Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to winner Sarah S!!
Welcome! This hop runs from September 14th to 20th and is co-hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and The Musings of ALMYBNENR.
I’ve always loved the sea, and especially the mythical creatures who live there. Another love of mine is Greek mythology. Given the geography of Greece, it’s no surprise they have so many myths that involve sea voyages and sea creatures in Poseidon’s dominion. One of my favorite compilations of sea-faring tales comes from Homer’s Odyssey. In that book, we meet sirens, cyclops, lotus-eaters, Scylla and Charybdis, among many others. So, when my publisher put out a call for an anthology featuring sea creature romance stories, I had the perfect story in mind–an update of one of my favorite tales from the Odyssey–Odysseus vs. the sirens.
According to Homer, the sirens were females whose enchanting songs would lure ships onto the rocks and sink them. Odysseus wanted to hear their songs but obviously could not endanger his ship or his men. Determined nonetheless, he had his men tie him to the mast of the ship so he could not escape and do harm. His crew, however, wore earplugs of some sort to block out the singing.
Wow, I wanted to retell that story, only in a more contemporary setting. Not terribly difficult.
- Odysseus became Otis
- Circe, a temptress and Homer’s lover for a year, I merged with one of the sirens to create my story’s heroine, Circe the siren. Like that alliteration? I did.
- Where else could the book be set but in Homer, Alaska.
- Instead of being on his own odyssey, Otis is a fisherman aboard the vessel The Calypso (the name of another character from The Odyssey).
- Poseidon plays himself in my story and for fun I gave him a one-eyed merman as a sycophantic accountant (because I always tip my hat to accounting in my stories).
- Also as a nod to Homer, I created a little coffee shop called “The Lotus-Eaters Cafe”.
I’ll admit, it’s these homages to the classics I’ve always loved that make being a writer a truly enjoyable experience.
Now, hopefully I’ve either whet your appetite for Homer’s Odyssey or for my story, “The Sweetest Song” which is part of a four-author anthology called Tidal Whispers. If the former, you can download it for free using this link:
Homer’s Odyssey (Kindle format) <<–If you don’t use a Kindle, download Calibre software (free) to convert from MOBI format to other formats such as EPUB.
In your comment, tell me what type of mythological sea inhabitant you would choose to be if you had to become aquatic yourself — mermaid, selkie, siren, or something else altogether. Please be sure to leave me your email address (in the form or in the body) so I can contact you if you are the winner!Comment by 11:59:59 PM Pacific time on September 20, 2012 for your chance to win. One winner will be selected randomly by using Random.org and assigning an ordinal to each comment as determined by date stamp order. Winners will be contacted by the blog owner by September 23, 2012. Only one entry per ISP address. The contest is OPEN to international readers. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning dependent on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.
34 comments
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Sandra Bunino (@SandraBunino)
September 13, 2012 at 5:43 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Aww, what a sweet button! Have a great hop. xoxo
Far Away Eyes
September 13, 2012 at 6:04 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m thinking I would love to read ‘Tidal Whispers’. Oh, and Mermaid, I would definitely be a mermaid. May already be one.
Reach me at farawayeyes18@gmail.com
Julie Antonovich Reece
September 13, 2012 at 6:52 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
What a great theme for a hop! I loved Claire’s story in this anthology!
AimeeKay
September 13, 2012 at 7:53 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would like to be a mermaid. (although being a siren with an amazing voice would be pretty cool too.)
Thanks for the giveaway. aimeelavalle(@)gmail(DOT)com
Ann Q
September 13, 2012 at 9:31 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Under the sea is an amazing place. I would like to be a SIREN, what fun.
Kate F.
September 13, 2012 at 11:53 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would like to be a mermaid.
Holly Letson
September 14, 2012 at 8:27 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would love to be a mermaid. But, I haven’t really read about other underwater feminine creatures before.
ajmarshall
September 14, 2012 at 1:21 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would be a mermaid. Thanks for the giveaway!
Adriane dot marshall at gmail dot com
Warisha
September 14, 2012 at 2:29 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Would love to be a Siren.
thanks for the giveaway!
warisha_jayanti@hotmail.com
Erika
September 14, 2012 at 2:39 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I think I’d choose to be a mermaid! Thanks! saltsnmore at yahoo dot com
MostlyMisha
September 15, 2012 at 12:34 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I think being a selkie would be cool since I could still come hangout on land as a human~ MostlyMisha[at]gmail[dot]com
emaginette
September 15, 2012 at 1:09 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Looks so tempting. Good luck with the blog hop.
Kathy S
September 15, 2012 at 1:42 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would be an Octopus and use those tentacles to do many things at once. Liking reading and washing dishes.
hope
September 15, 2012 at 1:57 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would be soren or mermaid.
whatmorebooks@hotmail.com
Cohlina
September 15, 2012 at 10:37 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d love to be a mermaid. Thanks for the giveaway! I’d love to read this.
cohlesguerra at gmail dot com
- Cohlina
Marie-Caroline
September 15, 2012 at 11:33 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d love to be a mermaid!
Thanks for the giveaway.
erma H
September 16, 2012 at 7:57 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d love to read this.
shauna
September 16, 2012 at 11:45 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Probably a mermaid. jbsmunky at aol dot com
enyce122
September 16, 2012 at 12:03 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m in love with Kelpie so I will probably choose that lol! even though they are horses XD Thanks for the great giveaway!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
Yesenia
September 16, 2012 at 1:37 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would choose to be a mermaid.
morales_y at yahoo dot com
lilblupixie
September 16, 2012 at 3:24 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Id be a mermaid .Thank you for this chance to win have a fantastic weekend .
flanagan@mebtel.net
T.F.Walsh
September 16, 2012 at 5:21 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great contest:) Hmmm who doesn’t want to a mermaid…hehe:) But for something different, I’d go for water dragon:)
Tia
September 16, 2012 at 9:35 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would be a selkie, great question
Kassandra Fuentes
September 17, 2012 at 1:47 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would love to be a siren, because I love to sing
! Thanks for being a part of the Under the Sea Giveaway Hop, and for the awesome book 
.
email: ssweett_rebelde@hotmail.com
zaraalexis
September 17, 2012 at 8:49 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d absolutely want to be a mermaid. I did imagine that as a child…and I don’t think that “fantasy” has ever gone quite away! Thanks for the giveaway! It’s a great hop!
Zara Alexis
zgarcia(dot)alvarez(at)gmail(dot)com
Jesse Kimmel-Freeman
September 17, 2012 at 3:49 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I love mermaids, I think it’s because I love pirates… and mermaids, sirens, and pirates go together!
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
ireadteen
September 18, 2012 at 10:52 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great giveaway, thanks! I would definately be a mermaid!
kacidesigns@!yahoo.com
ireadteen
September 18, 2012 at 10:53 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Sorry, the comment above – kacidesigns@yahoo.com
Sarah S
September 19, 2012 at 2:32 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d love to be a mermaid just for a day to see what it’s like
Darlene
September 19, 2012 at 4:31 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d love to be a mermaid, although a siren might be fun for a day! Thanks for the giveaway!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
Jenn
September 20, 2012 at 12:44 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would love to be a Mermaid!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
star_chaser76(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Jenn H.
September 20, 2012 at 1:06 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would like to be a mermaid.
jlchoyt at gmail dot com
Teresa Thompson
September 20, 2012 at 5:21 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I would choose to be a mermaid.
marine.mom42@hotmail.cm
bn100
September 20, 2012 at 8:41 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’d choose a mermaid.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Winner!! Under the Sea Blog Hop… | Claire Gillian
September 21, 2012 at 7:51 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
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