Pamela Hart's Blog

📖 Marking the Magic: A Journey Through the History and Culture of Bookmarks

Dear book lovers,

Let’s take a moment to appreciate one of the most humble but loyal companions in our literary lives: the bookmark. While our shelves groan with TBR towers and our hearts flutter at the smell of a new book, the simple bookmark often gets overlooked—and yet, it’s been saving our places and guarding our pages for centuries. So today, we’re turning the spotlight on the small but mighty bookmark, exploring its history, evolution, and cultural flair around the world.

🔖 A Brief History of the Bookmark

Long before dog-eared pages (shudder!) and sticky notes, readers across the globe used bits of ribbon, parchment, leather, and even wood to mark their place. The earliest known bookmarks date back to the 6th century, found in Coptic codices from Egypt. These early versions were made of decorated leather and attached with strings—functional and elegant!

But it wasn’t until books became more widespread during the Renaissance that bookmarks became more common.

👑 Fun Royal Fact:

Queen Elizabeth I of England is often credited with popularizing the ribbon bookmark. She was known to use a narrow silk ribbon sewn into her books—a simple yet regal touch. You can almost picture her pausing mid-read with a knowing smile and gently closing her book.

🌍 Bookmarks Around the World: A Cultural Tapestry

As reading habits spread and evolved, so did the art of the bookmark. Just as stories reflect culture, so too do these small page-keepers. Let’s take a global tour!

🇩🇪 Germany: Elegance in Lace and Leather

Victorian Germany was a bookmark paradise. German artisans crafted exquisitely detailed lace and leather bookmarks, often with embossed gold lettering or religious messages. Some were made of brass or pewter, shaped like swords or ornate hands pointing to the last line read. The level of artistry was breathtaking—like holding a miniature heirloom between your pages.

🇫🇷 France: From Silk to Art Deco

In France, the bookmark became a canvas for fashion and art. Silk bookmarks woven with quotes, florals, and filigree were especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the 1920s, the Art Deco movement brought bold, geometric bookmarks made of polished metal or stylized paper—très chic!

Germany – Victorian Lace & Brass

Delicately crafted bookmarks made from lace, embossed leather, or engraved metal—heirlooms in miniature.

France – Silk & Art Deco

From elegant silk ribbons with florals to the sleek geometry of Art Deco, French bookmarks are timelessly chic.

England – Royal Ribbons

Queen Elizabeth I popularized the ribbon bookmark, sewn right into the spine of her books.

Where to find them Tatted lace patterns at Tatting By the Bay.Grab these gorgeous art deco bookmark designs on Etsy by ParadisePandaDigital.Explore BellaBookJewels elegant book ribbons on Etsy.

 

🇯🇵 Japan: Simplicity and Symbolism

In Japan, bookmarks reflect the country’s love for minimalism and beauty. You’ll find handmade washi paper bookmarks featuring calligraphy, cherry blossoms, cranes, or koi fish, often folded using origami techniques. Some even include miniature tassels or bells. A bookmark from Japan feels like a small treasure tucked between the pages of your book.

🇸🇦 Arabic Regions: Geometry and Grace

Arabic cultures gave us bookmarks adorned with intricate geometric designs and flowing calligraphy, often inspired by Islamic art. These bookmarks are more than placeholders—they’re artistic reflections of symmetry, spirituality, and intellect. Gold foil and jewel tones give them an especially luxurious feel.

🇮🇳 India: Color, Craft, and Symbolism

In India, bookmarks are a beautiful blend of artistry and spirituality. You’ll find vibrant, hand-painted designs, miniature textile weavings, or even beaded and mirrored fabric scraps reused from traditional dress. Some are shaped like lotus flowers, elephants, or mandalas, echoing symbols of peace, wisdom, and learning.

Japan – Origami & Washi Paper

Simple, refined, and symbolic—Japanese bookmarks often feature calligraphy or folded cranes for good fortune.

Arab World – Calligraphy & Geometry

Featuring sacred patterns and elegant script, these bookmarks echo the artistic legacy of Islamic design.

India – Textiles & Symbolism

Handmade and vibrant, Indian bookmarks celebrate the sacred pursuit of knowledge with colors and motifs inspired by learning and culture.

Where to find them Origami-inspired paper bookmark by KoboCrafts, Etsy.Beautiful metal bookmarks by MadeByHafsa on Etsy.Handcrafted fabric bookmark by Shaktiism on Etsy. 🇺🇸 United States: Bookmarks as Freebies, Billboards, and Collectibles

In the U.S., bookmarks have followed a path as commercial and creative as the culture itself. Since the late 19th century, bookmarks were widely used as advertising tools—from department stores and publishers to bakeries and insurance companies. (Good news: that means lots of free bookmarks!)

Over the decades, American bookmarks have featured everything from historical figures and patriotic symbols to national parks, classic literature, and now pop culture icons like superheroes, movie characters, and viral memes. You’ll find everything from holographic designs to magnetic clips—and a whole world of collectible bookmarks designed to appeal to fans, readers, and yes, consumers.

🌎 Latin America: Folk Art Between the Pages

In Latin America, bookmarks are often a celebration of local culture and craft. Many are made from handwoven textiles, embroidery, pressed flowers, or brightly colored paper cuttings inspired by folk art traditions. These bookmarks are often handmade and sold in local markets or during festivals, each one carrying a unique blend of regional identity and creative expression.

In some communities, bookmarks are also used in schools and reading programs as a way to encourage literacy, with designs that reflect stories from Indigenous cultures, local legends, or national heritage.

Latin America – Folk Art & Nature

Bookmarks made with love and local materials—like handwoven fibers, embroidered fabric, or dried flowers.

USA – From Presidents to Pop Culture

From 19th-century advertising to fandom merch, American bookmarks are a snapshot of culture, commerce, and imagination.

United States – Celebrating Nature & Nostalgia

Bookmark that showcase America’s iconic national parks — a reflection of the country’s love for travel, preservation, and natural wonder

Where to find them Support Mexican artisans on Etsy with through MexiBrandCo‘s store.Explore more hilarious pop culture bookmarks from PopCultHeads on Etsy.Stunning watercolor bookmarks by JustLovelyPictures on Etsy. 💬 Let’s Talk: What’s Your Bookmark Style?

Have a favorite bookmark from your travels or a handmade treasure from your bookshelf? Or are you a whatever’s closest kind of reader?

I’d love to see your bookmarks! Share a photo in the comments or tell us about the most unique one you own. 📷💬

So far, the wildest bookmark I’ve heard of was a lobster antenna!

🧵 In Closing: Small Tool, Big Heart

Bookmarks are a quiet nod to the love of reading—a little whisper between you and your book that says, “Hold that thought.” Whether made of silk or origami, lace or brass, bookmarks carry not just our place in the story but the heart of our reading journey.

So next time you open a book and your bookmark is there, patiently waiting, give it a little thanks. It’s been keeping secrets for centuries.

Happy reading!

The post Where Do Bookmarks Come From? A Journey Through History and Culture appeared first on PamelaHartWrites.

Picture this: A book, fresh off the press (or the e-reader screen), trembling with excitement, waiting to be read. But alas! Without your magical touch—a review—it might fade into the background, essentially invisible to the people who would love it.

So, dear reader, let’s talk about why your book reviews are not just nice—they’re downright essential for authors, especially indie authors who don’t have massive marketing machines behind them.

Reviews Help Books Get Noticed

Ever walked into a bookstore (or scrolled through an online shop) and been overwhelmed by choices? Reviews help books stand out in the literary jungle! On platforms like Amazon and Goodreads, books with more reviews are more likely to be recommended to other readers by the website.

✅ More reviews = More visibility

✅ More visibility = More potential readers

✅ More readers = Happy authors (and more books for you to enjoy!)

 

Indie Authors Rely on Word of Mouth

Unlike bestselling authors who have publishers throwing confetti and ad money at their books, indie authors rely on you. Your review is the digital equivalent of excitedly telling a friend, “You have to read this!”

Reviews Help Other Readers Decide

Have you ever read a book blurb and thought, Sounds interesting, but is it actually good? Enter: Reviews! Honest feedback helps fellow readers know if a book is their cup of tea (or coffee, if you’re feeling extra caffeinated).

🔹 Loved a character? Mention it!

🔹Had your favorite trope? Gush over it!

🔹 Thought the plot twists were wild? Say so!

🔹 Had a minor issue but still enjoyed it? Be fair and constructive!

What Makes a Good Book Review?

Not sure what to say? Here’s a cheat sheet:

⭐ Keep it brief – No need for a novel (the author already wrote one). A few sentences work!

⭐ Be honest – Love it? Say so. Not your thing? That’s okay too—just be kind!

⭐ Highlight what stood out – Engaging characters? Beautiful prose? A plot twist that made you gasp? Share your thoughts!

⭐ Avoid spoilers – No one likes having a big twist ruined!

⭐ ⭐ Add a photo or a video!⭐ ⭐ This really adds cred to your review and lets readers know you are a true fan.

Where to flex your superpowers (the best places to leave a review)

Your review is most powerful on:

📖 Amazon – Helps with rankings and recommendations

📚 Goodreads – The ultimate bookish social media site

💡 BookBub – Great for reaching book deal hunters

🏛 Barnes & Noble – Supports authors in the traditional bookstore scene

📱 Social Media & Blogs – Sharing your review on Instagram, TikTok, or a personal blog spreads the love even further!

Final Thoughts (A.K.A. A Plea from Every Indie Author)

Authors pour their hearts into their books, and your review—even a short one—makes all the difference. So the next time you finish a book, take a minute to leave a review. It’s free, easy, and makes an author do a happy dance (trust me, it happens).

Go forth, dear reader, and wield your review-writing powers for good! 📝✨

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My first inclination was no. Audiobooks are an auditory stimulus and reading is a visual stimulus. They use different parts of the brain and demand different levels of focus. So, if you asked me a few days ago, I would’ve told you no, I don’t believe audiobooks would be considered reading.

However, in preparing this poll, I got curious and did some research. What I learned surprised me, and now  I feel the answer is not so cut and dry.

Ancient audiobooks?

One article I read from Fairfax County library in Virginia, pointed out that oral storytelling is an ancient human tradition. In fact, oral storytelling predates written language—by a lot! Cultures have been passing along wisdom, legends, and belief systems long before written language existed.

This took me back to my high school days, learning about Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and heroic archetypes. The Epic of Gilgamesh is arguably the oldest example of written literature we have today. This set of clay tablets are over 3,600 years old and tell the story of an actual king, Gilgamesh of Uruk, who ruled in what is now modern day Iraq. But as old as these tablets are, the Epic of Gilgamesh was undoubtedly shared orally even before it was written down.

There’s also evidence that Beowulf, the oldest surviving example of English literature was either an oral poem first, or composed by a poet who practiced traditional oral recitation.

Remember the classic Greek myths, the Iliad and the Odyssey? They were also oral poems.

The list goes on and on. A strong practice of oral storytelling existed among the Native American tribes of North America, the peoples in sub-Saharan West Africa, Hawaii, Ireland, Israel, and the Aborigines of Australia. This author is now convinced that a few minutes of dedicated Google searching will probably turn out records of oral storytelling practices on every continent of our planet.

Fun fact: some of the oldest records of storytelling come from the Aborigines. Called Dreamtime stories, these oral tales shared the accumulated knowledge of Aboriginal culture, spirituality, and wisdom. Songlines are particularly cool! They are paths across the land that describe landmarks, water sources, and other natural features as well as the laws, rules, and ceremonies of the people living on that tract of land.

So, if you consider audiobooks oral storytelling, this is a concept that has been rooted in humanity throughout our history.

What’s the appeal of audiobooks?

Now that we have written language and awesome inventions, like the printing press, print on demand, and Ebooks, why would someone choose to listen to a story when they could read it?

Generally, most people read faster than they can speak. So, listening to an audiobook takes up valuable time. However, the popularity of audiobooks is steadily increasing. A 2019 Pew Study showed that the number of adults reading print or Ebooks has declined while the percentage of audiobook listeners is rising.

Most fans of audiobooks point out that audiobooks allow them to multitask. Commuters can listen to books while driving or taking the train. Other people listen to audiobooks while working out, doing dishes, folding laundry, you name it.

If you’re reading a print or Ebook, it requires your visual attention, making it difficult to focus on anything else at the same time.

So, let’s ask another important question. Does listening to an audiobook affect your comprehension?

This is where it gets a little tricky. Reading activates the parts of your brain that understand letters, the flow of words and areas that accept and retain information. Actively listening to audiobooks activates areas of our brain involved in listening comprehension, linguistic processing, and mental imagery.

That’s active listening. If you’re zoning out or multi-tasking, you may be missing out on these benefits. Even simple tasks like driving or folding laundry take up enough of our attention to reduce the benefits we’d get from listening to an audiobook.

Researches did notice that audiobooks may cause listeners to engage more with imagination and mental images while listening to a story. When reading a story, the parts of our brain that process visual stimuli are already engaged analyzing all those letter combinations and word meanings, giving us less processing ability to form mental pictures.

A 2016 study by Beth Rogowsky found “no significant difference in comprehension between reading, listening, or reading and listening simultaneously” while studying users of Ebooks vs audiobooks. However, a 2010 study found that content may play a significant role in comprehension. When listening to a narrative text, the difference in comprehension between readers and listeners was negligible, but when the material was highly technical, listeners performed significantly worse on comprehension tests afterwards.

So comprehension could be affected by the type of material you’re listening to.

What about Ebooks?

Can’t go anywhere without your Ereader?

There’s also evidence that reading books on electronic devices results in less comprehension and learning than reading a print book. One reason for this could be that printed text is anchored to specific locations on the page, which seems to aid people in remembering what they’ve read. Ebooks and audiobooks don’t provide these helpful spatial cues that seem to aid memorization.

Another issue is that printed books allow you to gauge where you are in the book. You can physically see if you’re at the beginning, middle or end.

How does this help with comprehension? 

Daniel Willingham, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, says “As you’re reading a narrative, the sequence of events is important, and knowing where you are in a book helps you build that arc of narrative.” Ebooks and audiobooks can display what percentage of the book you have remaining, but it doesn’t seem to be as effective.

What are the benefits of audiobooks vs reading?

Audiobooks and oral storytelling are great for children and second-language learners. They can help with listening comprehension, language development, and vocabulary. There’s also evidence to suggest that audiobooks can be beneficial to people with anxiety or depression by helping them reframe their thoughts, focus on new content rather than negative or anxious thoughts.

In addition to its immense educational potential, reading has also been shown to increase concentration, sleep, and the ability to focus.

What about people who can’t read?

Would you tell a blind man using braille to read a book that it doesn’t count because he’s not using his eyes?

I certainly wouldn’t!

That thought made me stop and reconsider my take on audiobooks. For some people, audiobooks may be the only way they’re able to read. And even if listening to books is just their preference, who am I to say it’s cheating or doesn’t count just because my preferences are different.

I love reading paperback books. Always have. Always will. My house is bursting at the seams with piles of them. But after all the research I’ve done, I’ve found that my definition of “reading” has expanded a little.

How about you?

References & Further Reading

https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/culture/books/editor-s-picks/do-audiobooks-count-as-reading

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branch-out/audiobook-listening-considered-reading

https://time.com/5388681/audiobooks-reading-books/

https://bookriot.com/the-neuroscience-of-audiobooks/

https://danielaparkes.com/blog/brief-history-of-storytelling/

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/storytelling-and-cultural-traditions/

https://www.britannica.com/story/what-was-the-first-book-ever-written

https://australianstorytelling.org.au/storytelling-articles/australian-aboriginal-storytelling-helen-mckay

https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/songlines-important-aboriginal-art/

https://ancient-literature.com/why-is-beowulf-important/

https://www.vpl.ca/what-do-i-read-next/news/2017/vaults-epic-gilgamesh

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Beauty from Embers Cut Scene

Sometimes a writer needs to eliminate scenes from a novel. This could be for various reasons.  The scene could be repetitive, drag the pacing, or filled with too much back story.

This scene probably won’t make the final cut in the novel, but I still like it as it brings up many of our old friends from Beauty from Ashes. It contains mild spoilers for book one.

Happy Reading!

 Acadia recognized the little tea house sitting squat between larger buildings. Even though Capital city was much more advanced than anywhere else she’d ever lived, the people still valued tradition. Clara’s tea house was a testament to that.

The building had singles and a slanted downward roof, painted a pastel green with pink shutters. Acadia slipped inside the sparkling bead curtain that passed for a doorway.

Curls of floral smoke and spices wafted against her face. Acadia took a moment to breathe it in. Already she felt more relaxed, like she’d left some of her troubles outside the door.

Has and Eril stood from their squat table and rose to greet her. Acadia smiled as Has enveloped her in a bear hug and Eril patted her shoulder affectionately.

Once the greetings were out of the way, they settled back on the soft silken pillows, sitting cross-legged on the knee-high table on the floor.

Acadia took in the appearance of her two friends. Has was quite muscular for a man pushing sixty. His broad shoulders had filled out since he’d left Gehenna. He no longer had that hunched in look. In Eiren he was able to eat well. Soft tufts of white hair gathered at the sides of his head above his ears and his smile was broad and wide.

Eril was also letting his hair grow and he had more of it. As a young man of twenty-three, his black hair was combed neatly to the side, and slicked back with something. Acadia didn’t want to know what. 

His bright green eyes burned with intelligence and life. He was still slim but had lost the frantic nervousness that seemed to define him in Gehenna.

He’s really coming into his own here, Acadia thought ruefully. She could still remember how nervous and jittery he could be. How he’d always think the worst. They used to rival each other in how quickly their thoughts could turn dark with pessimism.

I’ve lost my worst-case-scenario buddy now, though. Acadia mused. Eril wasn’t always looking at the glass half empty any more.

Helping the former Gehennians adapt to life in Eiren had really given him a sense of purpose. His ability to plan and strategize gave him an intuitive sense of what other people were going to need, often long before they realized it themselves.

“So.” Has rubbed his thick calloused hands together. “What are we drinking before we call this meeting to order?”

“You’ll drink what I bring you, Has Bofield,” Clara spoke up from behind the counter. “You haven’t been coming here for months on end for nothing. I’ve got a right sense of what you and the lady like by now.”

Clara plunked a tray down on their table. Steam wafted from a shining bronze kettle and Acadia inhaled appreciatively. Chukchuk tea. Clara’s was always the best. In addition, the plucky proprietress had included three clay teacups, fresh rosemary biscuits and a pot filled with fresh honeycomb, oozing fresh liquid honey.

Acadia’s mouth watered, even though she’d only had lunch a short while ago. There was a reason that Clara’s tea house had become their go-to location for their monthly meetings.

After Clara had bustled away about her business and everyone had stuffed themselves with a biscuit, Has brushed the crumbs from his shirt and licked his fingers.

Eril cleared his throat. “We called this meeting to do our monthly check up. How’s everyone doing?”

“Great!” Has boomed. “The Eirenians and I have made some good progress in our cultivation of jarlwheat. It looks like the herbal ties we developed have worked even better than expected at keeping pests away. We’re expecting a large enough harvest to cover all the losses of last season. The farmers have all pulled together now and we’ll not have any food shortages, even with a growing population. Even if we do end up taking in refugees from Dardak.”

“The cultural integration of former Gehennians has exceeded my expectations. We’ve been fully welcomed into Eiren and the people are adapting to our new life here. I’ve finally got Rynski to give up bathing in the public fountain—”

Has let out a guffaw and Eril frowned.

“With that hurdle out of the way, most of the glaring cultural differences have been resolved.”

“Can’t blame him after all those years starved for water in Gehenna. I’ve a mind to take a dip in the fountains now and then myself.”

“Please don’t.” Eril leveled a glare at him. “It could undo all the progress we’ve made. There’s plenty of bathing you can do by the lakeside.”

“It was a joke, Eril,” Acadia chided.

Eril huffed. “With Has, one can never be sure. He likes to take a literal interpretation of things.”

“Nothing wrong with being concrete.” Has grinned.

Acadia sighed and it had the unintended effect of drawing both their stares to her. “What?” she asked.

“You’ve been strangely quiet, Acadia,” Eril said. “How are things at the castle?”

“Fine.” She traced a drop of condensation down the handle of her mug. “The Eirenian government has been more than accommodating. People are settling in, finding jobs, building houses, falling in love. There’s no bloodshed at all. It almost seems like everything is going too well. I keep waiting for the hammer to fall.”

“Now who’s the pessimistic one?” Eril teased.

A clanging rang out in the street and the three friends turned to watch a procession moving through the market. People were shouting. Voices raised to an angry harsh tremor.

“Not our people. Not our fight.” Chanted over and over.

Has frowned. “Any word on the separatists up in the castle?”

Acadia bit into a biscuit and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. She swallowed, brushing the crumbs from her lips. “No one’s talking about them much. So far, all they’ve done is make a lot of noise. It’s unclear how many Eirenians really support them and how much of it is simply polite tolerance.”

“They seem to have sprouted up over night,” Eril said. “A few months ago there was nothing like this.”

“It is troubling,” Acadia agreed. “Especially in Eiren. No one’s ever seen anything like this before. It makes me wonder if Lucien could somehow be involved.”

“We haven’t seen hide or hair of him after his defeat in Gehenna.”

“But we know he still has a decently large faction supporting him. Maybe more now. That along with an unknown quantity of trividium that he possesses is troubling enough. And now that diplomatic tension between Dardak and Avathys and discontent within Eiren’s capital. It bears his mark.”

“And what mark is that?”

“Discord, disunity, strife, take your pick.” Acadia propped her chin in her palm.

Has nodded. “He’s surely at work somewhere in Elorah. And whatever he’s up to is bound to be no good.”

“But where?” Eril said. “I’d rather not have an enemy like Lucien at my back.”

Acadia resisted the urge to scratch her knuckles. The smoke rash had completely healed from her skin, but she still had the temptation to scratch anytime she felt nervous. She settled for pressing her warm mug between her hands. The soothing herbs calmed her. Chukchuk tea was her favorite. Acadia swallowed a mouthful of the honeyed liquid.

Eril sloshed the tea in his cup and looked at Acadia in earnest. “Do you think Lucien has anything to do with the tension between Dardak and Avathys?”

Has grunted. “Anything’s possible with that ’un.”

“Sewing chaos from the shadows is just like him,” Acadia agreed. “But until we have some hard evidence, we’re just speculating. Eiren can’t intervene in the politics of two other sovereign nations. Not unless they invite us into the fray.”

“Mayhap, they’ll be doin’ just that,” Has said. “There’ll be ambassadors from Dardak up at the palace. I saw their vehicles entering Capital City earlier today.”

Acadia tapped her fingers against her cup. “Maybe I’ll learn more at dinner.” But inwardly her spirit cringed. All she wanted was quiet night alone with Arnion. Was that too much to ask? The political affairs of Elorah, bickering between other countries, Lucien potentially on the rise again.

It was like she couldn’t catch a break. The whole world seemed to be working against giving her any time with her prince. Her eyes felt heavy and she breathed out.

Relax, Acadia. You have time. You have all the time in the world.

But it didn’t feel that way.

If there was one lesson she learned in Gehenna, it was that everything could change in the blink of an eye.

 

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Do names shape our perception of characters? 

When Juliet fell in love with Romeo, she made the famous declaration, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” to show that Romeo’s family name didn’t matter to her.

But Anne of Green Gables, one of my favorite spunky heroines, disagrees. She said, “I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose would be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

And Mavis Himes describes a name “like an elongated shadow attached at our heels.”

Would Juliet still be a beloved tragic heroine if her name was Gertrude or Brunhilda? (There’s nothing wrong with those names of course! But they may change our perceptions of the character.)

Research has shown that we can make a first impression about someone in 1/10th of a second!

Influencing factors include:

A person’s faceOverall physicalityAnd, you guessed it, names!

There’s even evidence that our names can shape our perception of ourselves.

But how does that apply to fictional characters?

Is our perception of a character influenced by their name?

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any articles dealing with this specific topic, but as an avid reader, my gut tells me I side with Anne of Green Gables.

Do writers use names to shape a character?

What about writers?

Do they purposely create names that will shape a character in deliberate ways? Do they have a secret writer code? A name generator? Or is it completely random?

Lean in a little closer, dear reader and I’ll tell you my secrets.

How do you come up with character names?

A reader asked me this question recently and so I thought you all might be curious as well.

There are 4 main ways that I generate character names. I’ve attempted to make this list as spoiler-free as possible, so if you haven’t read Beauty from Ashes yet, you should be safe.

1.) Biblical References Elyon comes from the Hebrew “El Elyon” which means “God Most High.”Arnion means “lamb” in ancient Greek.Beulah is a reference to Isaiah 62:4, where God declares that Israel’s land will no longer be called desolate, but “Beulah” or “married.”Gehenna was a location outside of Jerusalem where trash was burned. It was also used as an image for a place of torment.Delilah comes from the woman who seduced an ultimately betrayed SamsonHas is a reference to Cephas, or Peter one of the twelve apostles. In earlier versions of the manuscript Has was actually called Cephas.Lucien was chosen for its similarity to Lucifer.Beauty from Ashes comes from Isaiah 61:3. 2.) Easter Eggs

You weren’t thinking of these, were you?

“Easter eggs” is also a slang term for hidden jokes, messages, and pop culture references that are tucked inside various forms of media.

There are Easter eggs in most of my writing, but a lot of them contain spoilers.

Since this post is spoiler free, I can only share a few

Bucephalus was the name of Alexander the Great’s war horse.Eril’s name and physical appearance were influenced by Eriol from Card Captor Sakura—but not his personality. 3.) People who’ve made an impression on me Agatha is modeled after my great-aunt Elle. Her mother’s name was Agatha.Cira is one of my dear friends from college.Acadia, Naileah, and Ayam (Maya spelled backwards) are all the names of former students who I have fond memories of. I borrowed their names and some of their physical attributes when creating these characters.Sometimes people who’ve made a strong negative impression on me also end up in my writing, but I never use their real name. I think it may be a form of therapeutic stress relief to write about things that have troubled me. It also helps for generating strong emotions that I need to write scenes with a big conflict. Apparently, I’m not the only one if cups like this exist. 4.) Sometimes a name just pops into my head

Names like Kaya, Ellio, Elorah, Eiren, Roscoe, and Avathys sprang wholly from that creative crevice deep in my brain. I don’t know where they came from, but they fit perfectly.

Do names shape your perception?

What do you think?

Do names affect how you view a person? A character? Yourself?

Let me know in the comments!

References & Further Reading – Psychology Today – The Week – BBC

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Man of Sorrows by M.N. Stroh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Man of Sorrows is the first book in M.N. Stroh’s Tale of the Clan series.

What I loved the most about Man of Sorrows was how it transported me into the world of medieval Ireland. You can tell that the author did a lot of research. Man of Sorrows is full of thoughtful, period-specific details. As the characters go through their adventures, I learned about Irish clans that were active at that time, clothing, weapons, and even farming implements. The most fascinating historical aspect to me were the details about the monastery and how the monks were copying the sacred texts by hand. Learning more about the process of illuminated manuscripts was fascinating and made me appreciate modern advances that have made books and reading much more accessible.

Mara was my favorite character. She’s a plucky heroine who stands her ground against traditions of the time. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will say her faith and determination was very inspiring.

I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, fans of inspirational fiction, and people who are interested in Ireland, especially Viking era Ireland.

I received a free ARC of Man of Sorrows but was not required to leave a review, nor has it affected my rating in any way.

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