy, and the people are fiercely protective of him. He's just a youngling, the locals estimate about two years old.

The White Hart must have been an awe inspiring site to the early pagans. Imagine, a pure white deer standing out amongst dozens of fawn colored fallows. No wonder they worshipped this guy.

So, naturally, I made Daegan a White Hart. A majestic beast who is king of the forest and ruler of the Sidhe. I found the picture above and fell in love with the sweet face of this animal.

I'm not quite certain, that if I had the ability to shift into any shape that I would pick a deer. I'd definitely pick something that could be pampered and adored and sleep for twenty hours of the day! lol! I'd also like to be hand fed, not kill my own food. Ewwww!
If you had that ability, what animal whould you shift into?

Best wishes for a spring-like weekend in your neck of the woods!