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Bel Nemeton Q&A: Part II

/ jonblackwrites / Leave a comment

The following is part of my Publisher’s author interview for the short story “Bel Nemeton.” The template for my upcoming novel of the same name, “Bel Nemeton” can be found in the anthology After Avalon, from 18th Wall Productions.

Q) Other than your story, what is your favorite Arthurian tale (regardless
of medium)?

A) I have a special fondness for the 2004 film “King Arthur,” starting Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. I appreciate its late Roman/early Dark Ages setting and its exploration of the interplay between the various cultures in Britain at that time, including Celtic, Roman, and Saxon. Those are elements I explore in “Bel Nemeton” as well.

Though I am confused by why all the Saxons in the film have American accents.

Drop in on Tuesday for another question from the interview and check out earlier answers in previous blog posts.

Follow Jon at @BlackOnBlues on Twitter.

Bel Nemeton Q&A: Part I

/ jonblackwrites / Leave a comment

The following is part of my Publisher’s author interview for the short story “Bel Nemeton.” The template for my upcoming novel of the same name, “Bel Nemeton” can be found in the anthology After Avalon, from 18th Wall Productions.

Q) How did you discover the Arthurian Legends? What do they mean to you?

A) My family is, in part, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish. My father’s middle name is Merwyn, a name related to Merlin. He was my introduction to Arthuriana. As a child, his tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the knights were my bedtime stories.

I am fascinated that a mythology so rooted in a specific time and place could become so ubiquitous. For nearly a millennia, the Arthur Cycle has been both a mirror and a painter’s pallet for the values, hopes, fears, and concerns of vastly different societies. Part of this, I believe, stems from characters that offer a complete set of archetypes which represent the virtues, vices, dreams, and obstacles that exist within each of us.

Drop in on Monday for another question from the interview

Follow Jon at @BlackOnBlues on Twitter.