Okay. So every now and again I get a whirlwind of inspiration to try something new. Such happened about a week ago when, thanks to the example of Marc Gunn, I decided I’d like to plan a trip to Scotland focusing on the history and mythology in our fantasy series Rowan of the Wood.
Before I spend a great deal of time, energy, and money, I’d like to see if there is a general interest among our fans, friends, and followers to accompany us on this journey.
I’ve put together a *very* preliminary itinerary… this is so very subject to change, as I haven’t gathered any prices for the hotels/areas or even seen if they have availability.
Day 1: Edinburgh
Day trip down to Rosslyn Chapel. Filled with Green Men. Also featured in The Davinci Code.
Evening in Edinburgh
Day 2: Isle of Mull
Drive to the Isle of Mull (approx. 4 hours + ferry ride)
(here we might also look into stopping in Argyll on the way…LOADS of pictish sites there)
Check into Hotel (either on Mull or at the Argyll Hotel on Iona)
Free Afternoon/Evening
Day 3: Isle of Mill/Iona
Visit the Loch Buie Stone Cirle, Mull Where Rowan and Fiana were wed/tragically separated.
Visit Iona Abbey. Built in honor of St. Columba, the converter of the picts and mentioned in the books.
Day 4: Loch Ness & Aviemore
Visit the infamous Loch Ness (about 3.5 hrs from Mull) and try to see Nessie!
Continue onto Aviemore to the Rowan Tree Hotel, where we will stay for two nights (if we can get in). It’s near The Cairngorm National Park in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Perhaps there is even a Rowan tree there!
Day 5: Aberdeen & Stonehaven
Day trip to Stonehaven (2 hr one way) – optional. Here we see the remains of Stonehaven Castle. Part of Zefferelli’s Hamlet was shot there.
See the Picardy Stone, one of the oldest Pictish stones. Carved in the 7th c… 100 years after Rowan.
Visit an Ogham stone in Brandsbut, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. One of the very few left in Scotland.
** Here is where there is a choice. Would you rather pack up and leave to a new hotel each night for Day 4/5 (staying in Inverness one day and Aberdeen the second) or stay at a centrally located hotel. It’s about the same amount of driving, maybe more to stay centrally located.**
Day 6-8: Edinburgh
After a 2.5 hr drive from the Highlands (perhaps with a stop in Perth for more history stuff), spend the rest of your vacation in Edinburgh. Lots of free time to do what you want with optional group events.
National Scottish Museum (their Early People section would cover the Celts & Picts)
Edinburgh Castle
The Edinburgh Dungeon
So much more!
Again, this is just a very preliminary sketch. The final tour might not resemble this one at all. It all depends on the feedback I get from those interested!
Other options: include some Macbeth & Harry Potter stops… other literary interest?
This is staying at the Rowan Tree Hotel or something similar in the middle with day trips to Loch Ness, Inverness, Stonehaven, and Perth… The other option is driving that route and staying in Inverness & Aberdeen at different hotels.
Preliminary quotes using a UK tour guide came back at around $2500 per person based on double occupancy, land price only. This did include meals, however.
The exchange rate from $$USD to £GBP is astronomical at nearly two USD to one GBP. Makes for an expensive trip.
I, however, am determined to get a better rate than that. The more information I have regarding what interested guests might want, the better chance I have of planning a trip that would work for all. Just while composing this blog, I found this: Edinburgh 5 Day Excursion to Mull, etc. This is already less.
CONTACT ME if you are interested and answer the following questions:
1. How much are you willing to pay (land price only) for a Rowan of the Wood themed vacation to Scotland?
2. Would you prefer a program of 5, 7, or 9 days?
3. Do you want it to include meals if possible? (Breakfast & Dinner)
4. Would you rather travel more, moving to 4 or more hotels over the 8-9 days (for example) or travel less, staying in 3 or less hotels over those days? Like perhaps staying only in the Isle of Mull and Edinburgh and taking day trips from there.
5. Would you rather see actual historical sites, even if it means more time on the road? Or would you rather see most of the historical sites in museums & go to places with gift shops and such, staying mostly in Edinburgh and either Mull/Iona or in the Highlands.
6. Do you prefer hotels or B&Bs?
7. Would you prefer April, May, or June for travel?
Please, please, please CONTACT ME if you are interested. I’ll give it until August to get emails from at least 20 interested parties (based on double occupancy) because we need at least 8 (4 couples) to come in order to make this work.
Yeah. I know I’ve still been lax on the “twice-a-week” video/vlogs. I’ll get back on the horse.
Since it is “Video Tuesday,” I’m tapping into my environmental core and recycling these two videos.
Here are my two Retro Diva vidoes: “Don’t You Want a Kindle?” and “Bellatrix on the Borderline.”
Now, when I made Bellatrix, I really thought it would have an even better response than the Kindle one… because it was both silly and on-topic with the (then) current Harry Potter trend.
But it wasn’t!
I’m not sure if people just didn’t “get it” for one reason or another (i.e., don’t know who Bellatrix is or isn’t familiar with Madonna… or Harry Potter) OR if it was something else.
So here are these two videos! Please post a comment below telling me which of the two you like better and why. What didn’t you like about the other? (too demented? esoteric?
I’m planning a few more videos. I have *LOADS* of fun making them, so that’s not the question, but I would love for them to be entertaining to my followers as well!
Seriously. Don’t read this until after you’ve seen it.
It’s 3:11 AM here in Colorado, and we just got out of a packed theatre.
“I feel as if I’ll never be cheerful again.”
As anyone who read the book, you know it’s not a happy one. It’s dark and tragic. Dumbledore dies. Snape kills him. I remember reading it over and over and over, looking for a loophole, but there was none.
There shouldn’t have have been a dry eye in the house. Truly.
But the emotional catharsis that should accompany such a tremendous loss didn’t come. Any true loss I felt was left over from my dim memory of the book.
After I saw Order of the Phoenix last year, I felt the same way after Sirius’s death. Still do every time I rewatch it.
At first I thought perhaps it was the screenwriter, as Steve Kloves didn’t write Order, but he’s written the rest. But it wasn’t Michael Goldenberg who left out the intense feeling we experienced in Goblet of Fire, it’s the director.
Mike Newell directed Goblet of Fire, and to this day it is my favorite of the Potter films. He takes a much lesser loved and cherished character (Cedric Diggory, in comparison to Sirius and Dumbledore) and rips the viewers heart out at the reaction of Harry, Cedric’s father, and the entire school.
Yet Yates leaves us hanging with unfelt sorrow both times.
Early in the film, the lines were rushed. So rushed that they lost all natural timing.
So much is cut out, but that’s to be expected. There was much humor in it, and that was lovely. The acting was brilliant on all accounts.
Whereas Newell delivers every morsel of envy, nervous teenage love, sorrow, pain, and joy in Goblet of Fire, Yates leaves us wanting. Ginny & Harry’s first and only kiss had nothing of the passion and joy it did in the book. It wasn’t even cute and awkward. Much like Harry’s kiss with Cho, just not there. No spark. No nothing.
Remember in Goblet when Harry dribbles pumpkin juice down his chin when smiling at Cho. Then you feel his nervousness. His attraction.
When Harry was in the prefects bathroom with Moaning Myrtle, you feel his embarrassment.
When Harry was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament, you feel his fear. You feel Ron’s resentment.
In Half Blood Prince, Lavender Brown was certainly a breath of fresh air. Hermione’s jealousy and pain is somewhat felt, as is Harry’s longing for Ginny for the first half. Well done there.
In addition to Dumbledore’s emotionless death scene, the entire climax of the story with the Death Eaters entering Hogwarts, Harry confronting Snape, and the mourning of the school afterward just fell rather flat.
The greatest disappointment was how it was written and/or directed that Harry remain “below” while Malfoy showed up to kill Dumbledore.
Harry stood there and did nothing.
Harry NEVER does nothing! Who’s bright idea was that?
In the book, if memory serves (and it’s been over a year), Harry was covered in his invisibility cloak and made immobile by Dumbledore, himself, as Dumbledore knew well that Harry couldn’t help but do something to stop Draco.
But in this version, the audience is asked to believe that our hero, after all we’ve seen and as well as we all know him, would stand there and do nothing when hearing that Draco was there to kill Dumbledore. When a simple Expelliarimus shot up from below would’ve sufficed?
Harry would’ve taken on all the death eaters if necessary. He certainly didn’t need a reason to jinx Snape in Prisoner of Azkaban, and that was just to let Sirius finish his explanation… before Harry knew Sirius was a good guy! But we’re asked to believe that Harry would stand by and let Dumbledore be assautled in his weakened state if he was mobile and armed?
Never.
However, I’m disappointed to see that Yates will direct both parts of Deathly Hallows, so we can likely expect the same mediocre emotional experience.
I know that’s a lot of criticism, but I really did enjoy the film overall.
The ending sucked all emotion out of me, but not in a catartic way — in an unsatisfied way. Up until Dumbledore’s death, it was pretty great, really.
Daniel Radcliffe’s performance was brilliant. He’s quite the actor.
Same goes for Rupert Grint. Very impressive.
I was also quite impressed with Emma this time around, too!
Tomorrow is the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince! I purposely stopped reading the book, even though I wasn’t finished, a week ago… here’s why:
—-{—-{@
I first saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the IMAX at midnight the day of the release, and I didn’t like it one bit.
My first mistake: I had just re-read the novel. I should know better by now to never read the book right before the movie. It sets one up for too much disappointment. The movie can never be like the book. Same as was the case with The Goblet of Fire, a movie can be 2 – 2.5 hrs at the longest (some push it with 3). The last 4 Harry Potter books were well over 500 pages. It is impossible to get everything into a movie. One of the reasons I prefer The Goblet of Fire movie to The Order of the Phoenix, is that Goblet could focus just on the Tri-Wizard Tournament and leave off most everything else in the book. The Order of the Phoenix didn’t have something to central on which to focus… therefore, too much was cut.
My second mistake: Seeing it at IMAX. I think I was borderline nauseous the entire time, so it hindered my experience. I saw it again the following day, and liked it much better. I’ve now see it a few more times, and it actually is quite a nice film.
For example, there was not near enough of Hermione and Ron in this one. It seemed like, with the exception of a few scenes with them, it was almost all montage-type. And I can understand why: time constraints. Michael Goldenburg wrote the script because Steve Kloves, the writer of the other 7 HP movies, was otherwise engaged. Michael did a decent job with what he had to work with. He certainly did much better than I would’ve done.
Low points:
- Harry Mellings performance of Dudley. Not believable. Sure, Dudley is stupid and a bully; but this was just awful. Yates is more at fault for this than Mellings, for the actor can’t see themselves, but the director can.
- CGI Giant. Really? With the FX of the wizard battles being so awesome, you couldn’t get a realistic looking giant?
- Sirius’s death – really disappointing. Again, Yates. Between two such beautiful wizard battles, this was just cheesy. Too bad, too — because it could’ve been one of the most powerful parts of the film. Still – Radcliffe’s reaction and the choice to make that silent… made up for it. Tears-ville!
High points:
- Any scene with Gary Oldman. The man is brilliant. Especially the scenes with Radcliffe. The two actors truly captured the love between them. Although Sirius’s death was wanting, the rest of their relationship was excellent.
- The wizard battles! BRILLIANT! Especially with Dumbledore & Voldemort – truly inspiring.
- Fiennes, of course, is brilliant as always. As in the end of Goblet, his Voldemort is truly frightening. He is as disturbing as Voldemort as he is breathtakingly handsome as himself. A tribute to a great, great actor.
- The correlation and imagery of fascism within the Ministry of Magic. This book was written around the aftermath of 9/11, and I’ve always wondered if it had some sort of political commentary about the way the US and British governments were behaving at the time. Well done Art Director Andrew Ackland-Snow and Director David Yates.
I didn’t *feel* as much of the characters’ pain in this as I did in Goblet… with the exception of Harry. When he says, “I’m just so angry all the time” and when he loses Sirius — quite beautiful in it’s darkness. Harry just loses so very much, and it just keeps coming.
Radcliffe had not only grown into a beautiful man, but he’s quite a great actor as well. I look forward to the remaining 3 HP movies and anything else this talented man does.
Ultimately, Goblet is still my #1 HP movie, and I think Phoenix & Prisoner of Azkaban are tied for second place… with Phoenix starting to take the lead. Starting with Prisoner, things became more dark, just the way I like them. So as these beloved characters descend further into this dark world with the Dark Lord, I’m counting the days until The Half Blood Prince is released.
I love Harry Potter. That’s no secret. Harry Potter brought magic back into my life during a time of darkness and frustration.
I read, not as often as I would like, but I do read. I get through a few books a year normally, something I’m desperately trying to increase this year. Somehow, with everything I do for work, not much time is left for anything else; however, when a new HP book was released, everything else stopped. I scheduled an entire day to read just that. And I would! I’d read it in a day. Even books 5, 6, and 7 — as long as they were — in a day. I’d laugh and I’d cry. I’d grasp the book tightly as I forced my eyes to not jump ahead, often having to cover the bottom of the page. I moved from my chair only to eat and visit the bathroom — otherwise, my eyes were glued on those pages. Not many books have been able to capture my attention like that. And, despite the few books I read each year, the entire Harry Potter series is among them. Each year.
Although book 4, The Goblet of Fire, was the hardest for me to get through, taking several days, it is my favorite of the films so far. I’ve just watched it again.
In fact, it was just a few days after seeing this film for the 4th time in the theater back in 2005, that Rowan first came to me. I noticed how people of all ages were drawn to Harry Potter… here and around the world. I went to see it that 4th time with my sister and my 65-yr-old father. We walked in behind two 80-yr-old women. Back at home, my 3 and 5 yr old nephews watched the first movie on DVD and played with their wands. I began to think what it was about Harry Potter that appealed to so many people of all ages and backgrounds. I thought the same about the superheroes and great stories like the Arthurian Legend, The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. It was contemplating what these stories had in common when Rowan came to me on that flight from Dallas back to Klamath Falls, OR. I scribbled my notes down on airsick bags… and now it’s an award-winning book. Wow.
Still, the movie — I can’t count how many times I’ve seen it now, and I still laugh and cry every time. I *feel* this film. The performance by the young actors was at an all-time high, to which is partially due to their maturity and experience, no doubt; but we must also give kudos to director Mike Newell for pulling it out of them. I *feel* Harry’s fear upon being announced as a Twi-Wizard Champion and as he faces his dragon. I *feel* Ron’s jealousy and resentment… truly, beautifully done.
Although Yates did a nice job with Order of the Phoenix (and I truly look forward to Half Blood Prince), it doesn’t hold a candle to the depth of feeling and darkness that director Mike Newell & screenwriter Steve Kloves achieved in The Goblet of Fire. Kloves didn’t write Order, although he’s written the rest. I hope that this was the anomaly and Half Blood Prince will be even more magnificent than Goblet, even with Yates directing.
Stay tuned for my post tomorrow about the film: The Order of the Phoenix.
The work as a whole, I’ve said before and I’ll say again, will go down in history as the greatest contribution to children’s literature of our time. It will rival Narnia and The Hobbit, among other classics, in the hearts and minds of generations to come.
We’re at the Colorado Irish Festival this weekend, and we’re meeting some really great people! One of the fun things about meeting new people is bonding with them over Harry Potter or Twilight. Mostly Harry Potter for me, as I’m definitely “Team Harry,” but I can talk Twilight with the best of them as well.
I can say “three more days!” and nothing else… and people know what I’m talking about! Then we talk about which book we liked the best or our favorite thing about the movies. This is great because it works with both adults, teens, and kids! As a childless woman about to hit 40 (4 months & 1 day), sometimes I really don’t know what to say to kids or teens.
Harry Potter and Twilight has saved me on many an occasion!
With only (approximately) 2 days and 13.5 hours until the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, I’m rather shocked at the lack of hype. I mean, it hasn’t stayed a trending topic on Twitter for more than an hour or so! Really? Mario and Bruno and Arturo trend, but not Harry Potter? What’s up with that?
Is our boy losing his edge to a hyped-up, sparkling, hottie vampire?
Is it because the books are done and everyone knows what’s happened…. so this is just all old hat?
I made a quite humorous (if I do say so myself) video as Bellatrix Lastrange channeling Madonna in a love song to Voldemort. Not many people have seen it in the grand scheme of things. Just over 300 views so far compared to the GAZILLION Harry Potter fans out there!
But still, all I have to remember is that it’s 2 days 13.25(ish) hours, and I’ll get my new Harry Potter Fix!
(Or at least for shaking your head in embarrassment for me. ;-D)
Also — don’t miss out on this historical event! The first Twitter Community Sourced AUDIOBOOK! (and you don’t have to be on Twitter to participate): CLAIM YOUR CHAPTER TODAY! <– also listen to the ones already submitted.
Once again the great Harry Potter takes center stage as movie number six is about to hit theaters everywhere. But what causes these stories to be so popular? Why such a wide appeal? There isn’t even anything new or unique about them.
If you are looking for a school of wizardry why not try LeGuin’s Rork? Or Pratchett’s Unseen University?
Witches on brooms date back to the persecution of pagans in Europe.
Wizards with wands are as old as performing magicians who used them to hold the eyes of their audiences while their other hand was performing the tricks.
Dragons were a part of the oldest saga written in English.
Centaurs pre-date Greek writing, as does the orphan hero character.
Perhaps the reason these stories are so popular is precisely because they are so well known. We can identify with them. Jung would say they are a part of our collective unconscious.
What makes them even more appealing is that Rowling brings them into a modern and familiar setting, at least for English readers. The boarding school with houses competing against each other in sports and academia is an established part of England’s youth, complete with sinister teachers and castle like buildings.
These settings may be a bit more exotic for American readers, but the death struggles against Voldemort are still only secondary to the main adventure of trying to survive the growing up process and reach adulthood. Little do they know how much still awaits them after reaching this goal.
I applaud Rowling, not for her unique stories, but for how she can make the same old hat fresh and exciting.
Who wants to read about stuff they can’t relate to?
Some rare footage of Bellatrix Lastrange inside Azkaban prison and shortly after her escape. It contains highly disturbing images of this dangerous and insane woman. Please watch at your own risk.
Being a child of the 80s, Bellatrix loved Madonna and has seen the Lucky Star video one too many times. It obviously has embedded itself into her demented psyche.
As for her singing, um….let’s just say she should keep her day job of perfecting the unforgivable curses.
What Bellatrix has to say about Rowan of the Wood:
“I read it over and over again! It really made those 14 years in Azkaban fly by… FILTHY HALFBLOOD!”
Okay. So I’m cheating. This is a recycled post, originally posted on April 22nd, but in honor of the NEW HARRY POTTER MOVIE coming out in 9 DAYS, I thought it would be nice to post it again. I hope for another 9 days of Harry Potter-themed posts! We’ll see if we can do it (even if it means recycling some ) — And TOMORROWis theBellatrix on the Borderline video. Stay tuned!
—-{—-{@
(by Ethan Rose)
Every so often a book comes along that breaks out of its genre and by doing so, defines it. When I was a kid that book was actually a trilogy—The Trilogy—The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. It not only influenced literature, but music through bands like Led Zeppelin and Shadowfax. Cars sported bumper stickers which claimed that “Frodo Lives.” Movies were attempted but the technology wasn’t there yet. Many fantasy books published at the time sported a reference to its similarity to Tolkien’s work. It defined the fantasy genre even though the genre already included many great writers like Lord Dunsany and Robert E. Howard. It was because it had surpassed the field of fantasy and entered the populous at large.
Readers of fantasy recognized it as a great work but also realized that there were other great works in the field. When people who did not normally read fantasy thought of the genre, however, they thought of The Lord of the Rings because it was what they knew.
Harry Potter has had a similar effect on the current generation. When someone thinks of middle grade or young adult fantasy, they think of Harry Potter since that is the work which has broken out of its genre and entered the main stream.
While on tour with my own middle grade fantasy, Rowan of the Wood, I am often asked a variation on “Are you going to be the next Harry Potter?” I generally pass it off with a comment about settling for a fraction of Rowling’s success. The truth is that there won’t be a next Harry Potter, while that phenomenon lasts. Any young adult or middle grade fantasy, no matter how well written or successful, will be compared to Harry Potter because it is the book that has broken out of its genre and by doing so defines it. Just like Mike Hammer defines the P.I. or James Bond defines the Secret Agent.
Similarly, since Harry Potter dealt with a young orphaned protagonist, many make the mistake of thinking any orphan protagonist is a Harry Potter knock-off. The orphan-hero protagonist dates back to Greek times in Literature. It did not begin with Harry Potter. In our book, Rowan of the Wood, we have a “orphaned” protagonist. He’s actually in the foster care system, as both his parents are not dead. Many readers immediately see Harry Potter in the pages because there is magic, an orphan boy, and a mean sibling figure/foster family. This is understandable because of the reasons stated above; however, our protagonist Cullen Knight is based upon my childhood, not upon the character of Harry Potter.
I grew up in foster care among the redwood forest.
I lived in less-than-ideal foster care.
I had a bully foster brother, and, most importantly, I dreamed of of magic and wizards while walking amongst the redwoods with my copy of The Hobbit in hand.
My wife/co-author grew up in suburbia, and she’s always been fascinated with my childhood tale. This is why Cullen Knight suffers in this situation. Although I read the Harry Potter series and enjoyed it immensely, I still prefer the works of Tove Janson and Roald Dahl. Rowling however is in my top ten. Her greatest contribution to literature is that her books taught a love of reading to many people young and old who would otherwise have missed the opportunity. What more could any author ask for?
(This post first appeared during Rowan’s Beltane Blog Tour over at Steph Su Reads)
Readers of fantasy recognized it as a great work but also realized that there were other great works in the field. When people who did not normally read fantasy thought of the genre, however, they thought of 
While on tour with my own middle grade fantasy, 
My wife/co-author grew up in suburbia, and she’s always been fascinated with my childhood tale. This is why Cullen Knight suffers in this situation. Although I read the Harry Potter series and enjoyed it immensely, I still prefer the works of Tove Janson and Roald Dahl. Rowling however is in my top ten. Her greatest contribution to literature is that her books taught a love of reading to many people young and old who would otherwise have missed the opportunity. What more could any author ask for?
