For updates on the progress of the novel, click here to read The Perfect Star blog. |
original artwork by me!
I am the young one
who lived long before
I am the student...
the young Bradley Lore...
The centuries hold...
the future in store
the memories past
will flood back once more
Welcome...to the Billowy Wood!
public domain pic...not my artwork
 |
The Perfect Star: A Novel |
|
In January of 2006, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on a rather sunny day, I ventured out, wearing my black sweats and a "Protect Your Nuts" t-shirt, to the beach. I pulled out out my trusty old notebook and began writing...
Once upon a time...
...and writing and writing and writing and writing until I ended up with this long gay/Wiccan fairy tale/parable about this young boy named Bradley who was born hundreds and hundreds of years ago in the house of the Grandmother Lore somewhere at the edge of a dark green wood.
Anyhow...to make a long story somewhat shorter, Bradley falls asleep in his grandmother's Elven Garden and awakens to find himself washed up upon the shores of the wonderous Billowy Wood, filled with elves, faeries, mermaids and all sorts of wonderous creatures.
Whilst here, he saves the Elven Queen and is deemed a hero by all in the wood. So much so that the queen rewards him by giving him a golden star cut from her crown to wear upon his neck...The Perfect Star. He then awakens back in the Billowy Wood and finds his grandmother standing there waiting for him. She tells him that time stands still in the Eleven Garden and that, once they leave the garden, it will be hundreds of years in the future.
public domain pic...not my artwork
In the Billowy Forest
the light shines on through
and gold beams are dancing
on the red roof of you
the witch will be waiting
as the gnome bids adieu
My tales of folklore
are all proven true...
Alas, though, they must leave and, upon entering this brave new world, they discover that a giant mechanical monster is standing before them ready to tear the garden down. The Grandmother Lore tries to stop this from happening, but is accidently run over by the machine in her attempt. Young Bradley runs off into the distance in absolute terror.
Twenty years have passed and Bradley is now a young adult in the modern world with no memory of his magical childhood. On a golf outing with some friends from work, though, it all comes flooding back to him as he runs into Snibblick, the gnome, on the course, who leads him back to the sight of the old elven garden and back to the Billowy Wood. It is upon his return that he runs into the noble male witch, Starchaser, who tells him of the Glorious War for gold, which threatens to destroy the very fabric of the Billowy Wood. He restores young Bradley's childhood memories and informs him that it is the destiny of he, The Perfect Star to restore peace and harmony to the land.
And thus, young Bradley's journey into the New Awareness begins...
It took me about three months to hammer out the storyline for the book and I am still working on the art work. It doesn't really matter how long it will take. It's a labor of love. I'm not doing this for glory or fame. I'm doing this for me. If it ever would get published...great! If it doesn't, then that's cool too because it's my story and very much a part of me. It's the magic in my life regardless. There's no rush whatsoever...
And that is the gist of the novel.
For updates on the progress of the novel, click here to read The Perfect Star blog. |
The Cast of Characters
Bradley Lore
Bradley Lore is, in many ways, me...naive...stumbling...only I made him a lot better looking than I ever was at his age and more sexually active. You see, Bradley has a great emptiness in his young life. The first ten years seem to have vanished from his memory completely. This creates a great longing on his part for a connection with a world he doesn't understand...a world that he wasn't born into.
Starchaser, the Witch- Starchaser is also probably me, only smarter. He's a little bit older than Bradley and much more knowledgable in the ways of magick. He becomes for young Bradley a teacher, a mentor and, eventually, a lover.
Tinkly, the Dragon- Mostly here for comic relief, but he's also a vital link in bringing about the new awarenss. I purposely gave him, a big strong dragon, a name that sounds like a little pink poodle...just for Ss and Gs!
Grandmother Lore- Bradley's granny, who is literally run over by the 21st century upon entering. I never really say she's a witch, but there is an implication of it in the fact that she has an elven garden and she appears very knowledgable in the ways of magical beings. She is the me that I one day hope to be...at peace with myself and the world around me. With her, Bradley and Starchaser, I think I have a representation of the Wiccan idea of the maiden, mother and crone. It wasn't really intentially...just a happy coincidence.
Snibblick, the Gnome- the humble little teller of our tale who does also appear briefly in the beginning of the book. He's not me in any way, but I have a very special place in my heart for this one, which is why I decide to let him tell the tale.
Zabarelle, the Sorceror -Zabarelle is a human, very human...who gets caught up in the darker side of things such as greed, power and hate. He's one of two dark brothers who are secretly pulling the strings for the Glorious War. Zabarelle believes, rather foolishly, that he has the power of the elves on his side.
Advantara-Zabarelle's brother and arch enemy. He represents the other side of the Glorious War and he believes, also rather foolishly, that he has the power of the magical faeries on his side.