This months book for The Artful Readers Club is the second part of Sally Dubats "Grimoire Chronicles"
WINTER SHOCK
Sally is writing 8 books based around the 8 sabbats of the wiccan/pagan calender. Although her story is a fictional one, she is trying to incorporate a more realistic version of "what a witch is". No magical broomstick to carry our heroine up a steep mountain side, and the only nose twitching is brought on by noxious smells. The story collection involves a young wiccan by the name of Cassie, who has grown up feeling like an outsider because of her beliefs. But as the stories progress she becomes more aware of how people really see her, and not just how she thinks they see her, leading to greater understanding and friendships she never imagined possible.
This part of Cassie's story takes place around the Winter Solstice aka Yule, and finds Cassie trudging up a mountain in the depths of winter...not exactly the family orientated festivities she had planned. Although our heroine is in quite a perilous situation(to say the least), I found myself laughing out loud at her petulance in the face of danger. Even reading sections out loud to my husband, as Sally uses the mundane "matter of factness" required to survive to balance the swirling turmoil in Cassie's mind.
I read the first book "Veil Between Worlds"(set at Samhain/Halloween) last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, and can only say that I am still enjoying Cassie's adventures, and can not wait to read the rest as they are published.
Now for the arty bit :D
There were many passages in this book that inspired fabulous landscapes...but one particular passage stuck in my mind that was more about the spiritual side of the story.
At one point Cassie talks about memories flying around her like pages from a book...so that had to be my first layer...and spookily the pages I pulled from my pile had a character called Cassie, and words like "Flame", "darkness", "Candle" and "Black"
The second layer was of a patchwork of colours from the passage...
obliterated by the white snow...
Next I added different fabrics ...
before using gold acrylic to add "stitching".
and the quote...
"but memories from the weekend wrapped around my thoughts like a patchwork quilt--a black swatch of fear from the abduction, a scrap of frayed nerves from the ascent, a bright patch of shock from the Kundalini release at the summit--all sewn together with the golden thread of the Gods. This memory had a power all its own. I was spiritually wounded."
Dubats, Sally (2012-12-05). Winter Shock (The Grimoire Chronicles) (Kindle Locations 4726-4728). . Kindle Edition.
...and finally I added an image of Cassie exhausted by the events of her journey so far...
"Patchwork of Life"
8 x 8 stretched canvas Mixed media piece.
Enjoy :D XXX